Z7ii w/24-70 f2.8 S: f-stop changes sometimes when I move the camera

[Digitalic]

This is a strange symptom. While making videos on Sat night I had some odd things happen and several videos were a mess. I typically setup all manual so I'm ready for some action videoing bands. At one point I saw the f-stop change by 3 values when I raised the camera. Since then, I have been able to repeat this but infrequently. I have tried may hand holds and that doesn't help; I am not bumping a button. This happened last year but a reset cleared it. This time resent does not help. Here's my settings I think are important.

D5 mech shutter

VR on but eVR off

AF-area mode single point

metering center weighted

A6 AF activation off and set to AF/ON button

It only happens on my Z7ii with this lens.

My Z6ii and other lenses do not do this, including a 14-70 f2.8 S which is very similar.

I can't understand why this only happens like 1 in 20 camera movements.

The lens may need repair, but I really don't know if such a random thing is fixable.

Can anyone think of anything I can try before sending in for repair?

 

[Wahrsager]

This is a strange symptom. While making videos on Sat night I had some odd things happen and several videos were a mess. I typically setup all manual so I'm ready for some action videoing bands. At one point I saw the f-stop change by 3 values when I raised the camera. Since then, I have been able to repeat this but infrequently. I have tried may hand holds and that doesn't help; I am not bumping a button. This happened last year but a reset cleared it. This time resent does not help. Here's my settings I think are important.

D5 mech shutter

VR on but eVR off

AF-area mode single point

metering center weighted

A6 AF activation off and set to AF/ON button

It only happens on my Z7ii with this lens.

My Z6ii and other lenses do not do this, including a 14-70 f2.8 S which is very similar.

I can't understand why this only happens like 1 in 20 camera movements.

The lens may need repair, but I really don't know if such a random thing is fixable.

Can anyone think of anything I can try before sending in for repair?

Is custom setting menu > f2 > Lens control ring set to "Aperture?"

 

[Born2Code]

In custom settings do you have "Lens control ring" set to "Aperture"?

 

[jthomas39]

I've seen other threads in past years about a mysterious aperture change. Yes, it's the control ring. You can set the Control ring to Off in the f2: Custom controls (shooting) list.

Number 7 is the control ring. 2 is the focus ring.



~~~

On my 24-120 f/4, I was bumping the outermost ring, the focus ring, while lifting the camera to my eye. That overrides and stops the AF until I press AF-On again. (I could see the red Focus Peaking dots when this happened.)

So I swapped the focus ring with the control ring. Now the new outermost "control ring" is set to Off, and the old control ring is now focus. I focus with my thumb.

On the Z6 iii: f14: Switch focus/control ring roles = On

 

[Digitalic]

OMG, thank you all. My ring closest to the camera is set to NONE but when I rotate it the aperture changes! I should have tried the ring rather than believe the setting. I have a solution to this problem. I have a large silicone band and will put it over that ring so I can't move it. I use one on an old 28-300 from my D300 because it would always extend when pointed down. I can't really say who answered the best but the first replay sent me into that setting and got me going. You helped a 72 year old with almost no memory.

I am relieved and hopefully won't destroy another gig.

Steve

 

[Nebido]

OMG, thank you all. My ring closest to the camera is set to NONE but when I rotate it the aperture changes! I should have tried the ring rather than believe the setting. I have a solution to this problem. I have a large silicone band and will put it over that ring so I can't move it.

If the "Lens Control Ring" is set to None, turning it should and will have no effect.

More likely, your settings vary depending on the user mode.

So it's best to check all U modes to see if the "Lens Control Ring" is still set to Aperture in any of the U1/U2/U3 settings.

 

[Wahrsager]

OMG, thank you all. My ring closest to the camera is set to NONE but when I rotate it the aperture changes! I should have tried the ring rather than believe the setting. I have a solution to this problem. I have a large silicone band and will put it over that ring so I can't move it.

If the "Lens Control Ring" is set to None, turning it should and will have no effect.

More likely, your settings vary depending on the user mode.

So it's best to check all U modes to see if the "Lens Control Ring" is still set to Aperture in any of the U1/U2/U3 settings.

And I’d make sure the firmware for both body and lens is current.

Nikon | Download center | NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S Firmware

 

[SGA]

OMG, thank you all. My ring closest to the camera is set to NONE but when I rotate it the aperture changes! I should have tried the ring rather than believe the setting. I have a solution to this problem. I have a large silicone band and will put it over that ring so I can't move it.

If the "Lens Control Ring" is set to None, turning it should and will have no effect.

More likely, your settings vary depending on the user mode.

So it's best to check all U modes to see if the "Lens Control Ring" is still set to Aperture in any of the U1/U2/U3 settings.

Each Ux can define the Lens Control Ring individually, and in addition PASM has it’s own setting.

 

[Nebido]

OMG, thank you all. My ring closest to the camera is set to NONE but when I rotate it the aperture changes! I should have tried the ring rather than believe the setting. I have a solution to this problem. I have a large silicone band and will put it over that ring so I can't move it.

If the "Lens Control Ring" is set to None, turning it should and will have no effect.

More likely, your settings vary depending on the user mode.

So it's best to check all U modes to see if the "Lens Control Ring" is still set to Aperture in any of the U1/U2/U3 settings.

Each Ux can define the Lens Control Ring individually, and in addition PASM has it’s own setting.

Good addition, since I only work with U-modes on my Z6, I hadn't even considered them.

Either way, this is where the cause and therefore the solution to why the lens control ring continues to change the aperture when rotated will be found.

If the OP wants to completely disable the lens control ring, he has to do and check it in every mode he uses.

Of course the settings for the "Lens control ring" that have been changed to "None" must then be saved permanently, i.e. the old U-settings must be overwritten.

 

[SoCalAngler]

OMG, thank you all. My ring closest to the camera is set to NONE but when I rotate it the aperture changes! I should have tried the ring rather than believe the setting. I have a solution to this problem. I have a large silicone band and will put it over that ring so I can't move it.

If the "Lens Control Ring" is set to None, turning it should and will have no effect.

More likely, your settings vary depending on the user mode.

So it's best to check all U modes to see if the "Lens Control Ring" is still set to Aperture in any of the U1/U2/U3 settings.

Each Ux can define the Lens Control Ring individually, and in addition PASM has it’s own setting.

Specifically, f2 for stills and g2 for video/movie