D3000 with older D-type lenses

[Grumby]

Before anyone says it...
I know it won't autofocus.

ok - that's got that out of the way. The problem I have is the good old fEE error message, and before anyone says it...
I know I have to lock the lens at minimum aperture (highest number).

(sorry - but I've trawled through dozens of posts on numerous forums today with well-intentioned people missing the point entirely, and just re-iterating what the OPs already knew - damned frustrating!)

So to summarise what I understand and have read in a gazillion places, the older style 'D-type' lenses should still allow the D3000 (and other Nikons designed to use expensive AF-S lenses) to control exposure in A, S, or P modes, by virtue of a 'tab' on the aperture ring that connects with a tiny actuating button that sticks out at the side of the lens mount (at about 8 o'clock when viewed from front). But that tab only hits the button when the lens is stopped down to f/22 or whatever...

I borrowed an AF 50mm 1.4D to 'try before I buy', but even when I locked it down as far as it would go (which I think was only f/16 NOT f/22), there was nothing to actuate that little button.

So I'm wondering - has the lens been repaired at some time with a non-standard aperture ring from a different lens? Or maybe it's a cheap knock-off that isn't quite Nikon-spec despite the Nikon label? Or perhaps older Nikon lenses didn't ever have that tab on them in the first place? I think the lens I tried is 7 or 8 years old.

Anyone got any experience with a working D3000 plus D-type lens combo that can post a picture of that little mechanism?

Cheers,
G

[candleman]

it wont autofocus


(just kidding with ya'.. )

Originally Posted by Grumby

But that tab only hits the button when the lens is stopped down to f/22 or whatever...

I borrowed an AF 50mm 1.4D to 'try before I buy', but even when I locked it down as far as it would go (which I think was only f/16 NOT f/22), there was nothing to actuate that little button.

So I'm wondering - has the lens been repaired at some time with a non-standard aperture ring from a different lens? Or maybe it's a cheap knock-off that isn't quite Nikon-spec despite the Nikon label? Or perhaps older Nikon lenses didn't ever have that tab on them in the first place? I think the lens I tried is 7 or 8 years old.

this one?
Nikon 50mm f/1.4 AF-D Review

if you locked the tab.. i dont understand what else could be the problem

possibly.. being an old lens, the contacts are old and need to be cleaned... that also gives FEE every now and then of they are corroded.

as for the tab behind the lens (on the face that gets mounted) where the body stops the lens down being entirely missing...
its sounds pretty strange for that tab to be entirely missing.
the G has it. somewhat irrelevant tho'

was there a slot in the back of the lens where it looks like the tab usedto be?
normally when checking a lens before you buy it, i've heard you slide that tab back and forth and observe the blades moving around.
to the best of my knowlege, all nikon SLR's, even film, meter wide open and then the body stops the lens down via that tab in the back. i could be wrong

although, there is some comfusion apparently around "D" type and the older AF
.... as i found in here

i couldnt find any images of the back end of other 50mm f/1.4 's to see whats going on.. but i think its pretty strange.

....who did you borrow the lens from?
did you ask the seller why its giving F-EE ?

thats the best i could come up with sorry.

[Grumby]

It won't autofocus..? Damn! - I never realised

Yes - that's the very one - and confirms my memory isn't playing tricks (it was f/16 after all).

The iris works fine - the problems seems to be something that should be external to the lens and attached to the aperture ring itself - not the internal gubbins...

The guy I borrowed the lens from has a D300 body - not an entry level D3000 like mine (I'm not sure if his even uses the AF-S lenses). The compatibility charts show the D lenses are entirely compatible with the D300, so his camera obviously has a different mechanism, and he doesn't get the fEE error. By the way, he just let me try the lens for size, it's not his that I'll be buying (if I do - I'm not too sure any more...) - I'll buy one new if I do decide to do it... or maybe I'll save longer and get the AF-S (there shouldn't be ANY problems with THAT one!!!)

Ho hum - thanks anyway for the input.

Cheers,
G

[candleman]

you answered your own question i do believe

heres a quote and an image from Dpreview

This inconspicuous tab of black plastic is an Ai indexing tab, and is one of the small physical differences between the D7000 and D90 which distinguish the former as a definitively 'high-end' model. This tab allows aperture control with manual focus lenses of the Ai specification or later. Aperture data for up to 9 such lenses can be programmed into the D7000.

the one thats missing from the D3000 but is on the D7000 & D300

when you mount the lens it turns 90 degrees as you lock the lens in place..

As you said, the "larger" bodies have the ability to accomodate Ai lenses.
controlling the aperture. that explains the F/stop Error "F-EE"

(wow. you learn something every day, and here i thought all Ai lenses will work on ALL Nikon bodies)

heres a picture of the D7000's tab
Nikon D7000 Hands-on Preview: 5. Body & Design: Digital Photography Review

that could be the problem....

[ravncat]

the higher end nikon bodies have a menu option which allows you to use the aperture ring on the lens to control aperture - the lower spec`d bodies unfortunately don`t so you need to lock it at minimum to use it with the d3000

Also the larger bodies have an internal autofocus motors - which the d3000 lacks - the d3000 needs a lens with an internal motor - such as the AFS beasts...

[Grumby]

Candleman... I think we are possibly talking at cross purposes...
Here is a picture of the front of a D3000 camera body swiped off the DPReview site (ironically, when I looked at the whole (uncropped) picture - it turned out they'd posted a tightly cropped picture of a D5000 not a D3000 ! Cheeky so and sos... perhaps they didn't really have a D3000 to review at all and just made it all up? You'll see that I have put that right )



I've outlined the little tab thingy, bottom left - I'm thinking it's actually more like 7:45 rather than 8 o'clock as I previously reported - apologies if the extra 15 minutes totally confused anyone

Anyways - I know what the tab on the camera body is for, and how it works (or is supposed to work). My question really is aimed more at the AF type-D lenses - or in particular, the one I borrowed, because it seems to have nothing on it that will ever come close to connecting with that tab/button/lever/actuator (whatever you want to call it) whatever position the aperture ring is in. Sadly, now I understand the problem, I don't have access to the lens anymore - otherwise I'd try holding the tab in with my finger to see if the fEE error went away.

I'm just trying to find out if I had a duff lens that had lost whatever is supposed to push that tab/button/... (you know the rest) in; or if there are in fact D-type lenses that are not compatible with the D3000 (and other entry-level) bodies because they (the lenses) don't have that that mechanism to push the tab/button/... in anyway.

Ravncat... wtf? I hope you're just pulling my leg, and your sense of humour is even drier than mine... If not - pleeeease reread the first few lines on my original post
point 1 - Yes, I know!
point 2 - Yes, I know!
LOL - it's ok - I don't hold it against you... you're not the first to have missed the point, and probably won't be the last Thanks for taking the time to reply anyway - it is appreciated, honest.

Cheers all
G

[candleman]

the 8' o clock tab i was talking about is the silver one inside the body... (9:00 looking at that image )
nevermind
i dont know what that other tab is you circled.... doesnt look like it even moves.

oh well.. once you figured it out i'd love to hear the answer.

[ravncat]

hehe, yeah - not sure how I missed that =D, You know that feeling when you are about to say something - and the point of what you intended to say changes - That happened...

I`m quite sure, I`ll miss the point again in the future - it happens. Time to stop responding to posts for awhile methinks! hehe

Sorry about that


Gack

The tab that you`ve hilighted, is in place of where the lever for the aperture arm for the older lenses would couple - it`s missing on the d3000 (compare with d90) - and because it`s not there, those really old F mount (pre - ai lenses, will mount. ). That is not the reason why the 50mm 1.4 af-d didn`T work. I`m not sure why you had trouble. Locking at the smallest aperture should have worked.

[Grumby]

Ravncat
LOL - ok so you missed the point first time round, but from what you are saying, it sounds like my whole theory has just been blown out the water So there is no relationship between D-type lenses and that little button... Damn! In that case I'm back to square one - not knowing if it was a problem with that particular lens, or the 50mm 1.4, or AF lenses or... my camera

ho hum
Cheers
G

[ravncat]

I think so, if anything, you'll want to check the 50mm for a black tab - the aperture control tab, if that doesn't touch it - then there's definitely no connection. I suppose it's possible that that aperture tab has been broken off the 50mm.... All my D lenses have a little tab that connects to the other tab on the lens mount for the aperture control...