5 replies to this topic

[Sayheytojen]

Hi y’all! I’m completely new to all of this and doing my best to absorb this whole world of picture taking. I’ve been googling and googling regarding this issue with my camera and haven’t found too many answers. I say that bc I know it’s frustrating when noobs ask questions that have been answered. I’ve tried I promise!...but...I have a feeling it means there prob isn’t an answer to my question and my camera is indeed broken. So, last ditch effort, here I am!

I have a D3500- legit just got it end of April for my bday bc I’ve been wanting to capture better moments of our family, our kids sports, and just all the places we travel. Well, I had it in the camera bag, unzipped, and my oldest decided to climb on the counter to get a water cup. Well, in the process, she knocked the bag over and the camera fell out. I wasn’t in the room when it happened. She told me about it after I tried to turn it on and the display was NOT working at ALL. There’s no physical damage to the exterior. Not one scratch. I’m guessing it just hit the right angle at the right time to make things not work.

I’ve tried pushing all sorts of buttons. I’ve removed lenses, reattached lenses. Removed and replaced the battery. I’ve switched out HD cards. It still takes pics, i just can’t see any of my settings (or anything else obviously).

I was gonna go to a camera repair shop, but when I searched for authorized retailers in Nikon’s site, it said there were none for my camera and I needed to send it in. I hate going that route because I feel like I have no idea what the cost would be, but I’m making assumptions here so I reckon I should just call and get some clarification.

So, the question is
1) is there anything you know of that is a fix for this issue?
2) is it bad to take my chances at a camera shop that fixes Nikon cameras but isn’t actually “authorized” by Nikon
3) any idea what it could have done to the thing? And what the range of cost could be to fix it?

Sorry if some of this doesn’t make sense. I’m a school counselor and our semester/year is coming to an end and I’m freaking drained, and I’m just so incredibly bummed bc we are going on vacation in 5 days and I’m not going to have my new camera to capture the moments now.

iPhone camera it is, I suppose.

[nbanjogal]

Oh, I am so sorry to hear this! Such a bummer--and rotten timing too. Have you tried the factory reset?

 

I'm sorry also that I don't have answers to your questions, but I wonder if we might be able to come up with a temporary work-around for your trip.

 

So, when you say the display isn't working and you can't see your settings, you mean the screen on the back of your camera, right? Can you see the settings through your viewfinder? Usually when you're looking through your viewfinder, you can see all your camera settings (I am assuming--I shoot with a different model and am unfamiliar with the D3xxx series).

 

Also, you say it will still take photos? Have you verified that the photos are indeed on your memory card by viewing them on a computer or other device?

 

I am bringing this up only because I know how desperate I would be to take the camera with me on an upcoming trip--if you can see the settings through your viewfinder and your camera still takes photos, you could treat it a bit like a film camera. You wouldn't be able to chimp and immediately see the photos you take, but as long as you can see the settings and whether or not you're exposing correctly (all this information is available through your viewfinder), you could perhaps still use it to take photos for a short time before handing your camera over for repairs.

 

Dunno. Just a thought.

 

I've been shooting with Nikon since 2008 (Minolta SLR before I made the switch from film, ha ha!), and I've never had to have a camera repaired, so I can't answer your other questions. But I know there are others who can (paging Peter??? Tom???).

[ScottinPollock]

Dunno. Just a thought.

Unfortunately, the D3xxx bodies have incredibly limited settings displayed in the viewfinder and settable without screen diving. Mode, shutter speed, and aperture are about it. I think you can assign ISO to the one customizable function button, but you'd need access to the menus to do it (if not already done). AF modes, and everything else require a trip to the menus or "info" screen.

[Merco_61]

As the camera is so new, sending it in to Nikon might be worth the hassle as it is by no means certain that the fall is the culprit and the repair might be covered under warranty.

 

As I have never owned the entry-level Nikons, I have no idea about repair costs, but customer service should be able to tell you what the investigation fee is even if they can't, or won't mention even a ballpark figure for the repair unseen.

[nbanjogal]

Unfortunately, the D3xxx bodies have incredibly limited settings displayed in the viewfinder and settable without screen diving. Mode, shutter speed, and aperture are about it. I think you can assign ISO to the one customizable function button, but you'd need access to the menus to do it (if not already done). AF modes, and everything else require a trip to the menus or "info" screen.

 

Ah, dang. So the pseudo-film camera is a no-go then. Oh well!

[TBonz]

I agree with Peter.  And, if you can't get it repaired and returned quickly enough for your vacation, there is always the rental option from places like BorrowLenses | Camera Bodies, Lenses, and Equipment For Rent.  Not sure what model bodies they rent, but I am sure you can find a Nikon body if you need one...