BebuLamar

My Nikon Df is acting up again. From time to time the meter quits working but not most of the time. I would send it to Nikon but only afraid of that when it's there the problem doesn't show up and I would be ended up with an unfixed camera and some charges.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I had an intermittent problem with my D700. I called them, explained what was going on, and they had me send it in. A few weeks later it was returned, and the problem has not been around since. Intermittent problems are the worst to try to diagnose. However, if you explain to them that you’d like them to take whatever time is necessary to fix it, that might help, as well.
--Bob

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Just like taking a car to a mechanic, "SOMETIMES it makes this funny noise."
If the mechanic cannot replicate the "funny noise", chances are he cannot fix the problem, especially on the first try.

marty wild Loc: England

I had an intermittent fault on my 70 to 200 f2.8 sent it back to back to Nikon UK twice the first time it was chargeable I returned the unit within the 6 month warranty the charge for my fixed lens was £469.00. My only advice is put your camera through hell and high water, if you have it fixed.

BebuLamar

So it's kind of difficult for me to make the decision. The problem actually surfaced more than 8 months ago. In the middle of March the meter suddenly quit in a middle of a shoot. I could finished the shoot by switch to manual and guess my exposure setting. When I got home I found that it would work fine in live view but not when I use the viewfinder. It makes senses because in live view the metering sensor in the viewfinder is not used. When the viewfinder is used it acted like you have the lens cap on regardless where the camera is pointed to. It would display a real long shutter speed in A mode and flash the meter bargraph. I called Nikon and they said to send it in but I have a shoot at the end of March as well as a wedding early April so I decided to wait until I did the wedding. Late March while I was on the shoot it started to work again intermittently for 2 days and then it started to work fine without a problem. It worked fine since the beginning of April until a couple of days ago. It started to have the problem again. Right now it only has the problem for a few seconds after I turn it on. Sometimes a bit longer. I do notice that when I till the camera I can make it to work or not to work. So definitely there is a problem but if Nikon doesn't see that when they have the camera then the wouldn't fix it. One thing that bothers me is that the tech I talked to on the phone said it's impossible for the meter to work in live view but not when I use the viewfinder. Obviously he doesn't know that the camera uses totally different metering circuit in the two modes.

Keen

Send it, and see what happens. As a backup, get a hand held meter to use when the problem resurfaces....if it does. Be Prepared.

BebuLamar

I have 2 great hand held meters but I don't really need a meter to shoot. When I did the shoot without the meter I did quite well. Few shots are more than 1 stop off and all can be corrected in post as I shoot RAW. I don't say the meters are useless in fact because I have them I kind of know what settings to set without them. When you use the meter a lot you started to notice.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

I have never used the meter on my Df because my eyesight is impaired, and I cannot focus on the readings.
I usually shoot manual, always RAW; and take my chances.

BebuLamar

I do use the built in meter when I shoot in A mode but when I shoot in manual I generally set the exposure first before bringing the camera to my eye. So although I do fine without the meter, it hurts knowing my camera is not working as it's designed.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

The camera not working as it was designed would disturb me as well.
I stress about small things too much.

BebuLamar

Well it's my toy and unlike tools which only have to do the job, toys have to be perfect.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

armymsg

Can you use your phone to take a video of the problem when it occurs?

BebuLamar

I think I can although I have to video thru the viewfinder to show that the camera indicates severe underexposure while pointing at bright light.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Since you've narrowed down the problem, they'll know where to look. Even if it doesn't act up for them, they should be able to replace the component that's causing the problem. If you do nothing, the problem will not cure itself.