Hi All,

I am having a problem with the Nikkor AF-S 12-24 f4 G DX IF ED with my Nikon D5100 (firmware 1.01)

The problem occurs when I use this lens in low light condition with high ISO (more than 3200). The result is there is a strange tint that occurs at such shooting conditions.

Conclusion

In July 2012, I was in Singapore and tested the new Tokina AT-X 11-16 f/2.8 PRO DX Ⅱ lens and the same issue was exhibited with that lens. The salesperson told me to report this case to Nikon Singapore and cc Nikon Malaysia. After much hunting, I was not able to find Nikon Singapore email address so I sent it to Nikon USA and Singapore website customer support. Within a week I received an email and a call from Nikon Malaysia requesting me to bring my camera into the service centre. I met up with the manager at Nikon Times Square and showed him the problem. I was able to replicate the problem on the suspected lens. The issue is now identified by Nikon. I have tested several D5100 bodies with the serial number 80XXXXX and found the similar problem with this batch. Body with serial number 81XXXXX does not exhibit this problem.

A week later, today 17/8/2012 I received my camera body and Nikon had replaced the PCB and CMOS sensor. The case is finally closed. What a relief!

I urge all users of Nikon D5100 to check their camera with this lens and send it back for warranty claim before it is too late. Do PM me if you need any help


Original Photo shot at ISO 250, 12 mm, AWB


Problem Photo shot at ISO 6400, 12 mm, AWB


Original Photo


Mosaic WB 4900K ISO 3200 (First Photo on the upper left is actual representation)


Comparison Nikkor AF-S 10-24mm f3.5-4.5 G DX IF ED and Nikkor AF-S 12-24mm f4 G DX IF ED AWB


Comparison Nikkor AF-S 10-24mm f3.5-4.5 G DX IF ED and Nikkor AF-S 12-24mm f4 G DX IF ED WB 4100K


Photo tested with Tokina AT-X 11-16 f/2.8 PRO DX Ⅱ lens exhibiting similar issue.


Photo tested after repair using Nikkor AF-S 12-24mm f4 G DX IF ED. Shot at ISO 25600 1/2000. (PCB and CMOS sensor replaced)


This post has been edited by sokdotcom: Aug 18 2012, 04:22 PM

Noise caused by camera but not lens, no?

Lens should not have effect on ISO changing, try to set at manual WB?

The problem is not the noise but the strange reddish/bluish tint at High ISO shooting conditions.

Manual WB did not help. I tried this and cannot be corrected with the white balance.

Does this happen when using other lenses? Maybe it's just Nikon's tweaking.

classic case of florescent lamp flicker
set your shutter speed lower and you'll see the difference

Blue tint would be caused by the flourescent lens flicker however the red is not. The last photo I shot towards the mall and its lit by sunlight.

all your photos are indoors lit by fluorescent light.
even not also it'll be affecting it
try shooting outside

I believe it's the fluorescent lamp flickering issue as well. What are the shutter speed for the photos taken above?

I support this is fluorescent lamp flickering issue, lens will not cause this when you increase the ISO.

I will continue to investigate this.

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Added on April 25, 2012, 10:09 pmUpdated... Stress la. What lens to buy...

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Added on April 25, 2012, 10:30 pmUpdated photos. Please advise...

This post has been edited by sokdotcom: Apr 25 2012, 10:30 PM

Flourescent lights flicker at 50-60Hz depending on where you are in the world. Make sure your shutter speed is slower than 1/50 and you won't see this issue. If it's faster than 1/60 then the camera is capturing one phase of the light only and not the complete spectrum which is what you're probably seeing.

But to troubleshoot you need to do a few things:

1. keep the settings (ISO, shutter, wb, aperture) and body constant (your D5100) and change the lens (use another 12-24 or 10-24 or 14-24 to get the same wide angle)

2. keep the settings (ISO, shutter, wb, aperture) and lens constant and change the body

Since you seem to be at a camera shop, you should be able to do this no?

If in case 1 the results are different then it's a lens issue
If in case 2 the results are different then it's a body issue

If it happens in both then it's obviously an external issue.

I'm leaning towards the flourescent flicker that's been mentioned already, and I seriously doubt that it's a lens issue because lenses are constant ie. you'll see the problems no matter what. If it's not external then something is wrong with your D5100.

Good luck.


This post has been edited by tishaban: Apr 26 2012, 07:24 AM

Learned something new
That's a new info for me, as I seldom shot faster than 1/60 at indoor without flashgun fired, so do not experience this before.

Nikkor AF-S 10-24 mm f3.5-4.5 DX IF ED lens does not exhibit this problem.

Very strange indeed.



This post has been edited by sokdotcom: Aug 18 2012, 04:14 PM

CPU having issue?

I tried 3 different Nikkor AF-S 12-24mm f4 G DX IF ED lens. Same problem.

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Added on August 17, 2012, 3:31 pmAll,

I have escalated this issue with Nikon Singapore and Malaysia and they have repaired my camera body by changing the PCB and CMOS sensor. This is the first time they have encountered the issue. I suggest everyone check their camera before the warranty expires. My camera starts with serial number 8059XXX.

Do PM me for more info.

This post has been edited by sokdotcom: Aug 18 2012, 04:20 PM

are they issuing a statement about this? are you going to bring it up to photo sites like dpreview/photography blog etc

and what is their explanation

This post has been edited by sakuraboo: Aug 17 2012, 10:23 PM

i just bought nikon d5100 with tamron 18-200mm lens and the s/n is 82xxxxx about rm2880 yesterday??do this batch hav problem??i dont have other lens ...how do i test this???i'm quiet new..

This post has been edited by alpha001: Aug 18 2012, 03:57 PM

I believe newer models 81XXXXX onwards do not have this issue as I have tested it. So far two lenses that I have tested has the issue. They are Nikkor AF-S 12-24mm f4 G DX IF ED and Tokina AT-X 11-16 f/2.8 PRO DX Ⅱ.

Do check your serial number if it is 80XXXXX and bring it to the shop to test it with the suggested lens. Shooting at 1/500 and ISO 3200 and above should bring out the orangish tint. If you are in doubt do test your camera body with the suggested lens.

Sample location of serial number


This post has been edited by sokdotcom: Aug 19 2012, 07:09 PM

ermm...where do suppose i found th s/n besides the handwritten serial no. i don't found it on the box???should it be somewhere in the model body???