D300 dead again

<p><!--StartFragment-->

<p >Back in late September of last year, I got a D300 from Cameta (bad call, should have paid a couple hundred extra and gotten it from B&H at the lower price of that time). I sent it to Cameta for service back in January, and got it back after a month. The autofocus system was fixed up, though the hot pixels were left alone, probably because I didn't know enough about them at the time to mention it in my note. After I got it back and switched it on, it didn't work. No power or anything. Eventually, it started working again, though whatever caused the malfunction was unknown.</p>

<p ><br /></p>

<p >Moving to right now, I was just flipping through some shots I took today on it, and it suddenly went haywire on me. The screen went blank, and it remained stuck on whatever setting I had it on at that time. Even flipping the power switch didn't change a thing. I took the battery (and card) out of the camera and replaced it with a different one. No change. A few minutes pass and I try it again, and now there's no apparent power. There must be something, because all the autofocus points (well, all 21 that I had it set to) are visible as outlines when I have the power switched on, and when it's off it's the usual blurry and blank screen. Other than that, there's no sign that it's on. </p>

<p > </p>

<p >That's where things stand now. I'd gone for awhile without any trouble with it (hot pixels aside), so I suppose I was due for some. I had just charged the one battery (the one that was in it first) this morning, so that's not it.</p>

<p > </p>

<p >Any advice? I really don't want to lose it again for a month or more, and pay for the privilege of it.</p>

<p > </p>

<p >I know I've posted about this one before, and Shun at least no doubt remembers it.</p>

<!--EndFragment--></p>

<p>if it's still under warranty I would send it back to Nikon. This does not sound like something that you can just fix. Make sure you send a list of all the issues that you have with it.</p>

<p>It's under warranty with Cameta for a few more months. I'd have to send it through them again.<br>

If I look at the top LCD when I have the power switched on, I can see that that all the info is displayed, but visible only from an angle (as I'm sure it is normally, though nobody's looking for it under normal circumstances). When the power is off, it's gone. So, some power seems to be getting through, but not much. </p>

<p>You should be able to send it back to Nikon. At least in Canada, they have never told me to go back to the dealer.</p>

<p>Nikon cameras that are refurbished carry a 90 day warranty from Nikon. After that, Cameta extends their own warranty to one year. I agree that buying a refurbished camera is a gamble, but the large majority of the time they are fine and you can save a lot of money. I bought a refurbished Nikon Coolpix 700 for my nephews 14th birthday and so far it's worked like a charm. But I did spend a couple hundred extra to buy my D300 from B&H and am glad I did so.<br>

Josh, just send it back to Cameta and make it very clear that you will accept nothing less than a working camera, period. Hopefully they will send you a replacement. Good luck.</p>

<p>Intermittent electronic problems are hard to diagnose and technicians can`t spend the time to do it. About all they can do is replace the circuit boards and hope that is where the problem lies.</p>

<p>Since it went back to Nikon once, there may be some warrantee on what they did.</p>

<p>This is why I will not buy a used electronic camera.</p>

<p>Cameta is a reputable company and will take care of you. Send them a copy of your letter above and they will fix it for you. If you can't be without a camera for the time your camera is in for service, now is a great time to buy a 2nd body!</p>

<p>

<p >My condolences. Really. What a horrible experience.</p>

<p > </p>

<p >The D300 is a wonderful DSLR and 99.9% of the people who shoot with it are virtual D300 groupies. Sometimes S% happens, or in less crude language, Sometimes bad things do happen to nice people.</p>

</p>

<p>If I ship it out to Cameta again, I'll have ended up paying about $150 in shipping costs, since I choose to insure it as well and because I went through this in January (and when it came back, it was initially dead). I was very foolish to do what I did and should have gotten it new, since I'll have ended up paying more than I would have if I'd done so.</p>

<p>I'll also have been without it for about two of the nine months that I've had it so far. Completely unacceptable to me. I'll never buy from Cameta again, that's for sure.</p>

<p>Josh has not stated if the D300 is a factory refurb or simply 'used'. I've had great experiences with factory refurb products, never once had a problem with any, and I've purchased 8 or 10; cameras, printers, laptops, iPods. If the camera is not a refurb, but is 'used', then he obviously cannot send it to Nikon and must deal with Cameta.</p>

<p>It was listed as a demo, which I've always assumed was accurate. </p>

<p>Wow. I have considered getting a "Demo" from them, but now, I am not sure. It was always the short factory warranty and the dealer extended one that gave me pause. Maybe my paranoia was justified ?</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Exactly what was the warranty that came with the demo? If it is Nikon USA that warranties your camera, I would send it directly to Nikon yourself. Otherwise, you'll have to deal with Cameta. After 3 repairs, I would consider the camera a "lemon" and demand a replacement. However, I am not sure what kind of coverage you have for a demo. Can you get them to give you a replacement demo?</p>

<p>Don't do it, John. Pay a little more and get it new, or be safe and get a refurb from B&H. Everyone worth talking to in the industry knows them and most probably would vouch for their trustworthiness and general service quality. Not saying others aren't worthwhile, but when it's a lot of money, best to be safe. </p>

<p>I'll have spent more than enough in shipping my D300 out to Cameta by tomorrow evening (between January and June) to easily be more than what I initially saved with Cameta. </p>

<p>Shun, the camera is warrantied through Cameta after 90 days, and it is still covered. I almost sent it in for the hot pixels it has in various places, but decided against it because I didn't want to be without my camera. Now I don't have a choice. I probably should have sent it back right after it was returned to me in February, when it also did not start up initially and behaved as it did yesterday. That time it came back on, this time it has not.</p>

<p>Josh, sorry to hear.</p>

<p>Is it possible to contact someone on the phone for a faster reply for what to do, from Cameta?</p>

<p>I have purchased multiple things from Cameta, and they have all been stellar products with no issues. The only thing i do not appreciate is the upselling. They ask if you want to add this or that at the last minute.</p>