My D70s is DEAD

[Traveller130]

Hi guys, my D70s has just died. It is also over 12 mths old . Anyway, here is the situation, I fitted a 80-200mm f2.8 ED lens on the D70s, but forgot to set and lock the aperture to f22. I switched on the camera and got the error message, realising this, I took the ED lens off, locked the aperture ring to f22 and remounted the lens. Then, NOTHING happened! The top LCD panel is completly dead, no display at all and I cannot power up the camera at all. I changed the battery and CF card (images not lost), even tried the DX kit lens on the D70s body, still nothing. I took the camera to the city on Sat and tried the ED lens on a D50, it worked fine, (AF, aperture etc). I even tried the "reset" button at the base plate, nothing. Eliminating all possibilities, I can only think of two things:
1. There is a short circuit in the D70s body.
2. There is a faulty on-off switch
I can't imagine an ED lens "shorting out" a D70s body (no one heard of that in the camera stores).
Before taking the D70s to the Camera Clinic, has anyone else experienced the same problem? I tried to Google it on the net, but without much sucess. Please help!
Thanks
Bo

[sirhc55]

A strange one Bo - does the camera turn on at all without a lens attached

[Traveller130]

Thanks Chris,
The camera is completely dead, unable to power on at all, with or without lens. No display on the top LCD panel either (usually they show how many shots are left or a Err with no CF card). I use SanDisk Ultra II. Someone told me it maybe the back up battery is dead, but I don't know where it is and really don't want to mess with the camera too much.
Cheers
Bo

[sirhc55]

Bo - unlike other cameras the D70s does not have a ”backup” battery except in the sense of the CR2 carrier supplied with the camera. The CR2 carrier is shaped like the ENL3 but accepts 3x CR2 batteries (could be called a backup system) that are totally useless as they are expensive and one might as well buy a second EN3 battery.

Sounds like a trip to the repair shop Bo

[Traveller130]

Yeah, that's what I fear Chris. I would have thought all digital cameras would have some form of backup battery to retain key info such as date, format, user settings etc? Anyway, will let people know once the Camera Clinic gives me the diagno$i$.
Bo

[Lukaszek]

Hi Traveller130

My dad had similar problem on his D70. It just died during the trip in Central Australia. Hopefully it was still on the warranty. It appeared there was some small problem on the main board of the camera. Easy fix.

So let us hope this is it!

Regards,

Lukasz

[Traveller130]

If your dad had an early version of the D70 (as opposed to the newer D70s), the problem he experienced may well be "Blinking Green Light of Death". Put BGLOD into Google and see. As I have a D70s, it is not affected by BGLOD, but I will sure find out. Someone told me that you should always switch the camera off before changing lenses, I must admit I don't always do this, but will from now on (if that caused a short circuit!) Guess when in doubt, read the instruction booklet.
Bo

[Glen]

Bo, I remember reading about a lens change causing a short circuit. There would have to be a small board mounted battery on the circuit board, dead or not it would make no difference to the operation, it just would mean you lose your date every time you change batteries. I think it is a trip to the repair shop for you. Welcome to the forum.

[Lukaszek]

Nope, that definitely wasn't it!

There was no response from camera at all! Same as yours - completely dead. I believe he had one of the last batch on D70 produced. He bought it when D70s was out.

Lukasz

[Ivanerrol]

Just a thought, have you tried another battery?

[Traveller130]

Thanks Ivan,
I tried a new battery, nothing happened. I also tried my battery on a D50, not a problem. So the issue is with the camera and not with the battery. Glen, I think you are right re the back up battery and the short circuit from not switching off the camera before swapping lenses. I don't know how much damage was done (ie. a straight forward part swap or a completely dead main circuit board), but will keep you all posted for others' reference also.
Cheers
Bo

[Gordon]

I've taken lenses off and on my D70 on numerous occasions while it was turned on, mainly because I forgot- but also when inspecting for dust bunnies, and never had any problem.
Does the top LCD back light come on at all?
Otherwise, have you tried giving it a good hard spanking to see if it comes to life?

[Traveller130]

Better check your manual Gordon, according to at least one other person, some other poor soul in the US experienced the same thing (maybe he spanked the camera also ). Just want to make sure I am not the only victim of this.
Bo

[Traveller130]

Better check your manual Gordon, according to at least one other person, some other poor soul in the US experienced the same thing (maybe he spanked the camera also ). Just want to make sure I am not the only victim of this. To paraphase John Cleese, the camera is DEAD, it is an EX-camera, no power, zilch, zippo. No matter which buttons I press, it remains dead.
Bo

[Gordon]

well since the spanking didnt work, to quote John Cleese again, maybe its time to get more serious!
" Right! Well, don't say I haven't warned you! I've laid it on the line to you time and time again! Right! Well…this is it! I'm going to give you a damn good thrashing!"
and see if it works then

Given how many D70s are out there, and I would imagine hundreds if not thousands of owners have removed a lens without first turning the camera off at some stage, yet this dead camera problem does not seem to be common. So maybe it was just a coincidence or related to the particular lens you removed?

[Traveller130]

Good to hear from another Python fan Gordon. I too am skeptical about the "power off before swapping lenses in order to prevent possible short circuit" theory, but when in doubt, read the instructions. I think it is just a freak coincident, if ED lenses short out D70s, there'd be heaps of that written up on the net, not to mention an official warning from Nikon. As a side note, I did ask the sales person to try my ED lens on a D50 they have in store, and she didn't power off the camera! Well the D50 lived the experience and even managed to communicate with the lens via AF. Stay tuned.
Bo

[Glen]

Bo, there have been any number of people who have changed lenses with the power on, most with no problem, though I can recall a post I think on DPReview where someone had a problem. Maybe do a search there. A search herereveals no issues.

It will be interesting to see the result for you and if it is covered under warranty. Is it in for repair yet?


Just for the record, ED refers to the glass in the lens and is available in manual (no electronics), AF (part electronics) and AFS (full electronics), so in itself would have no effect on the problem. AF is also a mechanical link (it is the little screwdriver you see at 7 o'clock on the lens mount) so also isn't electronic. Good luck with your repair

[MHD]

Just to add: I do on occasion (not on purpose and I gasp when I do it) change lenses with the power on and My D70 is not dead yet (Over two years old, 17K actuations)

[Traveller130]

Cheers Glen,
I looked at a couple of other threads (DP review and Passion for pixels), the opinion seem to be divided on this issue. Many people do swap lenses with the power on, without any apparent ill effects (myself included upto last week). Yet the Nikon manual does clearly state that you should power off the camera prior to lens change, so I guess remote as it may be, there is a 1:100K chance of possible electronic short circuiting between the on/off swithch, CPU contact points on the lens, battery, CF card and all the buttons etc. I guess if one was to REALLY do it properly, you need to switch off the camera AND remove the battery before the lens change! I haven't taken the camera to the Camera Clinic yet (Melbourne Cup), so I am really hoping it's a simple problem... On a brighter side, I did manage a small win on the Cup, but I doubt if that'd cover the cost of repairs
Bo

[Glen]

Bo,

Hope the repair may be a warranty issue I also occasionally change lenses without turning the camera off, but only by accident. I was unlucky enough to have the AFS controller in my camera die (AFS = fully electronis lens, motor in lens) but had it replaced under warranty. Never knew if it was caused by a live change or not as don't know when it went, only noticed it later when I put a AFS lens on.

[elffinarts]

good luck with this.

I cant count how many times I've changed lenses with the D70 still on. (whilst working in the dark of a nightclub - somewhat inebriated) Freaks me out when I realise but it's never done any obvious damage.

[edneeves]

I pretty much always change lenses with the power on. Hope I am not setting myself up for some problems.

[ozonejunkie]

I also change lenses with absolutely no respect to the status of the power switch.

Have any manufacturers actually said if this is good or bad?

Tristan

[Gordon]

I also change lenses with absolutely no respect to the status of the power switch.

Have any manufacturers actually said if this is good or bad?

Tristan

Given all the closet 'power on lens removers' that are coming out now, I suspect that it doesn't hurt, even though they advise against it. Otherwise this and other forums would be full of tales of woe about it.

[Glen]

I also change lenses with absolutely no respect to the status of the power switch.

Have any manufacturers actually said if this is good or bad?

Tristan

Page 7 of the D50 manual states not to do it, so pretty early in the piece. As Gordon states, many have done it, seems you have to be the 1 in 100,000 to have something go wrong. Still if you are, I am sure you wouldn't be too pleased.

[ozonejunkie]

I have just looked at the 30D manual, it makes no mention of turning the camera off before attaching / detaching a lens. I assume it is no problem then for the Canons.

[Traveller130]

I think p17 of the D70s manual also said to switch off the camera before changing lenses. I also looked up several threads in the DP Review forum, again, there are many closet lens swappers outed themselves there without any problems. I took the camera to the Camera Clinic 2 days ago, I should hear back from them by next week as to what the problem is, so I will keep everyone updated then. My D70s is over a year old, so I can't wait for the repair bill
Bo

[Traveller130]

Hi all,
Just a quick update to let you know that my D70s is alive and kicking again! The good news is that the problem was a blown fuse. I queried the technician as to what are the common causes, she told me that it could be from anything from a strong bump to the camera to humidity to normal wear and tear. When I told her that I changed the lens without powering off the camera, she said that could have caused it, but so could all the other factors I just mentioned. Oh, and the repair bill was just over $100, so I can't use the dead camera as an excuse to get that D200
Bo

[Gordon]

Glad you got it back working for not too much $$

[Glen]

Have to be happy with that price

[jammy2]

Glad you got your camera back, and that the price wasn't to exhorbitant =)

[seeto.centric]

blown internal non-user accessible fuses are always a PITA to diagnose/fix..
but at least you know that theyre doing their job!

-julz