I am so frustrated with my camera!

06/04/2006 04:33:24 PM · #1

Back in November, my D70 started working funny during a wedding. I took it to Best Buy and they sent it out for repairs, along with my 18-70mm Nikon lens to be cleaned.

In the meantime, I got another D70 and a Sigma 28-80 lens and went on with life. The other D70 and lens came back from being worked on. I checked it out, made sure that everything was OK. All was fine, and I put the duo in the bag and put them away(for back ups).

Fast forward to last week. I was taking prom pictures for my brother and his girl with the Nikon lens (my 28-80 didn't get enough of them in the picture). This is the first time it was used since I got it back in December. When I went to process the photos, all of them were out of focus!!! I know that I had them in focus when I took them!

Then, today... I was shooting pics in the studio and I left my camera in there. I wanted to grab a shot outside, so I got the old D70 and dropped a fully charged battery in it. NOTHING! I tried another battery. NOTHING! Then I put a card in it, and the green blinking light of death started! It would blink blink blink.... but nothing showed up on either LCD screen!

So, now I am screwed! I have a big shoot next weekend and I need both cameras. But... the old one is F*$%#& up! What do I do?

I know if I take it back to BB, they are going to "send it out" for repairs. Along with the lens. Could this have happened from letting it sit too long? It didn't have a battery in it while being stored, so I don't see how it could've happened. And I am afraid that if I tell them that it was left sitting, they might not fix it. And then there the whole lens issue! Not only that, but if it needs to be replaced... they don't even sell the D70 anymore! And I don't have the extra money to drop into a D200 or any Canon products! I'm trying to save for my 70-200mm 2.8! :(

I just don't know what to do.

deapee

Kodak V803

06/04/2006 04:36:39 PM · #2

geez...not sure what to do. That's unfortunate. My d70's been in the rain, dropped in the mud / dirt, etc etc and still goes.

Your real only option is to take it to where you bought it and demand that they pay for repairs (unless it's within 30 days, then you can probably demand a replacement).

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

06/04/2006 04:38:34 PM · #3

Originally posted by deapee:

Yeah, I have the warranty from BB good for 4 years. But I don't want to have to be taking the damn thing back every 6 months to be fixed! Grrrr

BeeCee

Nikon D40

06/04/2006 04:42:22 PM · #4

Check to see if the warranty has a "no lemon" clause? Mine has, which means if you take it for repair 3 times they replace it instead. So I've been told to take it in if anything goes wrong, even still usable, rather than wait until something else goes wrong too. If they fix two things at separate times it's two repairs, but if they do two at once it's only one. Worth double checking, at least.

06/04/2006 04:48:59 PM · #5

I'm not sure if Best Buy does the whole "lemon" thing on cameras. I know they do (or did) on computers. *sigh*

Cam

Sony DSC-F717

06/04/2006 04:54:58 PM · #6

Originally posted by nsoroma79:

I'm not sure if Best Buy does the whole "lemon" thing on cameras. I know they do (or did) on computers. *sigh*

I am not really sure how that lemon law works, but I would imagine it would have to go through Nikon, not Best Buy.

06/04/2006 04:57:26 PM · #7

Originally posted by Cam:

Originally posted by nsoroma79:
I'm not sure if Best Buy does the whole "lemon" thing on cameras. I know they do (or did) on computers. *sigh*

I am not really sure how that lemon law works, but I would imagine it would have to go through Nikon, not Best Buy.

No, some places will have a lemon policy if you buy their extended warranty. Once, I bought a laptop from Best Buy. Within a week... it was messed up. We took it back, and it took 2 months to get it back. This happened AGAIN! On the third time, they really messed up! I got the laptop back, and noticed it was very different than mine - but it had my serial number on it. I took it back, and they said that it was replaced with another model and my serial number was taken off the old one and put on the new one!!!!!!! After that, we got a brand new computer.

If you take there 3 times to be fixed.... they will give you a new one, or one that is equal to the one being replaced.

Cam

Sony DSC-F717

06/04/2006 05:04:34 PM · #8

Originally posted by nsoroma79:

Well, I hope you get it resolved. I just have not had much luck with BB and returns. I think maybe its where you live or who is behind the counter, or whatever.

At any rate, the best of luck.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Nikon

06/04/2006 05:19:01 PM · #9

Thanks Cam... I hope so too!

blemt

Nikon D70

06/04/2006 05:20:23 PM · #10

Go in, ask to talk to the service department manager.

Explain the situation in a calm manner. Ask if there's any way you can get them to swap out the camera given that 1) it's been repaired previously and 2) you need it for a shoot NOW.

Worst case scenario they say no. Best case, you get someone good who is willing to cut you a break.

That's your only option in terms of your camera. (Unless you live in a city with a Nikon Repair center). If that doesn't go through, call around and find a camera store that rents out bodies. Take the oppertunity to try out some new toys. :)

quiet_observation

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

06/04/2006 05:59:43 PM · #11

Calumet Photo in Philadelphia has rentals.

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

06/04/2006 06:18:22 PM · #12

I can't afford a rental right now. I have no money... none at all.

I'm just done. My husband has me so upset over all of this! He keeps telling me that if I would've used it, and not left it sit.... that this wouldn't have happened... or I would've known sooner.

*cries*

oOWonderBreadOo

Canon EOS-5D

06/04/2006 06:23:42 PM · #13

didn't you recently post about some kind of get together? maybe one of your DPC friends can help you out of this tight spot. Well- it's worth a PM at least...

Prof_Fate

06/04/2006 08:10:21 PM · #14

Not sure on Nikons, but canon's have a small watch battery type of thing that keeps the memory alive (date/time) - does the d70 have one? could it be dead? easy fix...

have you tried the lens again? Is your dioopter set correctly? I can't see how you'd see infocus in teh viewfinder and not have in-focus pics on an slr.

diopters do get bumped - mine did somehow on my D30...find this out in the dark trying to get night shots. yuk.

_eug

Nikon D50

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G

06/04/2006 08:31:11 PM · #15

Take a deep breath and ignore your husband for a few minutes/hours/days...

- Try the diopter like Prof_Fate said (if you do manual focus it could explain why it's off).
- Try cleaning your lens.
- Try another lense.
- Take the body into a local camera shop (not BB) and ask if they've ever seen the battery issue before.

Last resort, Beg&Borrow (but don't steal). ;)

Tim

Nikon D300

06/04/2006 08:46:53 PM · #16

If this is BGLOD (blinking green light of death) then Nikon will repair it for free regardless of the waranty. It is a well documented problem with early models of the D70 and some other nikons.
link to Nikon Support for more info.
Not much help though when you need the camera - took 3 months for my brothers one to come back from repairs when he had the same problem

Message edited by author 2006-06-04 20:49:38.

_eug

Nikon D50

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

06/04/2006 08:48:36 PM · #17

Originally posted by dr_timbo:

However, it won't help her situation for next weekend... :(

ragamuffingirl

Sony Alpha NEX-5N

06/05/2006 12:15:09 PM · #18

Can you rent an extra camera somewhere? Didn't someone post a link to a site that lets you rent equipment recently?

pidge

Canon EOS-7D Mark II

06/05/2006 12:19:14 PM · #19

Originally posted by ragamuffingirl:

Can you rent an extra camera somewhere? Didn't someone post a link to a site that lets you rent equipment recently?

Yah

here

_eug

Nikon D50