Monitor "Reset" Problem

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MikeM

New member
Newb here. Don't quite know how to describe this issue, but I have a D5100 and shoot a lot at night, long exposure. Power up, M mode, compose, set exposure, shoot. Once done saving to card, Liveview comes back on, but it is VERY dark. In most circumstances, can't see the scene to adjust composition. Can playback shot just fine, but LCD is pretty much unuseable. I know I can go back to the optical viewfinder, but at that point, I'd rather use the LCD.

The only solutions I've found are... power camera down, switch to full AUTO mode, power back up, OR, switch back to full AUTO mode, snap a frame. If I do either of those, I can once again see the properly lit LCD viewfinder. Sort of a pain to be powering down and spinning the dial, or shooting two photos for every one I want.

Anyone else run into this issue? It's entirely possible I have a menu setting off or I'm doing something wrong, but darned if I can find it.

Thanks in advance!
 
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MikeM

New member
Thanks for the reply Jeff, but that doesn't work. I just tested it again. Shot M/LIVEVIEW, monitor comes back dark. Went back to the information display, then flicked Liveview back on, still dark.

Power down, Auto, power up, comes back bright. Also noticed it is only M mode that does this, not A, S, or P. It's almost as if it were the old depth of field preview kind of button, but there's no way I can find to release it after the shot. Even if I hold the +/- button and open up the iris. It's as if the camera holds the iris closed for the preview in Liveview.

With this last little bit of playing, I realized it IS iris related. If I snap one off wide open (f/3.8 in this case) it comes back visible. If I close it down, say to a typical f/11, it stays f/11 lightwise in the Liveview, no matter what I move the iris to. The only new way I found to change it is to waste another shot wide open, then it comes back visible, so I can go back to f/11.

I'm guessing it's a "feature" I'll some day appreciate! :)

Mike
 
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Carolina Photo Guy

Senior Member
MikeM said:
Thanks for the reply Jeff, but that doesn't work. I just tested it again. Shot M/LIVEVIEW, monitor comes back dark. Went back to the information display, then flicked Liveview back on, still dark.

Power down, Auto, power up, comes back bright. Also noticed it is only M mode that does this, not A, S, or P. It's almost as if it were the old depth of field preview kind of button, but there's no way I can find to release it after the shot. Even if I hold the +/- button and open up the iris. It's as if the camera holds the iris closed for the preview in Liveview.

With this last little bit of playing, I realized it IS iris related. If I snap one off wide open (f/3.8 in this case) it comes back visible. If I close it down, say to a typical f/11, it stays f/11 lightwise in the Liveview, no matter what I move the iris to. The only new way I found to change it is to waste another shot wide open, then it comes back visible, so I can go back to f/11.

I'm guessing it's a "feature" I'll some day appreciate! :)

Mike
Click to expand...

You COULD try frustration relief by beating on the camera with a ball peen hammer. How-ever, I would consider that a "last resort" method.

Personally, I would try a complete "Reset to Factory Spec" and see what that does. I am thinking that you have probably trapped the exposure lock into a loop.

Let us know how that turns out. :)

Hope this helps.
 
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MikeM

New member
Just out of curiosity, does this happen to anyone else? Or is it just me? I really don't have it all that customized as far as menus, so a reset probably wouldn't do any harm. May give that a try tonight.

Ballpeen method is out of the question, it's only a year old, and I have to at least wait to see if the D600 might come with an articulated LCD!

Thanks...

Mike
 
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Tobrew

Senior Member
I just tried it with my D5100 and an 18-200 lens and didnt' experience the issue. I tried several aperture and shutter speed settings and it always came back up with a bright liveview picture. Have you tried it with a different lens? Your iris might be getting stuck.
 
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MikeM

New member
Thanks T, it started with the 18 ~ 55 kit lens, and does the same with the Nikkor 10 ~ 24. I probably haven't had reason to shoot the 70 ~ 300 in low light, and usually use the viewfinder, not the LCD and Liveview for that lens anyway.

Smelling a factory restore in my future!

Mike
 
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mariofleur

New member
Hi Mike, I was shooting video with liveview and Im experiencing the same thing with my D5100. I do the same as you to get it to return to normal. Have you been able to fix this problem???
 
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Anco

Senior Member
mariofleur said:
Hi Mike, I was shooting video with liveview and Im experiencing the same thing with my D5100. I do the same as you to get it to return to normal. Have you been able to fix this problem???
Click to expand...

Hi mariofleur, first of all welcome to the forum. Now the bad news. You have searched and stumbled across a thread that is a couple of years old and after a quick look at MikeM's profile it looks as if he hasn't been around for a long time now. Maybe someone else can chime in and help you, but don't hold your breath waiting for Mike :friendly_wink:
 
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