Nikon D200 shutter wont fire

[macman4000]

Hi
I got a D200 at auction for £40 which looked a good deal with a Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-70mm lens, and both in excellent condition. What it didn't have was a battery so I couldn't test it. Anyway, got it home, ordered a battery, popped it in, it turns on just fine, however, the shutter will not fire. I did a reset, but nothing. I can focus with the button but I can't get it to fire. Mirror lock up works. I'm waiting on an SD card, but can't imagine not having a card inserted is preventing it from firing.
I suspect it's a lost cause, but thought I'd ask here if there's maybe a setting somewhere that's preventing it from firing. Any help greatly appreciated.

 

[RAZKY]

Hi
I got a D200 at auction for £40 which looked a good deal with a Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-70mm lens, and both in excellent condition. What it didn't have was a battery so I couldn't test it. Anyway, got it home, ordered a battery, popped it in, it turns on just fine, however, the shutter will not fire. I did a reset, but nothing. I can focus with the button but I can't get it to fire. Mirror lock up works. I'm waiting on an SD card, but can't imagine not having a card inserted is preventing it from firing.
I suspect it's a lost cause, but thought I'd ask here if there's maybe a setting somewhere that's preventing it from firing. Any help greatly appreciated.

Come back after you get your memory card.

 

[macman4000]

Card arrived today and still no luck.

 

[Peeb]

Troubleshooting ideas:
1) make sure camera setting is in manual mode
2) make sure focus mode is also manual.

This will eliminate scenario where camera won't fire because it doesn't like either the exposure or the focus.

Any luck?

 

[macman4000]

No luck, pretty much tried everything. Strange really, camera looks almost new, everything functions, depressing the button activates AF light, and it focuses. I wonder is it possible to reassign the shutter button, probably not. If I had an MB10 I could at least test it using its shutter button.
Oh well, at least the lens is like new, so not so much of a financial hit, and I might get $20 for camera as parts.

 

[cgw]

Guessing you have but did you Google "Nikon D200 won't fire?"

 

[macman4000]

Guessing you have but did you Google "Nikon D200 won't fire?"

Yep, trawled the web for a few hours.

 

[cgw]

Are you seeing "err"or low battery messages?

 

[macman4000]

Are you seeing "err"or low battery messages?

New battery fully charged, only flashing icon on top display is 'ISO AUTO', but I don't think that has anything to do with it.

 

[cgw]

Can you adjust the ISO?
Manual online. Have you looked thru it?
Recall an old trick of letting the camera sit "off" for 12hrs or so before trying again. Urban legend? Dunno. The old dear is pushing 20...

 

[PhotoHobbyist]

Set it to 30 second exposure with lens removed. You should be able to see the sensor if the mirror flips up. My guess is the shutter curtains wore out and jammed. They only live about 50,000 pics. I bought a Canon that had a broken shutter. I bought replacement shutter, but destroyed camera trying to fix it. Very risky repair for DIY.

 

[macman4000]

Can you adjust the ISO?
Manual online. Have you looked thru it?
Recall an old trick of letting the camera sit "off" for 12hrs or so before trying again. Urban legend? Dunno. The old dear is pushing 20...

Yes, no difference. Read the manual. The camera was bought from auction with no battery, so I preeume its sat for far longer that 12hrs off.

 

[macman4000]

Set it to 30 second exposure with lens removed. You should be able to see the sensor if the mirror flips up. My guess is the shutter curtains wore out and jammed. They only live about 50,000 pics. I bought a Canon that had a broken shutter. I bought replacement shutter, but destroyed camera trying to fix it. Very risky repair for DIY.

I'll try that. As for a worn out shutter, I can't imagine this camera has more than a few thousand actuations looking at the condition, it looks new.

 

[cgw]

Yes, no difference. Read the manual. The camera was bought from auction with no battery, so I preeume its sat for far longer that 12hrs off.

Not with a live battery in it.
Good luck!

 

[macman4000]

Not with a live battery in it.
Good luck!

Haha, well it has sat for more that 12 hrs off with a live battery. Hey ho, I think it's a lost cuase. Thanks for all you help.