My D300... is it broke or what is happening?

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM for Nikon

02/20/2008 08:30:22 PM · #1

So tonight I was doing a shoot for a challenge. But I was adjusting my shutter speed and aperature different ways..etc...

Well I notced when I put my shutter at 1/500 I got this dark bar across the top of the frame. So I went through my shutter speeds and I start seeing the "bar" at 1/300 and the bar takes up more and more of the frame as I go up in shutter speed. at 1/1000 it pretty much completely blacks out the frame.

Am I doing something wrong? Or do I need to take my camera in tomorrow to get it checked out.

Thanks!

jdannels

Nikon D300s

02/20/2008 08:32:07 PM · #2

were you using flash?

brownsm

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

02/20/2008 08:34:34 PM · #3

Yep. Sounds like a classic flash sync problem.

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

02/20/2008 08:38:03 PM · #4

I was using strobes

_eug

Nikon D50

02/20/2008 08:40:51 PM · #5

Ding! Ding! Ding!

I think your sync speed is 1/250 or slower.

jdannels

Nikon D300s

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM for Nikon

02/20/2008 08:41:49 PM · #6

Originally posted by gwe21:

I was using strobes

you should look up the flash sync speed of the D300, I think it is probably 1/250 max sync speed. What basically happens when you go faster then that the shutter is closing while the flash is firing, the black lines you see is the shutter closed while the strobe is firing. But your D300 isn't broken. :)

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED

02/20/2008 08:43:19 PM · #7

gotcha! thanks a bunch!

Drake

Nikon D850

02/20/2008 08:49:26 PM · #8

On the topic of the D300.... I just bought one last week, and so far I really like it. Has anyone with a D300 had problems with an F2.8 Telephoto lens, and the camera shutting off due to a low battery signal? This happens on my Sigma 120-300 F2.8 lens, when I first aim and focus, the D300 shuts off. I turn it back on and it works OK, until I focus on another subject. I think it may be a power drain issue with this big lens? Any ideas?

jdannels

Nikon D300s

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM for Nikon

02/20/2008 08:53:54 PM · #9

Originally posted by Drake:

I got no idea on that one. Doesn't seem right though. I presume your battery is fully charged?

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED

02/20/2008 08:54:31 PM · #10

Originally posted by jdannels:

Originally posted by Drake:
On the topic of the D300.... I just bought one last week, and so far I really like it. Has anyone with a D300 had problems with an F2.8 Telephoto lens, and the camera shutting off due to a low battery signal? This happens on my Sigma 120-300 F2.8 lens, when I first aim and focus, the D300 shuts off. I turn it back on and it works OK, until I focus on another subject. I think it may be a power drain issue with this big lens? Any ideas?

I got no idea on that one. Doesn't seem right though. I presume your battery is fully charged?

do you have the battery grip with it?

Drake

Nikon D850

02/20/2008 09:02:03 PM · #11

I do not have the battery "pack" yet (the one that connects to the bottom of the camera).

rossbilly

Nikon D200

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

02/21/2008 09:49:31 AM · #12

(Drake)

Not the exact setup, but when I use a D200 with a Sigma 70-200 2.8, it gives similar results. Pop in a fresh battery & everything is fine again. The larger lenses / motors tend to sucketh quite heavily from the power source. Feed it, or go home. :D

(ERICA)

There is a way to get around the synch speed IF you are using the SB-800 flash units on the camera. Go into the flash / exposure menu & set your highest synch speed to 1/250* (yes, WITH the asterisk). This tells the camera that you are wanting a faster shutter speed, and it figures out the correct 'timing' for the shot. Only thing is, it probably won't work with studio lights... If you can't figure it out, search the strobist website for synch speed & Nikon - pretty sure that there's a good tutorial - good luck!