D70s problem: "F--"

[Esoterra]

Im nearing in at 15,000 shots taken on my D70s. the other day I had my first error message. With my 18-200 Sigma lens attached, and when I zoomed in to 200mm and then held down the shutter release button half way to focus, "F--" popped up in the display. I tried turning the camera off and on to no avail, tried zooming in and out, and then then messed with the lens lock position on the side of the sigma lens. I'm not sure what pulled it out of the deathlock, but after a few seconds it was working fine. Over a 2 hour period it happened 3-4 times. Does anyone know what might be wrong? The sigma lens is a DC model so it doesnt have the aperature ring.

Thanks

[erichlund]

Im nearing in at 15,000 shots taken on my D70s. the other day I had my first error message. With my 18-200 Sigma lens attached, and when I zoomed in to 200mm and then held down the shutter release button half way to focus, "F--" popped up in the display. I tried turning the camera off and on to no avail, tried zooming in and out, and then then messed with the lens lock position on the side of the sigma lens. I'm not sure what pulled it out of the deathlock, but after a few seconds it was working fine. Over a 2 hour period it happened 3-4 times. Does anyone know what might be wrong? The sigma lens is a DC model so it doesnt have the aperature ring.

Thanks
Don't know. The only thing I can say is that Nikon email support is fairly quick, sometimes within hours. I have no experience with Sigma support. Other than that, you can try isolating the issue by writing down the things you did, then do them one at a time until the problem fixes itself, then do it again but in a different order the each successive time. If one actiion always fixes the problem, bingo.

Also, try jiggling the lock switch. If that can cause the problem, it may have a faulty contact.

[DonSchap]

Contacts do get dirty, especially in high humidity environments (Florida, Georgia... Mexico?). Removable electonic ones, especially. You may want to go after the lens or camera contacts with some suggested cleaning solution or have the local camera shop give them a light scouring, with vacuum attached (We certainly don't need any more dust or micro-miniture metal shavings or particles in our camera semsor cavity, do we?). :rolleyes:

Inspect closely for contamination, also. Use a manifying glass if you have one. There might be something readily apparent with the quick and closer look at the contacts. You basically know, via customer service, which particular contacts are involved with aperature feedback. You might concentrate on them, initially.

Just some quick and dirties...

Good luck and please tell us what you find out.