Nikon D500 Rear buttons don't work
Feb 15, 2021 10:05:42 #
After using this camera on a tripod and gimbal several times a week in a clean environment (not the beach or dirt), today the buttons on the left as well as play, erase, info and information won't work at all. I can take a photo, can't delete or review, and can't use menu to reformat.
I search the internet and all I found was "maybe stuck buttons". I went over each button carefully, none look stuck to me.
I would appreciate any ideas or information about what to try before sending it off to Nikon.
I search the internet and all I found was "maybe stuck buttons". I went over each button carefully, none look stuck to me.
I would appreciate any ideas or information about what to try before sending it off to Nikon.
Feb 15, 2021 10:18:49 #
Strodav
Loc: Houston, Tx
Most of the time making sure you have a fully charged battery and using the menu to "reset all settings" will get the camera working again, but this sounds like it needs to go in for repair.
Feb 15, 2021 10:39:59 #
Feb 15, 2021 10:40:56 #
larryepage
Loc: North Texas area
Judy795 wrote:
After using this camera on a tripod and gimbal sev... (show quote)
How old is your D500? These are very complex cameras that can develop operational failures without warning. The flash control system on one of mine stopped working. Repair involved replacing both the main board and the flash control board. (And it wasn't caused by excessive flash trigger voltage.) Fortunately, it was while the camera was still in warranty.
Many folks here jump to the factory reset. I always feel that is overkill. Especially in his case, since there is absolutely nothing configurable with those left side buttons. What might be worth a try, though, is to look and test and see if any of those buttons might be stuck. One of them being stuck could disable all of them. After that, I'd call Nikon and see if they can walk you through additional diagnostics or offer other help. But I'd be mentaly preparing myself for a trp to the repair center for the camera.
Feb 15, 2021 10:43:29 #
Last year I had a dysfunctioning zoom playback button on my D4s that plagued me all summer. I did a reset, work around, etc. to no avail. I didn't want to send it in to Nikon because they estimated $395. So I took it locally to Midwest Camera Repair in Mich. They cleaned it a little, held it for a couple weeks and then said it started working on its own. No charge. Still working now 2 months hence. I don't get it.
Feb 15, 2021 10:43:56 #
The camera is 2-3 years old. I've checked all those buttons. I need to find my receipt and check my warranty.
Feb 15, 2021 11:01:19 #
fjdarling
Loc: Mesa, Arizona, USA
Even though you can't reset the settings through the menu, there might be a way to perform a full reset using buttons that are still working. Maybe some D500 users can advise you how to do that.
Feb 15, 2021 11:36:16 #
Judy795 wrote:
After using this camera on a tripod and gimbal sev... (show quote)
Are you sure there isn't some kind of lock switch that might be activated? I know that my Canon cameras have this feature. If you accidently put the lock on, it prevents the user from changing settings and locks them in.
Feb 15, 2021 11:40:58 #
Feb 15, 2021 12:08:43 #
John Maher
Loc: Northern Virginia
Nikon DSLRs have two-button reset -- press two buttons at the same time for two seconds to reset to default. The two buttons are indicated by a green dot next to each. This may not work if one of those two is one that is not functioning. Or maybe it will work for this.
Feb 15, 2021 12:30:15 #
Factory reset by holding down the Qual and exp comp buttons together for more than two seconds.
Feb 15, 2021 12:36:34 #
Feb 15, 2021 20:13:44 #
larryepage
Loc: North Texas area
Judy795 wrote:
I am thinking it might be a loose ribbon cable.
That is possibly true. From the documentation I got back from Nikon when my D500 required repair, though, it appeared that at least some of the connectors may be single use types that require the entire cable to be replaced if a connector fails.
Feb 15, 2021 21:26:46 #
Judy795 wrote:
I went over each button carefully, none look stuck to me.
When you physically press the buttons, can you actually see them moving inwards?
There's occasionally some on the left rear side of both my D300 and D800 that get gunk trapped under them because I work in hot sweaty dirty conditions with the cameras at times. I have to clean under them by using a piece of thin paper/card and cleaning the gap out.
Feb 15, 2021 23:18:56 #
Yes I can see each button move. Today I cleaned around them twice and no difference. I can see each one move down easily.
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