D40 shutter delay problem!

Hi all. I bought a Nikon D40 six months ago and it has been working great until recently that it developed a strange problem with its shutter mechanism.

The camera occasionally has a long delay between the time I fully pressed the shutter button and the time the shutter is actually triggered. Sometimes I need to keep pressing the shutter button for 1-2 second before the shutter mechanism is activated. This delay happens even when the camera is half-pressed and focuses properly (red focus indicator is lit). So this delay is definitely not caused by the camera not focusing. This delay happens in both good light and bad light situations. Although it seems to be worse in low-light and low-temperature environment. It was very bad when I took some photos at the Grand Canyon 2 weeks ago. It also happens with all the lenses I have. The strange thing is this delay only happen occasionally, not every time I take pictures.

I was advised by a photographer friend that it might be caused by the contact point of the lens and the body. I contacted Nikon but the technician I spoke with has no idea about the cause and would like me to send the camera in. But before doing that, I'd like to know if any Nikon owners in here encounter a problem like this. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Nick

Is it just in one mode or all of them? Trying it in S mode might help narrow down what is going on. Just a thought.

Greetings. Please check if you have the red eye reduction turn on by accident.

Hope this helps.
Doods

Might be worth doing a camera reset (there's a button under the connector cover)

Thanks for the suggestions. I've tried them all but the shutter delay is still there. Anyone else that had this same problem I have? Thanks.

Nick

That sounds a lot like a dirty button to me, although 6 months is not a lot of time, with sweat and dirt entering inside the camera button it may cause the button to misfire sometimes, of course it will focus since that is another contact on the same button.

This happened to me on a few buttons on some of my bodies altough in more than 6 months of use, but that depends on a lot of things. If this is really your case you can get a contact cleaning spray and clean it yourself, take the battery out and spray the button, the liquid will find it’s way in there and clean all the dirt, press the button a few times too to help.

Not sure if it’s your case but it’s worth a shot.

BTW you can also try firing your camera with a remote just to make sure, if it fires promptly that it most certainly is a dirty button issue.

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Regards,
Fernando

http://fernandobatista.smugmug.com

I'd just like to update on the shutter delay problem that I previously posted here. Maybe it will be useful to those who might encounter this kind of problem in the future.

A few days after I posted this thread, and just before FernandoBatista replied to my thread, I sent my D40 to Nikon for service. I waited for like 2 weeks and just received my camera back this afternoon. To my dismay, Nikon enclosed a form saying that they could not duplicate the problem that I stated, but they updated the firmware, clean the sensor, etc. I felt even worse when I later discovered that the delay problem was still there (on both lenses that I have) when I tested it. I was very frustrated about that because I can't stand using the camera with such delays, but at the same time I don't want to give it up because I always love the results from my little D40.

Then I thought about this thread, which I had completely forgot about, and came back to read the last message replied by FernandoBatista. I thought that this might be the cause of the problem but then again I don't have any cleaning solution. So I made an easy way out by using sort of a brute force. I just fully pressed the shutter button and, while keeping it pressed, turned it for several turns. At first I felt some minor friction but after a few turns it became very smooth. And as you might have guessed, the delay problem is totally gone!! I can't believe I went through all the trouble of sending it to Nikon and stuff while it can be solved by just turning the shutter button a few times!! Why Nikon technicians couldn't duplicate the problem is beyond me though. Thank you very much FernandoBatista for your suggestion, you were right on about the dirty button contact.

I apologize for the long message but I am just happy that my camera is back to normal and that I can go out and shoot again. =)

Nick

FernandoBatista said:

That sounds a lot like a dirty button to me, although 6 months is not a lot of time, with sweat and dirt entering inside the camera button it may cause the button to misfire sometimes, of course it will focus since that is another contact on the same button.

This happened to me on a few buttons on some of my bodies altough in more than 6 months of use, but that depends on a lot of things. If this is really your case you can get a contact cleaning spray and clean it yourself, take the battery out and spray the button, the liquid will find it’s way in there and clean all the dirt, press the button a few times too to help.

Not sure if it’s your case but it’s worth a shot.

BTW you can also try firing your camera with a remote just to make sure, if it fires promptly that it most certainly is a dirty button issue.

--
Regards,
Fernando

http://fernandobatista.smugmug.com

Click to expand...

Too bad I didn't noticed your post before then, I could have saved you a trip.
I'm glad it turned out well for you in the end.

These problems are common in the most used buttons, shutter button, back exposure wheel, joystick, etc, they are often related to dust and can be easily cleaned at home, you can use solutions like this two:

http://www.itwcp.de/contentcenter/content.php?action=details&rubrikid=494&ID=403&template=detail_tpl_produkte_en.html

http://www.soselectronic.com/?str=371&artnum=33190

Any of them will do the job.

I'm amazed that nikon service didn't do anything about this though.

--
Regards,
Fernando

http://fernandobatista.smugmug.com