joe_hurley1

Thanks God !!!! I thought i was seeing things now i understand what banding is. With Canon we don't see this so you

Nikon people are blessed .

Hello All

I have read all the above and i am real glad to hear that most of you don't have the DBS...or dead battery issue. I for one have had it on two D300 . Mine is only happening with my nikon 70x 200 2.8 VR. It's not a user error , for us who have this issue it's like buying a new car and having it stop on the freeway ...taking it to the dealer and the mechanic says that he cannot recreate it there is nothing wrong. It's eratic but is still an issue just the same. I have sent in my lens, D300 and D200 and they replace parts and clean and still unable to fix the issue. So for all you nikon D3 and D300 users that don't have the issue why bash us that do !!!! We bought our camera just as you and if you were in our shoes whould you be a quiet and excuse the manufacture for it mistakes and thank them for such a good camera each time you that a picture of your kids and explain to your wife that the camera quite !!! Wow i spent all that money it ok it's just me dear .

New follow-up

Just received my D300 back from Nikon fro the DBS . Nikon cleaned and checked . A letter was sent that they couldn't reproduce the issue. I sent it in with a letter that i was using the nikon 70x 200 2.8 Vr and i keep getting the dead battery issue. Nikon sent me a new battery to try just in case the old one was an issue. I use AA and the grip but did put the battery in the camera as a backup. I took at least 500 pictures over the weekend no problem . Nikon did take a thousand pictures while they had it so i know they tested it.

Time will tell if the DBS will return or not

Follow - up nikon repair NY

I just received my D300 from Nikon NY a letter stated they could not re create the issue cleaned and returned. Now what is wrong with this issue both my D300 and 70x200 2.8 vr have been sent in and they still fail on me when the combo is in use. I am doing nothing other than using the combo. I feel like they are just passing this one off as user error not camera. WHY !!!!!!!

Ok !!!! round four for me.

I just called nikon and they couldn't find anything wrong with my D300 general cleaning and adjusting focus was their reply no parts replaced. My second D200 that was just repair has started to do the dead battery issue again . I have had it with this issue . I really think that we all are getting the run around For me I will never buy another nikon product again . I have invested in Canon L lens and a 40D and love the pictures the controls are not as easy as nikon but It isn't that big of an issue. I have made thousand of shots with the 40D and love it. Every time i take my nikon out it fails in one way or another. I never thought I would be saying what i just did as using nikon for 15 years. I have payed good money for camera equipment and when it doesn't perform for me i have to look at the reason.

I quite being loyal why should we as consumers put up with faulty equipment and repair and hit and miss fixes in my case no fix. Their is an option to keep the lower end lens that work and not buying the more expensive lens that give us problems. But isn't that the whole reason for investing in one camera brand to be able to upgrade and keep the glass.

Just my experience with this problem and at 57 I have no patients for these type of issues life is too short i just want to take pictures and have fun doing it.

Hello

As I read this thread I see that other than a few people who use the 70 x 200 vr on their cameras state that it must be a user problem or a rare problem.

Let me share my experience as I own a D300 , D200 , D3, D70, and I won't go into my Canon gear. I shoot for fun and look at the camera as a tool and as all my tools i use them allot not abuse them. With any tool you need to get to know it inside out and bond with it to get the most out of it for your purpose. That said most casual shooter only buy the entry level lens or just shoot once in a while. I take at least 200 pic a day so my camera get used . The new VR lens are energy hungry and the weight doesn't help either. The more electronics used in these lens the more critical the contacts and pathways are.

The 70 x 200 2.8VR is one of the most popular lens .I have one and have had it serviced by nikon NY a month ago for the dead battery issue mentioned on the D200 and D300 and now some D3 cameras body. Nikon replaced the bayonet and adjusted the lens focus. Nikon gave it a clean bill of health as to comply with their spec for that lens. Granted it does focus much sharper and faster and fits tighter on the camera body.

That took care of the loose play when mounted on the camera body. I could repeat the dead battery issue by twisting the lens on the body as you would under normal use shooting hand held not on a tripod.

On to the camera body problem !!!!! I sent in two D200 body wrote a letter with all info as to the issue i was seeing and the repair done on the 70x 200 2.8 VR . I also included that this lens was the only lens i had that would create the dead battery issue. Results !!! Nikon replaced several electrical items in the camera and adjusted the focus . WOW they fixed both D200 body now so far they work great with the 70 x 200 2.8 VR.

On to the D300 , It is in repair status now at nikon NY and I included a letter with a history as i did with my D200 camera body. I will repost as to the the repairs done and if they fixed the D300 .

My point is that Nikon is a large company and as a large company their will always be problems with products. If every one used their camera and had the same lens it would be easier to isolate an issue. Being said I would advise anyone who has this issue to send in the camera and lens that is creating the problem to Nikon and let them fix it. I have read in some case that people did that and didn't get any results. I can only say so far that every piece of nikon equipment that i have sent into nikon NY has returned perfect and in most case better that new.

I have had to send in every nikon camera and lens for repair so quality issue maybe but i use my gear not abuse it so if their is a problem I usually will see it .

Hi

Follow -up for dead battery issue for me and the 70 x 200 2.8 Vr lens. this is the only lens in my collection that gives me this issue.

Nikon repaired my D200 a few weeks ago and the dead battery issue was fixed .I posted this in another area but will use this one in the future .

I just sent in my D300 last week for the dead battery issue the temp cleaning with deoxit was not working . I will repost with an update as to the fix if any on my D300.

As a further note I sent in my 70 x 200 2.8 vr to nikon a few month ago and they replaced the bayonet mount and adjusted the focus . The lens fits tighter on all three camera bodies but still created the dead battery issue .

Hello

Ok I Give up !!!! My temp fix of cleaning the contacts on my D300 has failed . The dead battery issue has returned with a vengence. I sent it back to kikon NY last week. I also sent a letter with all the repairs done on my 70 x 200 2.8 nd the D 200 that was just fixed a few weeks ago. The D200 works great now they replaced several electrical items .

I don't know what to think about the D300 and this issue it's strange. I will repost as to what was fixed and replaced if any

Hello

I just called Nikon and they have repaired my D200 that had the same issue as my D300 ( Dead battery with 70x200 2.8 VR lens )I havent seen the report yet but the nikon tech support person said they replaced three elec parts including the MB adjusted focus cleaned and mapped out dead pixel , replaced the rubber grip and others. If this works I will repost . My D300 hasn't had the dead battery issue after cleaning all contacts with Deoxit . I sent in my other D200 last fall for the same issue and it works fine now .

Thats three for three with the dead battery issue and the above lens.

Hello

I have followed this thread and Nikonians and I too have this issue . I sent in my 70 x 200 Vr and they replaced the lens bayonet mount and adjusted . The lens is tighter but i still have the dead battery issue with a D200 and a new D300. I sent in my D200 and it is on parts hold now at nikon NY. I have contacted Shun by email Thanks Shun for looking into this for all of us. I too have friends with D3 and the same issue is happening with them. I will wait to see if nikon fixes the D200 first and what they did before i send in my D300 . i don't have any issues with my other Nikon VR lens. I am confused as to what is up . In my case the lens was repaired and inspected and that wasn't the cause but what nikon did to the lens helped. OH the lens was only 6 moths old hardly used as i always had focus issues on My D200.

Hello

I Had the same issue and it is hard for Nikon to fix something with out see it in the shop of duplicating it . I can now believe that every issue may be related or multiple issue you never know . I had the dead battery issue with the Nikon 70 x 200 2.8 VR lens with two D200 and my new D300 after 2 month being mounted on the D300. The lens didn't seem to focus like it should and the VR was strange. I have all VR lens and this lens was my problem child. It was also loose on the camera body just more twisting play that it should have, just enough to cause the connection between the camera and lens to loose contact. I sent in the lens to Nikon and they adjusted everything and replaced the lens bayonet . It worked great on the D200 but still caused the dead battery issue on the D300 . Like many had suggested buying a product called Deoxit contact cleaner had worked for most. I ordered the kit 25.00 and tried it last night. I cleaned all battery and contacts on the bayonet's but only wiped the contacts inside the camera with a lens cloth with a little rubbing alcohol on the cloth.I was supprised at the amount of stuff that I noticed on the rag while cleaning. I went out shooting and had not one issue . I took 1,500 pictures just to see if i could repeat the problem to my supprise I could not. I don't believe that this is the real cure for this issue . There may be a better fix if nikon ever decides what the issue is as there may be multiple problems just like i had with my lens. I don't know . I did clean all my other camera body and lens with Deoxit just to be safe. If this works and keeps the

dreaded battery bunny away from my gear so be it .

Hi Shun

I agree Nikon is where we should be at with this issue as I am right now and also others. I have a Pre Paid label to send both to NY for repair. I have received excellent repairs from nikon over the years they do resolve the problems it just is Inconvenient for us who have to send their equipment in . You are so lucky that you have never had to go thru the process . I have had to send in almost every piece of nukon equipment back to nikon for repair of some sort. If you read all the issue with the d70 thru the d300 i have had at least two on each item . I always buy from the best photo shops no off the wall places and it always works out that way for me . That is why I wonder how many issues are left unresolved just because the casual shooter doen't use his equipment enough to notice the problems or just hope it goes away. I tried that and it hasn't happened yet. I do shoot with Canon Also and never had a issue it's just that Nikon is still the best for AF and high ISO for what i shoot at my price range and the D300 is a excellent camera it rocks !!!!!

Hello Shun

I agree with you on one issue that it is upsetting to have this issue happen to only a few people consider yourself lucky that you haven't seen this issue YET!!!! I find the comments from people who have never had this issue quick to justify why it only happens to a few . I do wonder if your attitude would change if you have had as many issues with Nikon gear as I and others have . There were two other people that i was shooting with this weekend that had the same issue so I don't believe that this is as isolated as the ones who comment that they have never had any problems and jump on making excuses for Nikon as if we are just complaining. I did call Nikon this morning and I am sending in the lens and my new D300 at the same time. You are right that if they don't have both to see for them self what the issue is they can't fix it. I just hope they look close and use it enough for the issue to show up on their end. I have read where they did nothing as they couln't not duplicate the issue . Maybe i read too much :-)

I will let everyone know what Nikon finds

Hello

I have had the Dead battery camera shutdown for two years now and it all is related to my 70 x 200 2.8 VR . It fist appeared last year when i bought this lens and a d200. The focus on the lens was bad and the vr function was never acurate. I have other nikon VR lens and never had an issue. I purchased a new D300 thinking the issue was fixed. My D300 and the 70 x 200 worked great for two months then The dead battery and focus issue started . I sent in the lens and Nikon replaced the bayonet and cleaned and adjusted the focus. The lens was perfect when it returned and focus and vr funtion was excellent. I went shootin on saturday and after 50 shots the dead battery issue appeared . I reset the camera fixed for two more shots replaced the battery same issue . I called Nikon and they want the lens back to experement with and they also want all three camera bodies to try. NOT !!!!! I will send in the lens just because im upset with this issue and need it fixed . I don't believe that all cameras are bad when this only happens with this lens. So you are not alone on this one I am getting real tired of NIKON saying they have never heard of this issue with anyone else. I have two friends with D3 and this lense and it is doing the same thing . Why is NIKON not stepping up on this one I don't under stand at all .

Hello All

Im new to this site but have a reply to the question on shutter life on the D200. I have a 4 month old D200 maybe 10.000 shots. I was out taking pictues today and I kept getting an errr message , reset no good another vr lense no good , master reset new battery no good. I called nikon and they want it sent in mechanical failure. The last shot i took the shutter went twang !!!!! it will not shoot more than one shot at a time hard to focus and the error message is still on.

I shoot in 5 burst only I do alot of birds and action shots, Great camera with a vr lense it tack sharp !!! BUT im concerned about the shutter life ?has any one here had the same issue.