Help! New lens incompatible

blackstar

Senior Member
Hi,

My new Rokinon 12mm f2.8 fisheye lens has arrived... visual inspection is ok, but after installing on D3500, set Aperture ring to f22 and turn on my camera to set aperture: all I see in the info panel shows "closed" aperture, no way to set or change f numbers, and there is the warning message: incompatible lens! I checked online everywhere, sellers, users,... no one mentioned this lens is incompatible to D3xxx or d5xxx or D7xxx... instead, it works with all Nikon DSLR F.F. or crop. More actions I took: try focusing on a relatively closed subject -- have to turn the focus ring to about infinity to get focused (confirm indicator in viewfinder); on a closed subject (computer screen) -- can't focus. And of course, shutter did not open any time in any mode... So I am very upset and confused hoping someone here would give some hint and help to clear up the puzzle before I return the lens. Thanks
 

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
Did you try it in Live View? Are you sure there are contacts at the lens' base to give lens information to the body? Have you tried it in manual mode using the lens' aperture ring to get proper exposure?
The depth of field of this lens is huge, this is why you almost never have to focus it.
But maybe you got a lemon and should return it.
 

BeegRhob

Senior Member
What camera and exact lens is it? It may make a difference, just saying.

In your pic from your last topic on this lens/camera (D3500), there is a CA on the aperture ring. Did you try that? It could need the aperture lock button depressed, if it has one. Did you try, for shits and giggles, to open the aperture all the way open, or manually adjust the aperture ring? I looked on Rokinon, apparently they have no manual for it, did you get one?
You say "closed subject", do you mean "close"? There may be a menu setting to lock the shutter if no lens is attached, it may actuate if you change this setting.

Rob
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
If you go back to your other thread on Q's about Rokinon 12mm thread, Sparky said the lens lacks a CPU and didn't know if it would work. And my reply to Sparky was a link to B&H which listed the compatible Nikon bodies. The D3x00 and D5x00 bodies weren't listed which made me wonder about its compatibility.
 

TwistedThrottle

Senior Member
Double check it is set to f22. I know that with my 8mm, since there is no aperture lock on the lens, I usually have to dial it back into f22 after twisting it onto the lens mount because I inadvertently adjust the aperture ring at the same time. My 8mm Rokinon works with my D40x, (which is a pre pre pre pre pre pre d3500) as long as the aperture is dialed into f22 on the lens.
Also, are you sure you got a lens that has the CPU contacts? DSLR's need to be able to communicate somehow with the lens either through electronic connection where both lens and camera have electrical connections or mechanical where the camera has to have an aperture feeler gage to detect where the aperture is set on the lens.
 
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blackstar

Senior Member
Thanks for so many responses.

I tried M mode with Live View (set to f22 on lens aperture ring); can't adjust aperture on either D3500 body or lens aperture ring (info show closed aperture with no f number); but no err message of "incompatible lens"; focus and shoot -- it fires! for outside far scene, exposure ok (iso set to 800); for close up scene, it's all dark (apparently aperture closed).

Back to P mode (with auto iso) -- Live View won't work and aperture can't be adjusted also; err: incompatible lens; focus and shoot -- no fire!

The aperture ring has "NI" red label which indicates "Nikon" version instead of Cannon's "CA".

B&H's Nikon camera list for this lens is specifying the lens designed for, not compatible with. (there are plenty users share their positive usage of this lens with their D3xxx)

Finally, "Are you sure there are contacts at the lens' base to give lens information to the body?" and "are you sure you got a lens that has the CPU contacts?" Frankly, I tried (looking into the instruction Manual and the lens rear base) and still unsure. The thing I wonder is the properness of the way I install the lens to my D3500. See the pic:
2020-10-16 11.46.49.jpg





 

blackstar

Senior Member
Hi, Thanks for all your helps.

I have talked to a tech support at Rokinon. Made some check up with the lens and my D3500 with him on the phone. And finally the tech guy assured me the lens normally should work with D3500 and suspected the lens I received could be a rare faulty. He suggested either return or exchange a new (not used as returned or re-stocked) one. I have requested AMZ for an exchange and a new (assumed) one will arrive on Sunday. Will see how it works then...

Still your continuous comments are appreciated.
 

BeegRhob

Senior Member
What about your firmware? Try to find an older version, as my Sigma lens wouldn't work properly with my D610 after I updated the firmware.

Rob
 

blackstar

Senior Member
Thanks, Rob.

But I went to check and found there is no firmware update for my D3500 and I haven't updated since bought about a year ago.
 

blackstar

Senior Member
Status update:

New one (replacement) arrived. Same failure: aperture closed and can't be opened or adjusted (either from camera (f22 on aperture ring) or aperture ring); shutter only fire in M mode, not in P, S, A mode; lens mount contact seems ok. Disappointed.

Will talk to Rokinon tech support again tomorrow. Any comments or suggestions? Thanks
 

blackstar

Senior Member
Talked to Rokinon tech guy again today. Went over some more experiments on operating the lense on d3500. Came down to a less desired conclusion: this lens can be used on d3500 only in "M" mode and aperture can be changed or adjusted on the lens (aperture ring) only. For P, S, A modes, the lens is incompatible. So it is good for night time photos, ok for landscape, architecture, portrait or close-up, but no good for wildlife, sports, or moving subjects. A bit disappointing...

Then I inquired about the Rokinon 10mm f2.8 (non-fisheye) CS lens for d3500. The guy gave a same answer because of d3500's design. So I am still holding my decision of getting which one. I'll go out and shoot some experimental scenes and see how it goes...

Still appreciate your opinion, comment, and suggestion. Thanks
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
Talked to Rokinon tech guy again today. Went over some more experiments on operating the lense on d3500. Came down to a less desired conclusion: this lens can be used on d3500 only in "M" mode and aperture can be changed or adjusted on the lens (aperture ring) only. For P, S, A modes, the lens is incompatible. So it is good for night time photos, ok for landscape, architecture, portrait or close-up, but no good for wildlife, sports, or moving subjects. A bit disappointing...

Then I inquired about the Rokinon 10mm f2.8 (non-fisheye) CS lens for d3500. The guy gave a same answer because of d3500's design. So I am still holding my decision of getting which one. I'll go out and shoot some experimental scenes and see how it goes...

Still appreciate your opinion, comment, and suggestion. Thanks

I am not familiar with the capabilities of the D3500. For moving subjects, I shoot in Manual Mode with Auto ISO. That means I also choose my shutter speed (as well as aperture). So are you saying you don't want to give that a try? :confused: Obviously this lens has to be focused manually. But still, it should work very well once you wrap your head around shooting with new-to-you settings. :)
 

blackstar

Senior Member
Thanks, Cindy.

Actually, since I know at least this 12mm fisheye FF works with d3500 in only M mode and all other rokinon prime lenses do the same way, so I reckon I would probably settle down with this fisheye FF for it's designed for great performance with FF when I have change upgrading. For the 10mm non-fisheye CS, it'll perform downward when upgrading to FF body. So I kind of just want to keep this fisheye now and see how I can enjoy its "fisheye" effect until getting chance to shoot the MW with it...

I am only a little concerned with "manual focus", but need to learn and practice on setting right shutter speeds for anything other than night sky shots because most often I shoot in P and A mode which I don't have to worry about speed. Only for shooting moving subjects, I set in S mode to get high speeds (which isn't difficult). Now I review some previous shots (e.g., landscapes) and they show all random and various SS... I think I need to learn the exposure triangle formula in order to practically set ss with iso and aperture fixed. AW, very much to learn...
 
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