Nikon D7100- Frustrating - "Err" message problem.

Yormalda

Senior Member
Hi Nikonites,

I have a D7100, using a Nikon 18-300 lens, that has now developed a frustrating problem I have been unable to come to grips with!

When I turn the camera on I get a Err message in the top screen & the camera will not work, how ever if I persist & fully depress shutter button although it sound like it has taken a photo nothing happened that action seems to reset camera & the next time I depress the shutter button the camera works as it should taking it's usual quality photo, it is then a case of repeat from then on until I turn of camera.

Camera firmware - 1.04
Lens firmware - 2.018

Other lens have been tried but no change to problem. :(

I have fully reset camera & set-up as recommended on Nasim Mansura Recommended Nikon D7100 Settings - https://photographylife.com/recommended-nikon-d7100-settings.

I am not saying they are best but have used purely as a reference point.

As the problem is predictable I feel/hope that it is a settings problem somewhere but am unable to find what!

Help needed please!
 

Needa

Senior Member
Challenge Team
From manual:
Screenshot from 2021-07-20 06-36-33.png

You might try this:
https://nikonites.com/photography-q...ens-wont-autofocus-post751145.html#post751145
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
Is the mirror sitting in the right place, or is it stuck in a different position? Put it into Mirror Up (usually requires at least 50% battery power to put into Mirror Up). Look again to see if the sensor is visible or if the shutter is showing (which it shouldn't). Just visually inspecting it might give you an idea of what's going on. Personally I prefer to remove my lens before turning the power on/off on a body.
 

Woodyg3

Senior Member
Contributor
You could try cleaning the electrical contacts and mounting ring with de-oxit or alcohol. I have had similar err message problems due to oxidation on the contacts.
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
When this happens, is the viewfinder black? I have a problem with my first D750. After turning the camera on, the first image began producing an err message with the viewfinder being black. A second press allowed the mirror to go back down, and everything worked normally until the next time the body was turned on. What I found helped to resolve the issue (and has only happened a couple of times since during the past few years) is to make sure the camera goes into standby before it is turned off. If for some reason I turn it off before the body goes into standby, that usually happens.

But if you are getting an err message on the top screen, that shouldn't have anything to do with your settings.
 

D'Grump

Senior Member
It seems like the "Err" message on Nikon cameras is just one bin for multiple problems. It kinda says "Hey there is some problem but I don't exactly know what it is. Maybe you can find out." So, you've got to start eliminating some things, and by the looks of it, you have. The D7100 has 2 card slots, and one of the things that "Err" points to is a memory problem. I would suggest that you remove both cards and put in one new card (or different good one) in slot 1 and see if you can recreate the problem. if yes, it's probably something else besides the memory cards. If no, remove the new card and put one of the old cards into slot 1 and try to recreate. If yes, probably that card is the problem (but put the second old one into slot 1 and try again to verify the second card is good or bad). If no, then repeat with the second card in slot 1. If yes, that card is suspect as well. If no, that card is probably OK. I wouldn't expect to find both cards with a problem, but who knows. If you find that after all of this the "Err" problem doesn't come back, then it's likely that there was dirt or oxidation on the memory card contacts either on the memory card itself or in the slots in the camera. If it was me, and the problem didn't come back after this exercise, I would probably get rid of both cards just as a proactive measure anyway. Good luck finding out what's wrong.
Andy
 
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BF Hammer

Senior Member
My infrared converted D80 is doing exactly as you describe since about 1 year ago. I also tried the suggestions here, no joy. It's old enough and beat enough for me to trash.

But my research suggests that this is an electrical contact in the aperture control problem. As in a switch contact. But it is buried deep in the camera and it is not a quick and easy disassembly to reach. It can be fixed by Nikon, possibly even an independent shop could since a D7100 is likely out of warranty anyhow. The DIY reset hold the shutter release with the battery removed is worth a try, but does not work for all.
 

Yormalda

Senior Member
Thanks Hark, I will remove my lens & check out the mirror function.

29/7/21 update.

Hi Hark
I have checked out camera in mirror up mode, sensor showing, no sign of shutter so I am now leaning toward deeper problems, think I will take to Adelaid's Nikon agent for estimate/repair.

Thanks to you and all others who have contributed to trying to fix my problem, it is very much appreciated.
Cheers
Yormalda
 
Last edited:

Yormalda

Senior Member
When this happens, is the viewfinder black? I have a problem with my first D750. After turning the camera on, the first image began producing an err message with the viewfinder being black. A second press allowed the mirror to go back down, and everything worked normally until the next time the body was turned on. What I found helped to resolve the issue (and has only happened a couple of times since during the past few years) is to make sure the camera goes into standby before it is turned off. If for some reason I turn it off before the body goes into standby, that usually happens.

But if you are getting an err message on the top screen, that shouldn't have anything to do with your settings.


Thanks Hark, sequence is 1/ press shutter button, nothing. 2/ press shutter button again, viewfinder black top screen displays data shutter operates, does not take a photo. 3/ press shutter button, camera functions as it should & takes good quality photo. Next we go back to 1 again for a complete cycle repeating all 3 steps and so on?
 

Yormalda

Senior Member
It seems like the "Err" message on Nikon cameras is just one bin for multiple problems. It kinda says "Hey there is some problem but I don't exactly know what it is. Maybe you can find out." So, you've got to start eliminating some things, and by the looks of it, you have. The D7100 has 2 card slots, and one of the things that "Err" points to is a memory problem. I would suggest that you remove both cards and put in one new card (or different good one) in slot 1 and see if you can recreate the problem. if yes, it's probably something else besides the memory cards. If no, remove the new card and put one of the old cards into slot 1 and try to recreate. If yes, probably that card is the problem (but put the second old one into slot 1 and try again to verify the second card is good or bad). If no, then repeat with the second card in slot 1. If yes, that card is suspect as well. If no, that card is probably OK. I wouldn't expect to find both cards with a problem, but who knows. If you find that after all of this the "Err" problem doesn't come back, then it's likely that there was dirt or oxidation on the memory card contacts either on the memory card itself or in the slots in the camera. If it was me, and the problem didn't come back after this exercise, I would probably get rid of both cards just as a proactive measure anyway. Good luck finding out what's wrong.
Andy


Thanks D'Grump,
What you mention makes good sense & gives me something I can check before I take the problem further to Nikon.
As I responded to Hark earlier the sequence of events is as follows:-
1/ press shutter button, nothing.
2/ press shutter button again, viewfinder black top screen displays data shutter operates, does not take a photo.
3/ press shutter button, camera functions as it should & takes good quality photo.
Next we go back to 1 again for a complete cycle repeating all 3 steps and so on?
Frustrating as it is so predictable.
 

Yormalda

Senior Member
My infrared converted D80 is doing exactly as you describe since about 1 year ago. I also tried the suggestions here, no joy. It's old enough and beat enough for me to trash.

But my research suggests that this is an electrical contact in the aperture control problem. As in a switch contact. But it is buried deep in the camera and it is not a quick and easy disassembly to reach. It can be fixed by Nikon, possibly even an independent shop could since a D7100 is likely out of warranty anyhow. The DIY reset hold the shutter release with the battery removed is worth a try, but does not work for all.

Hi BF Hammer
Thanks for your reply, I have tried the reset but no change, I have had some other suggestions from other Nikonites so will try them before I take the plunge & send back to Nikon for service.
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
Thanks Hark, sequence is 1/ press shutter button, nothing. 2/ press shutter button again, viewfinder black top screen displays data shutter operates, does not take a photo. 3/ press shutter button, camera functions as it should & takes good quality photo. Next we go back to 1 again for a complete cycle repeating all 3 steps and so on?

Are you able to put the body into Mirror Up and look inside? Check to see if the shutter is visible (which it shouldn't be). Most likely the mirror is sticking.

When my issue happened repeatedly with my first D750, I mentioned it here but never received any responses from anyone else who was experiencing this same problem. After searching online, I read one account of someone with the same thing happening. He sent his into Nikon where they replaced the shutter. Yet when he got it back, the same issue kept happening. He began to insist that Nikon replace the CPU. After back and forth with Nikon, the CPU was finally replaced which resolved his issue.

So it sounds like either the mirror is sticking, or it might be a CPU issue. Can you try just putting it into mirror up over and over? If it sticks, then something is probably going on with the mirror mechanism. If the mirror goes up and releases properly, then it could be something with the CPU. Alternatively you could put the body into Live View. That will also flip the mirror up. Press the shutter a few times to see if the shutter clicks properly.
 

Yormalda

Senior Member
Are you able to put the body into Mirror Up and look inside? Check to see if the shutter is visible (which it shouldn't be). Most likely the mirror is sticking.

When my issue happened repeatedly with my first D750, I mentioned it here but never received any responses from anyone else who was experiencing this same problem. After searching online, I read one account of someone with the same thing happening. He sent his into Nikon where they replaced the shutter. Yet when he got it back, the same issue kept happening. He began to insist that Nikon replace the CPU. After back and forth with Nikon, the CPU was finally replaced which resolved his issue.

So it sounds like either the mirror is sticking, or it might be a CPU issue. Can you try just putting it into mirror up over and over? If it sticks, then something is probably going on with the mirror mechanism. If the mirror goes up and releases properly, then it could be something with the CPU. Alternatively you could put the body into Live View. That will also flip the mirror up. Press the shutter a few times to see if the shutter clicks properly.

Thanks again Hark,

Tried using the camera in live view as you suggested, unfortunately the problem still remains the same in every detail. :nightmare:

It's looking more like I will need to return the camera to Nikon for service/repair? ;) $$$
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
Thanks again Hark,

Tried using the camera in live view as you suggested, unfortunately the problem still remains the same in every detail. :nightmare:

It's looking more like I will need to return the camera to Nikon for service/repair? ;) $$$

Another question for you because I'm wondering if the Live View button might possibly be stuck. When this happens and the viewfinder turns black, does the rear screen show the image? If not, then it probably doesn't have anything to do with Live View.

Here is how to put the body into Mirror Up (it's directions for the D7200 but should work exactly the same for the D7100):
https://imaging.nikon.com/support/digitutor/d7200/functions/releasemode_mirrorup.html

Did you try this?
 

Yormalda

Senior Member
Hi Hark
Yes I tried mirror up mode, no change, as before 3rd press of shutter button takes photo, then it's back to sequence 1 again.
1/ press shutter button, nothing.
2/ press shutter button again, viewfinder black top screen displays data shutter operates, does not take a photo.
3/ press shutter button, camera functions as it should & takes good quality photo.
Live screen works but only when shutter has been pressed once then live view turned on, camera takes photo as it should then turns off live view until it is set-up again.
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
Hi Hark
Yes I tried mirror up mode, no change, as before 3rd press of shutter button takes photo, then it's back to sequence 1 again.
1/ press shutter button, nothing.
2/ press shutter button again, viewfinder black top screen displays data shutter operates, does not take a photo.
3/ press shutter button, camera functions as it should & takes good quality photo.
Live screen works but only when shutter has been pressed once then live view turned on, camera takes photo as it should then turns off live view until it is set-up again.

The body should remain in live view until you turn off that feature. So something is definitely not working properly.
 

Yormalda

Senior Member
Hi Hark,
Thank you & the others for all your help with my D7100 problem.
After trying all suggestions I bit the bullet & took it into Digicam, Adelaide for their take on things.
Long story short I pick up the camera complete with a new shutter next week, costing AUD$385, disappointing as the camera had less than 30,000 shutter operations from new, but sadly that's life sometimes.
Thanks again.
 
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