Help with my D90!!

[Kenyabell]

I just bought a used D90 from a guy and he said that it operated properly, and if I had any questions I could bring it back. I'm totally new to DLSR, but I had to purchase this camera to begin apprenticing with a professional photographer.

My Problem: When my camera is in Autofocus, I can't use the viewfinder to take pictures. I can see through it, but it won't take the picture. When I switch to Live View, it takes it fine. Am I doing something wrong? I tried to reset all settings, but that didn't help either. Please help!! I don't want to believe I purchased a lemon.

[kirbinster]

The only thing that quickly comes to mind is that it is set to not allow a picture to be taken unless it has a focus lock that it is not getting. Do you have it set to single servo or continuous focus? Will it take a picture if you set it to manual focus? What lens are you using? Do you have another lens you could try? Something seems odd, the more specifics you can provide the better diagnostics you will get here.

[zona5101]

Hi and welcome. If you flick the AF/M level to M does it fire? How close are you to the subject you are attempting to photograph? If you put it in manual does it fire?

[Kenyabell]

Originally Posted by kirbinster

The only thing that quickly comes to mind is that it is set to not allow a picture to be taken unless it has a focus lock that it is not getting. Do you have it set to single servo or continuous focus? Will it take a picture if you set it to manual focus? What lens are you using? Do you have another lens you could try? Something seems odd, the more specifics you can provide the better diagnostics you will get here.

I am using a 50mm lens... I reset all the settings to clear out any previous, because I read that it would help. When you are in manual, it does shoot pictures. It's just the Auto setting. I don't have another lens other than the 50mm right now... waiting on my kit lens 18-55mm.

[Vagebond]

According to imaging-resourse the D90 will not not fire if focus is not achieved in single mode.

Nikon D90 Digital Camera Autofocus - Full Review - The Imaging Resource!

"There's an important difference between Single and Continuous Servo modes: In Single Servo mode, the shutter won't release unless the lens is focused, or the lens itself is set to manual focus. (Focus Priority) In Continuous Servo mode however, the camera will fire regardless of the state of focus. (Release Priority) If you want to be sure that the camera is focused when you snap the picture, use Single Servo mode. Use Continuous Servo for moving subjects, and/or times when the instant of shutter release is more important to you than sharp focus."

Is your autofocus set to Single mode? Do you hear the lens attempting to focus, and does the viewfinder indicate that focus is achieved? That can be a problem in very low light, even with a 2.8 or 1.8 aperture.

[Kenyabell]

Thank you! I am going to try all these things and get back with you. Hopefully something will help!

[Kenyabell]

I am able to shoot now that I changed the setting to AF-C, but the pictures are not focusing from far away. It's not too far, as it is a 50mm, but i can manually focus it myself. It's just not autofocusing!

[Vagebond]

Does the lens barrel turn and extend or contract at all when you press the shutter release 1/2 way and the lens switch is on AF? Do you hear anything? Does the auto-focus indicator in the viewfinder blink at all?

If it does nothing, maybe it's the contacts. If you take off the lens you'll see copper coloured contacts. Try cleaning them carefully with a pencil erasor. There are contacts at the bottom of the lens opening of the camera too. Careful, you don't want bits of erasor in the body.

Good luck.