Nikon D7000 grossly overexposing in M and A-priority mode, with a low apperture.

The pictures attached have all three been taken as metered by the camera in aperture priority mode. (the results are identical in manual mode, if you follow the metering indicator)

Album:

7000


The first (3827) is taken at f/3.6, the second (3828) at f/22 and finally the third (3830) is at f/22 with -4 compensation as is evident in the EXIF data also attached.

For some reason, beyond my understanding the camera insist that the scene is much less bright than it is when in low apertures. It just gets progressively worse from f/11 and upwards to f/22. It's consistently overexposing by something between 4 to 5 stops. So it's "fixable" with the exposure compensation, however, i find it fiddly and time consuming to do this on the fly every time i want to shoot a frame at low apertures.

Is this just a fundamental issue with my sensor, or is the meter calibrated incorrectly?
Or is there just something i'm missing. Please help me fellow shooters!
Kind Regards,
Kippos

You didn't say what kind of metering you were using? Centre? Spot (if so, what off?)? Average? Multi? It's a tricky scene to expose for unless you know exactly what you want exposed properly and instruct the camera accordingly.
--
Panas0n!c Lum!x FZ-38

Just now thought of one more thing:

Could it be that the interface between the camera and the lens is faulty, and the camera simply isn't telling the lens to stop down to the correct (requested) aperture?
Just a thought.

ChrisLumix said:

You didn't say what kind of metering you were using? Centre? Spot (if so, what off?)? Average? Multi? It's a tricky scene to expose for unless you know exactly what you want exposed properly and instruct the camera accordingly.
--
Panas0n!c Lum!x FZ-38

Click to expand...

I have tried every combination at all 3 metering modes and it consistently happens, whichever scene i try to shoot.

Oh, and both multi and average for center weighted!

I think that's unlikely if it's producing good exposures in other situations.

Kippostar said:

Just now thought of one more thing:

Could it be that the interface between the camera and the lens is faulty, and the camera simply isn't telling the lens to stop down to the correct (requested) aperture?
Just a thought.

Click to expand...

Your lens is probably not closing down for the exposure; it might be mechanically stuck. Take some pictures with the lens wide open and see if the exposure is correct for those.
--
Leonard Migliore

Exposure is "picture"perfect at wide open.
I might go and have my lens looked at, after all, warranty is still in effect!

Kippostar said:

Exposure is "picture"perfect at wide open.
I might go and have my lens looked at, after all, warranty is still in effect!

Click to expand...

For a quick check, set the lens to f/22 or similar and hit the DOF preview button while looking into the lens. You should see the diaphragm close down. If you don't, something's wrong with either the lens or the camera.
--
Leonard Migliore

Thanks!

Sadly, it seems somethings is indeed wrong.. or i guess that's good news. At least now i know that it is not just an inherant flaw in the camera. (it's my first dslr, what do i know)

I hit the DOF button, and the first couple of times it darkens the viewfinder down as it should, but with a varying delay of anything between ½ a second to 2 full seconds.. alas, having tried it for a bit, to verify results, it simply ceased to set the aperture upon request from the DOF button.. (also tried looking down the lens, as you suggested, but no moving parts where visible, so i reverted to testing by the brightness of the viewfinder)

I'm guessing the delay points to a flaw in the mechanical operations of the lens, would this be a correct assumption to tell the repair guys?

Thank you all for your help and assistance!
Kippos

If you cannot se anything moving when you press the DOF button and the lens is set to f/22, then something is really wrong.
--
Less is more

I need to try this experiment as well. What should move when I press the DOF Preview button? All I see is the iris of the lens closing and then opening when I release the button.

I do hear this twang springy sound though...

RunOrDie226 said:

I need to try this experiment as well. What should move when I press the DOF Preview button? All I see is the iris of the lens closing and then opening when I release the button.

I do hear this twang springy sound though...

Click to expand...

That's excactly what you're looking for!
So your lens must be working as intended!
That twang sound is probably just the mechanics fuzzing about.
The iris and the diaphragm blades of the lens is one and the same thing!

RunOrDie226 said:

I need to try this experiment as well.

Click to expand...

No you don't, you really don't. I mean it, you have no reason to do this.

RunOrDie226 said:

What should move when I press the DOF Preview button?

Click to expand...

Your finger, and the button.

RunOrDie226 said:

All I see is the iris of the lens closing and then opening when I release the button.

Click to expand...

Ahh, I get you now...

RunOrDie226 said:

I do hear this twang springy sound though...

Click to expand...

You're a troll.

--
Rob.

Free advice, freely given. If you don't like it, I'll refund you twice the amount you paid me.

For anyone interested.

I took the lens to the menders and they ascertained that it was indeed the diaphragm blades that were stuck.

Thanks to everybody who contributed in helping to find the answer.
Now i'm just waiting to get my lens back^^

Kippos