Nikon Problem

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I'm posting this on behalf of a friend who's just purchased a Nikon D80 in the hope that someone will read and say 'Ah yes...I know what this is...' :thumbs:

I quote:

"I’ve a new Nikon D80 DSLR, with a NIKKOR AF 1:2.8D 20-35mm lens (the lens is 7 or 8 years old and has always worked perfectly but has been unused for 4 or 5 years tucked away in a case and box).

After fitting the lens (others work fine) the camera reports an FEE error (which alludes the aperture lock is not set to the maximum (22) which it actually is and is locked with the switch).

The camera will not operate with the lens with the settings in either Auto or Manual.

The lens does work on other cameras (e.g. D300), and other lenses I have work with the camera (35-70m & 70-210mm). What can I do next?"

I've witnessed this and would have put money on the lens being the rogue element until I saw it work on the D300

Ideas, advice, guidance all appreciated!

(I told him he shoulda bought a Canon ;))

Thanks in advance


 
Has he got it set to MF mode (in camera using the on-body switch)..?

He needs to be in manual mode too and the apeture ring needs to be stopped down as far as possible. Other things it could be is simply not clicked in properly - I've had that before.

I had the same on my old D80 and scratched my head for ages thinking it was to do with metering or F stop, but it was just that I had it set to auto-focus with the in camera setting not allowing my cam to take a picture that was out of focus. He could turn that restriction off.
 
The aperture ring needs to be set to minimum (i.e f/22) and you need to use manual mode.

This should just work...
 
Thanks folks we tried this in manual, the lens is 100% stopped down and locked no joy!

3 lenses fine, 1 lens not fine
Same lens works on the D300
 
In that case the only logical conclusion is that is the body, but as I said, this should just work.

Could try cleaning the lens mount and camera mount contact.
 
In that case the only logical conclusion is that is the body, but as I said, this should just work.

Could try cleaning the lens mount and camera mount contact.

I've suggested that but not sure he's done it yet - also its working fine for 3 lenses! Which initially pointed to the lens at fault! :thinking:

Hmmm thanks anyway for your input!
 
I still think it's set to auto focus somewhere tbh...

I remember having the problem myself and not being able to shoot in M mode despite the aperture ring being fully turned round. And are you sure its FEE and not F--..? As the latter is to do with it not finding the CPU contacts
 
Are the lenses that work correctly AF-s ?? These do not require the body af drive to work as they have built in motors, the AF-D 20-35 is much older, and doesn't have the motor.

If the 20-35 is old, and some of these can be 20yrs or older, it may be that the lens focus mechanism is stiff with age, and needs something with a bit more 'oomf' to get it working again, like a D1/2/3 body.

If the battery is slightly falt in the D80, the motor may not have enough torque to focus the heavy AF-d lens.
 
This is for the D70 but similar applies...

http://www.nikonians.org/forums/dcb...forum=150&topic_id=33011&mesg_id=33011&page=3

I know with my D80 it didn't work a few times, then when I tried it another time (and certainly after a flash update, but not as an attempt to fix this problem) it just worked and the settings that I noticed were different are listed above.

Sounds like Doug may have some good points though, my lens that caused me problems was a Zeiss 125mm macro which was AI-S
 
Thanks guys i shall relay these points to my mate - pretty sure its Fee not F-- and its worked with a bigger lens!

All good stuff though and worth a try

Many thanks again for your help!
 
Thanks guys i shall relay these points to my mate - pretty sure its Fee not F-- and its worked with a bigger lens!

All good stuff though and worth a try

Many thanks again for your help!
 
Use some alcohol and clean the contacts - that is all it is.

A cotton bud dipped in lighter fluid will work fine.
 
An answer:

This is understood and (almost) fixed and this link shows how. A worn tab or lug on the lens is the culprit - we tried this on 3 D80's and a D70 with the same result (D300's less demanding it seems :))

Thanks for your help anyway and my mate Andrew has his lens working with the judicious use of a paperclip!

You live and learn (and I hope Nikon do as up to today they were adamant it was a fault with the body :))
 
Nice one for finding the solution and nice one for posting it, too. :)
 
Credit to Andrew my mate with the D80 for doing the donkey work!!! :)
 
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