Vivitar Series 1 AF 100-400mm 4.5-6.7 Lens on D3200

[Pete6]

First post here. I have had Nikons since the 1970s. I have a D3200 and just bought a Vivitar Series 1 AF 100-400mm 4.5-6.7 Lens. The camera screen shows, "Lock lens aperture ring at minimum aperture" That is f22 for this lens and it has a switch on the lens to lock it. I get the dreaded fEE error message and cannot get rif of it. I have removed the battery and fitted / removed the lens several time. The camera works with my other AF-S lenses perfectly. Note please that this is and AF lens. I never expected the zoom or autofocus to work with this lens as it is an AF variant but it would be nice to take phiotos with it. The lens has been tried in all modes M, A, S, P and both auto modes. All give the above message on screen and fEE in the viewfinder. I even have an old 500mm f8 mirror lens that works manually.

What am I doing wrong here? All help gratefully received.

 

[BF Hammer]

Is the lens a F-mount with the CPU connector pins? Is a mount adapter in use here?

3rd party gear from low-end brands can be very problematic. Like it or not, Vivitar is a well-known cheap gear brand. I have had that error from a Tamron 1.4x multiplier. Worked great on a D80 but would not work on the D7000 I traded up to with the same lenses.

 

[Pete6]

Thanks for your reply. The lens is an F mount. No mount adapter is used. This is a Vivitar original as far as I can see and tell. I agree with you, Vivitar is a well known cheap maker of not that great lenses, It was that way back in the late 1960s when I got my first Praktika Nova 35mm SLR. I was expecting the lens to at least to give me manual focus and zooming and to have automatic aperture control.

Is there a way to get around the fEE error? Unless I can get around this, I cannot take any pictures with this lens on my camera. If I cannot the lens will go back on eBay. Help!

 

[BF Hammer]

Count those CPU pins on the Vivitar lens and then compare to your other lenses that work. I think you will notice a large difference. It may have been compatible with earlier generation bodies at the time it was built, but then became incompatible by changes to the CPU pin setup over time.

And it's a screw-drive AF system also, which means it could only be used as a manual focus lens on your D3200 anyhow. But the CPU pins also communicate metering information, not just focus information.

Now I notice there is no feeler-lever for activating the f-stop visible. I say that lens is not for you.

 

[Pete6]

Taking what you said in order, yes, obviously there are less pins. The Vivitar lens has 5 and my other lenses have 10. Yup this lens will do less. The screw AF body driven motor system is clearly not going to work on the D3200 body which does not have an internal motor. I knew that when I bought the lens. I started out without AF so figured I could manually focus. Both manual focus and zoom work fine. I am OK with that.

The aperture lever is, in fact there on the lens and it works but it was not visible in my picture. My bad.

All that said, this lens should at least take pictures on my body. It will be a bit like using my old Nikon F (but not so heavy). The Vivitar only cost me $65 delivered so I am not out a lot and anyway I can return it for a refund.

What I really wanted was a NIKKOR AF-S 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR but these are 10 times the price of what I paid even used. I may just have to stick my hand in my pocket and buy one though.

Now, if you or anyone else here knows how to get rid of the fEE error in my viewfinder I would be most grateful before I go and spend more money. Thanks.

 

[BF Hammer]

The error is still there after removing the lens? I landfilled a D80 I had infrared-converted when it did that. It is common for a failure of the AF system.

Remove your battery and memory card. Then with the battery out, turn on the power switch and hold the shutter release down for a full minute. We are trying to discharge any capacitor holding a charge inside and hopefully reset the memory state. Then reassemble with a known good lens and hope.

 

[Woodyg3]

Can you test the lens on another body? That way you could possibly rule out an issue with your camera. If other lenses are working fine on your body, I suspect it is simply an incompatibility with or a problem with the Vivitar.

 

[Pete6]

Removal and discharging the camera completely with the battery out and changing lenses did not work. The condition remained the same. but thank you for helping.

I do not have another body here right now. I should do in a week or so. I agreee with you Woodyg3. The Vivitar is probably too far down the list of "World's best lenses" to really be in service today.

SO, I tried a different approach. AI. I asked Gemini to help me and, it has given me a work around. Scotch tape on the lens contacts. This turn the fairly dumb Vivitar into an even dumber brick but, it allows me to take pictures. I never had autofocus with this lens and with the tape in place I have lost aperture control (if it had ever woked) too. I am back to a 1960s SLR. I manually focus, set the aperture and shutter speed, press the buttonad it takes pictures in M mode.

The AI pointed out a tiny button on the F mount at 8 o'clock when lookin at the front of the mount. This, the AI said needed to be pressed in by the lens as it was mounted. You can see the lens tab that should do this job is a long way away from where it needs to be (one more negative for this lens). I stuck a toothpick in the gap to activate the button but it did nothing. Maybe my D3200 has a problems too.

What to do? The lens works (with sticky tape) manually. I wiill use it like that for a week or so. I may buy a D7500 body and even another lens. I need a long lens for taking wildlife pics from my house.

Thank you all for your help.

 

[Pete6]

Just one pic with the Vivitar It was at 400mm, f8, 1/1000th and ISO on Auto. I also had a 2 x Teleconverter and the whole thing was manual and hand held. Remember too that the D3200 is not full frame so multiply the focal length by 1.5. It is not going to win any prizes but just look at the speed of the bee's wings.

 

[Pete6]

My D7500 body will be back home soon so I can really see if this lens really is defective or, just old and bad.