Camera won't focus when I hold down button

V

Volumes

New member
Whenever I press the shutter release button down partially to take the picture, no focusing occurs. It seems like my camera picks and chooses when it will let me focus. Sometimes I hold down the button partially and it lets me get a good blurry background and have an object in focus, other times it doesn't do anything. Sometimes it makes no noise, and some times it makes a click noise almost as if it's jammed or just can't do it. Usually this can be resolved by removing the lens and putting it back on, but I don't wanna have to do this all the time it's unreliable somewhat. Is my camera defective? Should I try and return it? I purchased it at walmart about 10 months ago will does nikon have a factory warranty that will replace it? Please help and share any advice, thank you! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vty3_79M1nw&feature=youtu.be
 
Last edited:
D

Don Kuykendall_RIP

RIP :(
Volumes said:
Whenever I press the shutter release button down partially to take the picture, no focusing occurs. It seems like my camera picks and chooses when it will let me focus. Sometimes I hold down the button partially and it lets me get a good blurry background and have an object in focus, other times it doesn't do anything. Sometimes it makes no noise, and some times it makes a click noise almost as if it's jammed or just can't do it. Usually this can be resolved by removing the lens and putting it back on, but I don't wanna have to do this all the time it's unreliable somewhat. Is my camera defective? Should I try and return it? I purchased it at walmart about 10 months ago will does nikon have a factory warranty that will replace it? Please help and share any advice, thank you! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vty3_79M1nw&feature=youtu.be
Click to expand...


First make sure the contacts on the lens/body are clean. And yes there is a factory warranty on your Nikon, they won't replace it but they will fix it if you did not cause the damage. Check with Nikon to make sure the warranty is in force.
 
V

Volumes

New member
Don Kuykendall said:
First make sure the contacts on the lens/body are clean. And yes there is a factory warranty on your Nikon, they won't replace it but they will fix it if you did not cause the damage. Check with Nikon to make sure the warranty is in force.
Click to expand...

Thank you so much for the reply. I will try to clean the contacts & give an update.
 
B

Blacktop

Senior Member
Volumes said:
Whenever I press the shutter release button down partially to take the picture, no focusing occurs. It seems like my camera picks and chooses when it will let me focus. Sometimes I hold down the button partially and it lets me get a good blurry background and have an object in focus, other times it doesn't do anything. Sometimes it makes no noise, and some times it makes a click noise almost as if it's jammed or just can't do it. Usually this can be resolved by removing the lens and putting it back on, but I don't wanna have to do this all the time it's unreliable somewhat. Is my camera defective? Should I try and return it? I purchased it at walmart about 10 months ago will does nikon have a factory warranty that will replace it? Please help and share any advice, thank you! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vty3_79M1nw&feature=youtu.be
Click to expand...

Each lens has a "minimal focusing distance". Meaning that if you are closer to your subject then the minimal focusing distance of your lens, the lens will not focus. I would check this first.
 
Marcel

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
Have you checked in your user manual just to make certain that the camera is set with proper focusing mode. There are several options with focusing that could cause the symptoms you described. Too many focusing points used, background is more contrasted than the subject, poor light or contrast.

Before bringing back the camera to the seller, I'd maybe select a Single focusing point, try to get focus and recompose after focus acquisition. Usually, this is my perforate focusing mode.

Good luck.
 
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