Lens lock

[woodpigeon]

I have a seven month old Nikon D80 and a new Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D AF lens.

Why does the lens have a ‘minimum aperture lock lever’?

With the lever in the locked position at aperture 22, I can take photographs.

With the lever in the unlocked position and any aperture from 16 to 1.8, I cannot take photographs. The shutter release button is locked and I cannot depress it, no matter which mode I am in.

Is there something wrong with the camera or the lens?

[K1W1]

You should read this thread (http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36552) it answers your question exactly. :D:D

[coldrain]

You found out why that lock is there. Keep the aperture ring at the smallest position, as you may have noticed it is your camera that operates the aperture, not you on the lens (you now just change aperture settings via the camera wheel).
The Aperture ring is there for older Nikon SLRs from the 1980/90's which did not have the camera change aperture settings.
Newer lenses that do not have that aperture ring are of the "G" generation. So if you ever hear/read someone mention G-lens, you now know what that stands for.