D300 Error... F0 -- Help! - DPChallenge Forums

04/10/2009 09:35:48 AM · #1

Before I resort to the ultimate torture (calling customer service)... does anyone have any insight on the F0 error (with a little triangle icon) that I get on my D300 from time to time?

Here's some more detail. I used to get this periodically with my Sigma 70-200 in particular. The communication between the camera and the lens basically is lost (no autofocus, etc.) and I can see a little triangle with F0 (I think it also used to say f7 at times).

I've been able to get around it by wiggling the lens to the left or right a bit. It appears that it's simply not making good contact, and the camera flakes out and loses communication with the lens.

So I just got a new, $1,700 Nikon 70-200, and I took it to an event yesterday to give it a bit of a test run. And I was getting the F0 message like crazy! I was tremendously frustrated by it and literally have lost sleep over it considering I've got a bunch of weddings coming up and that's why I upgraded to this lens. I can generally replicate the error with other lenses (by twisting the lens to one side or the other with the little wiggle room that's there), but it doesn't seem to happen very often on its own with them.

I have already attempted cleaning the contacts (using Qtips and rubbing alcohol) to the best of my ability, but it doesn't seem like it helped. And another person had suggested that a screw could be loose either on the camera's ring or on the lens, but that all appears to be fine.

And please don't give me the obligatory "buy a Canon" response... :P

I would appreciate any help, particularly from anyone who has seen this before and actually found a solution. I have found plenty of people who have this similar problem by Googling it, but I can't seem to find out how it was solved. Thanks!

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

04/10/2009 09:47:42 AM · #2

Hi Alan, Try cleaning the contacts with pencil eraser? I have an 18-70 that I dropped out of my vehicle on the road, and it does the same thing, but my other lenses all work fine with my S3's. Make sure that the Auto/Manual switch on the lens is in place correctly, and locked into the click stop if it has that feature.
Does it work correctly every time in the manual focus mode?

04/10/2009 09:49:30 AM · #3

I had this problem. I had to bring in the lens and camera to service department. Later on firmware update was released claiming it helps with that error. So first make sure firmware is up to date. If it is, you'll have to send lens and camera in. Sorry for bad news.

Let me know how it turns out.

04/10/2009 09:54:26 AM · #4

Originally posted by MelonMusketeer:

No, it doesn't work correctly in manual focus mode. I'm a bit hesitant to clean the contacts with a pencil eraser for fear of getting particles all over the place.

04/10/2009 09:55:26 AM · #5

Originally posted by Nikolai1024:

I was hoping you'd see this thread because you're easily the most knowledgeable person I've ever met when it comes to Nikons! I was hoping you'd have better news, though! When was the last firmware upgrade... what version is it up to now? I've kept it updated, I think...

04/10/2009 10:01:03 AM · #6

Originally posted by alanfreed:

Originally posted by Nikolai1024:
I had this problem. I had to bring in the lens and camera to service department. Later on firmware update was released claiming it helps with that error. So first make sure firmware is up to date. If it is, you'll have to send lens and camera in. Sorry for bad news.

Let me know how it turns out.

I was hoping you'd see this thread because you're easily the most knowledgeable person I've ever met when it comes to Nikons! I was hoping you'd have better news, though! When was the last firmware upgrade... what version is it up to now? I've kept it updated, I think...

I think we are at 1.10
//nikoneurope-en.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/25962

04/10/2009 10:24:09 AM · #7

Originally posted by Nikolai1024:

I think we are at 1.10

Yup, I'm already current.

04/10/2009 10:42:30 AM · #8

Originally posted by alanfreed:

Originally posted by Nikolai1024:
I think we are at 1.10

Yup, I'm already current.

hmmm... then you will have to call support. I'm afraid you will have to part with your camera and lens for about a week. Don't tell them about anything you have that is 3rd party like lens or battery. Only talk about Nikon gear.

04/10/2009 11:01:40 AM · #9

Originally posted by Nikolai1024:

Actually, it IS all Nikon gear! That's what makes me all the more surprised to be having trouble with it.

04/10/2009 11:03:00 AM · #10

Is this gonna cost me $300 or some such crap?

Leo

Apple iPhone Xr

04/10/2009 11:31:47 AM · #11

Various forums suggests that the problem may lean toward the Nikon 70-200 lens...

//www.notebooks.com/2008/01/22/d300-false-low-battery-warningsworthless-dslrthanks-a-lot-nikon/

If you read reply/comment #1 to this person's post, maybe it's your new lens and not your D300...

Good luck

TonyT

Nikon D3X

04/10/2009 11:37:06 AM · #12

Allan, Does it seem like the lenses 'click' into position perfectly? All of those contacts need to align perfectly. Maybe the body is not letting the lens turn all the way and clicking into place perfectly. I don't have my camera with me now, but what message does it show where there is no lens on at all. I am sure it shows f0. It might just need a little screw turned or something like that at the service place.

I can rent my D300 body and 70-200 to you if you need it for $200 a night with a $3000 deposit.

My experience with Nikon service is excellent unless you need a part. I dropped my 24-70 and it needed a new thingy lever to adjust the aperature and it took 2 months to get it back because they needed the part.

04/10/2009 11:45:01 AM · #13

Originally posted by alanfreed:

Is this gonna cost me $300 or some such crap?

Didn't cost me anything.

04/10/2009 11:46:49 AM · #14

Originally posted by lky623:

Various forums suggests that the problem may lean toward the Nikon 70-200 lens...

I used 70-200 on D70 for long time w/o problems and started having issues a week or two after getting D300. I think it is combination of both.

kwiktor

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED

04/10/2009 12:43:16 PM · #15

I've had this problem with my d300. Right after I bought it and went on a trip to Utah. 70-200 and D300 were losing communication and sometimes it was showimg me - dead battery, even when was fully charged. I was gonna hang myself on the closest branch, but somebody on the online forum told me to use Deoxit on all the contacts. Battery lens camera etc. so I went to the closest radio shock ang got one (quite expensive I think 15$ for a small bottle) After I sprayed everything with this, no problem ever since. Hope it will solve yours too.

geoffb

04/10/2009 01:08:07 PM · #16

That F0 message with the triangle just means that the camera doesn't think a lens is attached, so it cannot set an aperture on the lens. Turn the camera on while you have no lens attached, and you'll see the same message.

As was mentioned, either the contacts are not clean or they aren't lining up properly. Since it happens on multiple lenses, my guess would be the camera.

04/10/2009 01:10:31 PM · #17

I called tech support, and they had me do a reset (holding the green buttons together). At the moment I'm not getting the error, although of course I'm skeptical as to whether that'll last for me. I think I'll try it for a while and see how it goes. If there's a bad contact somewhere, I'll wind up sending it in.

I'll have to look for the Deoxit, too. Is that widely available at hardware stores and so forth? I'm not familiar with it... (I'll gladly spend $15 to avoid spending $300 :)

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II

04/10/2009 01:12:28 PM · #18

Originally posted by kwiktor:

After I sprayed everything with this, no problem ever since.

Also... how were you applying the Deoxit? I certainly wouldn't want to try to spray anything into the area where the sensor is... could I apply it to a Qtip and rub it onto the camera's contacts?

pncowley

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

04/10/2009 01:12:36 PM · #19

Originally posted by alanfreed:

I picked up a Deoxit pen at Radio Shack a year or two ago... might be worth a quick check there if you have one nearby.

Edit to add it has a built-in tip that does a better job of cleaning than a Q-tip... less "fuzz" left-over.

Message edited by author 2009-04-10 13:20:08.

kwiktor

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED

04/10/2009 01:17:40 PM · #20

Originally posted by alanfreed:

Originally posted by kwiktor:
After I sprayed everything with this, no problem ever since.

Also... how were you applying the Deoxit? I certainly wouldn't want to try to spray anything into the area where the sensor is... could I apply it to a Qtip and rub it onto the camera's contacts?

Yeap Qtips

04/10/2009 01:24:20 PM · #21

Cool... thanks for all the help. I'll head down to Radio Shack and see if they have some.

04/11/2009 12:58:56 AM · #22

Originally posted by alanfreed:

Cool... thanks for all the help. I'll head down to Radio Shack and see if they have some.

You've been gone for a while. Did you have any luck with deoxit?

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

04/11/2009 02:05:30 AM · #23

Alan's in detox ! ? Oh, that's Deoxit,,, never-mind. Back to the program in progress : )