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Archive 2016 · Nikon 200-500 Issue

Hrow
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Nikon 200-500 Issue

My 200-500 arrived today and took it out for a test run. Let me start by saying it is quite a lens. Very sharp at 5.6 and works great with a 1.4x. Good build quality and quite the bargain, but....

When looking thru the viewfinder of my D800 there is a thin line that is lighter than the rest of the viewfinder and runs from the bottom to about 1/2 of the way up the frame just off center. It is slightly angled and is not perfectly straight or perfectly uniform in thickness but it is not wildly erratic. Here's the interesting part. The image is fine - not a hint of a problem.

1. I have tried other lenses and it only happens with the 200-500.
2. The line is there with the hood on or off. It is not a reflection from the hood.
3. I have shot from inside a darkened room and it is still there so it is not light coming in thru the viewfinder.
4. The line basically white shows up most dramatically against off white grey subjects.
5. Mirror and and eyepiece have been checked and cleaned with an illuminated magnifier. Nothing there.
6. There isn't anything obviously wrong the lens when you look thru it.
7. Unfortunately, I will not have access to another body for several days.

Any thoughts on what it might be?

Apr 19, 2016 at 04:59 PM

Chris Court
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Nikon 200-500 Issue

What happens if you press the lens release button and rotate the lens while looking through the viewfinder? Does the line rotate also?

C

Apr 19, 2016 at 08:17 PM

Hrow
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Nikon 200-500 Issue

Good question, I'll give it a try tomorrow.

Apr 19, 2016 at 08:45 PM

Hrow
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Nikon 200-500 Issue

OK, that was a great idea. The line moves with the camera body as it is rotated so it is definitely on the mirror or viewfinder. Now the question is, why would it only be visible when the 200-500mm is attached? It isn't a functional problem but I would still love to know why so if someone has an idea....

Apr 20, 2016 at 04:49 PM

SteveS
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Nikon 200-500 Issue

Does it rotate when you turn the lens or just the body?

Apr 20, 2016 at 04:52 PM

Hrow
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Nikon 200-500 Issue

I just turned the body.

Apr 20, 2016 at 05:05 PM

SteveS
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Nikon 200-500 Issue

If it turns when the lens is turned and the body its the lens. If it turns with body only its the body. But since you dont see it with other lenses I will bet its the lens.

Apr 20, 2016 at 05:09 PM

Hrow
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Nikon 200-500 Issue

It doesn't even stutter when I move the body (even rocking the body back and forth) but maintains its position - to me that means it has to be the body but why it doesn't show up on any other lens is a mystery. Also, if it was the lens, it is obvious enough that it would show up on the images and it is not.

Apr 20, 2016 at 06:33 PM

Chris Court
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Nikon 200-500 Issue

Resurrecting this old thread, which coincidentally I see I was first to reply to, way back when.

So here's why:

I decided to sell my 200-500. Found a buyer, but when we met this morning, we observed a funny white line in the viewfinder of his D800 when the lens was mounted. I tried the lens back on my D850, and no line. We tried a 105e, 16-35, 24-70 and 70-200 on the D800, and no line. So it seems to be some kind of weird interaction between the 200-500 and the D800. Releasing the lens and rotating it in the mount, the line doesn't move, so it seems to be tied to the body rather than the lens. Looking through the bare lens, there's nothing obvious which would be causing the issue.

Due to this, the sale fell though, which I'm not too happy about. But even more than that, I'm curious as to what the hell could be causing this.

I'm certain I never saw this with the same lens mounted on my D810, and pretty sure not on my D800e, either, although those are both long sold, so I'm not able to go back and retest.

Has anyone else encountered this, aside from myself and the OP? Any resolution to the issue? Or any suggestions as to what could be causing it to occur? I'm drawing a blank.

Thanks!
C

Mar 09, 2018 at 04:53 PM

Hrow
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Nikon 200-500 Issue

I ended up only using this lens on my D500 where there isn't an issue and have to admit that I even forgot I had this problem. It isn't the lens which seems just fine. It isn't the body, which is just fine. It is the combination of the body and the lens. I have upgraded the Firmware recently so I have no idea if the problem persists or not.

Mar 09, 2018 at 07:53 PM

WarrenD
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Nikon 200-500 Issue

My guess would be it has something to do with the f5.6 of the 200-500. Do you have any other f5.6 lenses, or are they all f4 or brighter? I've seen some interesting things over the years, and I think there might be a hairline crack or something on the focusing screen. I had a similar observation back in the film days, IIRC with my F4s. I replaced the focus screen and no more problem. Couldn't see the problem even with a magnifier, but when combined with a slow lens, it was visible. Photos were not affected.
You've determined it's not the lens and since it doesn't show in photos, I'd just shoot and ignore it. Not worth replacing the focus screen as they aren't as easy to do as they used to be, and parts aren't readily available to us consumers anymore.

Mar 09, 2018 at 08:36 PM

mawz
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Nikon 200-500 Issue

Try DoF preview to f5.6 with another lens, and see if it shows up.

It may be circuitry in the focus screen that's only visible with the slower lens (combination of DoF and dimness likely)

Mar 09, 2018 at 09:07 PM

Chris Court
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Nikon 200-500 Issue

OK, so I have an update.

I don't own a D800 any more to do these tests, but I've been in touch with my potential buyer, and he's found that his D800 shows the white line in the viewfinder using DoF preview when stopped down to f5.6 with both the 16-35 and 70-200 (not sure which version).

So this begs the question, if this glitch has shown up in an identical manner in 2 D800s, is it perhaps a more widespread problem with that body? Does anybody here who's still using D800s want to try it out and report back? Would also be interesting to check D800es and D810s.

C

Mar 10, 2018 at 09:13 AM

lbloom
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Nikon 200-500 Issue

Thanks for coming back to the same thread each time. Builds a much better knowledge base as we go along.

Mar 10, 2018 at 11:08 AM

trenchmonkey
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Nikon 200-500 Issue

For shits 'n grins I tried my D810/D800/D600's with the 200-500
and saw NO white line. Threw on the 105 f1.4/135 f1.8/300 f4 PF
all stopped down to f5.6 and again, NO line. Dunno what to tell you.
Don't see the prob. if pics aren't affected, don't use DF Preview either.

Mar 10, 2018 at 11:52 AM

falconbach
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Nikon 200-500 Issue

I can try this on my D800 later tonight to see if I can see this line in my viewfinder.

I will keep you posted.

Mar 10, 2018 at 12:01 PM

Chris Court
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Nikon 200-500 Issue

trenchmonkey wrote:
Don't see the prob. if pics aren't affected, don't use DF Preview either.

Agreed, it's not a "real" problem, that would affect your images. Kind of irritating having a big white streak across your viewfinder every time you mount that lens, though. Glad you're not affected, and thanks for chiming in!

C

Mar 10, 2018 at 04:08 PM

Jan Brittenson
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Nikon 200-500 Issue

Nothing in my D800Es.

Mar 11, 2018 at 06:35 PM

dhamments
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Nikon 200-500 Issue

My D800 does not exhibit this behaviour either.

Cheers and good light,
David

Mar 11, 2018 at 09:00 PM


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