Some questions about erratic D2H metering

[GerryBouchard]

Greetings!

My D2H is exhibiting the exposure problem outlined in quite a few threads, such as this one. I feel confident that my problem is the same as Joel's, as his description is spot on.

First off, I have two events this coming weekend where I know my capture count will be high. If I send my D2H in for service I run the likely risk of not getting it back before the weekend. I do not own a digital backup, as I always told myself I'll just use my film bodies in the event the D2H goes down. Certainly I can use my film system easily enough but the thought of possibly scanning hundreds of images is not pleasing. So, I'm now left wondering if using my D2H with the erratic metering is possible by simply setting the exposure manually based on the readings from my handheld meter? The impression I get from other posts, as well as a few test shots here at home tonight, indicate that the camera will still capture the shot at the manual settings. My concern is centered around the rest of the image capture process within the camera. Does anyone know if anything other than the metering is affected by this issue? Can, or should I eventually expect a focusing problem too, as some posts have implied? Any thoughts are appreciated.

Lastly, as much as I don't want to tote film canisters around, the necessity of not wanting to put my entire weekend at risk by using the D2H with its problem will most likely have me chimping at the LCD-less back of my film body.

Thanks,
Gerry.

[Tony_Scavo]

Gerry

I own two D2h's myself and if you are referring to the extremelly underexposed images ( metering problem? ) i have had these issues as well with both bodies, i feel that it is an overheating problem, i have noticed it when i shot and then chimped only to find a black lcd image....but it is rare, even when heavily in use and hot.

perhaps you can just chimp in more often intervals to see if you have achieved a succesful exposure? you will eat up batteries more often but at least you will have your peace of mind and much less work of scanning through film ( less expense of course too ) maybe buying an extra battery ( 100 dollars ) now is a quick fix to an otherwise unpleasent situation of not shooting digitally?

good luck

Tony

[GerryBouchard]

Hi Tony,

Thanks for the quick reply! However, I think we are talking about two separate issues. I would best describe my problem as a "meter searching" issue. That is, the meter can't seem to determine whether the scene is under, over, or properly exposed. The readout fluctuates rapidly, and most often towards the under exposed side. However, in manual mode I can set the exposure and get a seemingly properly exposed shot.

I expect that flash use is not possible until I get the meter repaired.

Cheers,
Gerry.

[Actiongrafx]

Hey Gerry,
Same thing happend to my D2H. Sent it in for repair - they received it on a Thursday morning and I had it back by the next Friday morning (8 days). Not bad for me - they claim 10 business days.

When mine when out I was shooting a volleyball game. I usually shoot in manual but I noticed the exposure meter in the viewfinder was pegged to one side. Anyway, I probably got off at least 200 shots without any problems, and I feel that it wouldn't have been a problem to continue using it and shooting in manual...

So, I would say Go For It!

Hope this helps
-William

[JoelHunzelman]

Hey Gerry,

Yep, sounds like you are having the same problems I did. It's frustrating to say the least, but if you can handle doing your gig in manual, then by all means try it. I ended up sending mine in and had it back in about 10 days, too. Now, everything works like a champ. I'm even considering selling my faithful D100 (never failed me yet...) and getting a second D2H body. I love the D2H that much, regardless if the D2X ens up being better. For my needs, the 2H works great.

Hope you get yours fixed after your gig.

Best of luck!
Joel

[Tony_Scavo]

Gerry

My bad, I thought you meant the camera would just expose a black frame, sorry about that....while im on the subject though, has anyone else ever had their D2H shoot a black frame ( sometimes a few in a row ) I was shooting fully manual, all shots before the black exposed frames were perfectly exposed according to the histogram ( nice bell curves ) and lcd.

I believe this to be a heat issue as the only times it happened i was shooting hundreds of frames in a 30 minute time frame ( outdoor motocross ) on a hot day ( 90 degrees ) driving a 400mm 2.8 lens ...If i turned off the camera and then back on and let it rest for a minute or two, the problem ceased.

Anyone???

[larry_angier]

I can remember a few black frames, probably from my D2H, but can't remember the circumstances. It seemed like a random event and since I shoot in bursts of 2-3 frames just in case, it was more of an annoyance instead of a real problem.