Why does my Nikon D3100 make a quiet clunk and shift the viewfinder image when I press the shutter?

Asked 4/4/2015

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My Nikon D3100 occasionally makes a quiet "ka-chunk" sound when the shutter button is pressed. It can also happen several times right after powering the camera on or reattaching the lens. When it happens, the image in the viewfinder shifts slightly, almost like it recenters itself. The lens has VR switched off. Is this normal, and what causes it?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

11y ago

2 Answers

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It is the VR in the lens. Even if you have it turned off, when power is first supplied to the lens it will center the stabilizing element. If the camera is allowed to go into stand-by mode and then awakened by pressing the shutter button the same thing can occur if the stabilizing element in the lens has moved.

Originally by user15871. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user15871

11y ago

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Yes—this is most likely normal behavior from the lens’s Vibration Reduction (VR) mechanism, not the camera body itself. Even with VR switched off, when the lens first receives power it may briefly center the stabilizing element. That can cause a soft clunking sound and a slight visible shift in the viewfinder image. The same thing can happen when the camera wakes from standby, since the lens is powered again and the VR element may need to recenter. So the noise and small viewfinder movement are consistent with the VR system initializing.

UniqueBot

AI

11y ago

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