noticed the camera doesn't fire as quick with the 70-200 on

The factory reset won't clear the firmware update but I'm pretty sure the full reset does. Your's should be firmware 1.11 if it is up to date.

yeah I looked at the firmware and its only for a flashing battery indicator anyway I might give it a crack tomorrow..

when you say Qtip do you been a cotton ear bud?

Yep

i might still get the camera serviced any recommendations people? ie should I take it to any camera shop or look for an independant

Nikon's AU HQ is in Sydney but there will undoubtably be independent repairers.

I have reset the camera softly

contacts were pretty dirty but also noted that the first 4 contacts on the lense seemed not to depress easily where all the others did...as if they are sticky??!!

the contacts with in the camera were really dirty.

i put the lens on took it outside (low light) so pointed it in the direction of the sun and put it on burst....seemed to fire reasonably quickly and even exposed its self quite well looking at the historgam i never looked at the pics off camera though.

So I think it has helped but Im now thinking with the first 4 pins being what I would consider sticky (unsure if thats right or not but seems odd the others aren't) I think the lens could probably do with a service

Just checked on mine. All pins have about the same "springiness". Starting to sound more and more like your lens might well need a service.

yeah I think so the others had a spring, these ones went in with what seemed ilke some reluctance and they also made a slight noise not loud very slight but the others did not they were silent.

Dont forget also that if your lens is VR that will slow it down (or you will get poor quality pictures until it is ready).

no Flagg VR doesn't slow this lens down..I have had this lens 3 years and this is not normal behaviour..
its usually a fast lens in all situations