Is my camera dead?

[cinderella'smommy]

I have a 4 year old Nikon D40 which I have truly loved. And taken lots and lots of photos. In the past two or three months, I have heard a strange noise when taking a picture---sort of like the gears or motor for the automatic focus were running---and the shutter would not go off. And then it would clear up, and the photo would be snapped.

So, last weekend at a family wedding, I dropped it on the hard hotel lobby floor. It continued to take pictures for a while that day, but then just completely died---with that same sound, like it was really trying to focus, but couldn't; and no shutter. Could not take a pic.

Is it dead? Should I send it to Nikon to see, or check with a local camera shop?

TIA--

[zackiedawg]

You don't by chance have another lens to try out on the camera, do you? It might help determine if the focus gears are stripped - and whether it has anything to do with the camera body being broken, or the lens' focus motor being broken. I'm not familiar with your camera - but you should have a mode where you can enter manual focus - maybe see if the camera shutter still works and it still takes a shot when in manual focus mode - if yes, then it probably relates to the autofocus system or lens. If I'm not mistaken, your camera has no lens motor in the camera body - it's in the lens...so if that's where the problem comes from, another lens should work fine.

[AlbertZeroK]

definately would try a different lens, or atleast manual focus.

[photo_chick]

becauseof how the Nikon D40 is built I'd also suspect the lens before the camera. Go to a local camera shop and tell them what's going on. Most will stick a used lens on there for you to see if it's the body or not.

[cinderella'smommy]

You guys are the best. It does work when I flip over to manual mode. So, I am quite relieved, as I had been considering a new lens anyway (still working with the limited one that came with the camera). I will head over to a camera store this weekend for additional advice.

I know its been said before, but this is such an awesome community!

:goodvibes