With the D7000 and any of Nikon's "CPU" lenses that have an aperture ring you must lock it to minimum and adjust the aperture via the sub-command dial. The chip inside the lens tells later model SLR's and DSLR's what kind of lens it is. "Non-CPU" lens like the manual focus AI and AI-S, etc won't cause the error. (see below)

With older lenses like the AI-S, you can go into the Setup menu and add it in the "Non-CPU lens data". Punch in focal length and min aperture and it will allow you to use it in aperture priority and manual modes. (note: these lenses also allow you to adjust aperture on the fly in video)

The full lens compatibility chart is on pg 270 in the manual.

Edit: also yeah, the alternative aperture setting thing as above. Forgot about that.

@Apprentice

Your problem sounds a bit different than OP's.

How were you trying to change the aperture through the back display? Were you using the command dial or were you trying to highlight the aperture with the directional pad?

@HG

Thanks for the tip! I checked the setting on my D7K and the hint thingy ma jiggy does say that you still use the command dial for G lenses. Tried it with a G lens too and I still could set the aperture through the dial without changing the setting back. This is the text from the camera:

"Aperture is set with a command dial if the lens is not equipped with an aperture ring."

I had a similar problem a couple weeks ago when I was shooting at night. I was trying to change the manual settings through the monitor screen and couldn't get the aperture to change.

My solution:
Turn off the monitor and do all the manual settings through the LCD screen on the top.

For whatever reason this works for my D7000. Seems like a glitch for not being able to make these changes through the monitor screen but at least it works through the LCD.

I don't have your lens yet so I can't confirm if we're having the same issue but try it...

Cool, HG. I wasn't aware of that.

Thanks all for ur feedback. Will give all suggestions a go. Nice to b here and hopefully will get to know people as we go along. Thanks stecka2

steka2 - I have a D7000 and the same lens. To use the aperture ring instead of the control dial, you go into the "controls" settings, "customize command dials" and then choose "aperture ring" under the "aperture setting" menu. The only problem with doing this is that I'm not sure whether you have to change it back to the control dial every time you change lenses to a gelded (non aperture ring) lens. Hope that helps!

As far as I know, you can only adjust aperture with the aperture ring on AI-S lenses. Like msmoto said, AF-D lenses need to be set to smallest aperture or you get an error message.

My guess is that you need to adjust the aperture setting on the D7000 via the menu, it might be the front or sub-control ring, and the shutter speed is the rear or main control ring. This is how it is on a D90, D4. Check the manual, and if you do not have it..

http://support.nikonusa.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/17008

is where you can download it from Nikon. OK, it is on page 71. On the D lenses they require, I believe, that you lock them on the smallest aperture on the modern bodies and allow the body to control the aperture which the lens goes to during exposure.

And Welcome to NRF.

I have a 50mm 1:4 D lens for obvious reasons however i find that when attached to my D7000 and having the camera in full manuel it will only shoot when the aperture ring is set to 16. if i release the lock and adjust the aperture ring to any other aputure my camera will not allow me to take photos. any ideas welcomed. must be something simple that this goose has not worked out i am sure. :-)