Help, my Nikon died

traveller (Bo) · #1 27-11-2011, 09:34 PM

Hi all, my trusty D70s just blew another fuse. Here is a brief description of what happened. I was up early at Snake Valley, decided to take some photos of birds. Slapped on my 80-200 zoom on the D70s body, without doing the right procedure, and the camera body said no, error message galore, then just died. Cannot be turned on at all.
What is the "right" procedure? According to the manual, older non-G lenses (the ones with aperture rings on the body of the lens) must be stepped down to f22, then click the orange "lock" button BEFORE connecting to the camera body and switching on.
I left the lens on manual mode at f4.
I did this a few years ago, and had to send the body to the Camera Clinic in Collingwood Melbourne to get it fixed.
It turns out that because I didn't follow the right procedure, I blew a fuse in the camera body. The fuse was $30 but the labour was $150

So, I repeated my mistake and am looking at $200 for repairs.
But the cost of repairs may be more than the body itself.
So, what should I do? Fix it and keep it as a back up body?
Or just sell it (lucky if I get $50 for it)?
I have a few nice Nikkor lenses, but thinking of making the Canon switch.
Anyone wants to trade a clapped out D70s?

Seriously, some advice will be much appreciated.
Bo

Octane (Humayun) · #2 27-11-2011, 09:59 PM

Put a Canon to your head. You deserve it.

H

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #3 27-11-2011, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Octane

Put a Canon to your head. You deserve it.

H

You crack me up H.

Commiserations about your camera.

traveller (Bo) · #4 28-11-2011, 08:59 AM

Gee, thanks H.

Has anyone used one of those Nikon-Canon lens adapters?
I still want to keep my Nikkors, but happy to get a EOS body...

Bo

hotspur (Chris) · #5 28-11-2011, 02:47 PM

Sorry to read that Bo,not good.

Really depends want you want-What Nikor Lenses do you have??,most Nikors are very good,and if you have those-well I can imagine you would want to keep them,so another Nikon body the way to go.

Sometimes,a situation like yours,can lead one to think of a new course-i.e Canon.Trying to have half and half-like the adaptors you mention.Can lead to headaches in the field.

I'd suggest either full Nikor gear or Canon,as basically its all the same system-i.e everything is can be mix and matched in the same brand-e.g macro lens-if go down that path,one would the get ring flashes etc etc of the same brand that would all fit.

I am a big fan of interchange able gear in the field,have 'six of one,and half a dozen of the other' will cause issues.

If you can bear to part with those beautiful Nikor lenses,and start a clean slate with Canon-there will be no looking back for you-I find in this country-it s mainly Canon,which helps a lot with loaning gear/advice/buying second hand gear from time to time.

This forum seems mainly canon,and if you need advice,just ask H,so that's pretty handy.

Please note-I'm not a 'canon person or nikon' person,both a great.One thing I will say the canon has over the nikon-is the lenses,There seems to be a greater variety of high quality,at a not to bad a price rang.Those nikor ones are very good,but seem to be more expensive.

Looking at birding lenses-Canon has three choices 300 mm F 4 prime,100-400,and 400 prime all L's,and at from $1400-to-$2000 any of these are lenses of a life time.The Nikor 400 -well its a lot more expensive.

Good luck with your choice.

Paul Haese · #6 28-11-2011, 07:08 PM

Buy another Nikon body mate. I love my D3 and I absolutely refute any notion that Canon are better than Nikon. You pay for what you get, Nikon you do pay more, but all Nikkors fit all Nikon cameras since 1963. I am still using a lens that I bought in 1985. It still works and produces sharp images.

Just buy another body, don't bother with adapters. For the record, the 300 f2.8 is very sharp, as well as the 400 f2.8. Each can be pricey but you need to shop around.

traveller (Bo) · #7 29-11-2011, 11:06 AM

Thanks Paul, its just a shame that a little fuse (more importantly, the labour of replacement) would cost more than the camera itself.
already started looking at a D90 body, or something similar.
Nikkor lenses interchangeability is the main reason I am sticking with Nikon.
Thanks again, Bo

DJDD · #8 29-11-2011, 12:18 PM

a D7000 is a bit more expensive than the D90 but may be worth it.

My wife loves her D7000 and it has performed well up to 6400m.

Great photos, including night shots, with very low noise for astrohpotography.

the D7000 also sports dual SD card slots, which has proven to be useful.

also, i suspect the extra 2 years of development between the release of the D90 and D7000 would prove to be beneficial, especially in the area of the sensor.

Go to the dpreview site to get some feedback.

traveller (Bo) · #9 29-11-2011, 10:18 PM

Thanks for the tip re d700, Martin(mill) also offered me a hand to fix the camera. I can get fuses online for about $10US, guess there is no harm in trying.
Bo

Steffen · #10 29-11-2011, 10:39 PM

Forget the Nikon, switch to Canon. So…, which Nikon lenses did you say you have for sale?

But seriously, not setting the lens to the smallest aperture before mounting it will not damage anything. At worst the camera will refuse to function until you set the lens to the smallest aperture ("FEE" message). The manual also says to turn off the camera before changing lenses, I don't think I've ever done that and I have yet to damage an electronic Nikon (since 1990).

I believe the failure of your camera is age related, something inside is drawing more power than it should. Did you notice a shortened battery life by any chance?

Cheers
Steffen.

traveller (Bo) · #11 30-11-2011, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steffen

Forget the Nikon, switch to Canon. So…, which Nikon lenses did you say you have for sale?

But seriously, not setting the lens to the smallest aperture before mounting it will not damage anything. At worst the camera will refuse to function until you set the lens to the smallest aperture ("FEE" message). The manual also says to turn off the camera before changing lenses, I don't think I've ever done that and I have yet to damage an electronic Nikon (since 1990).

I believe the failure of your camera is age related, something inside is drawing more power than it should. Did you notice a shortened battery life by any chance?

Cheers
Steffen.

Thanks Steffen,
I have a 60mm f2.8 1:1 micro (Nikon speak for Marco), 85 mm f1.8 and a 80-200 f2.8 plus the kit lens that came with the D70s (17-70 3.5-6.5 from memory). Plus SB600. Wanna cut a deal

This is the second time it happened. I did get the "FEE" message on the display on both occassions, and on both occassions, I cannot switch off the camera. So I had to remove the battery, and then the camera died. By change, they both happened when I used the 80-200 zoom, maybe it's an evil lens

.

I always power down the camera before changing lens, and the batteries are full. The other explanation is that this is a Friday camera body and has a faulty circuit board that doesn't like the 80-200

But for now, I will look for another Nikon body and will get hold of some fuses to have a go a repair it (with the help of Martin/Mill).

Bo

traveller (Bo) · #12 30-11-2011, 04:36 PM

Just went to Camera Warehouse, JB and Michaels in Melbourne during lunchtime. D7000 body is quoted at around $1450-$1500 (JB quoted $1380).
Ebay has them around $1300, but GST will make it the same as the street price.
Sigh, there goes the money for the EQ mount.
Bo

DJDD · #13 30-11-2011, 04:43 PM

well, I think you won't be dissapointed with the D7000 so that may be some consolation...

traveller (Bo) · #14 30-11-2011, 04:59 PM

As a long time Nikon user, I have not been dissappointed with their products so far. One thing I have heard though is that there seems to be a back focusing issue with the D7000 and older style (D series) lenses.
Peter from Michaels said they had to re-calibrate the D7000 settings to allow better focus for lenses like my push/pull 80-200 2.8. There are quite a few complaints about it on the forums etc. Has your wife experienced similar problems with her D7000? (assuming you have some old lenses)
Ok, need to concentrate now to finish off that letter to Santa

Bo

trek1701 (Mark) · #15 30-11-2011, 06:22 PM

I had trouble deciding between the Canon 60D and the Nikon D7000.
I decided on the Canon because it had the Vari-angle LCD screen.

Regards Mark

Poita (Peter) · #16 30-11-2011, 06:55 PM

If you want to send me the body I can attempt a repair if it is just the fuse. Or you can buy my D90 body cheap

Don't go Canon, I own and use both and still prefer Nikon usage by far, and there is no point learning a new system when there is no clear advantage in doing so. Even if canon was slightly 'better' the hassle wouldn't be worth it.

Steffen · #17 30-11-2011, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by traveller

Just went to Camera Warehouse, JB and Michaels in Melbourne during lunchtime. D7000 body is quoted at around $1450-$1500 (JB quoted $1380).
Ebay has them around $1300, but GST will make it the same as the street price.

I bought one from T-Dimension not long ago. They're also selling on eBay but I got it from their online store because shipping is faster that way and they have provided me with good service in the past. I paid something like $1050 incl shipping, and despite their stern warning that they won't make false customs declarations they declared the whole package as $900-something. I didn't pay GST and had the camera within 3 days.

Right now it's listed at just under $1200 ($100 down from a couple of days ago). It's worthwhile checking their pricing regularly because they adjust it daily with the exchange rate.

(not affiliated, just a happy customer)

Cheers
Steffen.

traveller (Bo) · #18 01-12-2011, 10:19 AM

[QUOTE=Poita;792144]If you want to send me the body I can attempt a repair if it is just the fuse. Or you can buy my D90 body cheap

QUOTE]

Thanks Peter, I will have a go a fixing it myself, with the help of Martin (Mill) here in Melbourne. D90.... pass

Thanks for the on-line store tio Steffen, will keep an eye on it. Ran the price tage pass the Mrs last night, was given a stern No! But will keep trying...
Bo

DJDD · #19 01-12-2011, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by traveller

As a long time Nikon user, I have not been dissappointed with their products so far. One thing I have heard though is that there seems to be a back focusing issue with the D7000 and older style (D series) lenses.
Peter from Michaels said they had to re-calibrate the D7000 settings to allow better focus for lenses like my push/pull 80-200 2.8. There are quite a few complaints about it on the forums etc. Has your wife experienced similar problems with her D7000? (assuming you have some old lenses)
Ok, need to concentrate now to finish off that letter to Santa

Bo

unfortunately, I cannot give you an anser on the old lenses.
she did have an old lens but did not have a chance to test it before all of her gear was stolen...

Spacetrakker (John) · #20 08-12-2011, 12:42 PM

I would agree with Steffen's suggestion to keep a regular watch on T-Dimensions Ebay ads. In October, I and 5 other lucky buyers jumped in and bought a D7000 with 18-105mm + 55-300mm kit lenses+16GB SD, Extra Battery plus "Gifts" advertised for AUD$1221.00 !
I notice they currently sell this package for around $1900.00.
Compared with my previous D5000 the D7000 is a "Rolls Royce"...just love it.
Cheers, John