D500 - My Issue Resolution

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
As stated in other threads here and elsewhere, I've experienced some issues with my D500 that have not been documented elsewhere leading me (and others) to believe that mine was a defective body. Restated plainly, I never experienced the lock up (UHS-II SD related) or extended timeout (Sigma OS related) issues others had, but on regular, albeit unpredictable, occasions I would have my rear screen and/or metering system fail to turn off/time out - regardless of what lens was attached (my initial assumption was this was 3d party only).

After a complete unwillingness of Nikon to acknowledge this as an actual "issue" even after sending video documentation I contacted B&H, from whom I received the camera 27 days before. They were immediately helpful and issued an RMA to exchange my body for a new one. I've shipped the body back to B&H and will receive a replacement from the next batch they get from Nikon (oh God, please let that arrive tomorrow!!). Until then, I will miss it incredibly.

Some have asked me to publish the serial number and shutter count in case this body pops up on the refurb market early on. Here you are:

S/N: 3007740
Shutter Count: 5643
 

hark

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Very glad B&H stepped up. They are a terrific company and one I enjoy supporting. :encouragement:

In the meantime, your D750 is calling your name. ;) Hope your wait time is very short.
 

hark

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Seriously, WTF dude?! Is there a perpetual cloud over your head or are you just naturally an asshat?!

Both in my opinion. ;)

Many of us understood why you took the time to post the info: because it was possibly a bug that could affect many D500 owners. With Nikon's history, unfortunately it could be true. At least when you get the replacement, you will find out for sure whether it was the body or a glitch that affects more than just your first D500.
 

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
Always read your email. As of this morning B&H hadn't processed my return (they received the camera on the 22nd) so I called them up and about an hour later I got an email acknowledging the receipt. Two hours after that I got an email saying that the return had been processed. Whoo-hoo - now I just need to wait for the next shipment. I opened the email and read that my "return has been processed". Had I stopped there I wouldn't have noticed that they'd processed it as a refund to my credit card and not as an exchange. I called them back immediately and managed to get it reversed. Waiting another day and the credit would have been issued and I may have had issues getting back to the top of the queue.

Dodged a bullet.

And while I'm typing, I've been back to using my D750 for my evening birding shots. I can't believe how much better the D500's focus system is. When I first got the 150-600mm I was impressed with the lens and figured focus speed was focus speed - not lightning quick but faster than the 150-500mm. But on the D500 I could set the focus point anywhere and it would grab focus almost immediately, even in dark, low contrast areas and with a 1.4x TC. With the D750 I'm getting hunting in high contrast areas where I want to focus on something close with plenty of empty space behind it and the center focus point aimed right at it. I also miss the heck out of the complete side-to-side focus points.

I still love the D750, but I've always said there are horses for courses and I miss my filly.
 

mauckcg

Senior Member
Glad your issue is being resolved. Finally had my D500 out at a vintage race using it as i intended to. There is no going back now. :playful:
 

Blacktop

Senior Member
Always read your email. As of this morning B&H hadn't processed my return (they received the camera on the 22nd) so I called them up and about an hour later I got an email acknowledging the receipt. Two hours after that I got an email saying that the return had been processed. Whoo-hoo - now I just need to wait for the next shipment. I opened the email and read that my "return has been processed". Had I stopped there I wouldn't have noticed that they'd processed it as a refund to my credit card and not as an exchange. I called them back immediately and managed to get it reversed. Waiting another day and the credit would have been issued and I may have had issues getting back to the top of the queue.

Dodged a bullet.

And while I'm typing, I've been back to using my D750 for my evening birding shots. I can't believe how much better the D500's focus system is. When I first got the 150-600mm I was impressed with the lens and figured focus speed was focus speed - not lightning quick but faster than the 150-500mm. But on the D500 I could set the focus point anywhere and it would grab focus almost immediately, even in dark, low contrast areas and with a 1.4x TC. With the D750 I'm getting hunting in high contrast areas where I want to focus on something close with plenty of empty space behind it and the center focus point aimed right at it. I also miss the heck out of the complete side-to-side focus points.

I still love the D750, but I've always said there are horses for courses and I miss my filly.

Maybe you have a bad copy of the D750. Mine has no problem grabbing quick focus, even in near dark situations. You should call Nikon.:indecisiveness:
 

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
I was out on the deck with the 300mm F4 on the D750 yesterday. It was overcast with rain coming. A Great Blue Heron was flying towards us and about to go just about over our heads. Grabbed the camera and I'll be damned if it couldn't lock onto it. Missed the shot totally and I had 3 separate chances to reset and re-aim. I'm not above thinking that something is up because it never behaved like this before, at least not as frequently as this. That said, when I sat down it was rock solid with everything else I aimed it at, and lightning quick. I may give it a closer look after I get the D500 back. Having sold the D7100 I'm not going to live on just the D610 for an indeterminate time. Yes, I know, poor, poor, pitiful me. ;)
 

hark

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Jake, back when the SB-28 (Nikon flash) came out, I bought one of the early ones. About a year later, my N70 (35mm film camera) started acting hinky. I'd get rolls of film developed and had unexposed frames in the middle. Somehow the camera was taking its own images without me pressing the shutter. And quite often the flash wasn't even mounted on the camera for any of those rolls of film.

When I called Nikon about it, they had me return both the flash and the camera. Apparently there was something going on with the early models of the SB-28 that caused a malfunction in the electronics of the bodies on which they were mounted. Even a local camera store said the early SB-28's had a known issue. Fortunately the flash was still under warranty, and although the camera was one week out of being under warranty, Nikon fixed both without charging me.

My point is I am wondering if the compatibility between your Sigma lens and D500 caused some type of electronic malfunction to the lens which is then affecting how it operates no matter which body it is used on. Like I said earlier, whatever electronic issue happened with the SB-28, it caused a malfunction in the N70 even when the flash wasn't mounted. Keep an eye on your 300mm--I think you mentioned having issues with it on your D500, too.
 

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
The 150-600mm lived on my D750 for over a month before I got the D500, no issues. I shot a couple thousands frames with it on my D750 in FL, no focus issues, no electronics issues. I've traded posts, emails and PM's with dozens of folks who have shot with the 150-600mm and the D500, no one has experienced anything even remotely similar. The issue started with me on day 1. So I appreciate the concern, but I'm firmly convinced that the D500 issue is related to that body. As for the recent focus issues with the D750? It may be perception after a month of using the D500. That doesn't mean I won't get it checked out. When the weather clears I'll check it against the D610. If the D610 focuses better with a 39-pt system then I know I need to have the D750 looked at.
 

Blacktop

Senior Member
I was out on the deck with the 300mm F4 on the D750 yesterday. It was overcast with rain coming. A Great Blue Heron was flying towards us and about to go just about over our heads. Grabbed the camera and I'll be damned if it couldn't lock onto it. Missed the shot totally and I had 3 separate chances to reset and re-aim. I'm not above thinking that something is up because it never behaved like this before, at least not as frequently as this. That said, when I sat down it was rock solid with everything else I aimed it at, and lightning quick. I may give it a closer look after I get the D500 back. Having sold the D7100 I'm not going to live on just the D610 for an indeterminate time. Yes, I know, poor, poor, pitiful me. ;)

Mine will grab the subject pretty quick, but if I lose it, it will have a harder time re-grabbing it the second time. I have tried different modes (S-Grp-D9 -D21 etc...)
 

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
Some days are better than others. Some days you just get lucky. So glad I straightened out the return at B&H yesterday. Because they just shipped my replacement D500!!

It'll be here tomorrow. Couldn't be happier. OK, maybe a little, but not much.
 

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
FYI, spent some time with the D750 and the long lenses today. A huge difference when you set the focus system to something other than the full range. If you're outside the short range then setting them for 3m-infinity or 10m-infinity was a marked difference from FULL on both lenses.
 
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