depth of field preview not working

[elbi]

Hello.

The Depth of field preview on my D70s does not work with either of my two lenses (A standard and the AFS 70-300 VR).

What could possibly be the cause?

Thanks.

elbi

[adam]

Does not work? Does the lens not stop down to the f-stop you specify when you press and hold the button?

[elbi]

Well, the button does click but the viewfinder goes totally black...

Thanks.

elbi

[Killakoala]

That is what DOF preview does, you must have your DOF set to the max. Have you tried it at the widest aperture? It should always go darker than what you normally see through the viewfinder.

[gstark]

Sounds like it's working correctly to me.

What are you expecting to happen?

[elbi]

Thanks for the replies.

My expectation is that I would see an image (as I did before the problem started) and that it would be darker or lighter depending on the aperture setting.

Current behaviour is: there is no image at all, everything goes black, no matter what the aperture is set at.

Thanks.

elbi
elbi.smugmug.com

[gstark]

It almost sounds as if you're saying that the mirror is lifting. If this is the case (???) then it's off to the doctor for the body.

[Nnnnsic]

Mine's actually done the same thing. I think it's a D70 manufacturing issue. I've gotten over it since it started happening and started relying on my skills plus the lcd.

[elbi]

Oh jee!!

elbi

[gstark]

The other point to note is that because of the small, dark viewfinder on the D70, DoF preview is largely unusable anyway, so it largely becomes, for many users, a non-issue.

[elbi]

I agree, the preview is not terribly useful. It is just unexpected that it would conk out on me.

I don't like the idea of being without my camera right in the middle of summer. I take it out every day... There just isn't enough time to take all the pictures I want to take.

elbi
elbi.smugmug.com

[Killakoala]

Probably best just to live with it then and use your instincts until you can get it fixed. There's always the post-shot review you can look at anyway. (Chimping)

[ATJ]

DOF works fine on my D70. When the lens is on maximum aperture it does "nothing" and when on minimum aperture it stops the lens down (much darker). I can pretty much always see through the lens, except when the lighting is low. If you don't see that, take it to the doctor as Gary advises.

[Nnnnsic]

I disagree about the DOF preview not being good at the D70. I found mine excellent until it stopped working... then again, small viewfinders don't bother me.