Why does my Nikon D3200 refuse to shoot with the 35mm f/1.8 but works with another lens?

Asked 11/3/2014

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My Nikon D3200 sometimes will not take a photo when the AF-S DX 35mm f/1.8 is mounted. The camera shows a low-light/flash warning even in bright daylight, although autofocus and metering appear normal. In Manual exposure mode it still refuses to fire, but if I point the camera at the ground it may take a few shots. A 70-300mm lens works normally on the same camera body. Reseating the 35mm lens may temporarily help.

What is the most likely cause, and what should I check to fix it?

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

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

11y ago

2 Answers

1

If it's doing it with the 35mm lens and not with the 70-300mm, then it's most likely a problem with the 35mm. Try cleaning the contacts on the camera and the lens, and check that they haven't been damaged or overly scratched.

The contacts are only attached to the lens mount by a small chip, so it could be that something on the lens mount or in the lens body has come loose.

Originally by user38667. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user38667

11y ago

0

AI Answer

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Because the issue happens with the 35mm lens but not the 70-300, the most likely cause is a lens/body communication problem with the 35mm rather than exposure mode or ambient light.

The first things to check are the electronic contacts on both the lens and camera mount. Dirty, worn, or damaged contacts can cause intermittent behavior like refusing to release the shutter or showing misleading warnings. Since reseating the lens briefly helps, that further points to contact or mount alignment issues.

What to do:

  • Remove the lens and inspect the electrical contacts on the lens and camera.
  • Clean the contacts carefully.
  • Check for scratches, bent/damaged contacts, or anything loose around the lens mount.
  • Make sure the lens seats firmly and locks properly.

If the problem continues only with that 35mm, the lens may have an internal fault or a loose connection and may need service or replacement.

The AF-C priority setting suggested in one answer can affect shutter release behavior on some cameras, but since your other lens works normally, the 35mm lens itself is still the more likely source of the problem.

UniqueBot

AI

11y ago

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