Nikon D200/D300 shutter speed changes in manual mode

[romelevans]

I've noticed this problem, originally with the D200. I figured it was a user problem (mine). So after I purchased a D300 and have shot about 2-3000 frames, I'm finding that it may not be my problem.

I use the PC connector to connect strobes in studio to my D300 and for the most part it works fine....I should say excellent. Anyway, there has been a very troublesome problem though, I would notice after x number of shots that my shutter speed has changed by itself. Sometimes way over 1/250's and sometimes to as low as 1/60. I always have it set for 1/125. I figured it was a problem with my thumb changing the shutter speed, however, last week I put a piece of duct tape over the shutter speed dial and low and behold the shutterspeed still changed. I couldn't change it if I tried manually with the duct tape...so my question is what is going on ? I saw that someone else had the problem and people automatically dismissed it as a user problem like I originally did.

Has anyone else seen this problem? And if so, how do you stop it from happening?

-Romel

[michael_gunawan]

it only happened when using studio strobe connected to the PC terminal ?

when it happened , how do you fix it ? turn the camera OFF and ON again ?

probably the electricity from the sync messed up the camera ? better to trigger the strobe wireless

[romelevans]

No, it happens when I'm outside, using an on camera flash (potator masher type). To fix it I dial back to the desired shutter speed again.

I have a question for you, why do you think that a would a pc connector would cause a camera's shutter speed to change? Have you heard of anything like that? I just happen to use the flash all the time with my camera, so I don't know if it happens without a flash/strobe connected...but I don't see a connection (no pun intended) there. If there is a problem, then I would think that's a big problem for Nikon. As I said, it's not just the D300, it's also the D200.

-Romel

[larry_angier]

Best guess for this problem is that the trigger voltage for your flash is too high. Too high of voltage from an older flash will fry the electronics in some newer cameras. You may need to run a wireless trigger system.

Since you are running D200/D300, maybe the thing to get is a high-quality slave trigger to sync to your cameras. Since you are shooting 1/125, it should be slow enough to sync properly.

I don't know an easy way to check the trigger voltage, but if you have the manuals for your flashes or can contact the company with model numbers and serial numbers, I'll bet you can find out. If your flashes are newer, it may be that your flash equipment needs to be adjusted.

To find out the maximum trigger voltage that the Nikon will handle through the PC connection, you may need to call Nikon directly to find the info. I just seem to remember that with newer electronic cameras that older flash equipment with direct triggers for the discharge circuits can overload the camera and destroy the electronics.

[romelevans]

I found the problem out from the Nikonians forum. The problem has to do with what seems to be a factory default settings for Bracketing. Bracketing was set on for flash and for ambient lighting. The problem was really obvious outdoors when the ambient light plays a big role even though flash is used for fill. Indoors the problem is not as noticeable since the ambient light is negligible compared to the light from the strobes.

[Mark Swindler]

I had a similar problem shooting inside a hospital with flash on camera. I would shoot one frame, and then the next frame would be a stop different. I finally realized I had touched the "Fn" button and at the same time rotated the front command dial, causing the shutter speed to bracket the exposures in 1-stop increments. Really irritating trying to figure out what I did with the client lookin on!
I really need to set that button to do something else or nothing as I've made this same mistake several times.
Hope this helps.

Mark S.

[michael_gunawan]

Originally Posted by romelevans

I found the problem out from the Nikonians forum. The problem has to do with what seems to be a factory default settings for Bracketing. Bracketing was set on for flash and for ambient lighting. The problem was really obvious outdoors when the ambient light plays a big role even though flash is used for fill. Indoors the problem is not as noticeable since the ambient light is negligible compared to the light from the strobes.

Glad that you've found the problem, but for what it's worth, Larry is right about voltage in the sycn. Happenned to me with studio strobes, although it's not the shutter speed that keeps changing, but the camera always jammed after taking a shot. I have to take of the sync, and turn the camera OFF/ON every time. Alas, the days have passed since I ever use a non-Nikon strobe anymore

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