Black photos - image sensor broken?

BNR34RB26DETT

Senior Member
No matter what lens or picture i take everything comes out black. i have reset the camera with no luck
now i do not have the warranty with the camera.
where could i take the camera for repair and how much should i expect it to cost me?
 

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
That is a very good question. Unfortunately, I'm not sure there is an easy answer. Did you check on the sd card? Is the LCD in the back working?
 

LouCioccio

Senior Member
Have you looked inside (no lens) to see if the mirror is indeed flipping up. Do you have mirror lock up to make sure something is not catching or catching. Sensor or no light hitting the sensor. DOes Live view work?

Then you have a decision to make; How old is the body? How many actuations on the shutter box? And finally when you find out the cost is it better to buy a new body.

Good luck,
Lou Cioccio
 

Rexer John

Senior Member
Press the menu button and move to the spanner icon, then select "Lock mirror up for cleaning".
Remove the lens, press OK and then OK again to start, follow the instructions on the screen....
When shutter-release is pressed, the mirror lifts and shutter opens.
To lower mirror, turn camera off.

Look into the camera body, the mirror should have raised and the shutter should be open, you will see a reflective green screen if the mirror has lifted and the shutter has opened, do not poke around, you are just looking.

If the mirror hasn't lifted no light will get to the sensor.
If the mirror lifted but you saw a black screen behind the mirror, the curtain failed to open.

Hopefully you will see the green screen. Put the lens back on to protect the camera from dust.
Set your camera to M, set the shutter speed to 5 seconds (that's 5" in the display) remove the lens and hold the camera as if taking a close picture of you computer monitor with a lit screen.
Press the shutter, you should get a 5 second exposure with no lens, this will only work in M, not A, P or S.

If the above checks of the mirror and shutter were working correctly, your "picture" should be all white.
This test eliminates any setting errors.
If the "picture" you took with no lens is black, with the mirror and shutter working, you have an internal electronic fault.
 
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Dave_W

The Dude
The most common thing to go in a camera is the shutter mechanism which would result in black images, so I'm guessing this is your problem. But it's not a death sentence for your camera. Having the shutter replaced will cost you around $150 to $200 when I had my D70s' shutter replaced. Although $200 is all a D70s is worth these days, I figured having a new shutter would essentially give me a brand new camera.
 

STM

Senior Member
Here is my best advice to you. Try the solutions already outlined so far in this thread and if it does not fix the problem you need to contact Nikon USA (assuming you in the USA) via their website www.nikonusa.com and set up an account if you do not already have one (it is free) and tell them in great detail the problems you are experiencing. They are most likely going to tell you to box it up and send it to Nikon for repairs. They will check to see if it under warranty or if a recall notice has been issued fror this problem. If it is the sensor, which it could be, along with a host of other things, you could be looking at several "Benjamins" (slang for $100 bills) for a repair bill. Nikon will check out your body when the receive it and they will send you an estimate via your email once they have determined the problem.
 
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BNR34RB26DETT

Senior Member
Press the menu button and move to the spanner icon, then select "Lock mirror up for cleaning".
Remove the lens, press OK and then OK again to start, follow the instructions on the screen....


Look into the camera body, the mirror should have raised and the shutter should be open, you will see a reflective green screen if the mirror has lifted and the shutter has opened, do not poke around, you are just looking.

If the mirror hasn't lifted no light will get to the sensor.
If the mirror lifted but you saw a black screen behind the mirror, the curtain failed to open.

Hopefully you will see the green screen. Put the lens back on to protect the camera from dust.
Set your camera to M, set the shutter speed to 5 seconds (that's 5" in the display) remove the lens and hold the camera as if taking a close picture of you computer monitor with a lit screen.
Press the shutter, you should get a 5 second exposure with no lens, this will only work in M, not A, P or S.

If the above checks of the mirror and shutter were working correctly, your "picture" should be all white.
This test eliminates any setting errors.
If the "picture" you took with no lens is black, with the mirror and shutter working, you have an internal electronic fault.

thank you all for the detailed response.
i have tried tour methods and i do not see a green screen when the mirror is lifted. i only see a black screen when i lift up the mirror
same goes when i put the shutter to 5 seconds and remove the lens. its black
 

Rexer John

Senior Member
It's a failed or jammed shutter curtain.
There are two curtains, one opens to expose the sensor and the second curtain follows it to stop light getting to the sensor.

A camera shop can clear an obstruction or more likely fit a new shutter but it wont be cheap.
At least you know it's a shutter fault and it does need as professional repair.
 

Gabyg902

New member
Press the menu button and move to the spanner icon, then select "Lock mirror up for cleaning".
Remove the lens, press OK and then OK again to start, follow the instructions on the screen....


Look into the camera body, the mirror should have raised and the shutter should be open, you will see a reflective green screen if the mirror has lifted and the shutter has opened, do not poke around, you are just looking.

If the mirror hasn't lifted no light will get to the sensor.
If the mirror lifted but you saw a black screen behind the mirror, the curtain failed to open.

Hopefully you will see the green screen. Put the lens back on to protect the camera from dust.
Set your camera to M, set the shutter speed to 5 seconds (that's 5" in the display) remove the lens and hold the camera as if taking a close picture of you computer monitor with a lit screen.
Press the shutter, you should get a 5 second exposure with no lens, this will only work in M, not A, P or S.

If the above checks of the mirror and shutter were working correctly, your "picture" should be all white.
This test eliminates any setting errors.
If the "picture" you took with no lens is black, with the mirror and shutter working, you have an internal electronic fault.



I got the same issue as the original poster of this thread. I tried the test that you said and my picture did come out white, so if it's not a settings error, what is it? And can it be fixed? Should i message Nikon about it? My camera was a second hand purchase so I'm more than sure that its out of warranty.
 

480sparky

Senior Member
I got the same issue as the original poster of this thread. I tried the test that you said and my picture did come out white, so if it's not a settings error, what is it? And can it be fixed? Should i message Nikon about it? My camera was a second hand purchase so I'm more than sure that its out of warranty.

Only the original purchaser of Nikon products can use the warranty. They are not transferable.

You might just be overexposing all your images. Try a factory reset, then shoot in the Magic Green A.
 
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