Nikon question

[SnootyBear]

Im not sure where else to turn so Im hoping someone here can help me

Im "new" to my Nikon, and have a D40, Ive been learning my camera for about 5 months. On Saturday I use it at a pumpkin patch, and my auto flash (the built in one) worked great, I havent played with any settings for the flash itself. Sunday we went to the Zoo and the auto-flash would pop up, but not flash. So tonight I spent 2 hours reading the manual and asking questions on a photography board, with no success.

Short of this being an actual malfunction with the camera, does anyone have any suggestions on what I may have done (accidentally or otherwise) that would cause the flash to not work. I reset the camera to factory defaults with no success on the auto-flash function. The answers Ive gotten from the camera board I joined back when I purchased the camera are depressingly mean and snobby. Everyone starts somewhere, but I guess thats not how it works on that board

 

[ukcatfan]

That attitude is typical of photography message boards. It is especially bad on brand specific sites. You should not get that kind of attitude here! The first thing I would try would be to go to P mode and try setting it to flash on every shot. It is possible in auto mode it first thought it needed the flash but then the meter reading changed to not need it. If it does not fire when set to the force flash setting, then I would send it in for repairs.

Also be aware that the built in flash is only effective for about ten feet, so you might not have needed it at the zoo anyway.

 

[YesDear]

IF you are saying that you cannot get the flash to work now at any time then my thought is you do have a malfunction problem. My suggestion is to go to a local camera shop if you have one. Not a Best buy etc. They can check it out. Then I would send back to Nikon. If it is only 5months old it is under warranty. I would also agree that it was probably underpowered for a zoo.

Welcome to our board. We try not to be snooty most of the time!

 

[SnootyBear]

Im thinking it is an autoflash malfunction.Im currently digging for my reciept. Thanks for the suggestions

 

[GrillMouster]

Auto flash means that the camera will decide whether flash is necessary for each shot. Just because the built-in pop-up flash is up doesn't mean that the flash will fire. If there was bright light in the scene, the camera may have thought that there was enough light in the scene and additional flash wasn't required.

Try taking a picture in a completely dark room, aim the camera at a dark corners (make sure nothing bright, like a window, isn't included in tihe frame). The flash should fire.

Try posting a straight-out-of-camera image with EXIF data.

 

[kevrab]

Just be prepared if you send it into Nikon you may not see the camera for awhile. Great cameras but terrible customer service.

I'm a photo editor at a newspaper and we send all of our equipment for repairs, cleaning adjusting, etc. to a place called BDC Camera Repair in Madison, WI (google them if you need to) Great service and reasonable pricing.

 

[skr8pn]

My first answer was going to be sell it and buy a Canon but that would be both depressingly mean and snobby...OK, I thought it was funny.

Besides all the methods mentioned a sure bet to get the flash to fire is the exposure lock button. I don't know for sure how the D40 works but I'm sure it has the button. Put the camera in P, open the flash manually and hit the exposure lock button. It absolutly should fire. Then at least you know if the flash is bad or the camera doesn't think it needs the flash.

 

[GrillMouster]

Out of curiosity I googled this issue and found several D40 owners reporting the same problem. I found the following solution:

http://www.vimeo.com/3141400

 

[ssanders79]

Looks like a simple fix. However, I would remove the battery first before I remove any screws. Why take the risk.

 

[GrillMouster]

To the OP, please let us know if you attempt this fix and how it turns out.

 

[GrillMouster]

double post

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Another D40 user posted this problem here in the past few weeks. I hope the fix works for you!

 

[disneyboy2003]

Out of curiosity I googled this issue and found several D40 owners reporting the same problem. I found the following solution:

http://www.vimeo.com/3141400

It never ceases to amaze me at how much more resourceful (and nicer) Disboards photographers are than on other photography message boards. Great find, GrillMouster, on an obscure-sounding problem!

 

[ukcatfan]

It never ceases to amaze me at how much more resourceful (and nicer) Disboards photographers are than on other photography message boards.

Thank you! It has what has been keeping me on here for so many years now!!!

 

[SnootyBear]

You guys are by far the nicest fellow photogs Ive spoke with... I just saw the google link, Im headed there now... We are going on vacation NEXT week to the Smokey Mtns and I cant send it off yet.. Im hoping to either figure it out or cry and buy something cheap to get my by!

 

[disneymami]

I have had my NIKON D40 for a couple of years now and I really love it. I have to say the best thing I did was to take a class. There are features on this camera I never would have known how to use had I not taken that class. I took an adult education class at local high school which was perfect for an amatuer like me.
As for your flash problem, I think everyone hit it right. It might be the battery. It might be your setting. I don't think you did anything wrong. Playing with the menus could take a hour but unless you know what it all means, it will be really frustrating.
Maybe there is a community college offering classes. I would do that if only I had the time.
Happy shooting

 

[Marlton Mom]

I just checked out the video...
http://www.vimeo.com/3141400

~ You guys are awesome!!! ~

I just wanted to say I'm keeping my eyes crossed for you and that hopefully it will be a simple fix to an aggravating problem.

Although I haven't had the chance yet, in the front of my D60 manual there is a link for Digi-tutor, a series of watch and learn manuals in movie form.

http://www.nikondigitutor.com/index_eng.html

Since my 'puter updated itself into the blue screen of death last week I've been coping a squat on DH 'puter and I haven't had a chance to check out the site yet to see if that would help you with this problem.

I'm hoping that this site will boost my knowledge of all that my D60 has to offer and this might be a good alternative to the Community classes for Nikon folks. We shall see....

Sending GOOD Karma and BETTER Camera your way

Marlton Mom

 

[Marlton Mom]

Well I just got a peep at the Digitutor site... I'm sorry to say it's pretty basic so maybe we should sign up for those community college courses after all! LOL!!!!

It's the sort of site that is best suited for people needing the basics so you can get off to a good start with that first digital camera. I was sort of hoping it was more like "Nikon School".... Oh well!

Every little bit helps but my favorite Professors so far are all the ones on the Dis Photography boards!

Thanks again everyone.


Marlton Mom

 

[SnootyBear]

So, I finally got my flash taken apart (following the video instructions) and there isnt anything loose or off within the flash. Im going to go to a local repair store and see what they suggest, if they think they can fix it, Ill probably just pay to have it done vs not having my camera over Christmas. Thanks everyone