camera problem (Page 2): Hi, I have both D80 and D90, among others. My D80 Shutter has been in a death spiral for a while. It (at first, would mess up once in a while, then worse and...

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

biersteiner wrote:

I mistakingly typed D90 should be D80

Hi, I have both D80 and D90, among others. My D80 Shutter has been in a death spiral for a while. It (at first, would mess up once in a while, then worse and worse. I could clear it for some time with a depress of the Depth of Field button at the same time I pressed the shutter button, but that does not last. Sorry to hear of your issue, probably not recoverable. I think mine was basically toast by 5K clicks.

This was apparently a recall issue way back when, and I bought mine used, it probably never was in for the fix..... Mine sits in a glass case as a "shelf queen", shame, it looks brand new.

I have two of the D90's, (my old workhorse and a hardly used backup), and highly recommend the D90 as a great beginner camera. Rather than put any effort into the D80, I'd suggest picking up another body, a little newer. If you don't need the screw drive for AF, there are other options in the D3XXX and D5XXX models, if you have a mix of screw drive lenses and lenses with built-in-motor, then you'd want a D90, or D7000/D7100. Since moving on to the D7100 and D7200 mine don't get as much use anymore, but they still make great photos. Even though only a 12.9 MP sensor, it has the larger pixels, and they do a good job.

Sad situation, but good luck with what ever route you take.

nadelewitz Loc: Ithaca NY

biersteiner wrote:

I recently purchased a Nikon D90 for my granddaughter who is showing an interest in photography.
After taking the first picture the mirror remains in the up position. Has anyone who uses this or has used this camera experienced this problem? And would anyone have a remedy I could use to try and fix this?

This is an old camera. Where did you get it? Were you able to test it before buying? Was there a guarantee? Can you get your money back?

It is not worth having any professional repairer look at it. I refurbish donated cameras at a reuse-recycle business. Have see numerous cameras with bad mirror and shutter mechanisms. All-mechanical cameras can sometimes be coaxed into working. Electronic cameras.....on the junk pile.

Bill P

Independent repairers sometimes can actually fix a faulty item, using generic parts and supplies from other sources and may even have "donor" cameras available as a parts source.[/quote]

I had an independant repairman that I used faithfully over the years, he was one of the only 5 or 6 independent repair shops to be authorized by Nikon to perform warranty service. He had several shelving units piles with donor cameras. I always took that shelf as a lesson. I never got a Minolta, Miranda or Bronica camera, there were more bodies of those three brands that everything else put together.

carl hervol Loc: jacksonville florida

check to see if you have the mirror in lock up

biersteiner

The camera was purchased at a yard sale for very cheap. Owner knew nothing about it. Looks almost brand new so for $10 it would have been a great starter for my granddaughter. I can manually move the mirror down but it immediately pops back up. Did not have a battery when I bought it but some you win and some you lose!
Thanks all for your response

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

biersteiner wrote:

The camera was purchased at a yard sale for very cheap. Owner knew nothing about it. Looks almost brand new so for $10 it would have been a great starter for my granddaughter. I can manually move the mirror down but it immediately pops back up. Did not have a battery when I bought it but some you win and some you lose!
Thanks all for your response

Try something once. Turn on the camera, put it in M mode, manually hold down the mirror, press and hold the shutter release button. You should hear a buzz, and the mirror should lock down. Remove the battery and let it sit overnight. Next day reinsert the battery and see if the mirror stays down. If so, turn the camera off and turn it back on and trip the shutter with no lens attached. If the mirror locks up the PCB is shot. If it returns to position you are good to go. Mount a lens and shoot away.

George in McKinney Loc: McKinney, Texas

I have a Nikon D2Xs with a similar problem recently. It was working perfectly, then for no reason, I couldn't get the shutter to release. I had installed a new, highest speed Lexar CF card available. After a couple months of wondering why the camera would turn on but shutter refused to acute. I removed the high speed card to use in a D810 and replaced the card in the D2Xs with an old Lexar card that had been used in it 15 or so years ago.
Shutter problem solved. It appears that the newer , high speed memory card was a problem for the older Nikon camera. Check and see if the card in use in the D80 is an older compatible card.
Good luck,
George

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

biersteiner wrote:

Same problem no change with a fully charged battery I tried cleaning the contact points on the lens and inside the camera body where the lens attaches. Still get the flashing Err and the mirror in the up position. Thanks

Sorry to be a downer, but that happened to a Df which I purchased used from Roberts. Fortunately they picked up the tab from Nikon repair. But Nikon repair was my only avenue to resolve the same problem you have.

Harry0 Loc: Gardena, Cal

There are quite a few Youtube videos on this ...
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=nikon+d80+err+mirror+stuck
Mine was: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmQV6YuHcpw

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

amfoto1 wrote:

It may well be the problem that MT Shooter has noted... a failed PCB board. That would be impractical to repair. If it's even possible to get replacement parts, the cost of the part and labor involved in replacing it would likely be far more than the camera is worth (check eBay for recent D80 sales, to get some idea of value).

But before giving up completely on the camera, remove the lens and GENTLY use your finger nail to see if you can "encourage" the mirror to drop back down.

Over the years I've seen some cameras develop a problem with foam light seals, located around the perimeter of the focus screen and against which the mirror presses when it's flipped up. With age, some of those foam seals get "gummy" from the adhesive that was used to attach them. In some cameras this can cause the mirror to get stuck in the up position.

If the mirror drops down with some slight "encouragement", it would be worthwhile to look further into having it repaired. Now, I am not familiar with it and don't know if the D80 even has this type of light seal or is prone to this problem. But, if it does and IF this is the problem, it's a relatively cheap and easy fix. Most any independent (and possibly local) camera repair shop worth its salt can get "generic" foam seals and install them, after removing the old ones and the adhesive that's "gone bad".

If that's not the case and if some other simple mechanical problem isn't found - i.e., if it's something more serious like a failed PCB - the camera is most likely a "goner" and it's time to start shopping for a new one.

Forget Nikon Factory Service... they likely don't even work on D80 any more. Instead consult an independent repair shop. "Factory" repairers just replace parts when things fail and they stop working on models once their stock of replacement parts are exhausted. Independent repairers sometimes can actually fix a faulty item, using generic parts and supplies from other sources and may even have "donor" cameras available as a parts source.

It may well be the problem that MT Shooter has not... (show quote)

Find another for parts and fix it yourself just for S & giggles...nothing like taking apart one of these bad boys. If you can't reassemble, nothing lost. If ya need more time to kill that is.

Carnpo Loc: North Carolina

I have been using vintage Nikon SLRs. Most of them need new light seals and mirror bumper. On them there is a mirror bumper. As old as your camera is it may be stuck due to deteriorating foam pad. See if a gentle tug on mirror solves your problem.