D80 problems

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Alan Wrigley - 08 Jun 2008 11:37 GMT

A year ago I bought a Nikon D80 with an 18-200 VR lens. The lens is an
absolute beauty and I have no complaint with it, but the camera has
left me seriously underwhelmed. Apart from a number of other
irritating niggles, the main problem I have is that it is extremely
temperamental about when it's willing to take a picture. It often
refuses for no apparent reason, in good light so I don't think it's a
focussing problem.

This morning I went out in the beautiful sunshine and missed over half
the shots I wanted because it just wouldn't take. I was using a
freshly-charged genuine Nikon battery. When I switch on the battery
indicator shows full, but when I go to take a shot it flashes empty
for a while and then goes back to full. I may then be able to take the
shot... or I may not.

Is this a known problem with D80s or Nikons generally, or have I got a
rogue? I never ever had this problem with my old Canon 300D and I
really wish I hadn't upgraded. It may only have been 6MP but at least
I got the pictures.

Alan

Reply to this Message

G Paleologopoulos - 08 Jun 2008 11:58 GMT

>.......................................
> Is this a known problem with D80s or Nikons generally, or have I got a
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Alan

You may have a rogue.
May I suggest you substitute a known good battery first and, if no joy, to
the shop with the camera.

Reply to this Message

Willy Eckerslyke - 09 Jun 2008 09:56 GMT

>> .......................................
>> Is this a known problem with D80s or Nikons generally, or have I got a
>> rogue? I never ever had this problem with my old Canon 300D and I
>> really wish I hadn't upgraded. It may only have been 6MP but at least
>> I got the pictures.

By far the most common reason for mine to refuse to shoot, is lack of
focus. This is nothing to do with the light level, but caused by the
focus zone (dark rectangle in the viewfinder) falling on a plain area
that doesn't contain any detail. This can be avoided by using a
different focus mode or by pre-focusing by half pressing the shutter
button while the focus zone is positioned over something contrasty, then
repositioning and pressing the shutter button fully down.
As long as beep is turned on in the menu, you should be hearing a beep
when the camera successfully focuses.

> You may have a rogue.
> May I suggest you substitute a known good battery first and, if no joy,
> to the shop with the camera.

Agreed. It's not a problem I or a colleague has ever had with our D80s.

There does seem to be a slight fault with the lens contacts on these
cameras, but that's different. We've both found that they'll
occasionally indicate that the lens is not mounted properly (by flashing
"F" and refusing to shoot). Twisting the lens slightly in its mount
remakes the contact and then it'll be fine for a few weeks/months.

Reply to this Message

Michael - 08 Jun 2008 18:37 GMT

> A year ago I bought a Nikon D80 with an 18-200 VR lens. The lens is an
> absolute beauty and I have no complaint with it, but the camera has
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>
> Alan

The Nikon F never did that. But it used that old fashioned item called
"film." On the other hand, you could kill a mugger with it and not even
dent it.

Signature

Michael

Reply to this Message

Mark Dunn - 10 Jun 2008 17:14 GMT

> > A year ago I bought a Nikon D80 with an 18-200 VR lens. The lens is
> > an absolute beauty and I have no complaint with it, but the camera
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
> --
> Michael

They weren't that tough- Don McCullin's never worked again after it stopped
that Viet Cong bullet!

Reply to this Message

Geoff. Hayward - 09 Jun 2008 10:53 GMT

>A year ago I bought a Nikon D80 with an 18-200 VR lens. The lens is an
> absolute beauty and I have no complaint with it, but the camera has
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>
> Alan

Hi Alan,

I had a similar problem with my D70s when I first bought it. At the time I
had two 512mb memory cards, a jessops and a kingston. The camera
peroidically just refused to operate and I either waited a few minutes or
switched it on and off a few times. Eventually I self diagnosed!!! that it
only occurred when the kingston card was in the camera. When I used the
jessops card it was always OK. I now use a couple of sandisk 1gb cards (on
the nikon approved list) and have had no problems at all.

HTH,

Geoff.

Reply to this Message