Do I have a faulty camera?

SirenWilliams

Senior Member
Sorry guys. I just started another thread about one of the issues that I am having with my new Nikon D5500, and I wanted to post a second thread for the other issue, and now I remember I have three issues with it, and I should have put this all in one thread, so here it goes, all together!

Quick rundown: Upgraded from D3200 after 5+ years of happy shooting with that camera. Ordered this body from MPB for $444, sold as new. It was a great deal, the company had good reviews. I went for it! I DO like the camera.

Issue 1: (as mentioned in previous thread) The other day it rapidly snapped 3-4 photos while my hands weren't even on the camera. It was not set to a timer mode, the shutter wasn't open and then closed... nothing like that. It actually shot the images just out of nowhere and it was really weird and scared me.

Issue 2: When I shoot a photo, it takes way too long for the camera to display the image. My D3200 was relatively quick, and would sometimes take an extra second, but this is insane. It literally takes anywhere from 3-8 seconds just to load the image. When you're shooting action shots, outdoors, where the light is changing constantly, I want to check my test shots quickly and to have to sit around and wait for the camera to loa the image??? This can't be normal. That's shooting in both RAW and Fine.

Issue 3: The focus. A LOT of the time, it does not allow me to adjust my focal points. It literally will not even acknowledge that I've pressed anything and when I'm working with a setting sun and a model, and I'm on a time crunch, I literally have to frame her according to where IT wants to focus, which is really annoying. I'm using a lens that I had previously, so this isn't a lens issue. I was really excited about the focal points I'd have with this camera because 11 on the D3200 was pretty annoying. For it to act like this is even more annoying!

Does it sound like this camera has issues? Or perhaps the display issue is normal and it just sucks on this camera? It just doesn't feel like Nikon quality to me!
 

Mark F

Senior Member
Does it sound like this camera has issues? Or perhaps the display issue is normal and it just sucks on this camera? It just doesn't feel like Nikon quality to me!

Short answer, yes your camera has issues.
I looked at that MPB site. Nothing they sell is NEW. Maybe yours was listed Like New? I see they only have a 7 day return and if they included some sort of warranty its good for 6 months unless otherwise stated. I am almost positive you won't have a Nikon warranty on this camera.
If I were you, I would be calling them up and see what options they give you. Hopefully their customer service will help you with these issues.
This is one of the reasons its always best to buy from a reputable company like BH or Adorama or even a local brick and mortar.
 

SirenWilliams

Senior Member
Yes, I knew the risk when purchasing... I usually do B&H, but I was super tight on money and if I didn't get this one at this price, I wasn't getting it at all. There was another company selling for cheaper but they seemed scammy, but when I looked up this place, I found pretty good reviews.

I've already sent an email to them, and I'm awaiting response. Although, I completely forgot to mention the focusing issue to them.

Let's say I'm totally screwed. Do you think that these are things that I could have fixed?

What in the world would cause the camera to snap photos on its' own??? I mean, I guess if it wants to do that every once in a while, then whatever, but my concern is what is causing it and what other problems could arise from it.

The focusing issue has to be dealt with. Also, the lcd thing... super annoying. Do you think these are things that someone could "fix"?
 

SirenWilliams

Senior Member
And yes, I'm having a bit of a flashback. It is used (Can't believe I forgot that! My life is truly nuts right now), but I think it was like, in "excellent" condition or something. I wouldn't have taken anything less. I don't have a ton of money so I'm pretty careful with how it's spent. Used it fine by me, as long as it works. But there was no mention of anything not working. Unfortunately, when I log into that site, it shows my purchase, but I can't see the listing anymore to see what info I was given.
 

Mark F

Senior Member
My first questions would be how used is the camera? How many shutter activations did it have when you received it? Is it grey market? If so, Nikon may not even touch it for repairs here in the USA. What kind of warranty did they give you? Any paperwork stating such?
I looked at some of the reviews. Negative reviews all had 1 star. There were some 5 star praises, but when I see reviews with 1 star and 5 star with none in the middle, I question all of them.
I'm sure it could be fixed though... if it even is a genuine nikon product
 

SirenWilliams

Senior Member
It pretty much came with zero paperwork, unless I overlooked something. I'm out of town for work a LOT so things are a bit strewn. The website does sound hopeful though! It mentions a 6 month warranty on defects.

I seriously forgot that it was used, if that tells you anything. Very clean. I can't remember the shutter count that they listed, but I just checked and I'm right around 14,000 currently. I can account for over 4k of those myself just in the time I've had it. I've had a few pretty extensive shoots lately for a project I'm in the middle of (3 shoots). So really, if they even put 10k photos on it, to me, that's still pretty new, but I reckon that depends on if they were out doing 1000 photo shoots, or if they just shot a few pretty flowers here and there all the time.

Grey market, not sure.

I'd say if it's not a real Nikon, they made a DAMNED good knock-off. haha...
 

Mark F

Senior Member
It probably isn't a knock off... I put that out there since there are those that would go that far to sell something not genuine. I know nothing about MPB. They do seem to be reputable from further searching of reviews.
Did you try resetting the camera back to factory defaults to see if that solves some of your problems?
 
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Mark F

Senior Member
Also, you might want to try another memory card just to rule out a bad card causing the delay described in issue #2
Issue #3 .. What is your AF setting at? try setting to AF S with single point and see if you can move the focus point around.
 

SirenWilliams

Senior Member
Hmm... That does sorta sound like it could be a memory card issue. Those cards haven't given me trouble, but I'm cursed with cards. Everyone I get goes weird. Some are weird when I get them, others go weird right when it's too late to return them. I'm lucky to still have 3 that work! hahah.... Maybe... not...

I will tamper with it in the morning using your recommendations and see what happens. Thank you!!!
 

Mark F

Senior Member
I would also be curious if you can move the focus around in Live View. This would kind of rule out an issue perhaps with the joystick
 

SirenWilliams

Senior Member
Well, when in play mode, I can toggle through photos with the arrows, and that's the same thing I'd use for focusing, so I'm assuming that rules that out. Actually, I think it may have worked in live view. I don't normally shoot like that, but I think I did for something, and I think I remember it working.
I was a little confusing because at first I just assumed it was finicky and I'm impatient. The D3200 was kinda finicky too, and gave me trouble a little bit, but usually worked fairly decent for the most part. I think I just assumed it was me, but then the more I used the camera, the more I realized that like, it's not moving those red dots!
 

Mark F

Senior Member
If the reset and changing of memory cards don't help resolve those issues, be sure to contact the seller to see if you can return it.
 

Mark F

Senior Member
Well, when in play mode, I can toggle through photos with the arrows, and that's the same thing I'd use for focusing, so I'm assuming that rules that out. Actually, I think it may have worked in live view. I don't normally shoot like that, but I think I did for something, and I think I remember it working.
I was a little confusing because at first I just assumed it was finicky and I'm impatient. The D3200 was kinda finicky too, and gave me trouble a little bit, but usually worked fairly decent for the most part. I think I just assumed it was me, but then the more I used the camera, the more I realized that like, it's not moving those red dots!

Did you ever resolve the problem with this camera?
Curious as to what it was/
 
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