Nikon D3100 button Fading

All,

I'm new to these forums and this is my first post. I just wanted to get some opinions from anyone out there regarding the issue i'm having. I love the camera but my only problem is that the buttons to the left of my LCD are fading (Most common buttons I use). I did contact Nikon customer service. It seems that they do not want to own up to call this a manufacturer defect. They call it normal wear and tear and consider it impact damage so they wont cover it under warranty. Impact Damage really??? I have a buddy of mine that has had his Nikon D40 for over 5 yrs and the button print on it has not faded. I purchased my Nikon D3100 May 2012 and the most common buttons that i use are becoming unreadable. It is clear that Nikon has changed the process in button manufactured. My supervisor does camera and lens reviews for 8 different magazines and states that the buttons material should be more robust than that. Also, my total number of shutter releases count is only 9227.

Just wanted to get everyone else's opinion on this. Another peculiar thing is that i have posted 3 posts regarding Button fading on the Nikon D3100 product forums and they get get approved and shortly after they are taken down and when I click on the "Your question has been answered" link from my email the link no longer exists. Which makes me arise suspicion as to why are they taking it down. There was a topic there regarding Button fading that was posted a little over a year ago which is how i came across it initially but that Post has also been removed from the product forum. This link is an example that was removed: http://answers.nikonusa.com/answers/7022/product/D3100/question/1219084/redirect.htm

I've also seen this issue mentioned with the D3200, 5100 and 5200. What should i do? Any Suggestions or comments?

Welcome.
That does seem strange. I bought my D40 new in 2007 and have over 24k actuations and the buttons look like new.

I find it odd that Nikon is taking down only posts regarding this and they took down a post regarding Button fading that was posted late 2012. Unless they are removing it so that it does not turn into a recall situation so that the issue doesnt generate a lot of hits online.

Well, everyones body chemistry is different. The ph and oils in your skin could affect the button paint differently from Joe Schmoe down the street. I don't think that this is something that can justify a recall and as far as Nikon removing posts, they probably see it as irrelevant information. You can look up thousands of posts regarding this on hundreds of forums ranging from keyboard buttons to cars. It is normal wear and tear.

I never had a problem with my D3100, D5100, D7000 or D7100. My wife and I both use computers extensively here at home. Me more than my wife. Her keyboard has certain letters that are completely unreadable, just blank where on my keyboard they look like new. Same brand and model keyboards. It is a difference in body chemistry between the two of us. I suspect that might be your problem too.

@skene I understand deleting my posts for irrelevance but why would they delete the other post with the same button fading issue posted late 2012?
@Don how long have you had your cameras?

ajc said:

@skene I understand deleting my posts for irrelevance but why would they delete the other post with the same button fading issue posted late 2012?
@Don how long have you had your cameras?

Click to expand...

I had the D3100 for a couple of years before I dropped it and shattered the case. The D5100 for a while. I also shoot a lot of photos. I shoot on average 1,000 shots a week and more some weeks.

Yes, I too face the same problem of 'button fading' with my 2010 Nikon D3100..contacted the service centre which tried to explain me that it was "normal wear and tear"...of course it is a great issue on the life and performance of D3100

@siddhartha What ended up happening in your case with the buttons? Did you end up getting it repaired? They did offer me a Repair on the buttons but would not tell me the cost of the repair. They state that it can range between $99 to $199 depending on what the person repairing it will charge.

If i do get it repaired by Nikon is there anything that i can do for longevity of the buttons. Maybe some sort of sealant that i can apply directly on the buttons themselves.

I've had mine for over a year (December 2012) of very regular use, and I check the LCD and left row of buttons a lot, bouncing between pics, zooming in/out, etc, menu access for ISO... No fading issues here. Think it's a chemistry thing, as has been mentioned.

ajc said:

If i do get it repaired by Nikon is there anything that i can do for longevity of the buttons. Maybe some sort of sealant that i can apply directly on the buttons themselves.

Click to expand...

Anyone have any suggestions for my quoted comment? Thanks in advanced.

Maybe clear nail polish?
I can see certain oils in your skin maybe being a factor here.

It sure seems like an excessive price to get it repaired. Don't you have some type of permanent fine-point marker that you can use to write the info on the buttons?

Or...an alternative would be to get a Delkin Snug-It Pro. I don't know if the D3200 has the exact dimensions of the D3100, but the buttons have the names listed. They aren't written on like they are on the camera buttons. Instead the info is etched into the rubber, but it isn't colored in any way. If you look at the photos in the link below, you should get an idea of what it looks like.

I have the skin for my D610. Although I'm not super enamored over it, it works fine. I don't think I'd get another one, but if I had the problem you are experiencing, I wouldn't hesitate to buy one rather than to shell out all that money for a repair. For all you know, if you get it repaired, it might happen again.

Delkin Devices Snug-It Pro Skin Camera Protector DDSPROND3200

@carguy nail polish is not a bad idea.
@hark the buttons are black and the print is white so i'm not sure about fine tip marker. In regards to the Delkin case i have considered those but then the camera wont fit into my camera case and not really a big fan of it, although thanks for all the suggestions.

ajc said:

@carguy nail polish is not a bad idea.
@hark the buttons are black and the print is white so i'm not sure about fine tip marker. In regards to the Delkin case i have considered those but then the camera wont fit into my camera case and not really a big fan of it, although thanks for all the suggestions.

Click to expand...

Being a female, I can tell you that the nail polish might peel off eventually--probably in one piece rather than flake off in small pieces like dried paint. This is a difficult problem to resolve....

I have the exact thing happening. The buttons on the left side of the D3100 LCD screen are about gone, and I've gently used the camera since new a year and a half ago. Whether it is a chemistry issue or a manufacturing issue I am not sure....however, I do know that my prior camera, a Canon, which I owned for over 7 years, and passed on to my niece, still has all its button ink intact.

I am dissappointed in the button fade issue and feel something is amiss.

could it also maybe have something to do, not only with the chemical properties of your skin but also the surface texture? Seems to me that that a hand worker would have a more abrasive surface on the skin than say an office worker. Just a thought.

Could be a possibility, but I fly a desk, so doesn't apply in my case.

My D70 and D300 buttons are still new after years of use. I bought the D3300 on 11th March, 2014. Now after 5300 shots, the "+" button's paint is erased and the "-" button is fading. I think that the current printing on button is to blame. Older buttons normally had a depression or etching (of the symbol's outline) where the paint would reside, so surface rubbing never erased the symbol. Currently the symbol is just pained on surface, so rubs off easily.

What I plan to do is following
. Take a sharp pin and carefully etch the symbol on my button.
. Take white paint or use white "board marker" to fill the etched part with paint.

That should ensure that the symbol on the button remains for at least a couple of years.