Why is my Nikon D90 recording only black photos?
Asked 11/16/2011
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2 answers
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My Nikon D90 suddenly started saving completely black images. Two shots were normal, then every photo after that was black. The camera still seems to take pictures normally, and files are saved to the memory card. I can review them on the camera and on a computer, but they are black. I’ve tried different shutter speeds, apertures, flash, and different lenses, and I checked the sensor area. What could cause this?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
10
If the pictures are all pure black (as in every pixel is colour 0,0,0) then that sounds like a fairly terminal electronics problem.
If you're getting black photos where noise is visible if you boost the exposure on the computer then it sounds like a shutter malfunctioning. If the viewfinder is not blacking out momentarily it could be the mirror is staying down blocking the exposure. If the mirror is flipping up then the shutter may not be opening. Note there are two shutter curtains, if one is stuck it's possible that the sensor is never exposed to light, even if the shutter is still making a normal sound (indicating that something is moving).
If it's a mirror/shutter problem then it's fixable, though you should get an estimate first and compare that to the value of a used D90 to work out if it's economical before getting the work done.
Originally by user1375. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1375
14y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
If every image is truly pure black, that points to a serious electronic fault. If the files look black but reveal noise when brightened on a computer, the more likely cause is that no light is reaching the sensor during the exposure.
On a DSLR like the D90, common causes are:
- the mirror not flipping up properly
- a shutter malfunction, such as a stuck shutter curtain
Either fault can still let the camera sound normal and save image files, but the sensor never gets exposed to light. A clue is whether the viewfinder briefly blacks out during the shot; if it doesn’t, the mirror may be staying down.
Since you’ve already ruled out settings, flash, and lenses, this is unlikely to be a user-setting issue. It’s probably a mechanical or electronic failure that needs service. Get a repair estimate first, then compare it with the cost of replacing the camera body used.
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