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Nikon D700 malfunction

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Szilard Szakacs

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Hello,
This is one of the last photos from my brand new Nikon D700:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/szili/2753074872/

It went down the third time now, and unlike the first two times, it didn't come back.

Please read the symptom and the contexts it happened and if you have any idea please let me know here or drop an e-mail to [email protected] !

The Symptom

The camera works perfectly ok until i press the shutter button. All the metering values and the focus are correct, but when the picture is taken it doesn't write any file to the memory card or some rare times it writes artifacts like this.

If I set the Mode to Live View it just flashes and doesn't start or it works but shows only a blank black screen or artifacts like above.

Contexts

This malfunction appeared three times and two times it got solved, but this time i couldn't fix it.

First time after working good for hours the error appeared after either changing the compact flash (to one previously in a Canon 20D) or after using the Live View.
I don't know exactly as I wasn't the one holding the camera.

After connecting the camera to a computer with Camera Control Pro 2.2 installed the problem went away.

Second time after taking a series of good pictures it simply refused to take shots. A simple on/off solved the problem.

Third time after changing the lens the camera refused to take pictures.
I tried the Camera Control Pro trick again, but didn't work.
Reseting the camera and the camera menu didn't work.

Some Conclusions

One thing is common in all the three cases. The lens on the camera was a used AF MICRO NIKKOR 60mm 2.8 bought in Japan recently.
The third time it was the lens I put on the camera.

I ran out of ideas, so I'm here on my holiday with basically a brick in my bag.
Please help! Any ideas can be useful!

Thank you!
 
If it's brand new I wouldn't spend any more time on it but ask for a replacement. The only thing you could do that might affect it would be to clean the lens contacts both in the body and on the lens. All kinds of bizarre behaviour have been associated with these contacts. But again, I would ask for a replacement and not waste any further time on it.
--
Brian
Fine Art Print sales of the Isle of Skye at:
http://www.eyeofskye.co.uk/
Pbase gallery Pictures from Isle of Skye
http://www.pbase.com/xrdbear
 
That's the first thing I though of too. Unless the OP has used that card in other cameras with no problem. Still, that's worth looking into. Try another card, as long as you have/can get one cheap.

Good luck! You'll love it when it works right :)

Rich
 
Thank you for the advice! I will try to clean the lens contacts today. I don't have any special cleaning stuff I hope vodka will do the trick.

The replacement is a bit problematic as I bought the camera in Japan, I live in Hungary and now I'm spending my holiday on the Maldives, where I would like to take some photos.
 
Thank you!

The camera has the problem even without any card in it. But I also tried with a supported card.

My only bet is that there was something wrong either with my recently bought second hand lens or with the lens contacts that messed up the software.

Do you know any other way to reset the camera than the two button reset and the menu resets?
 
I don't know where you're located, but at least in the USA, Nikon is pretty quick about warranty repairs. If you've only had it a week or so, it is also possible that your dealer might be willing to swap it for a new one.
 
1. Clean all contacts with deoxit or something similar (lens, body, battery)
2. Check for broken or bent pens
3. New CF card

4. Drain battery, calibrate and recharge (check manual, not all batteries do this)
5. Test with new/borrowed lens
6. Check with different batteries or power source
8. Hard reset/ rest menu
9. Format card in camera
10. Make sure it happens with more than one lens
11. Check temperature (Quick changes only)

If all of these do not solve your problem, then
Pucker lips and kiss your camera good-bye

--
Peace,
Ez

It is better to be quiet and thought the fool, than speak and remove all doubt.
 
I don't believe that the two button reset is a hard reset, the camera retains most settings as well as the clock / calendar.

Anyone know how to do a hard reset ? And what is that undocumented recessed button next to the serial number, is that for a hard reset (like the D70 et al) ?
Szilard Szakacs said:
Thank you!
If the hard reset is the two button reset, then I tried.
I also did reset all the custom menu settings.
--
Click to expand...
 
No error message. Meanwhile the whole picture taking process it acts ok, except it doesn't store the image taken or it store the artifacts.

My guess is that the image processor went crazy after some problem with the lens contacts.
 
Szilard Szakacs said:
Thank you!

The camera has the problem even without any card in it. But I also
tried with a supported card.

My only bet is that there was something wrong either with my recently
bought second hand lens or with the lens contacts that messed up the
software.

Do you know any other way to reset the camera than the two button
reset and the menu resets?
Click to expand...
Szilard, if your camera is anything like my Canons, it should have a small (watch -style) battery in it as well and in addition to the primary battery. Have you tried removing both the primary battery and that smaller battery (provided it has one) to see if it will reset the camera?

I'n not that familar with Nikons, so I am only assuming there is a backup battery located somewhere in you camera.

Anyway, I know removing both the primary and smaller batteries on Canons is quite often helpful in completely resetting the camera when the Menu Reset option fails to do anything.

Good luck to you.

--
bryan
--------
http://bryanw.zenfolio.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oakandacorns/sets/

 
Jola said:
Anyone know how to do a hard reset ? And what is that undocumented
recessed button next to the serial number, is that for a hard reset
(like the D70 et al) ?
Szilard Szakacs said:
Thank you!
If the hard reset is the two button reset, then I tried.
I also did reset all the custom menu settings.
--
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Looks like Nikon has not documented how do do a hard reset. See thread:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1021&thread=28929204
--
Bob Peters
http://www.pbase.com/bobpeters
 
Good idea, but Nikon does not use a removable battery for the settings and clock / calendar (as Canon do). They seem to use a non-removable rechargeable battery placed somewhere inside the camera.
 
Thank you! Great list.

My only hope is the hard reset, but it seems like there is no way to do it except waiting for the internal battery to run out of juice which ca be more than a month.
So most likely i have to bring it to service when i get home.
 
Thank you Bryan for your kind suggestion, but as Jola said my Nikon has a non removable internal battery which can run for months without recharge according to the manual.
 
I exchanged some e-mails with the Nikon support without much success.

The conclusion is that there is no hard reset and no firmware upload options for users.

I'm pretty sure they can have the camera fixed in a service shop but I needed the solution here and now.
 
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