Why does my Nikon D5200 show a dark band in Live View and video, but not in still photos?
Asked 1/18/2016
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2 answers
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My Nikon D5200 has developed a darker vertical band on the right half of the frame in Live View and in recorded video, especially in low light. I’ve tested different lenses, ISO, shutter speed, aperture, frame rates, and video settings, but the band remains. In brighter scenes it becomes much less noticeable.
Still photos look normal, which is why I’m confused. Nikon service suggested the image sensor likely needs replacement, and said the motherboard tested fine.
How can this be a sensor issue if the problem shows up in Live View/video but not in normal still images? Is there a way to confirm the diagnosis or determine when the issue becomes visible?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
10y ago
2 Answers
1
Ok, I see the problem you're talking about - but only just.
My first impression is that the diagnosis from Nikon is quite plausible. My second thought is that the reason you don't see the artefact in still is because it possibly only is visible if you drastically underexpose the shot like you did in the video. Try taking a correctly exposed shot of a pale uniform subject (a wall), and then take the same shot at the same ISO setting but underexposing by 3-4 stops. If you don't see the artefact, try the same thing at maximum and minimum ISOs.
Doing this might establish exactly when the problem becomes visible in stills and whether or not you can avoid/live with it until you can afford to do something about it.
Originally by user38928. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user38928
10y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
A sensor-related fault is still plausible. Live View and video use continuous sensor readout, while stills are captured and processed differently, so a defect can show up more clearly in Live View/video than in normal photos.
The fact that the band is most visible in low light and fades in brighter scenes also points to a problem that becomes apparent when the image is underexposed or the signal is weak.
A simple way to confirm this is to test still photos of an evenly lit plain subject, like a wall:
- take one correctly exposed frame
- then take another underexposed by 3–4 stops at the same ISO
- repeat at low and high ISO settings
If the band appears in heavily underexposed stills, that supports Nikon’s diagnosis and helps show the conditions where the fault becomes visible. If it never appears in stills, it may still be tied specifically to the Live View/video readout path, but based on the provided info, Nikon’s sensor diagnosis remains believable.
Practically, if repair costs approach the camera’s value, the choice is usually to live with the issue in brighter conditions or replace the body.
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AI10y ago
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