D3300 Broken after one weeks use

Hi all,

I'm new here, and also to DSLR photography. That's why I bought a D3300 last week, to see if it's for me. I was happy shooting all kinds of pictures, while today all my pictures are black and the display reads 'error press shutter release again'. But each time, the 'photo' is completely black. I can hear the mirror flip up and down. So that must be working. However, when I turn on 'Live View', the screen stays blank as well. I can't make it go back. Only way is to take out the battery and put it in again. The camera then starts in 'normal' (not in live view) mode. But the error persists. Seems like a shutter curtain issue to me, but like I said, I'm still learning about (D)SLR's, so I could be completely off.

Seeing as the body is only 6 days in my possession I went right back to the dealer. They tested it with a different lens (no help), reset to factory defaults and then took it 'out back'. After they returned they said nothing could be done and they would have to send it for repair which could take weeks! But I bought the thing for my travels through Argentina and we will leave next week. But anyway, nothing can be done about that .

I was wondering if someone knows if this is a known issue and if I should demand my money back and pruchase another model (or make). I found one other review (it's in Dutch) which seems exactly my problem. Also, he got his camera fixed (which took more than a month), but it failed again a couple of months later with the same issue. He than claims to have gotten his money back.

I'm just wondering if I made the right choice investing in a D3300. I bought it with a tamron f2.8 17-50 so I'm stuck at nikon for now.
Any one else have any issues with D3300's?

Sounds like your only problem is the dealer you selected. A good dealer would simply have handed you a new camera and sent the broken one back to Nikon.

FredKingston said:

Sounds like your only problem is the dealer you selected. A good dealer would simply have handed you a new camera and sent the broken one back to Nikon.

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Agreed.

Clearly you simply got a bad copy... What's the return/exchange policy of this dealer??

Hi Fred and Horoscope Fish, thanks for your replies. My dealer said that because I already registered my camera with Nikon they cannot simply give me a new one, because Nikon would insist on repairing it. Does that make sense or is it rubbish? I do not have a bad feel for the place and the people up till now, that's why I selected them to buy my gear. I will go back on monday because they would look into lending me another camera for my travels while mine is in for repair. Also there will be smarter guys in, who are off during the weekends . So we will see.

But I'm also curious about other peoples (long term) experiences with this D3300. Because if I send it in for repair, I find it hard to trust on it again I think...

Hello and welcome..........Sorry to hear about your problems but I agree with what has been said sounds like you chose a bum dealer.

Tijs said:

Hi Fred and Horoscope Fish, thanks for your replies. My dealer said that because I already registered my camera with Nikon they cannot simply give me a new one, because Nikon would insist on repairing it. Does that make sense or is it rubbish? I do not have a bad feel for the place and the people up till now, that's why I selected them to buy my gear. I will go back on monday because they would look into lending me another camera for my travels while mine is in for repair. Also there will be smarter guys in, who are off during the weekends . So we will see.

But I'm also curious about other peoples (long term) experiences with this D3300. Because if I send it in for repair, I find it hard to trust on it again I think...

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I'm not sure what country you're in, but in the USA, that rubbish. They're Nikon dealers for a reason. It's because, within reason, Nikon allows them to make certain decisions on Nikon's behalf... processing a camera replacement within the first 30 days is one of them. Regardless, in the first week, I wouldn't accept a "repair" under any circumstances. I'd demand a "replacement".

Registering it should make no difference on whether they take it back. I would demand a refund and possibly buy the new camera somewhere else. I would not hesitate to buy another of the same model. Some people have had this problem, but it is not a common problem.

Welcome to the forum Tijs. I fully agree with what has already been said. Tell them to either give you a new replacement or your money back. Six days, registered or not should not have any bearing on them giving you a new camera or money back. IMO

Sorry to hear about the problems with your dealer but that aside..

I'd recommend a (working) D3300 as a great starting out camera. I bought mine back in July 2014 and immediately loved it's small size and light weight. Plus the battery life is easily better than other cameras I've used or operated. It'll easily go a couple of days of moderate shooting.

The 18-55mm kit lens is reasonably fast to operate and delivers great quality images.

The menu system takes a while so get used to but I found it easier to navigate than Canon's or Sony's. As for the controls, after a couple of thousand shots, I can change the ISO or focus point in seconds.

Friends have leant me their Nikon lenses and the D3300 performed perfectly with them.

Sent from my X5pro using Tapatalk

First of all, welcome to nikonites.com, and second I'm disappointed for you that you're having issues with your new camera. As far as what has been said so far about options, I have no arguments so far. If you've placed it here, I've missed the information of how you registered the camera. Did you send in the registration card, or did you register it online? Many dealers require returns to be complete, including the warranty/registration card, which is often pre-printed with the camera S/N from the factory. That may be a factor in the return.

But I also wish to add that you should call Nikon headquarters for the region of the world you live in and fully explain your problem (leave out no details), and directly ask about whether your dealer can take the camera back in return if it is registered. I think that they should be able to, and here's why; earlier this year I purchased a new Nikon D750 from a dealer in Orlando, Florida, and I registered it almost immediately. After a couple of days, I noticed something wrong with the registration of the camera and deleted the registration from my account, technically "unregistering" it. (My intention was to immediately register it again without the typo, but I failed to do so.) I was later able to go into my Nikon online account and register the camera again without any problems or issues.

Good luck with the matter, and hopefully you'll at least have a camera for your trip to Argentina, and be thankful the issue surfaced now and not during your trip!

WM

The D3300 is an amazing camera, especially for someone starting out, so don't give up on it.

First off Welcome to our forum. The D3300 is a fine camera. My first Nikon was the D3100 and I had problems with it not being sharp at all. I finally carried it back and BestBuy sent it off for repair for me. It came back even worse. Even though I had it for a few months the sales person walked over to the camera department and opened a new box and took out a new body and handed it to me. I owned camera stores for a long time and as a dealer you have the leeway to replace a camera. After 6 days I would not accept a repaired camera. Money back or replace with new. Tell them you will have to complain to Nikon and to the Better business Bureau (Or whatever the equivalent agency is in the Netherlands.)

Some states in the US have great consumer protection laws that overrule 'policy'. It is always a good idea to be persistent with complaints when you pay money for something that does not work.

Hi all and many thanks for your (moral) support
Of course you were all very right in believing the faulty camera should be returned and as it turns out so did the manager of the store. I went back yesterday and almost immediately got a new body.
It's nice to read some positive experiences with the D3300. But of course Nikon could not afford to create semi-quality products. It was just bad luck, but I was just very dissapointed the other day
And as you said, luckily the camera failed before the travels and not during.

So all is well, and I can go back experimenting with my new camera

First time I have heard of a D3300 dying in less than a week (or at for that matter). I bought mine in March, 2014 and after 65K images it is still going strong. Now that you have got a replacement, enjoy it. It will last at least 100K shutter counts.

Tijs, I'm truly sorry you've had such a rotten start to your Nikon experience but very glad you now have a working camera. Looking forward to hearing (and seeing) how you get on!

Tijs said:

Hi all and many thanks for your (moral) support
Of course you were all very right in believing the faulty camera should be returned and as it turns out so did the manager of the store. I went back yesterday and almost immediately got a new body.
It's nice to read some positive experiences with the D3300. But of course Nikon could not afford to create semi-quality products. It was just bad luck, but I was just very dissapointed the other day
And as you said, luckily the camera failed before the travels and not during.

So all is well, and I can go back experimenting with my new camera

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Great news. There are always going to be a few whatevers in all industries that will have a problem out of the factory. Made on a Monday morning early by someone with a hangover from the weekend or on a late Friday afternoon at quitting time. A good dealer can't afford to not take care of the problem. I learned decades ago to go to the top and at first politely ask for help. If that does not work I get loud on the sales floor so people around can hear about bad products and service.

WeeHec is correct: The D3300 is a fine camera, a great introductory piece for folks who are deciding if they want to get serious about photography. Don't give up on shooting, and don't give up on the camera. But do give up on that dealer.