D700 + MB-D10, lost LCD menu / review screen function

<p>I was shooting with my D700 coupled with MB-D10 grip this morning when I noticed that the last exposure I took the unit was working fine but upon taking the next exposure the rear LCD review screen showed the image taken but after closing down post review I could not either bring the review image back up nor get the menu to appear on the LCD screen.</p>

 

<ol>

<li>Using the D700 with MB-D10 combo - when I take an exposure I can see the instant review of my image as per normal, the LCD then turns off as per normal but I cannot bring anything up on the LCD afterward.</li>

<li>The D700 without the MB-D10 grip works 100% - all LCD screen functions appear and work fine.</li>

<li>I removed the MB-D10 and cleaned both sets of contacts with methylated spirits, both on the camera body and on the grip - no improvement.......</li>

<li>I have swapped batteries then tried 100% fully charged batteries in either the body only or the grip only, and a fully charged battery in both the grip and the body - alas no improvement.........</li>

<li>I've also systematically searched through the entire D700 menu to ensure there is no MB-D10 LCD screen cut out type function that I might have tripped acidentally.</li>

</ol>

<p>Am I correct in deducing that the MB-D10 has a permanent electrical failure? Any assistance, advice or experience with the MB-D10 would be most appreciated........</p>

<p> </p>

<p>When I got the MB-D10 for my D300, it behaved in a very similar way - but only when a heavy lens was attached to the camera - like the 300/4 AF-S or the 80-400 VR. I could always clear the problem of not being able to bring anything (image or menu) up on the LCD by locking the shutter release on the grip - until it happened again. Never found out the reason and eventually, it appears the system decided to right itself and the gremlin disappeared. It certainly felt like a contact issue between camera and battery grip - I always thought that the design change from the MB-D200 to the MB-D10 was a step backwards/in the wrong direction as I believe the connection between the MB-D200 and the D200 to be sturdier and less prone to contact issues.</p>

<p>Thanks Dieter,</p>

<p>I was using an old 55mm f/3.5 Ai micro Nikkor but I'll run some cleaner over the lens contacts and swap some lenses around too to see if it rights itself.</p>

<p>Alas, cleaning lens contacts and swapping a couple of AF-S lenses onto the D700 etc has made no difference.</p>

<p>I should also add that the MB-D10 still retains it's focus point shifter button functions and the vertical shutter release still functions just fine........ very mysterious - and annoying....</p>

<p>How long did you have the combo? In my case, the problem occurred right when I got them (purchased together). If you own the combo for some time, chance are something is indeed amiss and the combo may need servicing. With mine, the problem was intermittent - never a good thing when you intend to send it in - and then the problem won't show itself.</p>

<p>I've seen this several times with friends D-300 and 700.<br>

Once I saw my CF activity light blink indicating errors due to a mis-alignment.</p>

<p>The MB-D10 contains internal electronics that must communicate with the camera.</p>

<p>Yes; you have a electrical problem...I hope you haven't had it too long so you can exchange it for another.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Alas, I've had the MB-D10 since I owned a D300 - probably for over 2 years now......</p>

<p>I'll try to loosen off the lock spindle a little to see if that improves the alignment of the pins.....<br>

I keep it on the body for 99% of my shooting, I like a vertical release button and also prefer more volume in my hands for camera handling. i purchased it to shoot star trails and never really took it off the bodies I've had as it suits me to a T and I don't care about the extra weight.</p>

<p>Looks Like I'm saving for a new one? <strong>:-( </strong></p>

<p>Matthew, I suggest trying a couple more things to help identify where the problem might be:</p>

<ul>

<li>Mount the MB-D10 onto the D700 but without any battery inside the MB-D10. The D700 should be forced to use the EN-EL3e inside the body. See whether that works or not.</li>

<li>Try again with batteries in both the D700 and MD-D10, but specify the body to use the battery inside the camera first: Custom Setting D100, Battery Order.</li>

</ul>

<p>Thanks Shun,</p>

<p>I did as you instructed and still no joy.....<br>

I leave the camera on and slowly unwind the locking spindle on the MB-D10 and as soon as the MD-D10 un-couples I get my menu and playback functions back. </p>

<p>I figure I have nothing to loose and it has got to be a mis alignment of contacts somehwere inside the grip unit. So I will try to see if some pins on the MD-D10 need <em>slight bending</em> to make proper contact......</p>

<p>Sounds like you need to send the MB-D10 in for repair. It could be a simply fix; it is hard to say.</p>

<p>I bought mine at the same time I bought the D300, back in November 2007. Fortunatley mine is still working fine.</p>

<p>Do you have the correct battery type selected (menu d10 on D300 & D700)? If not, the camera gets confused.</p>

<p><strong>Charles Beddoe </strong></p>

<blockquote>

<p>Do you have the correct battery type selected (menu d10 on D300 & D700)? If not, the camera gets confusedo you have the correct battery type selected (menu d10 on D300 & D700)? If not, the camera gets confused</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Charles, that is a good question, the D700 menu only offers AA battery size in 4 x options for the MB-D10. AS I'm using only EN EL3 Lion batteies I just left this menu setting at default which is the first option which happens to be AA alkaline batteries......... I was working on the assumption that the 'smart' Lion batteries would be registered as such by the body......??</p>

<p>The battery type selection is only for "dumb" AA batteries, which do not have electronics to indicate what type of batteries they are and therefore the voltage may vary.</p>

<p><strong>Shun Cheung</strong></p>

<blockquote>

<p>The battery type selection is only for "dumb" AA batteries, which do not have electronics to indicate what type of batteries they are and therefore the voltage may vary.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Thanks again Shun, yet another Nikon fact unveiled or myth now busted........</p>

<p>Upon closer inspection of the MB-D10, I see a slightly lower pin on the very end of the front rank one pin only. Can anyone veryfy if this indeed a fault on my MB-D10 or correct height? Thanks in advance........</p><div></div>

<p>My pins are exactly like yours. Every time I've had this problem, it's always started out with me thinking there was a problem with the MB-D10 and turning out that I was accidentally depressing the vertical shutter halfway with my knee or the table or my wrist or something. That may be why locking the shutter release is working for you?? I'm not saying you'd be as silly as me, I'm just sayin'.</p>

<p>Thanks Sean,</p>

<p>I'm really just as silly as the next person ;-)</p>

<p>Blow me over with a feather - but I've just re-attached the MB-D10 and<strong> hey presto it all works fine.</strong> I swear I have not done a thing apart from clean the contacts with metho.....</p>

<p>So I guess I have to call this thread to a logical close - I have my LCD screen back with MB-D10 attached - can't ask for more than that -<strong> thanks to all who replied to my thread!!</strong></p>

 

<p>i had the same problems with one of my units, caused by moisture entering the MB-D10. perhaps yours didn't get "wet", but i'd still try drying it out thoroughly with a hair dryer or other similar device, blowing into the battery chamber and around the control wheels. do this until you have significantly warmed up the unit.<br>

when mine eventually failed altogether, the symptoms were even goofier -- my AF lenses would continually hunt, even tho i wasn't pressing the shutter. and the displays were disabled, as with the dampness. i soon sent the unit back to nikon for a quick repair, but mine was still (barely) under warranty at that point. apparently, it was not a big repair, although i don't remember the cryptic notation on the work order.<br>

good luck.</p>

<p>Matthew, exactly what was causing the problem you were experiencing? Were you pressing on the vertical shutter release button on the MB-D10?</p>

<p><strong>William and Shun,</strong></p>

<p>My MB-D10 may have a connection to William's experience. Yesterday was an extremely hot day of 40 deg C. I took the camera out of my sealed camera back pack which is in the coolest room in the house and went straight outside to take some photos. </p>

<p>It would have been 16 deg C inside the house and possibly a couple of degrees C. cooler inside the camera pack. It's quite conceivable that soe moisture condensated rapidly inside the battery chamber on the MB-D10 when I took it outside. </p>

<p>I took about 5 minutes to find my photo subject matter and a further 5 minutes of shooting in the blazing sun before I noticed the LCD screen not working. We had a rapid thundery cool change in the evening which brought the temp. back down and also I had the MB-D10 with battery tray open all day inside the dry house. I replaced the MB-D10 a few hours after the cool change and it was fully functioning again...... I'm 100% sure I was not accidentally depressing the very sensitive vertical shutter release button - I've been caught out with that before.</p>

<p>I shall dis-assemble the MB-D10 and remove the battery tray and gently apply the warm hair drier to all parts just incase there is remaining moisture inside. </p>