Nikon Aperture Ring Messed Up. Pic Included. Help

[iflynething]

Look closley at the bottom right ring. That doesn't look right, what do you think?

I think that's why I might be having problems with this lens. Every time I seem to have a little bit of pressure on it, it seems to "stop" itself down to 2.8....an aperture that's not on this lens - the 18-135. Only goes down to 3.5. When it does this, the vibrations - if you will - feel different when it takes the picture and the images come out completely black.

Also, when I open up the ring manually with the rear cap off, the rings don't "line" up to for a circle. Well it's still octogonal in a way, but these two rings stick out more than the others. I haven't noticed anything in picture quality but wonder whats up?

Could this be the culprit?

~Michael~

[R. House]

This uneven aperture is fairly common on consumer lenses and usually not a problem. Your lens is indicating opening up, not stoping down. I would clean the contacts with alcohol and micro fibre cloth on both camera and lens. The 18-135 is a DX lens and doesn't have an aperture ring, you are looking at the blades.

[KmH]

Originally Posted by iflynething

Look closley at the bottom right ring. That doesn't look right, what do you think?

I think that's why I might be having problems with this lens. Every time I seem to have a little bit of pressure on it, it seems to "stop" itself down to 2.8....an aperture that's not on this lens - the 18-135. Only goes down to 3.5. When it does this, the vibrations - if you will - feel different when it takes the picture and the images come out completely black.

Also, when I open up the ring manually with the rear cap off, the rings don't "line" up to for a circle. Well it's still octogonal in a way, but these two rings stick out more than the others. I haven't noticed anything in picture quality but wonder whats up?

Could this be the culprit?

~Michael~

Indeed, f/2.8 is a larger aperture opening than f/3.5.

You don't mention the brand of lens.

[blumesan]

Possibly some oil on one or more of the blades causing them to stick and not close (or open) properly.

[iflynething]

Sorry guys. It's the Nikon 18-135 I bought in 2007 with the D80.

I mean to say blades but ring came out. I needed to get this thread started and choose to at 2 am so sorry for the misunderstanding. I do know the difference though!

I have heard on another forum I might be able to send it back into Nikon for warranty repair but am not sure what the length of a lens warranty is. If not that, I would have to go to a Nikon certified repair center.

I figure I'll try directly to Nikon to see where that gets me.

Like I said, though, I don't care that it's there since I"m not getting any different picture quality (that I can notice) I just noticed and don't like to know it's there. Everything needs to be working perfectly for me

Thanks for the replies!

~Michael~

[cyclohexane]

I have heard on another forum I might be able to send it back into Nikon for warranty repair but am not sure what the length of a lens warranty is

Five years in the US.

[iflynething]

Well I still have the receipt from when I bought it at Wolf Camera.

I guess the 1 year "limited" warranty is for the camera, and not the lens?

~Michael~