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NX500 "Check the Lens" Problem

Started Apr 9, 2015 | Questions
Mathariman
Mathariman New Member • Posts: 4
NX500 "Check the Lens" Problem

I have had a NX500 for about a week now, and I have two prime lens with it, so I swap between them every-so-often. Several times now, I have had a problem with the camera body not recognizing the lens. I can swap to any of the lens after this happens, but none of them are recognized.

The first few times, I was able to gently clean the contacts on the camera body and on the lens, and I was able to get the camera to communicate with the lens once again. When the lens is not recognized by the camera body, the aperture is displayed as "F--" and the only focus option is Manual. Oddly, when the camera and lens are not communicating, I can detach the lens and the screen will alert me "Lens Detached," and when I re-attach it, it will read "Lens Attached," although there is still no communication between the two.

I have tried turning the camera off, detaching the lens, re-attaching the lens, and turning the camera back on. I have tried detaching and re-attaching the lens with the power on. I have removed the battery for various lengths of times ranging from a few minutes to overnight (8+ hours). And until this morning, the only thing that has worked was cleaning the contacts on the camera body and the lens (which is not working anymore).

I am really just curious if anyone else is experiencing similar problems, and would perhaps, have any other suggestions. My next, and only option left, is to send it into Samsung for service =/

Thanks, all!

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Coldamus Senior Member • Posts: 2,281
Re: NX500 "Check the Lens" Problem

Mathariman wrote:

I have had a NX500 for about a week now, and I have two prime lens with it, so I swap between them every-so-often. Several times now, I have had a problem with the camera body not recognizing the lens. I can swap to any of the lens after this happens, but none of them are recognized.

The first few times, I was able to gently clean the contacts on the camera body and on the lens, and I was able to get the camera to communicate with the lens once again. When the lens is not recognized by the camera body, the aperture is displayed as "F--" and the only focus option is Manual. Oddly, when the camera and lens are not communicating, I can detach the lens and the screen will alert me "Lens Detached," and when I re-attach it, it will read "Lens Attached," although there is still no communication between the two.

I have tried turning the camera off, detaching the lens, re-attaching the lens, and turning the camera back on. I have tried detaching and re-attaching the lens with the power on. I have removed the battery for various lengths of times ranging from a few minutes to overnight (8+ hours). And until this morning, the only thing that has worked was cleaning the contacts on the camera body and the lens (which is not working anymore).

I am really just curious if anyone else is experiencing similar problems, and would perhaps, have any other suggestions. My next, and only option left, is to send it into Samsung for service =/

Thanks, all!

It is not a common NX problem, though not unknown.

By way of explanation, two factors are involved in recognition of the lens.

(a) There is an electrical contact/switch near the lens lock.  When you fit a lens and turn it until you feel or hear it click into place, the switch is depressed and signifies to the camera that a lens is attached.  Presumably "Lens Attached" and "Lens Detached" messages are generated by interrogation of the status of this switch.  Yours seems to be working ok.  The most common cause of problems related to this is the use of legacy or non-native lenses via an adapter.  Many of the cheaper and even not-so-cheap adapters have poor manufacturing tolerances.  Sometimes their mount flanges are not thick enough to depress the switch.  There are various work-arounds for this such as the use of tape or epoxy.

(b) The camera detects the identity of native NX lenses via corresponding data pins of the lens and lens mount.  As you've already tried cleaning those pins, examinine them closely to see whether any are damaged or if any are depressed more than the others.  If no obvious damage, perhaps there is a loose or intermittent internal connection to one or more of the pins.  Any problem would more than likely be on the camera side as you've tried more than one lens.  If it is nothing obvious that you can fix yourself, I guess you will have to send the camera in for service.

creaDVty
creaDVty Senior Member • Posts: 1,431
Re: NX500 "Check the Lens" Problem

I think you should avoid changing lenses with the power on. I think it is similar to pulling the plug on or suddenly plugging in an electrical device that's on. If that's something you do regularly it could have damaged the chips in your lenses and could be why you are having that issue. But I understand some say that this is an unnecessary precaution.

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Mathariman
OP Mathariman New Member • Posts: 4
Re: NX500 "Check the Lens" Problem

Thanks for breaking it down for me, Coldamus.  I am planning to send the camera in for service just was soon as the Service Repair applet on Samsung's website is working again =/  If I get any specific information back from this about the problem I am having, I will report it back here for your reference.  Thanks again!

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Mathariman
OP Mathariman New Member • Posts: 4
Re: NX500 "Check the Lens" Problem

CreaDVty, thank you for taking your time to provide your insight with me.  I am sure I have changed the lenses more than once with the power on, so it could have something to do with this, though I have not been given any specific information from Samsung.  It will definitely be something consider in the future.  Thanks again!

 Mathariman's gear list:Mathariman's gear list
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tekhiun New Member • Posts: 3
Re: NX500 "Check the Lens" Problem
1

Mathariman, one thing that you should be aware is that it is generally a bad a idea to have your camera on while changing lenses, mostly due to the fact that the sensor could attract more dust to it due to static power. Can't say that it was the cause for your problem but it's a good thing to know in general for mirrorless cameras.

mdavidp Senior Member • Posts: 2,436
Re: NX500 "Check the Lens" Problem

So what was the issue?

Mike P

Skipper494 Forum Pro • Posts: 11,264
Re: NX500 "Check the Lens" Problem

Seems you are removing and attaching the lens with power on. The manual warns against that.

Nevada Landscapes
Nevada Landscapes Regular Member • Posts: 227
Re: The answer
2

I realize this thread is almost two years old, but I recently bought a used NX500 and I ran into the same problem with a Rokinson - check lens.  The answer is to turn the mode dial to P, S or manual.  You will get this message if you leave the camera in the "Auto" mode.

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VisualFX
VisualFX Senior Member • Posts: 1,241
Re: The answer

Nevada Landscapes wrote:

I realize this thread is almost two years old, but I recently bought a used NX500 and I ran into the same problem with a Rokinson - check lens. The answer is to turn the mode dial to P, S or manual. You will get this message if you leave the camera in the "Auto" mode.

Manual, Shutter priority or aperture priority. Common sense when using a manual lens.

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icbcht New Member • Posts: 1
Re: NX500 "Check the Lens" Problem

Hello everyone, I am new here, and I know now it's 2021. I also got similar problem with my NX500, I have search answer on google but still not solved, so I decide to reply here, hope I can get some tips (so sad I can't send it back to Samsung camera cs for repairment now )

I got my NX500 before it it was discontinue. I have many samsung AF lens(16mm/20mm/30mm/45mm/16-55mm/12-24mm/50-200mm)and I also adapt many MF lens to it (like M42 mount/Nikon ais mount/Leica L39 mount/Pentax PK mount/DKL mount etc.)

Recently I regret to buy a new C-NX adapter to try C mount cine lens on nx500, It turn out to be lack of infinity,and the side effecet is I got this problem.

When I put the above mentioned samsung AF lens on my NX500, it can't show the aperture (just showing "F--") , and only MF focusing is available. and then I have to keep the power on, turn lens down, it shows" lens detached", and then put it back to the body it shows"lens attached", now the AF lens work perfectly.  I can still use my camera but the problem is pretty annoying cause I have to do this detach and attach each time I turn off the camera or wake up from sleeping mode.

I am sure that the pins on the body is clean, and all my af lenses are working ,but I can't still get any clue on the problem, wish I have some luck on this post.

Best Rgds.

kypfer Contributing Member • Posts: 985
Re: NX500 "Check the Lens" Problem

icbcht wrote:

Hello everyone, I am new here, and I know now it's 2021. I also got similar problem with my NX500, I have search answer on google but still not solved, so I decide to reply here, hope I can get some tips (so sad I can't send it back to Samsung camera cs for repairment now )

I got my NX500 before it it was discontinue. I have many samsung AF lens(16mm/20mm/30mm/45mm/16-55mm/12-24mm/50-200mm)and I also adapt many MF lens to it (like M42 mount/Nikon ais mount/Leica L39 mount/Pentax PK mount/DKL mount etc.)

Recently I regret to buy a new C-NX adapter to try C mount cine lens on nx500, It turn out to be lack of infinity,and the side effecet is I got this problem.

When I put the above mentioned samsung AF lens on my NX500, it can't show the aperture (just showing "F--") , and only MF focusing is available. and then I have to keep the power on, turn lens down, it shows" lens detached", and then put it back to the body it shows"lens attached", now the AF lens work perfectly. I can still use my camera but the problem is pretty annoying cause I have to do this detach and attach each time I turn off the camera or wake up from sleeping mode.

I am sure that the pins on the body is clean, and all my af lenses are working ,but I can't still get any clue on the problem, wish I have some luck on this post.

Best Rgds.

I'd suggest that one or more of the contact pins in the camera body has got sticky, else the adaptor you had trouble with has possibly bent one or more of the pins.

Examine them carefully with a magnifier to ensure they are all straight and that they move in and out freely.

The lens attached/detached message is generated by a different contact, operated by the lens bayonet when the lens is fitted.

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