Odd D90 problem F--, --mm - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS II USM Lens

09/03/2010 11:08:39 AM · #1

Hey all

Was out shooting recently, on a very hot and humid day and noticed that shutter button felt slightly sticky.

Occasionally, while trying to shoot bursts on high (4.5 fps) I got the occasional batch of frames that looked completely black. On closer inspection, once downloaded, could see very faint images of what I was trying to shoot.

The EXIF data gives a perfectly normal reading for the shutter speed and ISO, but the f-stop simply reads F-- and --mm for focal length. I was shooting on manual with the 18-200, so it was not a lens compatibility issue, as is suggested in the trouble-shooting guide.

I had made absolutely no changes to the settings. and while near water at the time did not drop it in or get it wet in any way.

Any ideas? I really don't want to send it in and hope it is just a problem pertaining to the humidity.

hahn23

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

09/03/2010 11:22:11 AM · #2

I've had that happen with my Canon 5D. While I don't know your camera, the problem might be the constraint of the CF card write speed. There is also a buffer limitation, but I think the D90 hits the write constraint at about 11 frames before it hits the buffer limitation. More info here. Don't know if you were shooting RAW and I don't know what CF card you were using. A possible solution is to use a faster write card. I'm sure the Nikon folks have more info.

Citadel

Nikon D7500

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

09/03/2010 11:24:30 AM · #3

mmm...I wonder if the contacts are dirty or something. Its like the camera isn't communicating with the lens.

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

09/03/2010 11:28:20 AM · #4

Originally posted by hahn23:

hahn23, sounds like you may be right. Frankly I bet Ryan (

Magnumphotography) would agree with you there. I was using a fairly low-end CF card and was shooting RAW.

Citadel, that was my first thought too, but I keep my contacts clean. And it was only sporadic, it didn't happen all the time but just enough to cause some concern. Otherwise I'd be having kittens right now! :-)

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

09/03/2010 12:21:05 PM · #5

Here's the thing... the files were recorded, so unless there was corruption, I don't see how the CF card is at fault. Since you got an actual image, i really doubt that the files were corrupted.
Rather than a black frame, you are getting a radically under-exposed image. My guess is that the lens is stopped down all the way (f/22? f/32?) so you are multiple stops underexposed. The lack of focal length and aperture information along with the physically wrong aperture setting leads me to believe that a lens communication issue is at the heart of the problem. Next step would be to determine if you can replicate the problem, then determine if the problem goes with the lens, or stays with the camera body. It may be contacts, or it may be something else entirely. good luck on the troubleshooting.

MikeO

Fujifilm x100

09/03/2010 01:41:27 PM · #6

Did a quick search and it seems others have had this problem

D90 - blank images

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

09/03/2010 01:56:11 PM · #7

A pencil eraser works great for cleaning contacts. Sharpen the eraser as you would the pencil to have a small point to work with. If you do the ones inside the camera, be sure to hold the camera in a position that will allow anything that comes lose from the eraser to drop out without going into the camera.
This works good for battery contacts as well, which could possibly be where this problem is originating. There is a big load on the battery and it's connections when you shoot a burst, because the shutter motor and processor are both running hard.
Try shooting bursts at slow shutter speeds, like 1/8 sec, so that you can hear the shutter, and see if it sounds the same with each capture during the burst. The computer may be telling the shutter X/X sec, and the shutter may be lagging about getting reset to take the next shot due to low voltage.

Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED VR

09/03/2010 02:47:44 PM · #8

Originally posted by Sevlow:

Did a quick search and it seems others have had this problem

D90 - blank images

Close, but that poster says she gets the f-stop reading. Mine doesn't. However did shoot today around f.8 1/320 ISO 100, as singles, bursts on H and L. Just practice stuff, it seems fine now. And I never have cleaned the battery contacts inside the camera. Wondering if that could be it, though I always keep a charged spare battery in the plastic cover.

Thanks all for your help and input!

littlemav

Nikon D90

09/03/2010 09:37:13 PM · #9

Susan,
Ron had a weird prob with his new 300s at a rodeo ... I can't remember exactly what it was.. but it turned out as best as he could tell, the contact rings between the lense and the camrea had a tiny bit of dust that made it miscommucate.. He shoots in a lot of dusty conditions at those rodeo's.. I'll call and tell him to check this thread out..

Rmac

Nikon D4s

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

09/03/2010 10:18:51 PM · #10

Hey Susan, I did have a camera problem very similar to this a year or so ago...Turned out to be a lens problem, had a couple of aperture blades sticking. I would get partial exposure, but not full. I wouldn't say for sure that is your problem, but the symptoms were the same. It would clear up and be fine for awhile and then start again, especially under heavy use..