help: nikon d40 flash not working??

p1tse

p1tse

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probably not much use now, but want to put my mind at rest and hope it's nothing major.

on holiday, limited internet access and no manual.

basically my nikon d40 flash has stopped working, what can this be?
i'm hoping it's a simple fix when i return to uk

thanks
 
If its broken, realistically only Nikon UK will be able to advise on this.

Send it back if its under warranty, if not just buy an SB-400 instead as it'll be cheaper than a repair.
 
:plus1:

I'd say your d40 has done you a favour here, get an SB400 or, if you can afford it, the SB600.
Allan
 
p1tse said:
probably not much use now, but want to put my mind at rest and hope it's nothing major.

on holiday, limited internet access and no manual.

basically my nikon d40 flash has stopped working, what can this be?
i'm hoping it's a simple fix when i return to uk

thanks
Click to expand...

stopped working altogether or stopped popping up?
 
right back from holiday.

it's stopped flashing. it pops up, but no light/flash.

would prefer to hope this is a simple fix, as would like to sell it at a later date.

also out of warranty
 
It won't be economical to repair and while it may be simple, but won't be cheap.

It'll be £100+ to fix.
 
bl00dy hell!

ouch!!!

is that through nikon only?
or can i go to camera shop i.e. there's a specialist in bristol, or jessops etc.

it's not that old a camera, a d40 silver edition, and to it to break! ;-(

what are the options to fix?
 
OK - blatently obvious question... you haven't got the setting ring on flash over-ride have you? (Lightening bolt in a circle with a line through it)
 
p1tse said:
bl00dy hell!

ouch!!!

is that through nikon only?
or can i go to camera shop i.e. there's a specialist in bristol, or jessops etc.

it's not that old a camera, a d40 silver edition, and to it to break! ;-(

what are the options to fix?
Click to expand...

I know fixation do repairs and a lot of people on here have used them, might want to get a quote from there as well!
 
OutLore said:
OK - blatently obvious question... you haven't got the setting ring on flash over-ride have you? (Lightening bolt in a circle with a line through it)
Click to expand...


:agree:It is more likely that it's just switched off or something equally simple.

There was a D40 up on Ebay a while back which the seller said was faulty because it only took really dark shots. I got him to email me a couple and the exif showed things like 1/400 shutter at f/11 indoors.

Why not just try resetting the camera to factory settings (the manual will tell you how) and see if the flash springs back into life?
 
Flash In The Pan said:
:agree:It is more likely that it's just switched off or something equally simple.

There was a D40 up on Ebay a while back which the seller said was faulty because it only took really dark shots. I got him to email me a couple and the exif showed things like 1/400 shutter at f/11 indoors.

Why not just try resetting the camera to factory settings (the manual will tell you how) and see if the flash springs back into life?
Click to expand...

did you tell him the error of his ways? :LOL:
 
OutLore said:
OK - blatently obvious question... you haven't got the setting ring on flash over-ride have you? (Lightening bolt in a circle with a line through it)
Click to expand...

definately not this.

fixation, who are they?

hmm, could do a reset i guess, worth a shot.

have tried auto in dark areas, it springs up but no flash.
also in P, manual press the flash to spring up and nothing.

will read the manul, as i have it to hand to see if i can reset the camera, but can't see it working.

can the bulbs on these flash's just go and simple swap by a techie person?
 
p1tse said:
definately not this.

fixation, who are they?

hmm, could do a reset i guess, worth a shot.

have tried auto in dark areas, it springs up but no flash.
also in P, manual press the flash to spring up and nothing.

will read the manul, as i have it to hand to see if i can reset the camera, but can't see it working.

can the bulbs on these flash's just go and simple swap by a techie person?
Click to expand...

Its definately knackered, but it'll still cost you about £100.

Its a 5 minute job, but it'll take "long enough" to charge you about £100 :p

Really isn't worth it - postage there and back will be £15 for a start.
 
i contacted Nikon and they suggest to send it in. but they didn't mention on what they charge to look at it, etc. anyone know? or is it the quote above, the £100?
 
To inspect the camera if its not covered under warranty they charge us £35.00 sounds like it could be a simple fix, how long have you had the camera, and stupid question but are you using good quality batts and are they new??

John
 
£35 for an inspection! but i bet the fix is even more!

the camera i would say is about 24 months old, battery is like new, original and lasts a long time.

it's just annoying as even if the above £100 quote to fix, it's almost half the value of the camera kit!!!

silver d40, so not that old or used loads etc. not damaged anyway.

bit annoyed, as if it costs that much to fix or more, it puts me off Nikon quality.

i was hoping to sell and buy a used d80 on my budget, but may move to Canon (what's the equivalent rival to the nikon d80 for Canon)?
 
p1tse said:
£35 for an inspection! but i bet the fix is even more!

the camera i would say is about 24 months old, battery is like new, original and lasts a long time.

it's just annoying as even if the above £100 quote to fix, it's almost half the value of the camera kit!!!

silver d40, so not that old or used loads etc. not damaged anyway.

bit annoyed, as if it costs that much to fix or more, it puts me off Nikon quality.

i was hoping to sell and buy a used d80 on my budget, but may move to Canon (what's the equivalent rival to the nikon d80 for Canon)?
Click to expand...

You might just get different problems - Err99 is a common canon one and the costs to fix will be similar - its a fact of life that things will break - cars, computers, cameras, washing machines its just a question of when - and its a pain in the arse when its something of yours that breaks.:shake:
 
Try it with a external flash like a SB600 if it works you could then buy a SB600 about £110 new, instead of getting it repaired.
 
Could you post a pic here taken with the flash (which obviously won't fire) so we can have a look at the exif data?
 
Flash In The Pan said:
Could you post a pic here taken with the flash (which obviously won't fire) so we can have a look at the exif data?
Click to expand...

thanks for the above

i know i could use an external flash, but the idea was for me to sell this and upgrade. but i won't be able to sell or get as good money if not in working condition.

how do i take one with exif data?
sorry, but need a bit of info on how to.

i've just replied back to Nikon to ask how much inspection, likely cost or issue and if it happens much on a d40 etc.

i understand things break. but for something which cost a fair bit compared to say a cheap plastic thing from a cheap shop, something not used every day (so no wear and tear), and something which hasn't been damaged, and not that old to break is wrong. i might be able to swallow the breakness if it;s a known cause and flash goes.

but my 5 year old second hand casio pocket camera, which has taken knocks, loads of pics etc. still works pefectly, which i had to end up using on my holiday
 
can't remember if the flash was going off or not on pic 1, but it should have gone on pic 2 (picture of inside secuirty box during holiday, too test flash)

pic 1:
DSC_5121.jpg


pic 2:
DSC_5149.jpg
 
From the exif:Flash = Flash fired, auto mode, return light not detected

At least we know from that that the flash is "firing", now all we need to do is figure out why it's not.....
 
alex_m90 said:
possibly the bulb might have blown?
Click to expand...

That thought occurred to me, but you'd think it would last longer than a couple of years, not as if it gets used all the time. I wonder of the camera has been dropped or suffered an impact or shock?
 
Flash In The Pan said:
From the exif:Flash = Flash fired, auto mode, return light not detected

At least we know from that that the flash is "firing", now all we need to do is figure out why it's not.....
Click to expand...

thanks
how did you get that info exif from the pic?
clever stuff.

just got an email back from Nikon and said quote for work would be after inspection, but if not repaired would cost £15 to send back. so a parcel forced, insured would probably cost me £15, so £30 just for shipping and not even fixed.

yeah only a couple of years old and hardly used constantly on flash. not been dropped or suffered impact (from what i know of, as working one time and then the next, nothing)

wish it was like a car, easy change on light bulb, to check.

so has anyone else not had this issue?
 
p1tse said:
wish it was like a car, easy change on light bulb, to check.
Click to expand...

Some cars need to be taken to a garage for a "simple" bulb change.

While the loss of the onboard flash is a pain, it's also a good excuse to upgrade - either the body (IMO, D80 prices are about to drop a fair amount) or to an external flash (the SB-600 can be had for £150 or so).
 
puddleduck said:
It won't be economical to repair and while it may be simple, but won't be cheap.

It'll be £100+ to fix.
Click to expand...


nikon has given me a number to call them and ask questions.

but was wondering why do you quote this, and is this for nikon to fix?
 
I think he was just giving you an educated guess. If it is going to be anything over £50 then you'd be as well buying yourself a flashgun and forgetting about the onboard flash - it's rubbish anyway ;)
 
thanks.
yeah rethinking it now, and save the money to get a flash gun and keep it as a spare while i save for a d60/d80, ideally a d80 with the lens kit.

however going to ask:
http://www.fixationuk.com/Fixation/Repairs.html

also, anyone know of a place which do repairs in bristol or local ish
 
failed delivery on : repairs@fixationuk.com

thinking, of saving for a d80 and a flash gun which can be used on the d40 and d80, maybe, but really want to get the flash fixed
 
update:

fixation:
"We could repair the camera here for you for a cost of :

£65.00 labour plus VAT
£10.00 plus VAT return postage if necessary (or you can collect in person)

I have seen the problem before, there is a switch in the top cover that gets broken, just through use; there is nothing you could have done to stop it from happening, it is electronic component failure and just bad luck I guess. It doesn't just happen on the D40 but other Nikon camera too"

so £88 above plus my delivery to them, as i don't live close by. so as above £100!
 
Add another £30 or so and buy an SB-600 flashgun, at least then when you upgrade you can take your £100 with you to the next camera and someone will still buy the D40 from you, even with the flash not working....
 
p1tse said:
update:

fixation:
"We could repair the camera here for you for a cost of :

£65.00 labour plus VAT
£10.00 plus VAT return postage if necessary (or you can collect in person)

I have seen the problem before, there is a switch in the top cover that gets broken, just through use; there is nothing you could have done to stop it from happening, it is electronic component failure and just bad luck I guess. It doesn't just happen on the D40 but other Nikon camera too"

so £88 above plus my delivery to them, as i don't live close by. so as above £100!
Click to expand...

Yeah, I said that ages ago ;)

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=883928&postcount=7

Just not worth fixing, get a nice little SB-400 for £75 :)
 
Flash In The Pan said:
Add another £30 or so and buy an SB-600 flashgun, at least then when you upgrade you can take your £100 with you to the next camera and someone will still buy the D40 from you, even with the flash not working....
Click to expand...



whats the difference in sb-400 and sb 600?

can both be used say on a nikon d80 (this is the one i would like to upgrade to)? (also not sure if this has put me off nikon and go for something else)

who would buy a d40 without a working flash though, and how much with the nikon lenses i have?
 
Hi,

I have this problem and my d40 is only 2 weeks old, bought as a gift by my friends for my 40th birthday and having real problems getting a replacement now!!
 
Brucie68 said:
Hi,

I have this problem and my d40 is only 2 weeks old, bought as a gift by my friends for my 40th birthday and having real problems getting a replacement now!!
Click to expand...

If its less than 28 days form date of purchase its a straight replacement.

Where did it come from.
 
Monkey said:
If its less than 28 days form date of purchase its a straight replacement.

Where did it come from.
Click to expand...

They bought it through Amazon and put the "Gift" receipt in the box. Absolutely useless as Amazon won't talk to me about it as I didn't order it. After a Sh!tty email to Customer service my friend is going to be refunded and I'm going to go to Jessops today and get a new one!!
 
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