Nikon CoolPix 880 'repair'

I've just received my 880 back from repair from Nikon. I took some test
pictures and they're all blurred.

Is this spherical aberration?

http://www.shuv.nildram.co.uk/nikon (warning 1MB files).

What a waste of the £160 and 6 weeks it took! I'm less than impressed. They
also broke the lens cap off the cord that attaches it to the camera body and
the lens occasionally sticks when coming out.

 

Don't think so. The lens just isn't parallel to the film. Spherical
abberation is really a design fault (or 'limitation' in marketingese) and
wouldn't be introduced by a repair unless they re-ground the lens elements.

If it sticks, it might be wobbling from side to side, out of true. Try
twisting a magnifying glass sideways.
Either way, as far as you're concerned, it's stuffed. Reject quickly.

 

(Nikon 'service' department)

Yup, seen it before on many occasions, I'm afraid.

All my photographers at the newspaper are members of Nikon's Pro service,
which theoretically expedites camera repairs down to a 2-3 day turnaround.
I wish that was always the case, as repairs have often taken 2 weeks which
whilst I realise may seem quick in amateur terms, when you're using them
professionally, day-in day-out, it's an eternity.

I've also had lenses sent back in worse condition when they were sent in
for repair. A case in point was a 35-70mm F2.8 D series, which came back
with a zoom action that was so stiff it needed two hands to operate. How
that lens was ever released as 'ready' defies me.

 

It is probably defective. Have them fix it again. It is way too soft
in some areas on some images. It needs adjustment. Also have them
fix the other problems.

 

Thanks for all the comments.

I've been on the phone to them and, after 10 minutes of horrendous hold music,
the operator was very apologetic. He said they'll expedite repair or
replacement. He seemed to reckon the hardware replaced was worth £200!

Now all I've got to do is wait for the snow to melt so I can buy another padded
bag :-(.

My 24 years old Olympus OM-2n is still working perfectly, and has never gone
wrong.