Problems and solutions
Solutions to some common issues are listed below.
Battery/display
The camera is on but does not respond:
- Wait for recording and other operations to end.
- If the problem persists, turn the camera off.
- If the camera does not turn off, remove and reinsert the battery.
- If you are using an AC adapter, disconnect and reconnect the AC adapter.
- Any data currently being recorded will be lost.
- Data that have already been recorded are not affected by removing or disconnecting the power source.
The display of the monitor has been changed unintentionally:
Was the Fn3 (DISP) button pressed? If the Fn3 (DISP) button is pressed during playback or shooting, the display of the monitor changes (Photo information, d18: Custom monitor shooting display).
The display in the monitor turns off without warning:
Choose longer delays for Custom Setting c3 [Power off delay].
Shooting
The camera takes time to turn on:
More time will be needed to find files if the memory card contains large numbers of files or folders.
The shutter cannot be released:
- Is a memory card inserted, and if so, does it have space available?
- If you selected mode S after selecting a shutter speed of “Bulb” or “Time” in mode M, choose a different shutter speed.
- Is [Release locked] selected for [Slot empty release lock] in the setup menu?
The camera is slow to respond to the shutter-release/REC button:
Select [Off] for Custom Setting d5 [Exposure delay mode].
Burst shooting is unavailable:
Burst shooting cannot be used in conjunction with HDR or dehaze.
Photos are out of focus:
- Is the camera in manual focus mode? To enable autofocus, select AF-A, AF-S, AF-C, or AF-F for focus mode.
- The camera may be unable to focus if:
- the subject contains lines parallel to the long edge of the frame,
- the subject lacks contrast,
- the subject in the focus point contains areas of sharply contrasting brightness,
- the focus point includes night-time spot lighting or a neon sign or other light source that changes in brightness,
- flicker or banding appears under fluorescent, mercury-vapor, sodium-vapor, or similar lighting,
- a cross (star) filter or other special filter is used,
- the subject appears smaller than the focus point, or
- the subject is dominated by regular geometric patterns (e.g., blinds or a row of windows in a skyscraper).
- In focus mode AF-C, the focus point may flash while the shutter-release/REC button is pressed halfway, indicating that the camera is no longer able to focus. The focus operation can be resumed by releasing and then pressing the button again.
The beep does not sound:
- If AF-C is selected for focus mode or if AF-A is selected and you are shooting in AF-C, a beep will not sound when the camera focuses.
- The shutter sound, REC start/end sound, and beeps do not sound if [ON] is selected for [Silent mode] in the setup menu.
- A beep will sound if an option other than [Off] is selected for [Camera sounds] > [Beep options] > [Beep] in the setup menu.
- The beep does not sound in video mode.
The full range of shutter speeds is not available:
Using a flash restricts the range of shutter speeds available.
Focus does not lock when the shutter-release/REC button is pressed halfway:
If AF-C is selected for focus mode or if AF-A is selected and you are shooting in AF-C, press the control to which focus lock was assigned to lock the focus.
Focus-point selection is not available:
Focus-point selection is not available when [Auto-area AF] is selected for AF-area mode.
Photographs and videos do not appear to have the same exposure as the preview shown in the display:
- The effects of changes to settings that affect exposure and color are not visible in the display when [Adjust for ease of viewing] is selected for Custom Setting d9 [View mode (photo Lv)]. If [Show effects of settings] > [Only when flash is not used] is selected for Custom Setting d9, display brightness will also be adjusted for ease of viewing (per [Adjust for ease of viewing]) when a flash unit is attached and ready to fire.
- Note that changes to [Monitor brightness] have no effect on images recorded with the camera.
Flicker or banding appears in video mode:
Select [Video flicker reduction] in the video recording menu and choose an option that matches the frequency of the local AC power supply.
Bright regions or bands appear:
Bright regions or bands may occur if the subject is lit by a flashing sign, flash, or other light source with brief duration.
Smudges appear in photographs:
- Are there smudges on the front or rear (mount-side) lens elements?
- Is there foreign matter on the image sensor? See “Manual cleaning” (Manual cleaning), or consult a Nikon-authorized service representative.
Pictures are affected by noticeable ghosting or flare:
You may notice ghosting or flare in shots that include the sun or other bright light sources. These effects can be mitigated by attaching a lens hood or by composing shots with bright light sources well out of the frame. You can also try such techniques as removing lens filters or choosing a different shutter speed.
Bokeh is irregular:
With fast shutter speeds and/or fast lenses, you may notice irregularities in how Bokeh is shaped. The effect can be mitigated by choosing slower shutter speeds and/or higher f-numbers.
Shooting ends unexpectedly or does not start:
- Shooting may end automatically to prevent the camera overheating, for example if:
- the ambient temperature is high,
- the camera has been used for extended periods to record videos, or
- the camera has been used in continuous release modes for extended periods.
- If photographs cannot be taken because the camera is running hot, turn the camera off and wait for it to cool before trying to take photographs again. Note that the camera may feel warm to the touch, but this does not indicate a malfunction.
Image artifacts appear in the display during shooting:
- To reduce noise, adjust settings such as ISO sensitivity, shutter speed, Active D-Lighting, or dehaze.
- At high ISO sensitivities, noise may become more noticeable in long exposures or in pictures recorded when the camera temperature is elevated.
- Randomly-spaced bright pixels, fog, or bright spots may arise as a result of increases in the temperature of the camera’s internal circuits. Turn the camera off when it is not in use.
- Randomly-spaced bright pixels, fog, lines or unexpected colors may appear if you zoom in on the view on the shooting display.
- Note that the distribution of noise in the display may differ from that in the final picture.
- This issue can sometimes be addressed by checking and optimizing the image sensor. Perform pixel mapping using [Pixel mapping] in the setup menu.
The camera cannot measure a value for preset manual white balance:
The subject is too dark or too bright.
Certain pictures cannot be selected as sources for preset manual white balance:
Pictures created with cameras of other types cannot serve as sources for preset manual white balance.
White balance (WB) bracketing is unavailable:
- White balance bracketing is not available when an NEF (RAW) or RAW + JPEG/HEIF option is selected for image quality.
- White balance bracketing cannot be used in multiple exposure, HDR overlay, or dehaze modes.
The effects of [Set Picture Control] differ from image to image:
[Auto] is selected for [Set Picture Control] or as the basis for a Custom Picture Control created using [Manage Picture Control], or [A] (auto) is selected for [Quick sharp], [Contrast], or [Saturation]. For consistent results over a series of photographs, choose a setting other than [A] (auto).
The option selected for metering cannot be changed:
The option selected for metering cannot be changed during exposure lock.
Exposure compensation is not available:
Changes to exposure compensation in mode M apply only to the exposure indicator and have no effect on shutter speed or aperture.
Uneven shading appears in long exposures:
Uneven shading may appear in long exposures shot at shutter speeds of “Bulb” or “Time”.
Sound is not recorded with videos:
- Confirm that the appropriate option is selected for [Audio input selection] in the video recording menu.
- Was the video recorded with [Audio input sensitivity] set to [0] or a low sensitivity value in the video recording menu?
Playback
NEF (RAW) pictures are not visible during playback:
The camera displays only the JPEG or HEIF copies of pictures taken with [RAW + JPEG/HEIF finem], [RAW + JPEG/HEIF fine], [RAW + JPEG/HEIF normalm], [RAW + JPEG/HEIF normal], [RAW + JPEG/HEIF basicm], or [RAW + JPEG/HEIF basic] selected for [Image quality].
Pictures taken with other cameras are not displayed:
Pictures recorded with other types of camera may not display correctly.
Not all photos are visible during playback:
Select [All] for [Playback folder] in the playback menu.
“Tall” (portrait) orientation photos are displayed in “wide” (landscape) orientation:
- Is [OFF] selected for [Auto-rotate pictures] in the playback menu?
- The auto-rotate pictures function is not available during picture review.
- Camera orientation may not be correctly recorded in photos taken with the camera pointing up or down.
HLG (HEIF) pictures do not display correctly:
Pictures taken with [HLG] selected for [Tone mode] may not display correctly when viewed on other devices (for example, when output to other devices directly or when opened on a computer after upload). View the pictures on an HLG-compatible computer or other device. For more information on viewing HLG pictures on a computer, visit the following website:
https://onlinemanual.nikonimglib.com/notice/hlg_setting_guide/en/
Pictures cannot be deleted:
Are the pictures protected?
Pictures cannot be retouched:
- The pictures cannot be further edited with this camera.
- There is insufficient space on the memory card to record the retouched copy.
The camera displays the message, [Folder contains no pictures.]:
Select [All] for [Playback folder] in the playback menu.
NEF (RAW) pictures cannot be printed:
- Print JPEG copies of the pictures created using a tool such as the [RAW processing (current picture)] or [RAW processing (multiple pictures)] items accessible via [Retouch] in the playback i menu.
- Copy the pictures to a computer and print them using NX Studio or other software that supports the NEF (RAW) format.
Pictures are not displayed on HDMI devices:
Confirm that an HDMI cable is correctly connected.
Output to HDMI devices does not function as expected:
- Confirm that an HDMI cable is correctly connected.
- Photos taken with [HLG] selected for [Tone mode] may not display correctly on devices that are not HLG-compatible.
- Videos may not display correctly when viewed with [ON] selected for [External rec. cntrl (HDMI)] in the video recording menu.
- Pictures may display correctly if default settings are restored using the [Reset all settings] item in the setup menu.
The effects of [Set Picture Control], [Set Picture Control (HLG)], [Active D-Lighting], or [Vignette control] are not visible:
In the case of NEF (RAW) pictures, the effects can only be viewed using Nikon software. View NEF (RAW) pictures using NX Studio.
Pictures cannot be copied to a computer:
Depending on the operating system, you may be unable to upload pictures when the camera is connected to a computer. Copy pictures from the memory card to a computer using a card reader or other device.
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (wireless networks)
Smart devices do not display the camera SSID (network name):
- Navigate to the network menu and confirm both that [OFF] is selected for [Airplane mode] and that [ON] is selected for [Connect to smart device] > [Pairing (Bluetooth)] > [Bluetooth connection].
- Confirm that [Connect to smart device] > [Wi-Fi connection (AP mode)] is enabled in the network menu.
- Try disabling and re-enabling wireless network features on the smart device.
- The camera SSID may not appear when the camera becomes hot. Wait for the camera to cool and try again.
The camera cannot connect to printers and other wireless devices:
The camera cannot establish wireless connections with devices other than smartphones, tablets, computers, ML-L7 remote controls, and third-party Bluetooth remote controls.
Pictures cannot be uploaded to smart devices via auto upload:
- If [Foreground] is selected for [Auto link] > [Link mode] in the SnapBridge
tab, pictures will not be uploaded to the smart device automatically while the SnapBridge app is running in the background. Pictures will only be uploaded when the SnapBridge app is displayed (running in the foreground) on the smart device.
- Check that the camera is paired with the smart device.
- Check that the camera and smart device are configured for connection via Bluetooth.
- Using the camera for such purposes as viewing videos or retouching pictures may interrupt upload of pictures at a size of 8 megapixels via the SnapBridge app. Try again after ending the task in progress on the camera.
The camera cannot download location data from the smart device:
- The camera may be unable to download or display location data from smart devices depending on the version of the operating system and/or SnapBridge app used.
- If [Foreground] is selected for [Auto link] > [Link mode] in the SnapBridge
tab, location data will not be downloaded to the camera. Instead, they will be embedded in photographs after they are uploaded to the smart device.
The camera cannot connect to a computer or smart device when it becomes hot:
- When the camera becomes hot, wireless transmission is interrupted. In such a case, the Wi-Fi connection indicator in the shooting display flashes rapidly.
- Wait for the camera to cool before reconnecting the camera to the computer or smart device.
Miscellaneous
The date of recording is not correct:
Is the camera clock set correctly? The clock is less accurate than most watches and household clocks; check it regularly against more accurate timepieces and reset as necessary.
Menu items cannot be selected:
Some items are not available at certain combinations of settings.
[Wireless remote (ML-L7) options] cannot be selected in the network menu, or the camera cannot be paired with the remote control using [Wireless remote (ML-L7) options] > [Save wireless remote controller]:
- Use a fully-charged battery.
- Confirm that [OFF] is selected for [Airplane mode] in the network menu.
- Confirm that [MTP/PTP] is selected for [USB] in the network menu.
- The remote control cannot be used while the camera is connected to another device via USB, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi. End the connection.
- The camera may not connect to the remote control when it becomes hot. Wait for the camera to cool and try again.
The camera does not respond to the remote control:
- The camera and ML-L7 remote control are not connected. Press the power button on the remote control to connect them. If L is not displayed on the shooting screen, pair again and connect (ML-L7 Remote Control).
- Confirm that [ON] is selected for [Wireless remote (ML-L7) options] > [Wireless remote connection (ML-L7)] in the network menu.
- Confirm that [MTP/PTP] is selected for [USB] in the network menu.
- Confirm that [OFF] is selected for [Airplane mode] in the network menu.
- The remote control cannot be used while the camera is connected to another device via USB, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi. End the connection.
- If you end the connection to the remote control by connecting to a computer or smart device, the connection can be re-established by selecting [ON] for [Wireless remote (ML-L7) options] > [Wireless remote connection (ML-L7)] in the network menu.
- The camera may not connect to the remote control when it becomes hot. Wait for the camera to cool and try again.
USB connections fail to function:
Confirm that the appropriate option is selected for [USB] in the network menu.
- When connecting to computers or Android devices via USB, select [MTP/PTP].
- When streaming by connecting to a computer, select [USB streaming (UVC/UAC)].
The NX MobileAir app cannot be used even when a smart device is connected to the camera USB connector via a cable:
- Are the camera and the smart device connected by a USB cable that supports the NX MobileAir app? See the NX MobileAir online help for information on compatible cables.
- Confirm that the appropriate option is selected for [USB] in the network menu.
- When connecting to Android devices, select [MTP/PTP].
- When connecting to iPhones, select [iPhone].