D2X Manual setting being overridden?

cooligPhoto

Hi All,

My first post.

I have recently acquired a D2X and did some studio work over the weekend. I had it set to manual: Shutter 1/160, Aperture f/2.8 - this kept changing!!!

The shutter setting didn't change but the aperture kept changing on me. It seemed like the camera was correcting things on me as the photos were fine but I'm used to having the camera do what I tell it in manual mode.

I'm not sure if it's relevant but I did change lenses part way through and the lens I switched to only went to f/3.5 - maybe this caused it.

Has anybody else stumbled on this or does anybody know about it?

I switched to my old faithful D80 at the end of the shoot.

Thanks,

Paulw

Were you using auto-ISO or something like that?

I've no idea of the Nikon, but I do believe that auto-ISO can cause similar problems.

cooligPhoto

I have ISO set manually. Everything was set manual. Exposure compensation was on but, according to the book, it is ignored in manual mode.

I do notice that there is a facility on the D2X to lock (using the 'L' button + command dials) the Shutter and/or Aperture. It seems a bit odd if I'd have to set it in manual mode and also lock it!!!

eas

sounds odd alright,

the only things I can think of off the top of my head is that -

1) you where in shutter priority (not manual)

2) you where using a lens with variable aperture. Where you using a macro lens by any chance?

3) your camera is defective....:(


auto iso should not override your aperture settings.

cooligPhoto

I'm going to do a few tests tonight.

I was wondering if the camera was "hunting". I'd set the aperture to 2.8 then switched lenses to one that didn't have 2.8 ?

I will see if that is what's happening and, if it is, try it on the D80 too.

eas

eas wrote: »

sounds odd alright,


2) you where using a lens with variable aperture. Where you using a macro lens by any chance?

what lens where you using when this was happening?

cooligPhoto

I'd switched from a Sigma 28-70 2.8 EX to the standard Nikon 18-135 3.5-5.6 (G type) kit lens that came with the D80.

eas

cooligPhoto wrote: »

I'd switched from a Sigma 28-70 2.8 EX to the standard Nikon 18-135 3.5-5.6 (G type) kit lens that came with the D80.

If I'm understanding this right, you put on a 3-5-5.6 lens and expected the camera to use 2.8?

If I'm right, then what is happening is what should happen. The camera can only use the lowest aperture that the lens will allow. In this case it will fluctuate between 3.5 and 5.6 depending on focal lenght.

If it was fluctuating aperture while using the sigma 2.8, then there's something wrong.

hope that helps

cooligPhoto

You're understanding sort of right. I'd switched from a 2.8 lens to a 3.5-5.6 lens but I didn't expect it to use 2.8 - it was an oversight on my part that I didn't notice until further into the shoot.

I think I'll stick to the 2.8 in future shoots. Just that the 18mm is handy in a small studio (my dining room).

Pics came out great though - some are at www.flickr.com/photos/cooligphoto

cooligPhoto

Thanks for that - a weight off my mind.

I tested last night and was able to replicate it.

You'd think after almost 30 years photography, I'd work that out myself.