hlindseyjr

Hello to all! I was shooting a wedding and everything was going along just fine, it was time for the bride and groom to kiss! I was waiting for the perfect moment to press the shutter release. The perfect monent happened I pressed!!! And nothing!!! I was TOTALLY freaked out! I had a spare camera available for the rest of the wedding but THAT shot was lost! I have never gotten a satisfactory answer to what may have happened! My camera has not malfunctioned like that since, but I have been concerned about that possibility ever since that happened. I was shooting with a Nikon D-5100 and a Nikon SB 910 flash. I was also using a San Disk 16 Gig Exteme Pro data card. Any ideas on what may have happened.

queencitysanta Loc: Charlotte, North Carolina

Get better equipment, your reputation depends on it.

ELNikkor

It might have been that the camera was waiting for the flash to be fully ready. I also have a D5100, and the maddening times it has decided to "think about it" when I've needed perfect timing, it had something to do with the camera wanting to be completely ready. (Another time, it was because it didn't "think" the focus was ready yet!)

whitewolfowner

Possibly the lens f stop ring had come off of the smallest f stop setting. When this happens the camera will not fire. That is the first thing that comes to mind.

jerrye1000 Loc: New Jersey

Maybe the battery pooped out? or maybe you had the self timer on accidentally or otherwise? I did that once. I forgot to take self timer off and thought there was something wrong when the shutter was not released upon pressing shutter button.
those are my thoughts. also, did you try the memory card in another camera?
I would like to know if you figure it out.

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

I can't remember if the 5100 does this but you had it set not to fire unless it was in focus? I've done that a few times with my 7200.

Gitchigumi Loc: Wake Forest, NC

Perhaps it couldn't find focus for some reason. I think if you are in any of the automatic modes, the shutter won't fire unless the image is in focus. Likely due to lack of contrast in the image at the focus point, or, just not enough light. However, since you were using a Nikon flash, perhaps that unit did not lock in on the range, thereby preventing good focus which, in turn, prevented the shutter from tripping. Or, the flash was rebuilding the charge for the next actuation and wasn't ready yet. I've had that happen, too!

Dannj

Agree. I haven't used that camera but the same thing is happened to me with similar ones in "Auto" modes for these reasons.

Nikonman44

don't take this wrong. I have a granddaughter who tells me I am very good with camera and have a sense about what to shoot and when. Its the moment you press the shutter that captures the moment.

My little one now 14 tells me "I think its operator error. Out of the mouths of babes!

Back to your issue. Even though the 5100 is not a "pro" it is a great camera for sure.

There are numerous things that could of caused the problem. Seeing as how the unit continued to work after the problem and has not replicated the issue, it probably was OE.

Yesterday I was shooting a big event with the governor, congressman and too many dignitaries to count.

I currently have a fractured wrist (left) and the cast will accidentally move the AF switch. I wind up with great shots but the focal point causing out of focus areas.

I lost about five shots I needed but with other coverage I just deleted the few bad ones.

On the Kiss, if that happened to me I would of finished shooting the wedding party and then asked the bride and groom to remain for one or two shots.

Send the other folk to the reception and then ask them to pose for a couple of special shots, including the kiss.

Making a fabulous close up of their waist up Nuptial kiss and insert it back in th order of the ceremony.

Good luck

hlindseyjr

Wow! Thank you for all for all the possibilities and suggestions! I actually did have the couple pose the kiss and they were wonderful about it! But I don't even BELIEVE the level of terror I felt at that moment! I have used the data card since then, without incident. The only other thing that happened similar to that, was the time I grabbed my camera in a hurry and had forgotten to put a data card in! I had spare cards and it wasn't a special shoot. THAT made me wonder if (maybe) data cards have a suggested lifespan etc. Last question! When SHOULD you replace or destroy a data card? Are there any signs or symptoms to be aware of? Have a great day to all! And thanks again! This has been great!

Nikonman44

The only indicator I have seen and or heard of is they get slower at recording the image. That could be an old wives tale but I think its actually true.

Just like rechargeable battery's . after so many recharges they also die.

Tet68survivor Loc: Pomfret Center CT

Just how "dead" was your battery at that moment! When doing important shoots, I change batteries before they cause a problem, I have had low battery fail to actuate the shutter a couple of times, hence change batteries often!

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

Were you using a battery grip? Reason I asked is what once happened to me. Camera worked fine in horizontal position. When I switched to vertical (and used the grip) nothing, made sure the grip was on, still nothing. Changed the batteries- nothing. Finally realized that the grip was not properly tightened, and therefore was not connected. In other words= pilot error

Tet68survivor Loc: Pomfret Center CT

AH! Magic word "Autofocus"! In Autofocus if the camera didn't have time to lock on that is exactly what you get, sometimes Autofocus is not as great a thing as it is said to be! I think I'll take back my comment about dead battery.

BebuLamar

A lot of possibilities and you will have to do the investigation because it's hard for us to do. We are not there when it happened. Try to gather as much information as you can. I doubt that a more reliable camera would solve the problem because the OP camera really didn't malfunction