2. D850 Online Manual
  3. Technical Notes
  4. Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting

If the camera fails to function as expected, check the list of common problems below before consulting your retailer or Nikon-authorized service representative.

Battery/Display

The camera is on but does not respond: Wait for recording to end. If the problem persists, turn the camera off. If the camera does not turn off, remove and reinsert the battery or, if you are using an AC adapter, disconnect and reconnect the AC adapter. Note that although any data currently being recorded will be lost, data that have already been recorded will not be affected by removing or disconnecting the power source.

Viewfinder is out of focus: Adjust viewfinder focus (0 The Diopter Adjustment Control). If this does not correct the problem, select single-servo AF (AF-S; 0 Autofocus Mode), single-point AF (0 AF-Area Mode), and the center focus point (0 Focus Point Selection), and then frame a high-contrast subject in the center focus point and press the shutter-release button halfway to focus the camera. With the camera in focus, use the diopter adjustment control to bring the subject into clear focus in the viewfinder. If necessary, viewfinder focus can be further adjusted using optional corrective lenses (0 Other Accessories).

Viewfinder is dark: Insert a fully-charged battery (0 Charge the Battery, Battery Level).

Displays turn off without warning: Choose longer delays for Custom Setting c2 (Standby timer; 0 Standby Timer) or c4 (Monitor off delay; 0 Monitor off Delay).

Displays in control panel or viewfinder are unresponsive and dim: The response times and brightness of these displays vary with temperature.

The viewfinder display turns red when a focus point is highlighted: This is normal for this type of viewfinder and does not indicate a malfunction.

Shooting

Camera takes time to turn on: Delete files or folders.

Shutter-release disabled:

Camera is slow to respond to shutter-release button: Select Off for Custom Setting d5 (Exposure delay mode; 0 Exposure Delay Mode).

Only one shot taken each time shutter-release button is pressed in continuous release mode: Turn HDR off (0 High Dynamic Range (HDR)).

Photos are out of focus:

Beep does not sound:

Full range of shutter speeds not available: Flash in use. Flash sync speed can be selected using Custom Setting e1 (Flash sync speed); when using compatible flash units, choose 1/250 s (Auto FP) for full range of shutter speeds (0 Flash Sync Speed).

Focus does not lock when shutter-release button is pressed halfway: Camera is in focus mode AF-C: use the center of the sub-selector to lock focus (0 Focus Lock).

Cannot select focus point:

Cannot select AF mode: Select No restrictions for Custom Setting a10 (Autofocus mode restrictions, 0 Autofocus Mode Restrictions).

Camera is slow to record photos: Turn long exposure noise reduction off (0 Long Exposure NR (Long Exposure Noise Reduction)).

Noise (bright spots, randomly-spaced bright pixels, fog, or lines) appear in photos:

  • Bright spots, randomly-spaced bright pixels, fog, and lines can be reduced by lowering ISO sensitivity.
  • Use the Long exposure NR option in the photo shooting menu to limit the occurrence of bright spots or fog in photos taken at shutter speeds slower than 1 s (0 Long Exposure NR (Long Exposure Noise Reduction)).
  • Fog and bright spots may indicate that the camera’s internal temperature has become elevated due to high ambient temperatures, long exposures, or similar causes: turn the camera off and wait for it to cool before resuming shooting.
  • At high ISO sensitivities, lines may appear in photos taken with some optional flash units; if this occurs, choose a lower value.
  • At high ISO sensitivities, including high values selected with auto ISO sensitivity control, randomly-spaced bright pixels can be reduced by selecting High, Normal, or Low for High ISO NR in the photo or movie shooting menu (0 High ISO NR, High ISO NR).
  • At high ISO sensitivities, bright spots, randomly-spaced bright pixels, fog, or lines may be more noticeable in long exposures, multiple exposures, and photos taken at high ambient temperatures or with Active D-Lighting enabled, Flat selected for Set Picture Control (0 Selecting a Picture Control) or extreme values selected for Picture Control parameters (0 Picture Control Settings).

Photographs and movies do not appear to have the same exposure as the preview shown in the monitor during live view: Changes to monitor brightness during live view have no effect on images recorded with the camera (0 Using the i Button).

Flicker or banding appears in movie mode: Select Flicker reduction in the movie shooting menu and choose an option that matches the frequency of the local AC power supply (0 Flicker Reduction).

Bright regions or bands appear in live view: A flashing sign, flash, or other light source with brief duration was used during live view.

Smudges appear in photographs: Clean front and rear lens elements. If problem persists, perform image sensor cleaning (0 Image Sensor Cleaning).

Pictures are affected by noticeable ghosting or flare: You may notice ghosting or flare in shots that include the sun or other bright light sources. These effects can be mitigated by attaching a lens hood or by composing shots with bright light sources well out of the frame. You can also try such techniques as removing lens filters, choosing a different shutter speed, or using silent photography.

Live view ends unexpectedly or does not start: Live view may end automatically to prevent damage to the camera’s internal circuits if:

  • The ambient temperature is high
  • The camera has been used for extended periods in live view or to record movies
  • The camera has been used in continuous release modes for extended periods

If live view does not start when you press the a button, wait for the internal circuits to cool and then try again. Note that the camera may feel warm to the touch, but this does not indicate a malfunction.

Image artifacts appear during live view: “Noise” (randomly-spaced bright pixels, fog, or lines) and unexpected colors may appear if you zoom in on the view through the lens (0 Live View Zoom Preview) during live view; in movies, the amount and distribution of randomly-spaced bright pixels, fog, and bright spots are affected by frame size and rate (0 Frame Size, Frame Rate, and Movie Quality). Randomly-spaced bright pixels, fog, or bright spots may also arise as a result of increases in the temperature of the camera’s internal circuits during live view; exit live view when the camera is not in use.

Cannot measure white balance: Subject is too dark or too bright (0 Viewfinder Photography).

Image cannot be selected as source for preset white balance: Image was not created with D850 (0 Copying White Balance from a Photograph).

White balance bracketing unavailable:

Effects of Picture Control differ from image to image: Auto is selected for Set Picture Control, a Picture Control based on Auto is selected, or A (auto) is selected for sharpening, clarity, contrast, or saturation. For consistent results over a series of photographs, choose another setting (0 Modifying Picture Controls).

Metering cannot be changed: Autoexposure lock is in effect (0 Adjusting Shutter Speed and Aperture).

Exposure compensation cannot be used: Choose exposure mode P, S, or A (0 Exposure Mode, Exposure Compensation).

Noise (reddish areas or other artifacts) appears in long time-exposures: Enable long exposure noise reduction (0 Long Exposure NR (Long Exposure Noise Reduction)).

Sound is not recorded with movies: Microphone off is selected for Microphone sensitivity in the movie shooting menu (0 Microphone Sensitivity).

Playback

NEF (RAW) image is not played back: Photo was taken at image quality of NEF + JPEG (0 NEF+JPEG).

Cannot view pictures recorded with other cameras: Pictures recorded with other makes of camera may not be displayed correctly.

Some photos are not displayed during playback: Select All for Playback folder (0 Playback Folder).

“Tall” (portrait) orientation photos are displayed in “wide” (landscape) orientation:

  • Photo was taken with Off selected for Auto image rotation (0 Auto Image Rotation).
  • Select On for Rotate tall (0 Rotate Tall).
  • Photo is displayed in image review (0 Image Review).
  • Camera was pointed up or down when photo was taken.

Cannot delete photo: Picture is protected. Remove protection (0 Protecting Photographs from Deletion).

Cannot retouch picture: Photo cannot be further edited with this camera.

The camera displays a message stating that the folder contains no images: Select All for Playback folder (0 Playback Folder).

Cannot print photos: NEF (RAW) and TIFF photos cannot be printed by direct USB connection. Transfer photos to computer and print using NX Studio (0 Connections). NEF (RAW) photos can be saved in JPEG format using NEF (RAW) processing (0 NEF (RAW) Processing).

Photo is not displayed on high-definition video device: Confirm that HDMI cable (available separately) is connected.

The Image Dust Off option in NX Studio does not have desired effect: Image sensor cleaning changes the position of dust on the image sensor. Dust off reference data recorded before image sensor cleaning is performed cannot be used with photographs taken after image sensor cleaning is performed. Dust off reference data recorded after image sensor cleaning is performed cannot be used with photographs taken before image sensor cleaning is performed.

Computer displays NEF (RAW) images differently from camera: Third-party software does not display effects of Picture Controls, Active D-Lighting, or vignette control. Use NX Studio (0 Connections).

Cannot transfer photos to computer: OS not compatible with camera or transfer software. Use card reader to copy photos to computer.

Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (Wireless Networks)

Smart devices do not display the camera SSID (network name):

  • Confirm that Disable is selected for Airplane mode in the camera setup menu (0 Airplane Mode).
  • Confirm that Enable is selected for Bluetooth > Network connection in the camera setup menu.
  • Try turning the smart device Wi-Fi off and then on again.

Cannot connect to wireless printers and other wireless devices: This camera can connect only to devices to which the SnapBridge app has been installed.

Miscellaneous

Date of recording is not correct: The camera clock is less accurate than most watches and household clocks. Check the clock regularly against more accurate timepieces and reset as necessary.

Menu item cannot be selected: Some options are not available at certain combinations of settings or when no memory card is inserted. Note that Battery info option is not available when camera is powered by an optional power connector and AC adapter.