Can’t see thru my viewfinder (Page 4): It would be a deeper learning experience to make the mistake yourself, and then let your forum community offer you 15 pages of their finest...

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charlienow wrote:

No socks. I really hope you bite the bullet and share the problem. You might help some of us that may make the same mistake.

Chuck

It would be a deeper learning experience to make the mistake yourself, and then let your forum community offer you 15 pages of their finest expert advice.

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ejkmurphy46 wrote:

Does this happen in the daytime when there's plenty of light? Or does it happened at night when there is not much light? There is a setting on your camera to show you what the photograph will turn out has using the available light. Of there isn't much light and you were planning on using a flash, it will be very dark.

There are many online edumacational sites concerning the basics of SLRs. Maybe you don’t use an SLR, in which case it’s of no interest to you ? OTOH, it might help you when advising SLR users, if that is of interest to you.

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BebuLamar wrote:

Any way it's not the viewfinder shutter as the D610 has a separate cap and not a built in blind. Not the lens cap because the OP said so in the first post.
Still I am wondering what it is. My guess was that Live View is on. I really want the OP to tell.

Yup. It’s a fun puzzle, and acoarst for the very few who actually read the whole first post, such as you have obviously done, it’s even more puzzling.

Live view is possible. But unless he’s set exposure preview, AND set a rather high EV, wouldn’t you expect the rear monitor to light up enuf to tip off the user ?

I’m not arguing against live view, but just trying to keep the puzzle open to further possible puzzlement :-)

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BebuLamar wrote:

without power the viewfinder is a bit fuzzy but you can see through it.

The dead battery fuzz-out doesn’t play well with certain phrases in the opening post:
“Can’t see a thing” and “total blackness”.

FWIW I set f/25 in live view and then pulled the battery. When I replaced the battery the mirror was still up, the live view was black, and top panel showed “Err”. Took two actions to get back to normal operation

OP says the camera was last used for family snaps and beach pix so I’ve got doubts about my intentionally devious screw up being the solution.

The puzzle expands ......

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

NoSocks wrote:

I admit it. I’ve been away from my camera, a Nikon... (show quote)

No question is stupid. And The Ugly Hedge Hog is a great place to ask questions. You can also pick up a PhotoBert’s Cheat Sheet.
Basically it is a laminated page of that 650 page owners manual.

Check it Out!

Happy Shooting!

smussler Loc: Land O Lakes, FL - Formerly Miller Place, NY

BebuLamar wrote:

without power the viewfinder is a bit fuzzy but you can see through it.

Interesting. With my D5600 with no battery, the viewfinder is very dark. With a Battery but power off, the viewfinder is brighter.
I'm now wondering if Camera is draining the battery when powered off? I always leave a battery in the camera. Maybe - not a good idea?

I was thinking dead battery for OP's problem, but had to be something else.

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smussler wrote:

Interesting. With my D5600 with no battery, the viewfinder is very dark. With a Battery but power off, the viewfinder is brighter.
I'm now wondering if Camera is draining the battery when powered off? I always leave a battery in the camera. Maybe - not a good idea?

I was thinking dead battery for OP's problem, but had to be something else.

Correct. The camera is never 100% “Off”. Now that you know that, now is also the best time to forget about it ! Join the happy ranks of those who either never knew or just don’t care ;-)

charlienow Loc: Hershey, PA

It appears that this will turn into 8 pages, but only because used id has hijacked the post and is responding to everyone's post for what reason I do not know...

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charlienow wrote:

It appears that this will turn into 8 pages, but only because used id has hijacked the post and is responding to everyone's post for what reason I do not know...

If you don’t know the reason, then you haven’t read the whole thread. And thank you for adding your comment about my comments ... page 15 here we come !!!

ggttc Loc: TN

CHG_CANON wrote:

Was a lens cap involved in the solution?

BebuLamar

smussler wrote:

Interesting. With my D5600 with no battery, the viewfinder is very dark. With a Battery but power off, the viewfinder is brighter.
I'm now wondering if Camera is draining the battery when powered off? I always leave a battery in the camera. Maybe - not a good idea?

I was thinking dead battery for OP's problem, but had to be something else.

I don't have the D5600 but my Df, D1x and was D70s finder don't go dark without battery. Just a bit fuzzy and make it very difficult to manually focus in that condition.

Douglas Tharp Loc: Texas

That is what is great about the Hog, people help each other. Yes, sometimes we have “Senior moment”.

lmTrying Loc: WV Northern Panhandle

I have to assume that nosocks figured out and corrected the problem, then took off to take pictures. Maybe he will return later, or even tommorow. Untill then, I'm enjoying the banter.