D500 VR Lens compatibility, Fog per Manual

[Ilkka Nissilä]

So if 300s exposure at ISO 6400 causes a clear artifact, at ISO 51200 you'd need about 30 seconds for a similar effect, I guess. Shorter exposures or lower ISO, less artifact.

[charlie]

Charlie,

"They basically told me to stop taking pictures with my lens cap on." Very very funny.

So how high an ISO can be used without this effect, if in fact this is what Nikon is referring to?

Nick

Funny indeed. While they make a good argument I did discover this on actual picture. A long exposure night time image. 

I use the D700 & D800 so I 'm not sure when this might appear with high ISO as I don't really go above 3200. Out in the real world with the lens cap off its never been a problem for me besides very long exposures, which I don't do to often.

That said I set the lens to f/2.8 & the D800 to ISO H2.0 which is roughly 25600 equivalent and saw the first faint signs of "the red fog" at a 4 second exposure so I would guess it starts to appear somewhere around the following settings or some other variation of these exposures:

f/2.8 ISO 25600   @ 4"
f/2.8 ISO 51200   @ 2"
f/2.8 ISO 102400 @ 1"
And so on.

If this is in fact the fog they speak of it should be easy enough to test, which I encourage someone else to do and share the results.

[Andrea B.]

That excerpt from the manual makes absolutely no sense. Why in the world would Nikon tell you NOT to use these lenses on any camera?

Also I cannot find this in my D500 (English) User's Manual???
EDIT: I did find the warning on page 324 of my printed manual.
FWIW, I have used both the following lenses (and 3 other Nikon VR zooms) on my D500 with VR turned on and have seen no "fog". I do follow the usual precautions about not using VR on pod and understanding that at certain speeds VR is more of a hindrance than a help.
AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70–300mm f/4.5–5.6G IF-ED
AF-S NIKKOR 16–35mm f/4G ED VR

[Nick Scavone]

My D500 arrives Wednesday. I will put it to the test at a variety of high ISOs with VR off, using my 70-200 2.8 g (among the many other banned "fog" inducing VR lenses). We shall see what comes of it. I'll keep you all posted.

Nick

[David H. Hartman]

I did one test: I tried an AF-S 105/2.8G ED Micro-Nikkor on a D800. The lens was set to f/2.8 and the exposure was 5 minutes at ISO 6400 with VR on. I saw nothing. Later when I have time I'll try a 30 and 60 minute exposures with VR off.

I'll have to download a D500 manual and see if this lens is on the list.

Dave

[Nick Scavone]

Here is the complete list from the D500 manual.

AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 24–120mm f/3.5–5.6G IF-ED • AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70–200mm f/2.8G IF-ED • AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70–300mm f/4.5–5.6G IF-ED • AF-S VR Nikkor 200mm f/2G IF-ED • AF-S VR Nikkor 300mm f/2.8G IF-ED • AF-S NIKKOR 16–35mm f/4G ED VR • AF-S NIKKOR 24–120mm f/4G ED VR • AF-S NIKKOR 28–300mm f/3.5–5.6G ED VR • AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8G ED VR • AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/4G ED VR • AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18–200mm f/3.5–5.6G IF-ED • AF-S DX NIKKOR 16–85mm f/3.5–5.6G ED VR • AF-S DX NIKKOR 18–200mm f/3.5–5.6G ED VR II • AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 85mm f/3.5G ED VR • AF-S DX NIKKOR 55–300mm f/4.5–5.6G ED VR

[Bjørn Rørslett]

I have in general few VR lenses, but could tick off a few on that list. Will experiment when I return home after the weekend.

My AFS 105/1.4E, with me on my trip, certainly did not provoke anything untoward, but then it is not VR (fortunately).

[charlie]

For what its worth now when I am testing the issue shows up with VR On and it is not there when VR is Off. Not sure why earlier it was always there whether VR was set to On or Off. 

[Bjørn Rørslett]

I have tested my D500 with AFS 28-300/3.5-6 Nikkor and AFS 200/2 Nikkor VR 1. None of these show the issue within the range of conditions available for testing. My lens arsenal isn't exactly filled to the brim with VR lenses as I deliberately tried to avoid them ...

I found the idea of a "low-powered LED to inform the system of the position of the VR elements" to be pretty far-fetched. Much easier to think of an internal circuit on the motherboard that is concerned with the VR control and management, and generating heat or electronic noise under a set of conditions (high signal amplification==high ISO, long exposure).

[Ilkka Nissilä]

If you can make the artifact happen, it should be easy to test whether it is light from a photodiode that is causing the problem. Just insert a black piece of paper to cover the lens rear element and see if the effect disappears. If it does not, then it is probably electromagnetic interference.

Please do not hold me responsible if you do this test and end up with pieces of paper in the mirror chamber 

[PedroS]

Can't reproduce with the 200f2
Don't have any of the others.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

Tried D500 with the 300PF. No issue. Even violently shaking the rig during the exposure to ensure VR continuously engaged did not produce any flare? Putting a strong torch light straight into the lens distance window likewise did not result in anything unusual.

I'm feeling like I'm chasing ghosts at this stage of the affair.

[PedroS]

Dito with the new 70-200 and 400
Nada...

[Nick Scavone]

Thanks for the tests all. Strange that Nikon would make such a big deal of the issue. Perhaps it only arises at max ISOs, or perhaps it is an error in translation. My d500 arrives Wednesday. Hope my results mirror yours. Looking forward to spending time with this camera.

Cheers,

Nick

[Bjørn Rørslett]

I ran the D500  with ISO up to H4, which is approx. 800K ISO. No flare in these tests.