AI converted 105 f2.5 doesn't seem to be working on my D7000

Hi Guys

New to the forum and a recent returnee to Nikon digital after a dalliance with a certain maker of artillery pieces.

Recently bought a pre-loved D7000. I also have an FM that I bought new in 1979 and still use and love it. Have a 105mm f2.5 that was converted to AI and works fine on the FM.

Mounts on the D7000 and I have entered it into the non-CPU part of the menu as lens 1. When I try to use it in A or M mode, it meters correctly at f5.6, but when I change the aperture using the aperture ring on the lens, it automatically goes to f32 on the LCD and images are terrible.

I am selecting lens 1 using the function button (I think). Have I missed something obvious or has anyone else had the same problem (with a solution, hopefully).

Regards
Tim Jones

I think you should set the lens to minimum aperture and control it from the camera but not certain as i dont have any AI lenses,welcome to the forum

Welcome Tim Jones....I think Mike is right...

Some things to try:
1) Verify that the 105mm lens is showing up in EXIF data, that it is selected.
2) make sure the Ai coupling is good,that the camera is following the lens.

On my Df, set to "A", I use the aperture ring of the lens.

Thanks for the replies.

The lens is showing up on the top LCD as 105 f2.5, so I'm assuming it knows about it.

The metadata, however, is a different story. Shows lens as 0.0mmf/0.0. Don't know if this is significant (probably) or that non-cpu lenses don't record the lens specs in the metadata.

Regards

Tim

On the Df- the "105" and "F-Stop" both show up in the EXIF data, which amazes me. Cute trick in Firmware.

I think it is time to dive deep into the manual, and for examples from other D7000 owners. I would check the Firmware Revision level, make sure it is up to date. Also go through the menu settings to make sure some obscure entry has not been set incorrectly. My neighbor had a strange problem with his D3100 not AF-focusing, turned out he had turned the "rangefinder" off.

timjones said:

Thanks for the replies.

The lens is showing up on the top LCD as 105 f2.5, so I'm assuming it knows about it.

The metadata, however, is a different story. Shows lens as 0.0mmf/0.0. Don't know if this is significant (probably) or that non-cpu lenses don't record the lens specs in the metadata.

Regards

Tim

Click to expand...

In my case, some do and some don't. Go figure.

I downloaded the manual, and on page 159-

"• Lens focal length is listed (with an asterisk) in the playback photo info displayIf the maximum aperture of the lens is known:
• The aperture value is displayed in the control panel and viewfinder
• Flash level is adjusted for changes in aperture
• Aperture is listed (with an asterisk) in the playback photo info display"

The fact that the focal length and aperture used is listed in Playback of the image- the data must be stored somewhere in the file. The Df displays the focal length and aperture used as described in your manual. i would double check the non-CPU menu, I learned that "done" had to be selected and clicked for the data to take effect.

After going through the suggestions above, I suspect there is a fault with the lens-body connection.

In the viewfinder I briefly see a number of different f stop values as I rotate the aperture ring. Regardless of the setting I choose, the display settles on either 5.6 or 35. I've seen mention of the aperture lever in a number of other posts, so this could be where the issue is.

My digital lenses should start arriving today, so I might put this on the back-burner for now. It's a "nice to have" rather than essential, so will concentrate on taking some photos but keep researching the issue.

Tim

Did you try putting the aperture ring on the lens on smallest aperture F35 then place lens on the camera then adjust aperture from the camera

I did try that, but I believe that's the process for D lenses. The AI lenses need to be set from the aperture ring.

I have a 50mm f1.8 D arriving today (I hope).

Tim

timjones said:

I did try that, but I believe that's the process for D lenses. The AI lenses need to be set from the aperture ring.

I have a 50mm f1.8 D arriving today (I hope).

Tim

Click to expand...

If the lens meters well and you are getting good exposure, then it must be talking with your camera's body. It might be just a glitch in the exif thing with that lens, maybe?

I'm only getting a correct exposure at f5.6 with the 105. I also tried a 43-86 AI zoom with the same result, so I suspect the problem is with the camera or the coupling between camera and lens. I've updated the firmware to the latest version just in case, but no resolution.

Tim

timjones said:

I'm only getting a correct exposure at f5.6 with the 105. I also tried a 43-86 AI zoom with the same result, so I suspect the problem is with the camera or the coupling between camera and lens. I've updated the firmware to the latest version just in case, but no resolution.

Tim

Click to expand...

So I guess you have also entered the lens information in the "NON-CPU lens data" in the camera's "set-up" menu? And when you want to use that lens, you have to go back to that menu to let the camera know what lens you are using.

That's correct. I've done that for both lenses and the lens number shows up in the top LCD, so the camera knows what lens it's using.

Tim

My next step would be to bring the lens to someone who has either a D7000 or 600 or 700 to try it on another body. Just to make sure it's the lens and not the body.

Just to add a little more spice to the issue, I've just received my new 50 f1.8D lens.

Locked the aperture to f22 and mounted it. Got the FEE error message, and it won't autofocus. Mounted the lens on my FM and metering seems to be working fine (as I expected).

I also just got a new 55-200G VR. Works fine with both metering and focussing.

The culprit looks more and more like the body, so I guess the next step is a trip to my local Nikon service agent (was really trying to avoid it, obviously).

Tim

Sounds like the AF motor is not operating correctly...