Mirror sticks in open position: I have a D300 Nikon that probably only has about 40,000 shots on it. Last weekend, the mirror seemed to lock in the open position after several shots. I...

d2b2 Loc: Catonsville, Maryland, USA

I have a D300 Nikon that probably only has about 40,000 shots on it. Last weekend, the mirror seemed to lock in the open position after several shots. I really did not know what to do and eventually just hit the shutter button and the mirror released. Then it happened again, several times over the afternoon. Is this a common problem? Anyone else experienced this? If so, is this just a cleaning/lubrication issue, or symptomatic of a deeper problem?

Thanks, folks!

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Are you sure you don't have your camera in the mirror up setting? If set in that setting the first pass off the site button puts the mirror up, and the second press takes the shot and puts the mirror back down. It's embarrassing when that happens.

n3eg Loc: West coast USA

It just wants to be an Olympus when it grows up.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Sorry,

My first post wan't very easy to understand because of the tablet spelling/grammar . Corrected to say:

"Are you sure you don't have your camera in the mirror up setting? If set in that setting the first press of the shutter button puts the mirror up, and the second press takes the shot and puts the mirror back down. It's embarrassing when that happens."

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

d2b2 wrote:

I have a D300 Nikon that probably only has about 40,000 shots on it. Last weekend, the mirror seemed to lock in the open position after several shots. I really did not know what to do and eventually just hit the shutter button and the mirror released. Then it happened again, several times over the afternoon. Is this a common problem? Anyone else experienced this? If so, is this just a cleaning/lubrication issue, or symptomatic of a deeper problem?Thanks, folks!

2b, This is just a wild guess, don't even know if it's possible on a DSLR.
I once bought an SLR and the mirror was stuck in the up. So I pried it back down. It had a dampening gasket made out of a dense foam-like material that must have been breaking down, had a slight bit of stickiness to it, kind of like rubber that's been ozoned to death and start to revert back to oil, or something like that.
It could be a dry mechanism or even wear on the mechanical pivots, creating a slight divot, that the rivets or whatever it has at the joints lock into. These are of course all just guesses.
Of course, trading it in on a nice Canon might do the trick as well! :lol:
Good luck
SS

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

Check the dial on the top left if set for MU then that is the "Mirror Up" position which works as Jeep Daddy described

EdJ0307 Loc: out west someplace

Reminds me of my old Exakta from years ago. The mirror popped up when you hit the shutter release but wouldn't return until you operated the film advance lever. Nothing automatic about that camera but I still liked it (my first SLR).

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

SharpShooter wrote:

2b, This is just a wild guess, don't even know if ... (show quote)

Apparently, you misread the post. This happened on a Nikon camera, not one of the many Canon models you love so much. Nikons use top-quality parts - no cheap, sticky foam. :D :D

d2b2 Loc: Catonsville, Maryland, USA

Many thanks to all - even the Canon fodder that attempted to help. It is not the settings because it only happens intermittantly. But it is gaining in frequency. I guess it is time to think about sending it off to Nikon for a full physical exam. My D7100 will have to do double duty, Iin the interim.