lsaguy Loc: Udall, KS, USA

Does turning the camera off reset the shutter?

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

Do you have your camera set so that it will not fire if focus is not achieved? Mine is set that way. And sometimes at the oddest times, it cannot find focus.

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

When this happened were you shooting in burst mode (multi-frames in quick succession) ?

One possibility would be a filled buffer waiting to complete transfers to the card (was the little light lit on the back of the camera body?). If it was focussing and shooting outdoors (on a sunny day?), then wouldn't, but would focus and shoot in the car, sounds more like a timing deal, rather than low light hindering focus capture.

Another possibility is dirty contacts between lens and body. Take the lens off and clean the contacts on the lens and (very carefully) on the camera body (up inside the opening, top front) use a microfiber or non-linty cloth with just a hint of alcohol and rub the contacts, same with lens. Reattach lens and see if you get a repeat. If the camera is 3 years old and you've never cleaned the contacts, this is a possibility.

Another would be an un-intended adjustment, look at the menu (and your manual) concerning shutter release, A/F and metering, make sure you didn't inadvertantly set something you didn't mean to (like timer, shutter delay, or some such). A reset can often pull you back to a fresh start.

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

If you don't get "ERR" issues on your display, it's probably an operator issue.

GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan

1st thing, I do not own your type of camera.

That said, there have been times my cameras have really acted up in a similar way as your camera and that was because of this.

As I walked around with my camera at my side, it every so often would bounce on my body just the right way and change a setting. Totally unbeknow to me. This went on for several years before I figured it out.

Amielee Loc: Eastern Washington State

Don't know about Nikon but my Canon will do the same thing if focus is not acquired. Drove me crazy a few years ago until I discovered the cause.

Cyberkinesis70 Loc: Northern Colorado

My D3400 and my D5600 won't release the shutter, using the shutter release button, unless focus is achieved. In low light conditions or when there are multiple objects to focus on the auto-focus will hunt, when the release is pushed half way. I resolved this by using spot focus instead of matrix. if you give the camera a single point to focus on it won't hunt as much. I, also changed to back-button focus and either AF-C continuous or AF-A auto. If you use back-button focus and you don't press the AF-lock button, the camera will take a picture even it the scene isn't in focus. If you don't want to press the button, you can always manual focus and then release the shutter.

tommystrat Loc: Bigfork, Montana

You are correct sir!

kfcam Loc: Fort Myers Florida

If all the above fails, on most Nikon Cameras you can RESET the camera. There are 2 buttons you have to hold down at the same time. I am not familiar with your camera, check the manual. If this fails, then there is a problem with the camera.

Silverrails

Do you know what this setting is called?

Ichiban365

On my Nikon D5500 it is called AF-C Priority Selection. It is actually the first entry, "a1", in the Custom Settings menu.

In AF-S (Single-servo AF) the shutter can only be released if the camera is able to focus. The option is only available in AF-C (Continuous-servo AF).

The AF-A (Auto-servo AF) mode switches from AF-S to AF-C depending on whether the subject is moving. So it may or may not fire when the subject is out of focus.

vg Loc: Kansas City area

I think it is a focus issue. Read the manual