To the camera people

[dieselboy]

Wondering if some help can be given with regards to a non Surf proiblem?!
I have a friend at work with a nikkon D70S.
A few long exposure photos were taken of sunrise at around 20 seconds each. Now, any more photos and the saved image and viewfinder go black.

If he removes the components and cleans the sensor then the camera is fine for the first photo but the second photo goes black again as well as the view finder when taking the photo. Again if it's cleaned then the first photo after cleaning is fine but any more and they are just completely black.

Suggestions welcome

And thanks!

Tony

[Hazzo]

viewfinder goes black every time the shutter fires as the mirror lifts up out of the sensors way, I think you have a sticky mirror and the only way to sort it is to have it serviced/cleaned by nikon service centre. Do not try yourself, it isn't a surf and these mirrors are very delicate, in fact its recommended you do not touch it, at all, ever. HH

[dieselboy]

I'll let him know, thanks for the advice. He seems like he knows what he is doing, but I'll say it's recommended he doesn't service it. Although he explained the mirror looks like it moves okay.

Thanks again!

[Hazzo]

It moves, like I said, but they do tend to stick once they are getting on a bit, it is a consumer camera and a bit plasticky/not built as well as niks prosumer or pro cameras, the shutter will only do something like 50,000 clicks, mirror will be the same, it'll need a service even if its done a third of this and if he wants it to keep working its not something you can dismantle/reassemble easily without special tools etc and one bit not put back right will disable it completely, a precision instrument. H

[BUSHWHACKER]

Get a can of WD40 fit that litle red straw to it and give the insides of the camera a good squirt. Should fix it.

[dieselboy]

Get a can of WD40 fit that litle red straw to it and give the insides of the camera a good squirt. Should fix it.

That didn't work, although there is some improvement. The photo's arent black any more they are sort of speckled with rainbow effects.
Any ideas on what to do next?

[dieselboy]

It moves, like I said, but they do tend to stick once they are getting on a bit, it is a consumer camera and a bit plasticky/not built as well as niks prosumer or pro cameras, the shutter will only do something like 50,000 clicks, mirror will be the same, it'll need a service even if its done a third of this and if he wants it to keep working its not something you can dismantle/reassemble easily without special tools etc and one bit not put back right will disable it completely, a precision instrument. H

Thanks Hazzo. I've let him know and sent him this thread

[Albannach]

20 second exposures for a sunrise? Are you sure?

[jaky cakes]

If the mirror was stuck up - he would still be able to achieve an exposure and would be able to save and preview said image on the screen, in fact it is normally recommended to use "mirror lock up" function on cameras when taking long exposures to eliminate and shake from mirror movement.
Sounds more like a function set to eliminate noise - by allowing camera to take a blank/pure black image to subtract "hot spots" or U/S pixels from first image - if this camera has such a function??

try doing a factory reset from the menu list - may just clear any accidently enabled functions

[Hazzo]

I suppose this could be happening if he chose the night landscape mode and hasn't turned it off but how you describe it I still think its a sticky shutter/mirror, I don't have these modes on my cameras and don't use the noise reduction but can't see it doing this on a normal exposure during daylight, to check try scrolling through the images, if you have several pure black images the shutter is sticking open imo. H

[Apache]

Suerly sticking closed would lead to non-exposure (black). Sticking open would lead to bleached out image - white. If digi-SLRs work the same way as film SLRs.

[Fricfrac]

D70s was prone to overheating sensor on long exposure.I don`t understand why he would use 20 second exposure for sunsets, but each to their own.

Does it still show black photos even on normal exposure times?

[dieselboy]

Yes but if the unit is taken apart, cleaned and reassembled the first photo is fine again he says. Not sure if he is still looking at this thread, he was going to go to nikkon for it to be looked at.

[Fricfrac]

With the price of better second hand camera bodies, he may find it a cheaper option to get a newer one rather than mending the old one.

D70s is a good little camera though.

[Hazzo]

Suerly sticking closed would lead to non-exposure (black). Sticking open would lead to bleached out image - white. If digi-SLRs work the same way as film SLRs.

Yes but what I think could be happening with this is the mirror is moving out of the way, blocking the viewfinder, which is normal, but the shutter itself is sticking and not operating on the occasions when the VF is blacked out. Regardless whether bleached white or pure black something is fubarred and best looked at by the makers servicing agent, whether its out of warranty or not if the shutter is failing before its "life" period the repair could be free of charge. I'd contact nikon support to try this route before taking it in to jessops or other high street shop though, they'll charge regardless what nik say and use the same servicing agent. H