Film Nikon F100 error message

TXphotog

New Member
I'm new to the F100 as I'm just getting back into film after long time. My F100 has been displaying a flashing err message after I take a shot. The pictures seem to be turning out OK but who knows if they would be much better with no error message. It's not clear what if anything is not working. I have been through the manual, cleaned contacts on the lens and the body, changed batteries and so on. I called someone who is supposed to be good with Nikon 35 mm film camera repair who told me that it's because I'm using a G mount lens. The manual and all online sources I see say G mount will work fine. I swapped it out for a non-AF D mount and got no error message but that not a fair comparison. One thought I had is that the camera is having trouble with a newer fast prime. I'm using an AF-S Nikkor 50mm 1:4 G. The manual and online forums are saying G mounts should work fine but the highly recommended repair guy is telling me that my problem is the G mount, i.e. I need an aperture ring on my lens. Does anyone have any experience with this? Thanks
 
Does the camera/lens combo actually work - i.e. can you control the aperture with the control dials in A or M mode? It's perfectly possible that the camera, while fully capable of *using* the G lens, can't *register* it correctly, so the lens is perceived as defective and an error message is displayedj; this could even be caused by the lens's firmware (maybe it can be updated). Remember that the F100 was made before G lenses were conceived ... Can you continue shooting or do you need to reset (i.e. switch off/on) the camera? And btw.: Did you cross-check the lens on a digital body already?

In theory, there are three levels of "working" you want to check: aperture control, AF, 3D matrix metering (that's only really relevant if you want to use TTL flash, though). If the first two aspects work, you can use the lens without restrictions; the last one needs a iTTL capable flash to check, but it could also mean sacrificing a roll. So, crucially, just check for delivery on AF and aperture.

In short: If it works well (AF speed, aperture control), I'd not bother too much.

M.

P.S. Welcome on board!
 
Does the camera/lens combo actually work - i.e. can you control the aperture with the control dials in A or M mode? It's perfectly possible that the camera, while fully capable of *using* the G lens, can't *register* it correctly, so the lens is perceived as defective and an error message is displayedj; this could even be caused by the lens's firmware (maybe it can be updated). Remember that the F100 was made before G lenses were conceived ... Can you continue shooting or do you need to reset (i.e. switch off/on) the camera? And btw.: Did you cross-check the lens on a digital body already?

In theory, there are three levels of "working" you want to check: aperture control, AF, 3D matrix metering (that's only really relevant if you want to use TTL flash, though). If the first two aspects work, you can use the lens without restrictions; the last one needs a iTTL capable flash to check, but it could also mean sacrificing a roll. So, crucially, just check for delivery on AF and aperture.

In short: If it works well (AF speed, aperture control), I'd not bother too much.

M.

P.S. Welcome on board!


Thank you!
It does appear to work. I can shoot with aperture priority and get good results. AF works fine as well. I have a iTTL lens at home that I can try with it when I get back there.
Tex
 
Thanks everyone. I think I figured out the problem. It's just one of those random things. I have an AF-S Nikkor 50mm 1.4 G that I love on my other camera. It's in Europe so I bought an identical lens from Adorama for the F100. It turns out that the new lens is the problem, not the camera. I've never had a bad Nikkor lens so I didn't think to test it right away. Back it goes!
 
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