Nikon D70s Problems

New member

Username: Nairobian

Post Number: 1
Registered: Nov-06

Posted on Tuesday, November 14, 2006 - 02:16 am:

I am a pro photojournalist based in nairobi. I was out shooting slum conditions with my d70. I changed from 50mm 1.4 lens to the wider 18-55mm (all my lenses are switched to the smallest apecture and taped to stop dust) then the camera froze. all the buttons failed to respond. I removed the battery (hence switching the d70 off) thats the last time I saw my dear camera on. its just dead. I have tried everything to get it to power up nothing, change battery, change cf cards, mount various lenses, try the lenses on other cameras, nothing.... am going nuts. the nearest nikon service is south africa.... I might as well budget for a new camera... I have had this camera since 2004 without any problems. Its handled with velvet gloves, never dropped. you cannot buy it in kenya.

Platinum Member

Username: Project6

Post Number: 11469
Registered: Dec-03

Posted on Tuesday, November 14, 2006 - 10:01 am:

That is unfortunate. However, you can try getting your camera fixed for free. Check out Nikon's website about some malfunctioning units.

New member

Username: Nairobian

Post Number: 2
Registered: Nov-06

Posted on Tuesday, November 14, 2006 - 01:37 pm:

Berny

thanks for your kind words. I am gonna wait for few days before attempting to ship. just sending it off to the states if prolly cost enough to buy a used one. cheers mate.

George

Platinum Member

Username: Project6

Post Number: 11476
Registered: Dec-03

Posted on Tuesday, November 14, 2006 - 04:39 pm:

Good luck George. I did not realize that you purchased the equipment in the US.

You may also want to check on nikonians.org. They may be able to point you in the right direction. The site is dedicated to Nikon users across the globe and the membership is worldwide.

New member

Username: Nairobian

Post Number: 3
Registered: Nov-06

Posted on Thursday, November 16, 2006 - 02:41 am:

Berny

Miracles will never cease. Some enterprising kenyan downtown nairobi has got the camera working again. I am in the clouds but I could not get him to explain as his swahili is not up to scratch leave alone his english, but it works!
since its quite an old d70 should I update its firmware and where do I find it?. excuse my mistakes I spend too much time looking through the view finder and not enough on the net. look at some of the reportage i did in somalia recently (wirpictures.org/baidoa)

george

Platinum Member

Username: Project6

Post Number: 11487
Registered: Dec-03

Posted on Thursday, November 16, 2006 - 12:24 pm:

That is good news :-)

Yes, I would highly recommend a firmware update. The updates can be downloaded from Nikon's website. Be very careful in folowing the instructions to the letter.

Have you gone to the nikonians.org website?
http://www.nikonians.org/

New member

Username: Nairobian

Post Number: 4
Registered: Nov-06

Posted on Friday, November 17, 2006 - 01:06 am:

berny

I have not gone to the nikonians yet. I will try to upgrade in the course of the weekend. finally, the tech said one diode (?) on my d70 power mother board had gone kaput prolly in the process of changing lenses, I accepted that but am not convinced because I change the lense on my camera all the time. is this common?. also on my lcd there is a musical note that is always there and I have no idea what it is for or how it got there, any ideas?
george

Platinum Member

Username: Project6

Post Number: 11497
Registered: Dec-03

Posted on Friday, November 17, 2006 - 10:37 am:

I cannot verify if that problem is common occurrence.

The musical note is a sign that you have the confirmation "beeps" turned on. Notice that there is a beep after the focus locks.

Val Cunningham

New member

Username: Veecee

Post Number: 1
Registered: Dec-06

Posted on Friday, December 08, 2006 - 08:52 am:

Hello, good people:
I have a Nikon D70 that has had its problems, been back to the
factory for a service advisory fix on its failure to recognize that
there was a memory card inside ("The flashing green light of death," was the way a local repair guy put it). Just tried to take
some photos and kept getting a 'FOR' message on the control panel, which is supposed to indicate that the memory card is not formatted for the D70.
This was surprising, since I've been using this card, a LEXAR 512, for quite some time.
Ok, I gave up on the photo opp, removed the card, downloaded the 11 photos on it, placed the card back in the camera, and now it works fine.
This is a teeth-grinder for me: if I were out in the field, I couldn't download those images, would probably just have to scrub them.
Overall, too, I'm developing a lack of faith in this camera, there have just been too many problems in too short a time for such an expensive piece of equipment.
Can anyone advise on what might have caused that FOR misread, could this be more "acting up" associated with a bad card-readers, are there a lot of glitches in the use of D70s, and is the D70 a generally reliable camera??
I don't like to keep sending it to the factory, then I'm without a camera for two weeks or more. I know these are complex pieces of machinery, but it makes me long for my non-digital SLR sometimes, it NEVER had a problem!
Thanks for any help,
Val

Platinum Member

Username: Project6

Post Number: 11783
Registered: Dec-03

Posted on Friday, December 08, 2006 - 11:55 am:

I've had a few issues with some memory cards that have been used for what seems like forever and I sometimes run into that problem. At first I thought it was the camera. I sent the cards that historically give me problems back to the manufacturer and they have replaced them for me. They explained that sometimes there are sectors that go bad and they need to be replaced (whatever that means). I have plenty of cards and there are ones that cause problems. They have since been replaced and haven't had a glitch.

Val Cunningham

New member

Username: Veecee

Post Number: 2
Registered: Dec-06

Posted on Friday, December 08, 2006 - 12:28 pm:

Thanks, Berny. I'll try another card.
Val C.

New member

Username: Warren628

Post Number: 1
Registered: Dec-06

Posted on Saturday, December 09, 2006 - 03:17 am:

Hi, I owned my D70s for almost 1.5 years and I have taken more than 2,500+ shots with no problem until today when I tried to change the lens during my daughter's Christmas program, the camera sudden got frozen, so I take the battery out and put it back in and my D70s became no response since then. I tried to do the factory reset by pressing the small reset button at the bottom of the body but nothing happen, am I doing the reset correctly?

I read the whole thread and someone suggested to go to the Nikon website and check on the service advisory but I cannot find anything. Please help.

Thanks

Platinum Member

Username: Project6

Post Number: 11806
Registered: Dec-03

Posted on Saturday, December 09, 2006 - 03:22 am:

What do you see on the top LCD?

Is the green light by the memory card slot flashing?

What lens are you using?

More info please.

New member

Username: Warren628

Post Number: 2
Registered: Dec-06

Posted on Saturday, December 09, 2006 - 03:37 am:

Berny,

Thanks for your quick response. I was using a 17-35mm f/2.8D ED-IF AF-S Zoom-Nikkor which is brand new, first use today and working for the whole day until I tried to change back to my old old SIGMA 24-70mm which I have been using it with my D70s for the past year. There is nothing left on the LCD, not even the counter. Just like there is no battery in it.

Thanks

New member

Username: Warren628

Post Number: 3
Registered: Dec-06

Posted on Saturday, December 09, 2006 - 03:39 am:

Berny,

Not even this is green light next to the memory slot.

Thanks
Warren

New member

Username: Nairobian

Post Number: 5
Registered: Nov-06

Posted on Saturday, December 09, 2006 - 11:11 pm:

I had similar problem while shooting slum conditions in downtown nairobi four weeks ago. the camera went DEAD during lens change. An electronics repair shop in nairobi repaired it. they said it was a blown diode/fuse .. (not sure) in the power motherboard. It coasted me about $80 and its super since.

New member

Username: Nairobian

Post Number: 6
Registered: Nov-06

Posted on Saturday, December 09, 2006 - 11:14 pm:

am actually so impressed with the nikon d70 that I would not mind buying a second body from someone out there who wants to sell. I will pay for the shipping to nairobi.

New member

Username: Warren628

Post Number: 4
Registered: Dec-06

Posted on Saturday, December 09, 2006 - 11:43 pm:

George,

Thanks a lot for the information and hopefully mine is the similar problem and would not cost me too much to fix it in California.

Thanks

New member

Username: Myzaza

Post Number: 1
Registered: Dec-06

Posted on Sunday, December 31, 2006 - 11:57 am:

Hi Berny,

I realize this is a forum for the D70 but do you have any knowledge of the D80? if so would any issues of that crossover from the D70?

Thanks

Platinum Member

Username: Project6

Post Number: 12136
Registered: Dec-03

Posted on Sunday, December 31, 2006 - 12:14 pm:

No it did not have any issues from the D70. It is a great camera and much imnproved over the D70.

New member

Username: Myzaza

Post Number: 2
Registered: Dec-06

Posted on Sunday, December 31, 2006 - 12:47 pm:

I ask only because I have recently bought the D80, along with the 18-200mm VR lens and was much enjoying it. Until today..
I turned it on and it displayed the 'no memory card' and 'error' symbols in the viewfinder, ( I have the Lexar 2GB SD card in there). After a couple of seconds it shut down and just left the top display on but the viewfinder and rear display were dead.
If I turn it on it will take a couple of shots, though the focus is having trouble locking on but if it lays dormant for more than a 4 or 5 seconds it hibernates again.

Thanks

New member

Username: Myzaza

Post Number: 3
Registered: Dec-06

Posted on Sunday, December 31, 2006 - 01:31 pm:

I just tried an experiment of sorts,..
I removed the SD card and the camera remains on indefinitely, albeit with genuine 'no memory card' signs. I put it back in, get the flashing red 'no card' sign and the thing hibernates after a few seconds. Has anyone had these issues?? If it were a bad SD card could this affect the focus?

Thanks

Platinum Member

Username: Project6

Post Number: 12138
Registered: Dec-03

Posted on Sunday, December 31, 2006 - 06:31 pm:

Read your manual regarding removal of memory cards. Do not remove the card with power turned on. Do not experiment.
Follow the warnings and things that they tell you not to do and you will have no problems.

New member

Username: Myzaza

Post Number: 4
Registered: Dec-06

Posted on Sunday, December 31, 2006 - 07:23 pm:

It was more of a deduction than an experiment, with the card in and out. Both times I turned the camera off before removing or inserting it. It was after I turned it back on with the card removed that the camera acted 'normally' and remained on.
Since I had done nothing differently up to the point that it would not (intermittently) read my card, do you think a basic swap of SD card might do it?

Thanks for any help

Platinum Member

Username: Project6

Post Number: 12139
Registered: Dec-03

Posted on Sunday, December 31, 2006 - 10:21 pm:

I have not yet experienced a bad memory card affecting the focus. The camera WILL focus even without a memory card.

Re-format the card and try again.

New member

Username: Myzaza

Post Number: 5
Registered: Dec-06

Posted on Monday, January 01, 2007 - 03:22 pm:

Thanks Berny

Charlie King

New member

Username: Ironstream

Post Number: 1
Registered: Jan-07

Posted on Thursday, January 04, 2007 - 09:58 pm:

I'm sort of new to photography, but I consider myself at least a buff and somewhat of a tinkerer. My question is, has anyone ever acctually taken apart their d70/ has anyone ever sucessfully dealt with fixing a sticky mode dial. The mode dial still works and the camera is fine, I recently used the camera for an extended trip and it sat possibly damp in its camera bag overnight, the modes all the still function properly, its just the dial is annoying to use now, not a pressing issue, just throwing it out there.

P.S. while on my trip some friends used the camera and the reaction was either that they thought the camera was film (image review was off), or they asked how to turn on the screen to see the picture they were about to take, so eveyone who has asked that is certainly not alone.

Richard Kelly

New member

Username: Syvalley

Post Number: 2
Registered: Jun-06

Posted on Thursday, January 04, 2007 - 10:18 pm:

Charlie, I had the same problem with my mode dial sticking. It may have started about 1/2 year ago after laving the camera in my hot car a bunch of times. The sticking just got worse and worse until it wouldn't budge. Cost me $250 to get it fixed.

Charlie King

New member

Username: Ironstream

Post Number: 2
Registered: Jan-07

Posted on Sunday, January 07, 2007 - 09:16 pm:

I never thought about the heat, my camera did sit next to a heater in its bag for at least 10 hours on a bus (i was not aware it was next to a heater) and thats when the problem started. I did manage to pry the dial up a little bit to clean around the edge with a q-tip, which provided temporary relief, but the next day it was bad again. Maybe I will take it to a shop to have it looked at, but I'm afraid of paying for repairs, esspecially since mine still turns, for now.

Florijan

New member

Username: Florijan

Slovenija

Post Number: 1
Registered: Jan-07

Posted on Wednesday, January 31, 2007 - 03:59 pm:

Upanshu said:

"Hi,

For last few months I am experiencing problem in my D70, it's shooting mode dial is so stiff that I can not rotate it easily, last week I took some 100 pictures, and now I am not even able to move the dial.

Does anybody sees this problem, if so, what was the solution? Do I need to send it to Nikon for repair?

Thanks,
-Upanshu "

Who knows what happened with his camera ? Did he repair it himself?

I have the same problem now.

Florijan

cmsmiami

New member

Username: Cmsmiami

Post Number: 8
Registered: Oct-05

Posted on Wednesday, January 31, 2007 - 06:27 pm:

yes I have had the same problem with d70s
I took it to a nikon authorized service center and it was "cleaned although the problem was not evident when I brought it in, but the "cleaning" seems to have taken care of this problem

cmsmiami

New member

Username: Cmsmiami

Post Number: 9
Registered: Oct-05

Posted on Wednesday, January 31, 2007 - 06:31 pm:

ps I thought the exposure to northern usa Pittsburgh cold was the problem that 'froze' the mode dial because when I returned home to miami the dial worked beautifully.

Florijan

New member

Username: Florijan

Slovenija

Post Number: 2
Registered: Jan-07

Posted on Thursday, February 01, 2007 - 03:12 pm:

Yes. When the weather is cold shooting mode dial start to not rotate it easily, too.
I have to send the D70 to a nikon authorized service center. Thanks.
(Sorry, I don't speak English well.)

Jason Blacbkburn

New member

Username: Jasonblackburn

New Albany, Mississippi

Post Number: 1
Registered: Feb-07

Posted on Saturday, February 17, 2007 - 09:42 pm:

I have read almost every post to see if anyone
has had the problem that I'm having. I have
had my D70s for about a year. Shot thousands of
pics, then all of sudden when I take a picture
my shutter sticks open and nothing happens. I
have to push the button one more time get the
shutter to close. While the shutter is stuck
open an "Err" flashes on the top lcd. After
I push the button to close the shutter, the
"Err" goes off. After all this, the picture
does not get stored on the CF card. The card
has been formatted. Also, after the battery
and CF card have been removed, the camera has
a tendency to get stuck on. The power switch
will not turn of the camera. I have to remove
the battery in order to get the camera to reset.
Any advice would be helpful.

Thanks,
Jason Blackburn

Platinum Member

Username: Project6

Post Number: 13016
Registered: Dec-03

Posted on Sunday, February 18, 2007 - 02:13 am:

Send it in for service.

huong tran

New member

Username: Microforce

Post Number: 1
Registered: Feb-07

Posted on Sunday, February 18, 2007 - 04:30 pm:

Need some advice
I have a D70 with update version 2, 256 MB lexar.
The CF card work ok.

When I switch on the D70, the "green light" blink to long, some times almost 1 min before the camera is ready. I tried to resert. But it would not help at all.

Also when I switch off the D70, it take some times before it switch off.

Need advice, please,

Thx

Platinum Member

Username: Project6

Post Number: 13026
Registered: Dec-03

Posted on Sunday, February 18, 2007 - 11:13 pm:

Contact Nikon...that is a warranty repair. Even if the camera is past the written warranty.

Heather Woodhams

New member

Username: Fev

Post Number: 1
Registered: Mar-07

Posted on Wednesday, March 07, 2007 - 10:49 am:

Hi
I have a problem with my D70 where there is a CHA message in the panel on the top plate that flashes (indicating that the card cannot be read). I have tried 6 cards that all work in other cameras (Sandisk etc) and it is the same with them all. I have gone through the process to format the card (both through the menu, and the 2 button method), and the message remains.

It is not an intermittant problem, it is all the time, and has rendered the camera unusable. I have tried the reset button, the menu reset, taking the battery out overnight, using a freshly charged battery, switching off and on, and all to no avail.

I have read that other people have experienced this problem with the D70, but Nikon UK say that it is not a common problem and want to charge me �184 for a repair - they suggested that it is a data compression board problem.

Another repairer suggested it was the card reader - bent or broken pins etc - but I can't see any problem with the pins on inspection.

Any suggestions? Do I have to send it to Nikon, and has anyone been successful in obtaining a free repair for such a fault? It's not exhibiting the 'flashing light of death' problem, which Nikon said would be fixed free of charge if it turned out to be the same component, but they didn't think so.

Help, please someone !!!!!!!!!!

cathy shah

New member

Username: Cathyshah

Post Number: 1
Registered: Mar-07

Posted on Wednesday, March 07, 2007 - 06:16 pm:

My Flash has ceased to work all of a sudden all settings are fine does anyone know how to fix this please?

}

Platinum Member

Username: Project6

Post Number: 13332
Registered: Dec-03

Posted on Wednesday, March 07, 2007 - 07:26 pm:

Send it in for service...there are no known user serviceable part for the flash if you say that everything else is fine.

carmen nistor

New member

Username: Urskoala

Post Number: 1
Registered: Apr-07

Posted on Sunday, April 15, 2007 - 04:19 am:

hi,

i have a Nikon D70s for almost 9 months.
since 2 weeks the problem is this: I press the shutter release, the mirror get blocked, the camera doesn's want to do anything more, ERR appear in the upper left corner of my display (not on the LCD).
if i switch off and on, somethimes appear ERR again, somethimes nothing at all, blank display.
take out the battery, the card also, and nothing for a few times, after that it works.

camera: nikon d70s
card: CF2 sandisk ultra II, 1 gb
lens: nikon af 50 mm, 1:1.8 D

could you help with piece of advice?

thanks, carmen

Florijan

New member

Username: Florijan

Slovenija

Post Number: 3
Registered: Jan-07

Posted on Sunday, April 15, 2007 - 06:12 am:

I had the same problem few month ago. It never happened again. I don't know what the reason was.

Florijan

Upanshu Singhal

New member

Username: Upanshu

Post Number: 2
Registered: May-06

Posted on Sunday, April 15, 2007 - 01:19 pm:

Hi Carmen,

This may be due to the lens focus problem. If focus goes to infinity then you see the ERR in display and you can not take picture.

It happened same with me with Nikon 50 mm lens as well as Sigma 28-80 mm.

You can find this documented in manual also.

I hope this will help.

Thanks,
-Upanshu

Platinum Member

Username: Project6

Post Number: 13779
Registered: Dec-03

Posted on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 10:36 am:

ERR messages are usually due to lens contact problems and the lens aperture ring not on the right setting. Clean the contacts and ensure that you are on the right aperture.

Jan

New member

Username: Nikonjan

WA

Post Number: 6
Registered: Sep-06

Posted on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 01:07 pm:

I just checked to see if there was an update to the D70s and it says none. But the D70 upgrades to a 2.0 the D70s stays at a 1.0

Melanie Nelson

New member

Username: Blackdahliapix

Visalia, CA
USA

Post Number: 1
Registered: May-07

Posted on Sunday, May 06, 2007 - 01:37 am:

I just purchased a used D70s to replace my D70 that was stolen. When I got it home, loaded the card & memory and turned it on, I could take pictures with it just fine but the fill in flash never fires. I am using the same lenses I used on my previous D70 that worked fine. Am I missing something or is this camera defective?