I have posted before about a problem I have been having with the lens cover on my P7000 not opening all the way upon power up. Today at times the camera went "whacky"

3 times upon power up the lens cover did not open at all. The lens came out but the lens remained entirely covered. On 3 occasions I went to take a picture and when I pushed the shutter release button down halfway to allow the camera to focus I got in red letters with a big exclamation mark caution lens failure. I have gotten lens initializing before but never this. I checked the manual under error messages and coudn't find lens failure and I checked the troubleshooting section and again nothing about a lens failure warning.

Has anyone gotten this message before? It was a sunny day, I was in S mode, shutter speed 1/800 aperature was 2.8, ISO 100, WB on Auto, Matrix metering. I had shot a couple dozen images with this setting at all zoom ranges.


Dana

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I haven't read anyone having this problem but I would think it is time for a Nikon repair trip. I would say that over time the stinking of the lens cover might have lead to this. Since your P7000 is under warranty I would send it in and have everything looked at and repaired. I am pretty sure this is something that will not resolve itself, but I have been wrong before thought.

But I do understand the frustration!

Jim

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I will use film until the last roll and last lab are gone. Go Navy

Thanx Jim. I know I have to send it in. I was hoping I wouldn't have to and I had been putting it off because I am going to a Bob Seger Concert on the 15th of April and was so looking forward to getting some pics. I am making the calls later this morning. I'll post what I find out.

Dana

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I talked with NIKON Support and repair today. So far they have been very helpful. I have printed out my shipping label and packing list with bar code I filled out on the NIKON website. I copied my receipt and got the camera ready for shipping. I am shipping it first thing tomorrow morning.

I also read all 161 reviews of the P7000 on the NIKON website. Though most of the reviews were favorable I am finding out I am not the only one with the lens cover problem. I have a feeling this may be a design problem. Other people have told me that they have had trouble with NIKON Point and Shoot lens covers in other models over the years.

I really hope they resolve the issue and I have no more problem with the lens cover. I really like this camera.


Dana

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Glad to hear things are progressing. I too have heard of some the the Point and Shoot lens cover problems I wish they would have put a lens cap on the darn thing it is less to go wrong and they have a cap on the larger super zoom point and shoots.

I am sure Nikon will repair it, hope the turn around time is fast.

Jim

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I will use film until the last roll and last lab are gone. Go Navy

...as I do more investigating it seems the lens cover sticking on the P7000 is getting to be somewhat of a widespread problem, requiring the replacement of the entire lens system. This affirms that it is not foreign matter in the lens cover, but indeed the cover is hitting the lens itself upon power up. Some P7000 owners are getting them repaired under warranty and some have been denied warranty and charged for the lens replacement...It will be interesting to see what develops with mine. I shipped it to the Melville, NY repair facility this morning via UPS. Should arrive there Thursday morning. I really like this camera other than this...I am posting an image I took Sunday 3 April while riding with South Shore Harley Owners Group Brockton, Ma. I shot this left handed at 40 mph in Camera RAW, S mode, 1/1000, ISO 100, WB Auto.

Dana

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Attachment #1, (jpg file)

Arrgghh hope they fix it fast and free! I really wish they had just done a lens cap!

Nice shot looks like fun.

Jim

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I will use film until the last roll and last lab are gone. Go Navy

Thanx Jim. I got an e-mail from NIKON Friday stating that my P7000 would be repaired under warranty. I am definitely happy about that. I've been looking at the new P500. Now if NIKON cold somehow merge the best of the 2 into one camera wow...

Dana

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About an hour after I upacked the camera I had sticking once . I removed the battery and let is sit for 5 minutes. Never happened again.I have had it with me for 3000 miles on my bike now, no problems since. ......Considering the usual vibration from a bike ( I own 3 metric twins and a Triumph Thunderbird 1600) and hand held this shot really came out clean and focused. I was a little paranoid to try to hand hold my D300 while on a bike so got the P7000. Sorry to hear about the sticking lens problem, whats wrong with a lens cap??? Seems like it would be cheaper and better than this complicated arrangement they have now. Please post how the repair holds up and what did they replace if anything Was it a hardware or software failure. Hard to fathom that Melville would NOT repair this under warranty! Wonder why the others had to pay? I did buy both a G12 and a P7000 and told Best Buy I was going to return one and they said fine. Ended up with the Nikon as the JPEGS were so good that any adjustments I did seemed to screw them up. Size wise the P500 seems as big as my D40 with a normal lens so no space savings with it.

Capt T

Capt T: I put up with the sticking lens cover for a couple months hoping it would work itself out. Just finally got worse and worse. I agree the P500 is too bulky, but I wouldn't mind having the P500 lens on the P7000. Since getting the P7000 I shoot less and less jpeg and shooting almost everything RAW now. I really like the Adobe Camera Raw plug-in in my Photoshop CS5.

I'll let you know what was done to repair it. From what I having been reading on the internet it requires replacing the entire lens assembly.

Dana

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Hey Dana,
I think back now and this happened a few times on my first day with the little camera. I'm faced with upgrading to CS5 or Aperture 3 to work with the RAW files. Looks like CS3 is doomed to the obsolete software museum. Guess I will have to break down and buy Aperture 3 to play RAW. I wonder if the Vtwin vibes contribute to the failures? But many others have had the same issue so it must be something in mfg.

Still my best Coolpix yet...995,4500,5400,5700,8700. Wish the 995 body style had this good of an IQ

Ride safe and ride often,

CApt T

Capt. T. Spend the money for the CS5, you won't regret it. Not only is the ACR plug-in that comes with it great, but there are many, many more features that are above and beyond CS3. The content aware tools are absolutely fantastic. As is the 3D repousee tools.

The Adobe Camera Raw is all non-destructive so if you save the Raw file in PSD you can go back and the settings you made are still there and you can click on one button and it all returns right back to the way it came out of the camera. If you're working with jpegs there is a new Layers adjustment box. These are all non destructive adjustment layers.

I thought too it may be vibration, but most of the time the P7000 is around my neck. When it's not then it is in a padded camera bag with an adjustable partion that holds it gently and firmly and I place that in my tour pack on top of coats and stuff.

I ride a 2002 H-D Electra Glide Classic. There is some vibration at idle but once you get above 1500 rpm the rubber mounted motor is as smooth as silk. My other bike is a 2005 Sporster it vibrates a little more but I haven't ridden it since I got the P7000.

Dana

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Glad Nikon is fixing the camera for free! Let us know how it turns out.

Jim

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www.nikonians.org



I will use film until the last roll and last lab are gone. Go Navy

According to the NIKON website my P7000 went into the shop on the 11th of April. Hope they fix it quick I really miss it.

Dana

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Just checked the NIKON website my P7000 is fixed and was shipped on the 14th of April arrival date is the 19th of April. I am really looking forward to getting it back.


Dana

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When you get it back, please consider sharing if there was a breakdown of parts and labor, specifying the criticality/nature of the failure. That would be interesting to know for other owners.

"Toodle-loo from Covey22!"

-Armando
Nikonians Team
Nikonians News - Fresh Everyday!

The Covey Blog!

My Plan:

Get out of the car.
Get closer to the subject.
Pick the right mid-tone this time.

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I will do that. I am curious myself what they did. The invoice on the website wasn't specific. Just said charges 0.00

Dana

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This is what I was able to copy from the online invoice.


Status code Serial No Description Depending on the age of the product,
some orders will display this message
when replacement parts are limited. CAT N No Repair NeededA Minor Adj/CheckingB1 Moderate Repair: Minor Parts ReplacedB2 Moderate Repair: Major Parts ReplacedC Major Repair: Major Parts ReplacedD Extensive Repair: Water/Impact Etc. DamageS Single Price Complete Repair CK Check Only Problem The Problem Description is based on any written
description of the problem you were experiencing
and from a visual evaluation of your product. Charges
Shipped
04/14/2011 26233 30115414 Service Repair Rank B1 B1 • COMMUNICATION
• LENS ERROR
$0.00 USD

Dana

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Interesting - a B1 repair - sounds like a board or component swap, which means they might be seeing more of these as time goes by. It's inevitable for any camera that has to unfold the lens from a resting position. Thank you for sharing.

"Toodle-loo from Covey22!"

-Armando
Nikonians Team
Nikonians News - Fresh Everyday!

The Covey Blog!

My Plan:

Get out of the car.
Get closer to the subject.
Pick the right mid-tone this time.

See My Nikonians Gallery