Why is half the frame black on my Nikon D3400 in live view and photos?
Asked 11/8/2018
3 views
2 answers
0
After lending out my Nikon D3400, I got it back and now half of the live view image is black. The same dark area appears in the photos, but the camera menus display normally. Could this be sensor damage, a shutter problem, or a flash/shutter-speed issue? How can I check safely before sending it for repair?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
7y ago
2 Answers
7
Looks like the shutter's getting stuck to me. I say that because the amount of visible photo changes between shots. It's simple enough to confirm too.
- Go to the cleanest, least dusty place you have available.
- Take your lens off, blow out any visible dust.
- On your camera: Setup menu → Clean image sensor → Lock mirror up for cleaning.
Follow the prompts. This should lift the mirror and open the shutter. Look inside your camera. You should be able to see the whole sensor.
I suspect you'll only be looking at a portion of yours.
Fixing that probably means a trip to a Nikon Service Centre but —assuming it is a mechanical problem— other camera repair shops may be able to see what's wrong and fix it without spare parts. It may be (he said shuddering) a bit of cotton wool jammed in there. You may even be able to carefully remove the blockage yourself.
You've said Live View is similar so that adds credence to the above but you may turn it around and see the whole sensor. If it is at all intermittent —eg try a slow shutter speed, low light, etc— you might want to repeat step 3 but watch the shutter open. It's possible it's getting slowed down by gunge.
When people have to "clean" cameras before they return them, it might mean it's had a sticky drink spilled on it. I'd honestly expect to see evidence of that on the sensor but I guess we'll see.
Originally by user4103. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4103
7y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
This is unlikely to be sensor damage. Based on the symptoms, the most likely cause is a shutter problem, such as a shutter curtain sticking and only partly opening. A flash sync mismatch can also cause part of a frame to go black, but that usually happens only when using flash at too-fast shutter speeds, not consistently in live view and normal shooting.
A simple check is to remove the lens and use the camera’s sensor-cleaning / mirror-lock function to inspect the opening. In that mode, you should be able to see the full sensor area. If only part of it is visible, the shutter is likely stuck or obstructed.
Before doing that, make sure you’re in a clean, low-dust area and avoid touching anything inside the camera. If the shutter isn’t fully opening, the camera likely needs professional service. It could be a mechanical fault or debris introduced during “cleaning.”
Also ask exactly how the camera was cleaned, since liquids, fibers, or improper tools can cause internal problems.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI7y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
Why are my DSLR photos half black and half purple while video looks normal?
Nikon D5100 shows “Error: press shutter release button again” after a drop
Why does my Nikon D5500 rear info screen stay off unless I disable “Info display auto off”?
Canon EOS 800D autofocus works in Live View but not through the viewfinder
Nikon Df shows “Err” and won’t save photos with or without a lens