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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Do I have a mirror issue or bad batteries?
Chris McGathey, Photo Editor
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Dallas | TX | USA | Posted: 2:25 PM on 09.06.11 |
| ->> Ok I have a Nikon D300 and have not had one problem with it until now. But sporadically the mirror stays closed on a few frames. It takes the photo but everything is black when looking through the viewfinder. A few frames later it goes back to normal. So the question is is it time for a new mirror? I have been told that batteries could be the issue. Although the camera is telling my batteries are fully charged the camera thinks otherwise and could be causing this issue. Anybody have any insight, or had similar problems? I have a new battery from a D200 that I have barely used. When I threw that battery in the D300 the problem still existed. The D200 and D300 use the same batteries. These are not after market or third party batteries, these are Nikon batteries I am using. |
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Bradly J. Boner, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Jackson | WY | USA | Posted: 2:45 PM on 09.06.11 |
->> Given the fact you had the same issue with a new battery, I suspect it's not the battery.
Sending it in to Nikon is probably the only way to really figure out what's wrong with it. |
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Butch Miller, Photographer
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Lock Haven | PA | USA | Posted: 4:43 PM on 09.06.11 |
| ->> I doubt it is your mirror itself, but an indication of problems with the shutter itself ... the behavior you describe is typical of the symptoms of a failing shutter mechanism in Nikon DSLR's ... it will likely need the attention of a qualified service technician for a shutter replacement ... |
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Butch Miller, Photographer
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Lock Haven | PA | USA | Posted: 4:45 PM on 09.06.11 |
| ->> ... Oh ... and I doubt it is an issue with your batteries when the symptom appears with different batteries. |
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Gabe Souza, Student/Intern
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Boston | MA | | Posted: 4:52 PM on 09.06.11 |
->> Chris,
I had the same issue with my D300 earlier this summer. I tried everything, tried different batteries, tried it with the grip on, with the grip off.
It went to NPS the first time (with the grip) and came back with a new mirror box and cleaned battery contacts. It was fine for about 400 frames before it started acting up again. Interestingly enough, when I took the grip off, it worked perfectly fine. Turned out it was the battery contacts - not the battery itself - in the grip that was causing the shutter to misfire.
Just got the grip back from Nikon. Just over a 1,000 more clicks and the issue seems to be resolved.
So yes, I would say its possible that it is your battery and not your shutter dying. Best bet, send it to NPS and tell them what's up. |
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Eric Canha, Photographer
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Brockton | MA | United States | Posted: 4:57 PM on 09.06.11 |
->> Chris when I have had Nikon shutters blow the mirror will flip up out of the way and stay up until I press the shutter release a second time. Then the mirror resets. Sometimes a frame is recorded and most of the time I get a black frame. If the mirror is staying up until you press the shutter release a second time or are having to pull the battery to drop the mirror, in all likelihood you have a blown shutter.
I also had a case with a VERY high mileage D3 body where the mirror would flip up but sometimes only return 3/4 of the way back down. It was found that the mirror's hinge pin was riding in a hole that had worn from round to an ellipse. When shooting a burst the pin would become misaligned and bind the mirror.
One final thought.... One of my guys had a problem with his D300 and I believe that there was a service bulletin on some D300's and their mirror assemblies. I can email him to get the story. It was about a year and a half ago and I don't remember the details. |
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Gabe Souza, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Portland | ME | USA | Posted: 5:38 PM on 09.06.11 |
->> To clarify, the first time I had to send the D300 in, I do believe it WAS a blown shutter. Same symptom Eric describes with having to press the shutter release a second time to drop the mirror, that's why NPS replaced it the first time.
The second time around it was related to the battery grip. Hope that helps some. |
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Chris McGathey, Photo Editor
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Dallas | TX | USA | Posted: 6:38 PM on 09.06.11 |
| ->> Excellent info guys thanks for the insight |
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