J1 shows blank (black) viewfinder unless zoomed all the way to 30mm

At any other (10-29mm) focal length the screen turns black. Does this seem like an issue with the lens and/or body?

(Or maybe I'm being dense with a setting somewhere—I've tried manual mode and messed with ISO settings).

If you haven't sent your 10-30mm lens in for the free service check, I would suspect that it is the dreaded lens error. Sometimes people get an error message and sometimes they don't. Maybe it is something else, but the lens error is a known issue and doesn't cost you anything (Ok, maybe a shipping box) to send it in and have it serviced. I would eliminate that first before considering any other possibilities.

Here's the service advisory and how a person can send in their lens (shipping is also free) from Nikon USA. People from different countries will need to find out the correct info for their region. Nikon USA service advisory for 10-30mm lens

DesertCat said:

I would suspect that it is the dreaded lens error.

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Thanks a lot! We're sending the lens in now.

Follow-up: sent the lens to Nikon, received it back in working condition. Thx all!

It seems this offer from Nikon has recently expired (Jan, 2021). Does anyone know what the fix is for this problem?

jtheires said:

It seems this offer from Nikon has recently expired (Jan, 2021). Does anyone know what the fix is for this problem?

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You missed it by 5 days! I am not sure what actually breaks in this instance but 10-30's are pretty cheap on the used market.

Paul Pasco said:

jtheires said:

It seems this offer from Nikon has recently expired (Jan, 2021). Does anyone know what the fix is for this problem?

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You missed it by 5 days! I am not sure what actually breaks in this instance but 10-30's are pretty cheap on the used market.

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Probably the same stupid gear that breaks in the other lenses.

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Yeah - 5 lousy days. My thoughts exactly.

As it turns out, I tried the camera again with the 10-30mm lens, and it came back to life (magically)!

Thanks for your reply.