Nikon D3100 Image problems

Grayham44 · Jun 7, 2015

Hoping i can have some help?

On video mode i have no problems, however when taking single shots in any mode the image is shadowed at the top or completely blank on top. I have tried all obvious menu settings and resets, however cannot find reason - sometimes fine - mainly problems though.
Be helpful if i could have some of your thoughts!
I have uploaded three continuous images showing faults ocurring

Braineack · Jun 7, 2015

if you're not using flash, then it seems your shutter curtain is failing.

Derrel · Jun 7, 2015

This looks like a flash synchronization issue to me; you have shadowing, and then a black bar. I looked at the EXIF information, but I am on my old computer, and I am getting unusual data in sub-seconds, 60,70,90 for the three shots, so the exposure is three different ones. Slowing the shutter down will eliminate the shadowing, and the black banding.

Braineack · Jun 7, 2015

that last shot with the banding is 1/100sec. the second shot is shot at the same settings and has the same bar, just not fully blocking the exposure.

Derrel · Jun 7, 2015

One of the shots, the first one of DSC_0036.JPG was done at 0.01666667 second or 1/60 second and looks fine, with good illumination. Frame 0042 and 0043 are just four seconds apart...seems weird, but it seems like the flash synchronization is good at 1/60 second, but NOT at 1/100 second.

wfooshee · Jun 7, 2015

Shadowed at the top means it's happening at the bottom of the sensor, since the image is inverted. Your first curtain is not clearing the sensor, either it's being delayed (shadow appears) or it's actually stopping while still over the frame (black area.) I suspect the last blade of the first curtain is bent.

I had a similar (but opposite) issue years and years ago with a Canon AE-1, I had a bright vertical band about a quarter of the way across the frame, where the second curtain was delayed by an instant for some reason and then caught up. Not every time, just seemingly on the pictures I really wanted it not to happen.....

Bebulamar · Jun 7, 2015

On the D3100 flash sync is good for 1/200 sec so it's possible that the shutter curtain travel time is not correct or the shutter speed is too fast (it's 250 instead of 100). Either case it needs adjustment.

KmH · Jun 7, 2015

Your camera shutter is broken and needs to be repaired.
The shutter is not used for video. Instead they just open the shutter, cycle the image sensor power on and off at the proper video frame rate, and close the shutter when done shooting video.