Nikon d3100 problem

[duke 838]

Every time I take a picture it is pitch black. When i use the auto focus, i can see like a slight difference when focusing on the screen, but it always turns out black, i really have no clue why.

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[Isjix]

take lens cover off?

[duke 838]

take lens cover off?

not on

[Ethan]

What setting is it on?
Incorrectly configured manual settings (P, TV etc) will make black photographs.
Also try adjusting the ISO to a higher value if your camera supports it.

[duke 838]

What setting is it on?
Incorrectly configured manual settings (P, TV etc) will make black photographs.
Also try adjusting the ISO to a higher value if your camera supports it.

I have already tried setting the iso, and switched to auto mode, and still nothing.

[Goron]

There's a little strip inside your camera that probably needs to be cleaned. Take it to a camera shop so they can do it.

[Gambsy]

Have you dropped it and damaged the sensor? i take you can see out of the viewfinder (The d3100 is a SLR is it not? My memory fails me)

Several DSLR's can fail to set lighting correctly when your eye is not by the viewfinder, as light can enter though it and mess with the metering settings.

What mode do you have it on, auto? Programed, Manual?

if it is on something like manual/aprature priority/shutter priority make sure the setting you have applied are not too fast for the lighting in the scene.

Check it is all working by going onto manual, setting the F-Stop to as low as you can (2-5 ideally) and increase the shutter speed to something around 5 seconds than point the camera directly at a bright light (Not the sun as it may burn the sensor :D) if the image does not come out ridiculous white your sensor is probably borked.

If it does come out white, but comes out black in most normal shots it could be you have broken a element in the lens, this can cause it to be dispersed in a unwanted manner and not hit the sensor, remove the lense , look though the shutter side and point towards some decent source of light, you should be able to see it reassembly well :P Or just visually inspect for any cracks

Hope this can help :D

[Sauce]

You are using Manual focus im guessing ..
Either switch to "AV" mode or ..

Make sure that line is in the center of the exposure meter .. You are using a shutter speed that is too high
or the aperture you are using is too high. Or the ISO is too low ..
So.. Make the ISO 800 .. The aperture as low as it can go and make sure the line is in the center of the expo-meter. then take the picture.

Also ignore this Stupidity:

There's a little strip inside your camera that probably needs to be cleaned. Take it to a camera shop so they can do it.

They will charge you like $200 just to open it and clean the mirror .. If this is the problem .. Make sure you change lenses in the bathroom since there is no dust in there .. also make sure the camera is upside down when removing the lens and putting on a new one... Also never touch the mirror in the camera .. they are expensive pieces of hot sand to replace :/

[Gambsy]

Also ignore this Stupidity: They will charge you like $200 just to open it and clean the mirror .. If this is the problem .. Make sure you change lenses in the bathroom since there is no dust in there .. also make sure the camera is upside down when removing the lens and putting on a new one... Also never touch the mirror in the camera .. they are expensive pieces of hot sand to replace :/

Cleaning the mirror / Sensor is standard practice for any seasoned DSLR user, just you need to know what your doing and use the right equipment or you could bork your sensor

on other news, its not as much hot sand more a metal amalgam, if you touch a mirror it won't make huge difference, par if you look closely you might see your fingerprint on the viewfinder, which you probably don't want to do. The mirror flips up anyway (unless your on the random sony new stuff) so it won't effect the photo :D

[Goron]

Also ignore this Stupidity

If he's never done it before, taking it to a shop and watching how they do it is better than him doing it on his own and potentially loving it up. Messing up a core part of a DSLR because you misread a step is possibly one of the worse things you can do.

[Sauce]

Cleaning the mirror / Sensor is standard practice for any seasoned DSLR user, just you need to know what your doing and use the right equipment or you could bork your sensor

on other news, its not as much hot sand more a metal amalgam, if you touch a mirror it won't make huge difference, par if you look closely you might see your fingerprint on the viewfinder, which you probably don't want to do. The mirror flips up anyway (unless your on the random sony new stuff) so it won't effect the photo :D

Im a professional Photographer .. i have Canon 5D mark II
So dont preach to me.
If you touch the mirror of the camera you will notice the mark when you take the picture . even the tinyest specs of dust make the picture grainy and out of focus in most cases. This is why you used canned air to clean the mirror.

[IkeTheGeneric]

Make sure you distance your camera at least ten feet away from the lens cap, as it causes interference

[Sauce]

Make sure you distance your camera at least ten feet away from the lens cap, as it causes interference

Or just put it in your pocket .. like normal people

[duke 838]

Have you dropped it and damaged the sensor? i take you can see out of the viewfinder (The d3100 is a SLR is it not? My memory fails me)

Several DSLR's can fail to set lighting correctly when your eye is not by the viewfinder, as light can enter though it and mess with the metering settings.

What mode do you have it on, auto? Programed, Manual?

if it is on something like manual/aprature priority/shutter priority make sure the setting you have applied are not too fast for the lighting in the scene.

Check it is all working by going onto manual, setting the F-Stop to as low as you can (2-5 ideally) and increase the shutter speed to something around 5 seconds than point the camera directly at a bright light (Not the sun as it may burn the sensor :D) if the image does not come out ridiculous white your sensor is probably borked.

If it does come out white, but comes out black in most normal shots it could be you have broken a element in the lens, this can cause it to be dispersed in a unwanted manner and not hit the sensor, remove the lense , look though the shutter side and point towards some decent source of light, you should be able to see it reassembly well :P Or just visually inspect for any cracks

Hope this can help :D

I did the light thing, and still all black. I'm guessing I'll have to take it in and have a camera shop fix it? How much do you guys suppose that will be?

[Gambsy]

Depends on whats truly wrong with it; its a bit hard to tell without been able to see it.

If the sensor has broken, i can't imagine that will be coming cheep, i know some lenses are £800 for element repairs.

Could end up been around 50% + of initial cost if thats truly messed up.

If it took a knock, its possible a connection came loose which i can't think they will charge you much for it.

although it is entirely possible that the mirror has got something in the motor and has jammed, or there is a firmware issue with it.

Can you see though the viewfinder?