Live mode switch not working on Nikon D 5100.

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Elainewusstig

New member
I recently purchased the Nikon D 5100 as a beginner in photography. The switch for Live Mode will not activate the screen to turn on and show anything. No click sound either. Please help so I may continue to learn the basics of the camera. Elaine
 
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Bikerbrent_RIP

Senior Member
Welcome aboard Elaine, enjoy the ride. We look forward to seeing more posts and samples of your work.

You might also want to consider introducing yourself on New Member Introductions.

Someone will be along shortly to help you out.
 
BF Hammer

BF Hammer

Senior Member
Elaine, if the camera is new to you it could be wise to move past the no LiveView bit and see exactly what works and does not work. You may just have a broken camera. You may just be missing something in trying to activate LiveView. But my move would be to use the viewfinder and try taking photos. Start with the mode dial on top set to "Auto". Can it take a photo and allow you to review it? Does pushing the "menu" button activate the menu on the rear screen? Can you review any photos on the rear screen. If those all work, maybe try to revisit the LiveView and it could be you activate the part that was missed before. Or it could just be broken.

Another thought, the battery could be exhausted and needs a recharge.
 
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Elainewusstig

New member
Hello B F Hammer, The rear screen/ monitor does not show anything. When I open the rear screen outward then the screen shows the settings. Not when the monitor is flush to back of camera. Yes, I can take pictures through the viewfinder and view them when the monitor is open outward. Pushing the "menu" button does not activate the rear screen. No, I can not review any photos on the rear screen. The battery is three quarters full at this time.
 
BF Hammer

BF Hammer

Senior Member
Simple answer is that it needs repair. If the screen stops working flush to back but works when extended away from back, I would conclude the connecting cable has broken and must be replaced.
 
Needa

Needa

Senior Member
Challenge Team
Elainewusstig said:
I recently purchased the Nikon D 5100 as a beginner in photography.
Click to expand...
After purchasing a used camera it is a good idea to reset the defaults.
Default settings d5100.png

But I do believe that BF Hammer is correct that there is a cable issue going to the rear screen.
 
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Marilynne

Marilynne

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
Welcome!

Please let us know what you did to resolve your issue in case someone else has the same issue. Thanks!
 
Dawg Pics

Dawg Pics

Senior Member
Sounds like the mirror is not moving up, which is the click sound you are talking about. You can take the lens off, turn the camera on and watch the mirror go up when you put it into live view. You might check it to see, so you can describe to the tech what is happening. Also, if the monitor is only working with the screen in a certain position, then something else is going on as well. Will the menu work if the screen is in the position where the settings show? If so, then there is something wrong with the display. Just giving you things to check so you can be better informed to describe the problems you are having.

Is the camera under warranty or can it be returned?
 
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Elainewusstig

New member
Hello Dawg pics, Thank you for your interest with my camera. I removed the lens turned the camera on and opened the LCD screen since that is the only position I can see info on the LCD screen. I moved the Live View switch and heard the click and also saw the mirror move. The menu will work only if the LCD screen is opened. When the screen is flush to the back of camera no info shows. Thank you again for your interest. Elaine
 
BloggerDude

BloggerDude

Banned
Elaine,

I'm sorry to hear that you're having trouble with your Nikon D5100 in Live Mode. Let's try some troubleshooting steps to see if we can resolve the issue:

  1. Battery Check: Ensure your camera's battery is fully charged and inserted correctly. A low battery can cause Live Mode to malfunction.
  2. Power On: Make sure the camera is turned on before attempting to activate Live Mode. Sometimes, Live Mode won't work if the camera is off.
  3. Mode Dial: Verify that the mode dial on top of the camera is set to one of the Live View modes (usually indicated by a camera icon with a small video camera inside). If you're in any other mode (e.g., Auto, Program, Manual), Live Mode may not function.
  4. Monitor Settings: Press the "INFO" button on the back of the camera to cycle through display options. The Live View display might have been unintentionally turned off.
  5. Lens Cap: Ensure that the lens cap is removed, as the camera won't display anything on the screen if the cap is on.
  6. Autofocus Mode: Try changing the autofocus mode to see if it makes a difference. Switch between AF-S (single-servo autofocus) and AF-F (full-time autofocus).
  7. Reset the Camera: If none of the above steps work, you can try resetting the camera to its default settings. Find the "Reset All" option in the Setup menu.
If the Live Mode still won't activate after trying all these steps, there might be a hardware issue with your camera. I recommend reaching out to Nikon customer support or taking your camera to an authorized Nikon service center for further assistance.

The Nikon D5100 is an excellent camera for beginners, and I hope you get to explore and learn the basics of photography soon. Feel free to ask for help if you encounter more issues or have photography-related questions. Happy shooting!

Best regards
 
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