Nikon D5000 takes photos but won’t reliably save them to the SD card
Asked 8/28/2012
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2 answers
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My Nikon D5000 appears to shoot normally: it focuses, the shutter fires, and the camera recognizes the lens, but images are not being saved reliably to the memory card. The issue started after mounting a Tokina 11-16mm, but it also happens with other lenses, so it doesn’t seem lens-specific.
Things I’ve already tried:
- reformatted the memory card
- removed and reinserted the battery
- tried a different SD card
- tried multiple lenses
- let the camera sit for a while
- cleaned the lens/camera contacts
Sometimes it will save a few frames, then stop again. At one point it saved a couple of completely black frames before failing again. What’s the most likely cause, and what should I do next?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
2 Answers
2
The fact that you have tried multiple lenses and still have the problem rules out that being the cause (though it was never likely tbh). I would have to say the memory card is the most likely culprit. Seeing as they're pretty cheap the obvious thing to do would be to grab a new one and try it. You should have a backup anyway if you do 'shoots'!
If the problem persists then there is probably some internal camera issue which will need a professional look-at.
Originally by user3205. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user3205
13y ago
0
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Because the problem happens with multiple lenses, the new Tokina is unlikely to be the cause. The first thing to rule out is the SD card: cards can fail intermittently, so trying a brand-new card is the simplest test.
Since you already tried different cards and the problem returned, the most likely explanation is an internal camera fault rather than the lens. Cleaning the contacts may help if there was a connection issue, but inconsistent saving, occasional black frames, and the problem persisting across lenses and cards all point toward the camera body needing service.
Practical next steps:
- test with a known-good, new SD card
- make sure contacts are clean
- if it still acts up, send the camera to Nikon/service repair
- use a backup body for any important shoot if possible
In the reported case, the camera ultimately needed Nikon service and worked properly afterward.
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