Hi my nikon d40x displays this message :ERROR.PRESS SHUTTER RELEASE BUTTON AGAIN. I can use menus and view saved pictures in my SD card. but cant capture picture anymore

That's a shutter error. Something is preventing it from opening properly, usually a mechanical problem. If it's still in warranty, send it in. If not, you can take it to a repair shop but the cost may be more than just buying a used one on eBay. Sorry. If it's any help, you can sell it on eBay as "For parts or not working", describing the error, and get some money out of it.

is there a card in the camera? unless selected in menu to fire without card, camera will not fire if no SD card

does it say something like shutter error, turn off and on again, etc.? (this is usually caused by a dead motor in the SQ unit)

In the viewfinder? The viewfinder will always display things like the f/stop and the shutter speed while you're preparing to take a picture. This cannot be turned off.

If you mean on the monitor on the back when reviewing your photos, simply press up/down on the multiselector to cycle through the different views of your photos.

Turn the camera on and look into the view finder while you try to press the shutter button. Check the information in the view finder to see whether you are getting an error message. If you see an error message in the view finder, remove the lens cap and proceed to take a photograph but, instead of pressing the shutter button this time, press the button near the top of the camera on the back which says "AF/AE. If the camera takes the photo it means you have somehow initiated the auto focus/auto exposure lock which the camera will not override when attempting to take a photo using the shutter button. When you use the AF/AE button, you override this system. To remedy this issue, when you get the error message try pressing the shutter button again. Also, remove the lens to see if the shutter inside has frozen in the "locked" position. If you find this to be the case you will need to contact Nikon Customer Support. The link for Nikon Support is below. The numbers are half-way down the page.

http://support.nikonusa.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/238

Hi,

Firstly, Unplug the device and pull out the battery for 30 minutes. Also pull of SD card and other stuff. Put the battery back WITHOUT SD card.

Check, if that could Fix the problem. If yes, then check to make sure the camera should not be in self timer mode.

Now,

If problem still remains, you NEED to send the unit for repair. However, i would like to share some solutions, i saw worked with people who faced same problem :-

1. I just hit the bottom softly with my palm until it made a noise like the shutter was readjusting and now works with no problems!

2. I took the lens off and put it back on and it worked fine.

3. I had exactly the same problem, i tried everything,battery out, sd card out , lens off etc...nothing worked.Completely by chance and irritation i repeatedly pressed the shutter butten over and over
( without the lens attached ) till it didn't react at all.On my LCD i got a normal menu so i put the lens on and bingo it was fixed, still works fine.I think maybe the shutter was out of alignment.


The above one is the most accepted solution on Fixya !!

4. Take the lens off and continue pressing the shutter untill it doesn't react anymore, you should then have a normal menu without the error message.Put your lens on and you're all sorted.Cheaper and less hassle than sending it to Nikon.

5. I had exactly the same problem with 'Error. Press shutter release button again' and i fixed it!

Here's how I did it.

Get a very small cross head screwdriver (watchmaker size)
A can of WD40
Sticky tape
A good light


Remove the Battery and SD card
Open up the bottom of the D40x putting the small screws onto the sticky tape in order of removal.


You might want to take pic with another camera so you know where all the screws go.
Then remove the metal plate (used for the tripod mount, you will need to remove the back of the D40x as well, it's only 2 screws)

6. Spray a SMALL amount of WD40 onto the red and white gear wheels.
(Don't use so much that it drips down onto the optics, you don't want oil in there!!!)

Put the battery in and hold it down to make contact, put in the sd card and switch on the camera and try the shutter button. (switch it to manual focus or it might try hunting around for ages for focus)

It might start working, if not move the red wheel a few stops and try again.

Once it's lubed up and the wheels move it should be ok.
Keep taking pics until you feel it is ok.

Then reassemble following the screws backwards on the sticky tape.

Enjoy your D40x once again ;-)

If problem still persists, contact NIKON at :-

http://support.nikontech.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/238

Hope i helped you.

Thanks for using ' Fixya ' and have a nice day!!

I'll give you a couple: 1. Is your mode in shutter priority or focus priority? Check your menus and go into the AF area to see which one it is. If it's in focus priority you will have to be focused on a subject before the shutter releases. The other setting is 'release priority' which will enable you to snap the shutter regardless if you're focused or not. If you tried to re-compose the picture you were trying to take, you may have locked in focus and then when you re-composed it was not in the same area thus not releasing the shutter.
2. 2 button re-set.

Jim Silva

The manual (pg 112) simply, and unfortunately, states this message "Press shutter release button again. If error persists, consult with Nikon-authorized service representative".

Some questions that might help: have you had the camera in some extreme conditions, damp, sand, etc. Clean the shutter button really well. Maybe use a small air blower and clean in the shutter release creases.

In the end, if the error continues, it will need to be serviced.

I was taking pictures, then when I pressed the shutter release button, it took a long time. Then the error message came up. I tried pressing the shutter release button again, nothing happens. Still the error message. Please help me

I had the same problem. I sent my camera to the Nikon Service Center. They fixed it within three days. They actually replaced the whole aperture frame. FREE OF CHARGE AS LONG WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD.

I had the same error message, the camera is less then a year old, however, I was taking up to 800 pictires every weekend of my kids soccer games, then a 6 month trip to the Pursian Gulf, that is when it started, I got back home, took it right in, and one year later after a few visits and calls trying to find out where my camera was, I finally got an answer back, they said I needed a new shutter which will cost $300, They said I should just by a new body for $400. What Nikon does is set that error message to pop up at about 35000 shutter releases, and you can't do a thing about it, once they hooked my camera up to thier system the said I had over 36000 shutter releases, where the average person takes 10000 a year and they want you to replace the body every 3 years....so before buying any camera, always check out how many shutter releases you can get when you buy a camera

Rob Smith
Victoria, BC