Nikon MB-D10 Problems!! Ugh!!

[STPStudio]

Recently, I've been having a problem with my MB-D10 and D700(s). I have tried it with both of my D700s and the problem started at the same time so I'm sure it is the battery grip. The camera(s) won't or can't pick-up the charge from the battery grip only when the shutter button is pressed. I put a fresh set of batteries in the MB-D10 and notta. I have the camera set to use the battery grip first and then the camera battery second (EN-El3e). The camera does acknowledge the battery grip because when I check the battery levels in the camera menu "Battery info" it shows both as well as the levels. When I remove in camera EN-El3e the battery grip turns everything on but I can't get it to flip the shutter and the battery indicator says it is out of battery even with a fresh set.

I have cleaned the contacts and even ordered a new MS-D10 insert because I prefer using my MAHA Powerex 2700 rechargeable AA batteries because of the longer lifespan. This did not help the problem.

Has anyone had the same issue and if so what did you do about it. I will throw the MB-D10 way before I ship it and my cameras to Japan. The cameras work just fine without the battery grip but before I take a hammer to the MB-D10 I though I would see if anyone has had issues such as this.

[STPStudio]

Wow, I guess no one has had this problem.

[Wil_Bloodworth]

Steve,

Have you tried another grip? I would get an after-market grip instead of plopping down another $250 for the Nikon one. The after-market version is every bit as good as the Nikon one and is around $75. I have owned both.

I would try another grip before you make any decisions.

- Wil

[Flea77]

Well Steve, I don't own either but lets try to work through this.....

You said something about when the shutter is pressed, that leads me to think that when you put the batteries in fully charged, and then check the levels, it shows both fully charged. Then, when you depress the shutter button, the battery in the grip acts like it dies? Correct?

First, I will assume you have done the whole swap out batteries thing. If it ONLY happens when the button is tripped, and you have tested both the button on the camera and the grip, it sounds like something is shorted or has a bad connection in the grip. Much like a car battery with a bad connection, the battery may show full charge when there is no load, but as soon as you try to start the car, BAM! No battery voltage.

In the old days we used to jumper the two pins on the grip (called a motor drive back then, heh) and see what happens. Now, I would just reclean the contacts with alcohol and an eraser (if you can get one in there). Make sure it is COMPLETELY dry, then try again. Also, make sure the contacts seat very well, if they barely touch that could be the issue too.

Let me know what you find. You could always ship me one of your D700s and the grip and I will see what I can do, although my turn around time may be years :-)

Good luck!

Allan

PS. Tell Brit I said howdy!

[DougC]

FWIW - Most problems with removablegrips seem to be related to continually removing and reinstalling the grip over and over. If you leave the grip in place you will probably experience few, if any, problems IMHO.

[Wil_Bloodworth]

My grip was never removed and I had many problems with it... FWIW.

Wil

[picman]

I haven't had any problem's - yet.
But, have you checked the contacts on the battery tray and their mates on the inside of the grip? Also, there are 2, possibly 4 micro, switches as far inside as you can go where the tray fits into. Can't reach them, but you can lootk to see if they are damaged.

[Siv]

It's not on a Nikon but I have had spurious behaviour when using old(ish) 3rd party batteries in the grip. Even though they show up as fully charged, they are not. The funny thing is that when you put the same battery directly in the body, everything works fine.

The camera(s) won't or can't pick-up the charge from the battery grip only when the shutter button is pressed.

Can you clarify this - the camera shows power but powers down when the shutter button is pressed?

[STPStudio]

Originally Posted by Wil_Bloodworth

Steve,

Have you tried another grip? I would get an after-market grip instead of plopping down another $250 for the Nikon one. The after-market version is every bit as good as the Nikon one and is around $75. I have owned both.

I would try another grip before you make any decisions.

- Wil

Well, I never thought about an aftermarket grip because of my luck I'm had with aftermarket lenses but guess it's worth a shot. I'm going to look into a different grip only because I need the 8fps for bird photography. Do you have one in mind that has worked for you?

Originally Posted by Flea77

Well Steve, I don't own either but lets try to work through this.....

You said something about when the shutter is pressed, that leads me to think that when you put the batteries in fully charged, and then check the levels, it shows both fully charged. Then, when you depress the shutter button, the battery in the grip acts like it dies? Correct?

First, I will assume you have done the whole swap out batteries thing. If it ONLY happens when the button is tripped, and you have tested both the button on the camera and the grip, it sounds like something is shorted or has a bad connection in the grip. Much like a car battery with a bad connection, the battery may show full charge when there is no load, but as soon as you try to start the car, BAM! No battery voltage.

In the old days we used to jumper the two pins on the grip (called a motor drive back then, heh) and see what happens. Now, I would just reclean the contacts with alcohol and an eraser (if you can get one in there). Make sure it is COMPLETELY dry, then try again. Also, make sure the contacts seat very well, if they barely touch that could be the issue too.

Let me know what you find. You could always ship me one of your D700s and the grip and I will see what I can do, although my turn around time may be years :-)

Good luck!

Allan

PS. Tell Brit I said howdy!

When I remove the in camera battery and use only the grip with a fresh set of batteries the shutter button will not trip the shutter. It will however power everything else accept the shutter. I'm thinking it's a short somewhere.

I've changed out four sets of freshly charged batteries and cleaned the contacts till I'm blue in the face and notta. I even ordered a new battery insert because I though it may be that component but I still can't get it to work.

I think I might send you my grip but not my D700. Lol

Originally Posted by DougC

FWIW - Most problems with removablegrips seem to be related to continually removing and reinstalling the grip over and over. If you leave the grip in place you will probably experience few, if any, problems IMHO.

I have removed it quite a lot. When I use to shoot weddings and events I would take it off and when I shoot nature I attach it again.

Originally Posted by Wil_Bloodworth

My grip was never removed and I had many problems with it... FWIW.

Wil

Good to know.

Originally Posted by picman

I haven't had any problem's - yet.
But, have you checked the contacts on the battery tray and their mates on the inside of the grip? Also, there are 2, possibly 4 micro, switches as far inside as you can go where the tray fits into. Can't reach them, but you can lootk to see if they are damaged.

I have checked the contacts and cleaned them thoroughly. I also purchased a new insert but that still didn't work. I have inspected the inside of the grip with a dentist type of mirror and everything looks brand new. There was nothing in my view that would indicate any sort of malfunction.

Originally Posted by Siv

It's not on a Nikon but I have had spurious behaviour when using old(ish) 3rd party batteries in the grip. Even though they show up as fully charged, they are not. The funny thing is that when you put the same battery directly in the body, everything works fine.


Can you clarify this - the camera shows power but powers down when the shutter button is pressed?

I use the Nikon EN-EL3e inside the camera and in the grip I use the maha 2700 powerex. I always have and I've never had any sort of issue until now. The maha battery charger will let me know when a cell is bad.

What I meant by "powers down" is that when I replace the batteries in the grip and attach only the grip and not the EN-EL3e inside the camera the first thing it shows is that there is full power in the grip. When I press the shutter button all the bars in the battery power indicator goes down to one bar and then it blinks.

[STPStudio]

Originally Posted by Wil_Bloodworth

Steve,

Have you tried another grip? I would get an after-market grip instead of plopping down another $250 for the Nikon one. The after-market version is every bit as good as the Nikon one and is around $75. I have owned both.

I would try another grip before you make any decisions.

- Wil

Thanks Will, I did just that. I purchased a Zeikos and it is not that dissimilar from Nikon MB-10. I Received it today and presto, I am up and running again. Thanks for the advice. For $54.70 at B&H, no tax and no shipping charge my problem was solved.