Nikon D3 Help Needed ASAP!

ADMIT Photography

So I'm using a Nikon D3 body with a DX lens for work. Everything was working great until I turned my camera on last night. The auto focus is off and won't focus on a object. Another issue I'm having is when I hit the shutter release button nothing happens, and when it does do something it just opens the shutter until I hit the button to release it.

I've done everything I can think of (cleaning lens, mirrors) to fix this issue but with no result. Can anyone give some tips on how I might correct this problem?

WinsomeWorks

FarnsworthPhotography wrote: »

So I'm using a Nikon D3 body with a DX lens for work. Everything was working great until I turned my camera on last night. The auto focus is off and won't focus on a object. Another issue I'm having is when I hit the shutter release button nothing happens, and when it does do something it just opens the shutter until I hit the button to release it.

I've done everything I can think of (cleaning lens, mirrors) to fix this issue but with no result. Can anyone give some tips on how I might correct this problem?

Do you know how many shutter actuations there have been? (asking because they do actually wear out. I replaced the shutter on my D1X... of course, that's a much older camera though). More importantly, can you give us all the info that's showing in the small display panel on top? Also, is there a tiny slider near where the lens attaches the body with an orange "L" and another orange line? If so, be sure the "L" is lined up with the line. My slider got bumped once & I didn't know what was going on with my shutter. I don't recall exactly how it behaved though, just that I couldn't take any photos. Depending what you see in the info panel, a manual would perhaps help tell you something.

ziggy53

It would be nice to know specifically which lens you are using.

Do you have any other lenses to try?

Have you reset the camera? (Hold down the ISO and WB buttons for a few seconds.)

What happens if you manually focus the lens? Do you get focus confirmation?

Zerodog

I had this happen on my D3s one time. I can't remember what exactly it was but whatever it was I felt dumb. I think it was a really low battery. Check that. It should work fine with a DX lens. Just will be less megapixels. Don't touch the mirror. As far as I know that is bad news

ImageX Photography

FarnsworthPhotography wrote: »

So I'm using a Nikon D3 body with a DX lens for work. Everything was working great until I turned my camera on last night. The auto focus is off and won't focus on a object. Another issue I'm having is when I hit the shutter release button nothing happens, and when it does do something it just opens the shutter until I hit the button to release it.

I've done everything I can think of (cleaning lens, mirrors) to fix this issue but with no result. Can anyone give some tips on how I might correct this problem?

Change your dead batteries.

Zerodog

I think when it happened I was using tethered capture and it sucked my batteries down really fast. So I wasn't even looking at the battery meter. Popped in a new battery and good to go.

ADMIT Photography

I tired a new battery as well before I posted this. I also tried two other lens's. I'm able to manual focus without a problem but the shutter problem still remains. I'm using a 17-55 f/2.8 ED DX lens.

I tried to reset the camera and that didn't help either.

Another symptom of the issue is the flash bolt appears red like there is a flash on the camera when I'm looking through the view finder. However there is no flash attached and the shoe is clean.

The camera currently has approx 30619 for a shutter count.

ziggy53

This is sounding more like a need to send the camera to Nikon for service.

WinsomeWorks

FarnsworthPhotography wrote: »

I tired a new battery as well before I posted this. I also tried two other lens's. I'm able to manual focus without a problem but the shutter problem still remains. I'm using a 17-55 f/2.8 ED DX lens.

I tried to reset the camera and that didn't help either.

Another symptom of the issue is the flash bolt appears red like there is a flash on the camera when I'm looking through the view finder. However there is no flash attached and the shoe is clean.

The camera currently has approx 30619 for a shutter count.

I'm still most curious about what it says in the info screen. You may be able to look it up if it's something unfamiliar. I can't remember what mine said when I had various problems, but it did help me to look it up.

Light_prod

yeah, does the screen say anything.
sometimes I bump the aperture lock off on lenses and then freak out when the camera stops working.

make sure all the manual bits on the lens are in the right spot.
is it only happening with that lens?

take it off and see if it takes a shot with out any lens on it at all.

ADMIT Photography

Light_prod wrote: »

yeah, does the screen say anything.
sometimes I bump the aperture lock off on lenses and then freak out when the camera stops working.

make sure all the manual bits on the lens are in the right spot.
is it only happening with that lens?

take it off and see if it takes a shot with out any lens on it at all.

There is no aperture ring to adjust on the lens. It's doing it with all the lens's. I also tried to do it with no lens and the shutter just stays open until I hit the release button again to close it.

zoomer

Been shooting D3 for years. If the lens is tightly on the camera, you have checked all your settings (the focus settings on the front also) and the battery and the card is fully in place.. The condition you are describing has never happened to me. Sounds like a trip to the repair shop.

WinsomeWorks

FarnsworthPhotography wrote: »

There is no aperture ring to adjust on the lens. It's doing it with all the lens's. I also tried to do it with no lens and the shutter just stays open until I hit the release button again to close it.

But.... de screeeeen, de screeeen !!! Does it say anything?!

Zerodog

Check to make sure the your focus is set to S on the side of the camera and make sure the auto focus is set to "on" on the lens. Also try another lens. What other lenses to you have to work with?

WinsomeWorks

In case it ends up needing shutter replacement, I saw this on DPReview: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1021&message=28255227&changemode=1 It's a thread where someone's mentioning that they had a shutter replaced for free after letting Nikon know that the camera was rated for 100,000 shutter actuations & theirs had only had 30,000. It wasn't a D3, but anyway, if it comes down to that, find out the minimum # of actuations the shutter's supposed to get.

ADMIT Photography

Zerodog wrote: »

Check to make sure the your focus is set to S on the side of the camera and make sure the auto focus is set to "on" on the lens. Also try another lens. What other lenses to you have to work with?

I checked all those settings before I even posted this. I'm also working with a 70-200 f/2.8, and a 10mm fisheye lens.

I'm getting no error codes on the screen either.

Zerodog

No error codes but what does the screen say? Is it showing shutter speed and aperture? Will the shutter function without a lens attached?

ADMIT Photography

yes the screen will show my shutter and aperture.The shutter just stays open until I hit the release button again to close it without a lens.

Zerodog

Do you have it set to Mirror lock up mode? That is what it does in that mode.

ADMIT Photography

Zerodog wrote: »

Do you have it set to Mirror lock up mode? That is what it does in that mode.

Not that I know of. I've got it in Manual mode which is what I always shoot in.

Zerodog

Check your dial on the left and make sure it is set to S

ADMIT Photography

it is