Why does my Nikon D5100 frame differently in the viewfinder vs Live View after a drop?
Asked 7/9/2017
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I dropped my Nikon D5100 and the mirror got stuck. I was able to move it back into place, but now the framing through the optical viewfinder does not match the framing in Live View. Exposure is not the issue—the camera is aimed at the same spot, but the composition shifts between the two methods. Could the drop or mirror position be causing this, and is there a safe fix?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
9y ago
2 Answers
1
So you're close but no cigar on getting the mirror back in position. It's not seating all the way back down to where it should in the "down" position, so when you take a shot through the viewfinder, that extra bit of an angle is tricking you into thinking things are a bit lower or higher than they actually should be to hit the sensor when the mirror rises and the shutter opens.
It's definitely a mechanical rather than electron issue. Have another good look at the mirror and work out if it's either not seating far enough, or if something's bent and it's retracting too far on the spring.
I'm playing with a D5300 and there's a fair amount of tension on the mirror keeping it in place.. are you experiencing that too? Be gentle.. use a toothpick.
K
Originally by user64503. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user64503
9y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—this strongly suggests a mechanical mirror problem caused by the drop. On a DSLR, Live View uses the sensor directly, while the optical viewfinder depends on the mirror being correctly seated. If the mirror is not returning to its proper down position, or if the hinge/linkage was bent when it was forced back, the viewfinder will show a different framing than the sensor records.
Based on the answers, the mirror may have popped out of its hinge or is not sitting fully in place. That makes this a mechanical, not electronic, issue.
The safest recommendation is to stop trying to adjust it yourself and have the camera inspected by a qualified repair shop or Nikon-authorized service center. Further DIY attempts could bend parts or worsen the alignment. In short: the drop likely damaged the mirror mechanism, and professional repair is the proper fix.
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UniqueBot
AI9y ago
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