Strange Shutter Delay on DSLR???

[garyyoss 6]

Need a bit of help.

Went diving the other day and experienced a strange 2 second shutter delay on my Nikon D800 housed in a Sea and Sea housing using a Sigma 15 and then again today with Nikon 16-35.

When I half press the shutter or use the AF-ON button I see that the camera is focusing as my focus points are illuminating, I press the shutter and there is a short delay before the shutter releases. Behaving like a point and shoot.

After the dive I tried at the surface and there was no delay, took the camera out of the housing and again no delay. I also made sure that there was nothing on the inside of the dome port that might cause this. The camera is not set on timer release obviously, the focus modeling light is off, very strange.

Jumped back in for the second dive and the same thing was happening.

Can't figure it out but it must have something to do with the pressure.

Appreciate any help.

Cheers,

Gary

[MikeVeitch 0]

Is it possible that one of the buttons on the housing is pressing a button on the camera?

[JimSwims 31]

Flash setting on Red Eye?

[TimG 62]

Like MikeV, I'd suspect a slight misalignment with a button being pressed slightly on the camera.

[divengolf 17]

Here's a long shot to consider. I don't have a D800, but do have a D500 and I assume that the menus are similar. If the delay is consistent in length, there is a setting in Custom called Exposure Delay Mode. It's d5 in the Shooting/Display menu on my D500. I's assume that it's also on the D800.. If that is set to other than off and is somehow getting triggered while UW by pressure, that may cause the problem. This is different than Timer Release. Like I said, this is a real long shot.

 

Also try this. Make sure that you're using AF-C focus mode and set the a1, AF-C Priority Selection to Release. This will cause the camera to fire without the need to achieve focus. If this eliminates the problem, then the camera is, in fact, waiting for focus before firing and, for some reason, it taking an inordinate long time to get focus.

 

Like the others have said, misalignment is the most likely cause. The trick is to figure out which button is getting pressed to cause the problem.

 

I'm not familiar with the S&S housings, but I had an old Aquatica D70 housing that had plastic thread protectors on the end of the rods used to activate the buttons. Occasionally one of those protectiors would work itself loose and contact a button before it was intended to do so. This drove me crazy until I figured that just a slight amount of sea pressure on a button would cause contact with the button when the protector was slightly out of place.

 

Reef Photo isn't too far away. Consider taking the rig into them for a look.

 

Let us know what you find.

[garyyoss 6]

Flash setting was not on Red Eye

 

Exposure Delay Mode is off

 

Have my camera set on Focus Release so I'll have to switch the next time to Shutter and see if that makes any difference.

 

The crazy thing is that it does not happen on the boat or when the camera is out of the housing.

 

Thanks everyone for their suggested diagnostics.

Edited January 8, 2017 by garyyoss

[TimG 62]

Gary

 

If it's not happening on the boat or outside the housing, I'd say it's almost certainly an alignment issue. As you descend and pressure increases, a housing button is being pushed.

 

This can be frustrating to track down. If a trip to Reef Photo is doable, I'd suggest that too.

[errbrr 73]

One entertaining test is to put a little bit of o-ring grease on the internal side of the buttons in the housing. Then carefully insert camera, take it for a dive without pressing buttons, surface and very carefully remove. If one of your housing buttons is making contact, there will be a grease spot on the camera button. I used this test to identify that one of my housing levers had become misaligned and needed replacement.

[MikeVeitch 0]

 

 

Also try this. Make sure that you're using AF-C focus mode and set the a1, AF-C Priority Selection to Release. This will cause the camera to fire without the need to achieve focus. If this eliminates the problem, then the camera is, in fact, waiting for focus before firing and, for some reason, it taking an inordinate long time to get focus.

 

Yes, this could also be it, AF-C definitely the way to go

[garyyoss 6]

I'll try the O-Ring grease on the button test.

 

Mike,

This is only happening when I'm in the water. Was using the camera yesterday and whether in AF-S, AF-C focus or release everything worked.

All buttons seem fine and aligned?

[Roger-Botting 2]

I had this for a while. I then used a focusing light. It sped up the focus and the delay disappeared.
Not enough light makes the auto focus slow.

You aren't using live-view are you? That can be extremely slow in low light conditions.

[garyyoss 6]

The camera is focusing as I see the illuminated focus points in my viewfinder, not using live view.

[rivers 0]

Hello Mr. Diven Golf or to any one who may have a clue

I just got my D500 set up in the Nauticam housing and also set up for Back Button Focus
( just migrated from a Compact) . This is besides the point however and my issue is when i put the camera in the high speed mode it will only click three "shots" and then stops . Before I could get constant "shutter release" , clicking and i feel i have messed with the settings to the extent i've "messed something up".

The Three Shot part in High Speed mode is consistent in and out of the housing and with a 50 or a 105 lens

I could reset them all but what i tried instead was to go to Shooting and Custom Menu B ,

wouldn't this be the same as a reset .

I've tried it in release mode only rather than focus and release or release and focus with no luck Is there some menu item where i should check .

Any ideas or places to inquire , thanks

john

[Cerianthus 55]

do you have a bracketing sequence active ?

[rivers 0]

Dear Great Hammerhead

 

I don't know what you call the horizontal line with a zero in the middle that I use for manuel exposure insights

 

but on the far right side of that bar I find the letters BKT and always getting 3 clicks when in CH mode I'm now thinking

 

it must be for Bracketing or I'm going to search for where this setting might be , good find Hammerhead , its got to be that

 

Well , where is Bracketing Sequence please ?

 

under E for Bracketing Flash , i have no asterisk showing

 

 

 

E5 modeling flash ON

E 6 Flash/speed or 1rst option with 3 little icons ( flash, plus sign , clock sign

E7 N icon in a box

[rivers 0]

Its working now ,

 

I found a BKT button and also did a factory reset ( but shifting to empty B in Photo Shooting and empty B in Customs Settings

did not work

 

not sure but CH , is back on and thank you very very , so great to find folks who know and share graciously and generously

 

wish i could repay

 

Got me a Aquatica Surf Housing and want the CH for that big wave in Sirgao if I dare to get in it

[Cerianthus 55]

Glad it worked out.

 

 

Verzonden vanaf mijn iPhone met Tapatalk

[vbpress 4]

I 've the same camera (2 different cameras) and the same housing system but I've never registered any delay in the shutter.

I shoot in af c and manual exp (and of course no auto iso), like you I use the red focus poit illumination. My choose for strobe connections are old nikonos wired cables, I'm very surprised by your problem. The Mdx-D800 is a well made housing, the push buttons have a long escursion and the dial control don't push on camera, comparing to the fitting of D300 in MDX d300 that is quite difficult due to a little tollerance in the camera body position.

 

Seriusly I don't understand what kind of diabolic mismatch cause your problem.

Edited March 27, 2017 by vbpress

[garyyoss 6]

Issue has been resolved, reset camera to default settings.

[vbpress 4]

Good Gary!

Digital camera are very complex, sometime too much complex.

Have you tested the new s&s m77 correction lens on your 16-35 behind the 240 dome?

I use this lens on 18-35/3.5-4.5 Afs G and it's a very good tool. The corner sharpness improvement is consistent.

 

Bye