Difficulty

Easy

Steps

3

Time Required

                          5 minutes

Sections

1

  • Nikon D3100 cannot take pictures (Mirror stuck)
  • 3 steps

Flags

2

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Describing the error
  • The camera was dropped and cannot take pictures. There is an error on the display when I am trying to take a picture.

The camera was dropped and cannot take pictures. There is an error on the display when I am trying to take a picture.

1024

Step 2

  • Remove the lens by pressing the release button and twist the lens.

Remove the lens by pressing the release button and twist the lens.

Step 3

  • The camera house seen here is as it should be. I don’t have any pictures of the problem, but i have illustrated it with the arrows. The small rubber dot was stuck on the side of the camera mirror.
  • I used a wooden rod (a soft material) to lift the mirror with very low force while trying to take pictures (The camera will try to open the mirror)
  • While slowly increasing the force to help open the mirror while still trying to take pictures the mirror released.
  • After reattaching the lens, see step 1. The camera worked 100% fine again :)

The camera house seen here is as it should be. I don’t have any pictures of the problem, but i have illustrated it with the arrows. The small rubber dot was stuck on the side of the camera mirror.

I used a wooden rod (a soft material) to lift the mirror with very low force while trying to take pictures (The camera will try to open the mirror)

While slowly increasing the force to help open the mirror while still trying to take pictures the mirror released.

After reattaching the lens, see step 1. The camera worked 100% fine again :)

If the force you have to use become to large, contact Nikon to get a professional fix.

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                                                                                      6 other people completed this guide.

Author

                                      with 1 other contributor 


                    Lasse Lorenzen

Member since: 02/19/2013

830 Reputation

                                      2 Guides authored                  



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kotaro_higashi - Apr 26, 2017

Reply

thank you very much. you help me

johnwehrs - Jan 5, 2019

Reply

I just got back from a Pro Camera Store where I was told that my mirror was not moving and the D3100 wasn’t worth fixing. Brought it home and gave ifixit a shot and 10 minutes later, I’m taking photos again! Your instructions were perfect, thank you!