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While out shooting birds of both the feathered kind and ones with big RR engines on them, I noticed an issue with my D70.
Every so often the camera would read F-- for aperture, and then it would correct itself. I noticed why it would correct itself, and that was because I'd move the lens. Now I mentioned to a few of the D70 guys at the Melbourne meet about how I've noticed the lens doesn't seem to have a snug fit once locked in. I also believe there was a thread once before about lens movement (rotational). Now the lens movement I have with my 70-200VR attached (plus TC1.7) is enough for the lens contacts to disengage from the camera contacts. Is this a common fault? Can it be fixed?

That's known issue and problem with D70 and big or long lenses.

Especially when you have your 70-200VR attached or not attached with the TCs.

I've seen lot of people have the lens attached to the body and store in a case/ bag. The shock/ G force caused the movement greater at the later date, and it's not happened with the D100/ d2h/ D2x due to the solidity construction of the bodies.

The lens is long and heavy than the body of D70, therefore the movement will mis-aligmnet with the contacts on the D70 mount, if you have the big lens permanent attached to the D70 and in transit.

To fix it: is only returning the body back to Maxwell,

Darryl, (or is that Big Lens Kipper), I have heard of people using a straight flash bar (about 200mm long) screwed into the tripod mount on both the body and lens to gain additional rigidity. Never tried it myself.

Thanks for the replies guys.

Firstly, I think at the start I did travel with the camera and lens attached to the body in the lowe pro bag. After I read your comments about doing so I stopped immediately. Suprised that even after a short period of time it would cause damage.

Secondly, thanks for the tip Glen.

Also, while talking about the 70-200VR. Has anybody noticed any issues with shooting the lens normally and then shooting with flash (inbuilt). When I was out in the bush I shot with no flash and then flash and I noticed the a lot of movement in the viewfinder where the VR had some how gone spastic.

Darryl,

Is this something that happens with all your lens or is it just the teleconverter that does it? if the former then perhaps it is the converter that is at fault. I've no idea of the exact mechanism of the Nikon mount but I'm sure it can be tightened up. One thing I've noticed between my D70 and that of my mother's is that the bayonet mount on her camera is much stiffer than that on mine. I'd be surpised if this was due to differences in machining so I suspect its down to fitup of the mechanism during manufacture. If its bugging you I'd get it in to be looked at (assuming its under warranty still).

Cheers,

Bruce

endymion

With the lenses, the 70-200VR with or without TC is a big difference with the kit lens 18-70 or 50/1.4.

Weight and unbalance when the long or big lens mounted onto the D70 body will make big difference to the small and compact lens.

I've seen someone (our member) hold the body of the D70 instead of the 70-200 when walking with it attached to the d70.

The movement of the long lens on the d70 mount is move more than the small and compact lens.

That why, long ago, one of our members posted the thread of his 70-200VR has a moving gap on the D70, and I said it's something to pay notice when you have the D70 with the 70-200VR and it's not happenned to my D100/D2h/D2x.

At first I did that, walk holding the body. Then I started to walk holding the lens. Would be nice if they had half O rings on the lens to attach a belt

Hi Kipper,

I use the Kirk heavy duty security strap to secure my 70-200VR whilst I'm in the feild and I highly recommend it.

Check it out at: http://www.kirkphoto.com/accessories.html#straps

I once read on dpreview about a guy that had his 70-200VR attached to his D70 and was just walking about (not supporting the lens) and the lens separated from the D70 due to the considerable difference in weight. Needless to say he didn't have a securing strap on his lens and it fell about 3-4 feet, bounced off the pavement and never worked again. Small investment I reckon and as I said, I highly recommend it.

I also use the modified knob for the 70-200VR and it is far superior and easier to use than the standard knob

Have a look: http://www.kirkphoto.com/accessories.html#nikonknob

Hope that helps,

Mick.

Alternative way, go to hardware stores, buy a chain (2m long) and weld to the lens collar.

kipper wrote:While out shooting birds of both the feathered kind and ones with big RR engines on them, I noticed an issue with my D70.
Every so often the camera would read F-- for aperture, and then it would correct itself. I noticed why it would correct itself, and that was because I'd move the lens. Now I mentioned to a few of the D70 guys at the Melbourne meet about how I've noticed the lens doesn't seem to have a snug fit once locked in. I also believe there was a thread once before about lens movement (rotational). Now the lens movement I have with my 70-200VR attached (plus TC1.7) is enough for the lens contacts to disengage from the camera contacts. Is this a common fault? Can it be fixed?

Hi Kipper,

You can try your lens on another D70. If the problem goes away, it means that the problem lies with your D70 - probably due to some problem with coupling lever. The lever locks into place to prevent the lens from moving (against the direction in which you turn the lens).

If the problem only occurs when you use TC1.7, I believe that the problem lies with TC1.7. TC1.7 should not have this problem either - may be you have a defective unit. I have the same problem when I use AFS 300F4 with my Kenko Pro 1.4X. This is a known problem for many users of Kenko Pro but not with Nikon TC1.7.

While Kenko problems lies in the coupling lever and less no. of electricial contacts (the lens has 10). I overcome the problem by applying a gentle pressure in the direction of turning in mounting the lens, thereby, ensuring the meeting of all the electricial contacts on both lens and TC.

TC1.7 is newly designed by Nikon for AFS should not have the problem that you are experiencing. The lever locks into place to prevent the lens from moving (against the direction in which you turn the lens).

But having said that, I don't have the problem when using all my other lens including 80 - 200 f2.8, 18-70 kit lens, 28-70 f2.8 Tokina, 70 - 300G, 50 f1.8.

In addition, it is recommended to put the TC onto the lens and then the camera body.

Nikon had not put rings onto these lens except those heavy primes. The camera body mount is design to take the weight except those heavy primes. No where in the lens manual that it says that you must might damage the camera by not carrying the lens instead of the camera body.

regards,

Arthur

No where in the lens manual that it says that you must might damage the camera by not carrying the lens instead of the camera body.

If they tell you this then they can't sell more bodies

Hi Kipper,

Forgot to mention this. Trying cleaning all the contacts on the TC1.7 and 70 - 200VR. If there's nothing wrong mechanically, this will solve your problem.

regards,

Arthur

Oh on a side issue. I've also noticed some wierdness with the 70-200VR. While I was shooting with the inbuilt flash on, everytime I took a shot the VR mechanism would shudder, so what was in the viewfinder would move about 5mm. To prove this point I aimed a tree stump with inbuilt flash on and off. With the flash on it shuddered, without it didn't shudder. Can somebody else with a D70 and 70-200VR try this out also. I'll have to try it without the TC1.7II on aswell to see if this is causing issues.

Happened to me last night Kipper

That's known issue with the D70, not only 70-200VR, but also with 200-400VR, AF-S 300/2.8 and few other big zoom.

As I mentioned somewhere, when use the 70-200VR or bigger/ longer/ heavier zoom lens, you have to watch out the lens and D70 body.

Birdy,

Would you recommend oxy or electric to weld the chain to the collar



Nige

nigels wrote:Birdy,

Would you recommend oxy or electric to weld the chain to the collar



Nige

Electric should be better

So that shuddering, is a D70 issue and not the lens. So it doesn't happen say on the D2X body.

kipper wrote:So that shuddering, is a D70 issue and not the lens. So it doesn't happen say on the D2X body.

No, not on the D100/ D2h/ D2x

phew, was wondering a problem with my lens. Glad to know if I ever upgrade the lens won't do that

kipper wrote:phew, was wondering a problem with my lens. Glad to know if I ever upgrade the lens won't do that

and this is an inconsistently issue, may get on some D70 or may not and may not happens all the time, especially with the D70 mount and contacts.