Nikon FE wont shoot with lens set to F/11

[Asha]

Quickie question that's puzzling me.

Nikon FE with 85mm F/1.8 lens.

Not had any probs before but now the body refuses to fire if stopped at F/11 or F/16.

Other apertures work fine fine and other lenses appear to work just fine.

Very strange and it's got me baffled....anyone any ideas what the cause may be.

As it is I'm on my way out to shoot an evening event ....fortuanatley wont need to stop down more than F/8.......hopefully!

 

[excalibur2]

With any lens attached? And what happens if you took the lens off and covered the mount area with your hand?
A guess would be... the lever that stops the lens down is not working properly preventing the camera from completing the sequence of firing, but am not sure if this sounds logical.

 

[TheGreatSoprendo]

Does the depth of field preview work?

 

[Asha]

Thank you both for your replies....

With any lens attached? And what happens if you took the lens off and covered the mount area with your hand?
A guess would be... the lever that stops the lens down is not working properly preventing the camera from completing the sequence of firing, but am not sure if this sounds logical.

Seems fine with other lenses Brian.....having taken a closer look, the lever that you mention could be where the problem lies....either the actual lever or the pin on the lens itself...more investigation needed I think.

Does the depth of field preview work?

The preview does work, but intermittently, sometimes the aperture blades remain stopped down when the preview lever is released......I think the is a connection issue between the "lever" in the body and the "pin" on the lens......I'll play around with other lenses and bodies to try pinpoint which item is causing the fault.

 

[excalibur2]

Well good luck Asha and let us know the answer, as I would like to know for certain:- if the camera wants to stop a lens down, but the lens physically wont stop down, then will this prevent the camera from firing.

 

[G.K.Jnr.]

Hi, It sounds like the problem is with your lens.
(1) Take the lens off of the camera.
(2) Hold the lens aperture pin in with the lens aperture wide open.
(3) Then look through the lens while stopping it down manually.
(4) If the aperture blades will not close further than F11 or F16 then it is almost certainly a problem with your lens.
Probably the aperture blades/mechanism needs cleaning.
(5) Could also be the mount on your lens has worked loose.

Hope this helps.

 

[Asha]

Just to update on this thread.

There is a mechanical issue with the lens in that it stops down when it wishes to! ..... Wide open through to F/5.6 is no problem but beyond F/8, it's a hit and miss affair.

Local Nikon dealer has confirmed it needs an internal repair/ clean which I'll get done in due course.

Just glad the lens "held out" whilst at a family wedding back in May...phew!