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Hello! I have a Nikon D90 that when I press my shutter release button it makes a sound similar to the sound of auto focusing (that almost whining noise) but nothing happens. It doesn’t focus or take a picture. The aperture leaver isn’t in the “up” position but rather in the middle. Does anyone know if this would be caused by the failure of the aperture control unit or the shutter unit?
Have you tried:
• Taking off the lens, and observing what that does?
• Using a different lens?
• switching the on-body, (and/or the lens) autofocus switch to M (Manual)?The Nikon D90 was introduced in 2008. How old is your camera? Have you (or any previous owner) had any accidents/incidents with it?
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Thank you for the helpful suggestions!!
Our family bought it in 2014 (I think it was new/like new) and it has been knocked about a little. I got a new lens (a Sigma DG 70-300mm) for it in 2017ish but it didn’t work very well on it. The shutter would open but it took it too long to/didn’t want to close. Because of that I stopped using that lens, but that may have done the damage. Not too long after that, from what I can remember, this problem started and I stopped using this camera. I pulled it out the other day to see if I could get it back up and working so that we would have a DSLR to use. I have tried different lenses and just the body…nothing changes. I have disassemble the camera several times to see what I could find. Everytime I have been able to get the aperture leaver back into position but as soon as I reassemble it and press the shutter release it makes a sound like the shutter opening (but it doesn’t open) and the leaver goes back into the wrong position. The aperture control unit seems to be malfunctioning, but I am trying to figure out if it is malfunctioning because of a shutter problem. I can’t find any helpful information anywhere other than the Nikon D90 Service Manual.
I could buy both the shutter and the aperture control units, but I don’t want to buy something that I don’t need. I don’t think the camera is worth what it would cost to take it to a repair shop.
Any other ideas or thoughts?
I have never tried repairing a lens myself before! I’m not even sure if I know what you mean by a “aperture leaver” being in an up or middle position. What is the “aperture control unit”, and “shutter unit”?
Anyone else here on the forums be able to shed light on the situation?
I could buy both the shutter and the aperture control units, but I don’t want to buy something that I don’t need. I don’t think the camera is worth what it would cost to take it to a repair shop.
I honestly don’t think it’s worth the time or expense to try repairing a 14-year old camera, unless you want to do it just for the fun and experience of it. If you’ve tried it with multiple lenses and it still doesn’t work, it’s definitely the camera’s problem. I don’t have any experience with Nikon DSLRs, but I rather doubt that the shutter and aperture control units are connected. (That’s my very uneducated guess, so don’t attach too much importance to it. 🙂 ) If you do take a shot at it, here’s a video for fixing the aperture on a Nikon D80 that might be helpful, presuming that not much changed between the D80 and the D90. Oh, and here’s another video showing the D90. I’m assuming you have a copy of the Nikon D90 service manual?
Let us know if you make any progress! I’m not brave enough to attempt to disassemble a camera, but I applaud those who have the skills to make them work again!
If you need a cheap DSLR, and you’re OK with an older one, check out KEH.com for a reputable dealer that sells used cameras for good prices. A friend of mine had an old Nikon DSLR that didn’t work any more, and when he listed it on Ebay “for parts” for a small sum he sold it within an hour. So you might be able to get a bit of cash for your old one to help with the cost of one that actually works. 🙂
Firstly, I agree with @buddingphotographer that unless repairing cameras is your hobby, it’s probably not worth it
Caveat: this is a guess, from limited knowledge.
@jamesstaddon said:I’m not even sure if I know what you mean by a “aperture leaver” being in an up or middle position.
I don’t know if this is what @parrisfamily is referring to, but unlike Canon aperatures, which are electronically controlled, Nikon lenses have physical lever (on the back of the lens, see picture) that the camera moves back and forth to open and shut the aperture.
@parrisfamily mentions that the lever was stuck in the middle, but as you can see, it ought to be to one side (keeping the aperture snapped shut by default). He also mentions that he’s had the problem since he used a Sigma lens on it, which, he mentions, didn’t work well. I wonder if the lens was damaged, and, as he theorizes, damaged the camera.If that (or the corresponding unit on the camera body) were what was damaged then it could (potentially) cause weird problems.
Do your lenses work on other bodies?
Thank you for all of the thoughts, impute, and advice!!
I apologize for my late response.Thank you for the links @buddingphotographer! That is exactly what a D90 looks like on the inside.😂 I will try to let you know if/when I get the camera up and working.
@jamesstaddon I am new to diagnosing camera problems and working on them, but I think @cheesestick gave a good explanation of how the aperture leaver is supposed to work.
@cheesestick, the lens does work on a different body, so I’m not sure what to think, except that in my inexperienced I probably did something to the camera with the lens on it and caused the damage myself.Oh, by disassembled the camera I meant almost total disassembly…
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I am sorry for not replying sooner.
I was able to get it semi diagnosed and reassembled and it still ‘works’ the same as before but, unfortunately, it will need 1-2 parts before it will work for taking pictures. The blessing is, while praying about which part to buy and whether to buy it or not, the Lord provided a wonderful buy on a Nikon D800e. So, the Nikon D90 is not fixed yet but maybe sometime… 🙂
Congratulations @parrisfamily!
What a blessing, @parrisfamily! Praise the Lord.
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