D700 question (intermittent problem)?

<p>I am experiencing an occasional problem with my D700. I can be shooting away normally and suddenly (for no apparent reason), a small tall triangle appears in the viewfinder with an 'f' beside it. It usually has the numeral 6 there as well. So I get the tall triangle with the 'f' and 6 together - then everything ceases. I can't focus or use flash or take a pic, or do anything really. As inexplicably as it appears, it then disappears - and everything functions as normal again. The main lens I am using with my D700 is the 80-200 2.8D (the newer one with twin focus and zoom rings). I always shoot on matrix metering and aperture priority.<br>

This is a wonderful camera and lens setup and I am getting awesome results from it. The problem is that I have taken a year off work to travel and build up my portfolio in Asia. I have been traveling in Vietnam for nearly five months now and intend to stay here a lot longer. I am using my camera most days, but this occasional problem in really annoying. With 'Murphy's law' it usually happens at the worst time. It had seemed to be going fine lately, with no problems, then it happened yesterday.<br>

If I had my Rocky Nook D700 book I could maybe find out what was happening, but I have left that in Australia. I do remember that the little triangle with the 'f' is called 'aperture stop' - but I have no idea why it comes on uninvited and then inextricably disappears.<br>

I do not trust any of the shops here to take my D700 in for them to take a look at it - as there may not really be a problem. Perhaps I am accidentally bumping it or doing something to activate this mode. Any help on this issue would be greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>Cheers - Philip</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Philip,<br>

You can see your Owners Manual here<br>

http://www.nikonusa.com/pdf/manuals/noprint/D700_noprinten.pdf<br>

On page #410 It says:(It shows the "triangle"F)<br>

Problem:"No lens attached, or non-CPU lens attached without specifying maximum aperture. Aperture shown in stops from maximum aperture."<br>

Solution: "Aperture value will be displayed if maximum aperture is specified."<br>

Could your lens just not be locked into the body?<br>

HTH... William</p>

<p>Or is it possible that you are inadvertently moving the aperture ring off of F22/F16 (whatever the max is) for that lens? </p>

<p>I know some of the newer non-G or non-gelded lenses have a lock for max aperture - but I also know that some don't have that - such as the 85 mm F1.8 - </p>

<p>Dave</p>

 

<p>I own the D700 also, and never experienced this problem.<br>

Contrary to the previous answers, i would suggest to clean the contacts on the lens and the contacts in the bajonet that connect to the lens. Do not use any spray stuff for cleaning !! In case of doubt , visit a Nikon store and ask them to clean the contacts ...</p>

<p>If it was the aperture sliding out of the minimum setting, you would probably get an FEE error, at least all my modern Nikon cameras do/did that. By the way, I have the 85/1.8, and it also has a locking mechanism, but looks slightly different from the other lenses that I have. Instead of a sliding lock there is a round button on the right side of the lens that has to be pressed in order to move the aperture ring from the minimum value, and the aperture ring locks automatically when it is turned to f/16.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>I have the 85/1.8, and it also has a locking mechanism, but looks slightly different from the other lenses that I have. Instead of a sliding lock there is a round button on the right side of the lens that has to be pressed in order to move the aperture ring from the minimum value,</p>

</blockquote>

<p>That was the apreture locking system on the earliest Nikon AF lenses from the late 1980's. A few of my oldest AF lenses are like that. Subsequently Nikon switched to the sliding lock around 1990 or so.</p>

<p>Either the lens has been nudged (i.e., moved a bit) making the f-stop lock not working exactly as designed, or you have a little oil or dirt on the camera or lens contacts. The latter issue might be taken care of with a bit of pencil eraser, making sure no debris gets into the lens or camera.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Wow thanks guys. That sounds like it could be the problem. I will try to clean those contacts tomorrow (late here in Vietnam and off to bed), and see if that will fix it. No, I have not moved the aperture lock, I am well aware of what that does and on my 80-200 2.8 AFD - it is always in the locked position.<br>

It just does it occasionally and when I fidget with things it goes away. So maybe this is the problem. Thanks for the owners manual online - I left my o/m in Australia too, so this will come in handy.</p>

<p>Cheers all</p>

<p>Philip</p>

<blockquote>

<p>The latter issue might be taken care of with a bit of pencil eraser,</p>

</blockquote>

<p>You should never, ever use a pencil eraser to clean contacts. Aside from the obvious debris problem...</p>

<ul>

<li>Most pencil erasers contain chemicals (mostly sulfur compounds) that dramatically accelerate oxidation, so if you clean the contacts with an eraser, they will get dirty faster and faster in the future.</li>

<li>Many erasers are sufficiently abrasive to strip the protective plating from contacts after a few cleanings. Now you get a contact that gets dirty faster, and can't connect well even when it's clean.</li>

<li>Rubbing plastic (all around the contacts) with a rubber eraser generates high static voltages, which then discharge into the camera, damaging the electronics.</li>

</ul>

<p>Pure solvents (the methanol based "Eclipse" solution often used for sensor cleaning works great) on lint-free, non-abrasive pads (Pec*Pads work great) is the way to go. Or an anti-oxidizing contact cleaner, which is pretty much the opposite of an eraser in every possible way.</p>

<p>+1 for your explanation Joseph, this eraser story seems hard to beat...</p>

<p>"Rubbing plastic (all around the contacts) with a rubber eraser generates high static voltages, which then discharge into the camera, damaging the electronics." <strong>You are right</strong> providing you have the hand-speed of a hummingbird's wings when you decide to scrub your nubs with a pencil eraser, or if you have a eraser with the grit of #4 sandpaper.</p>

<p>Static electricity has never been a problem, save for a tour in Alaska when the dry cold made for some nice contacts shocks grabbing a door handle outside in -22º temps.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Jerry, I take it you've never actually worked in electronic design, or done any form of ESD testing. If you'd like to take this seriously, instead of tossing out snark and sarcasm, I can provide you with some decent references on the subject. But if it's just going to fall on deaf ears, I'm not going to bother.</p>

<p>Which will it be?</p>

<p>Hi Joseph, What you say is interesting. I've heard that rubbing contacts with an eraser is a good way of cleaning them also. I would like to read your explanation or see your link if you wouldn't mind.<br>

Thanks.</p>

<p>Here is the video I used to learn how to do the cleaning. Just remember to hold the camera with the lens mount down when blowing and lightly brushing off the contacts. so any debris falls out of the camera and not in. I was having issues with the autofocus. It would just stop working and I would have to unmount and remount the lens. After cleaning the contacts I have had no more issues.<br>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41hAgFbbk-E</p>

 

<p>I was wondering if Phillip resolved the problem and what the issue was?</p>