Power light blinks, lens door won't close

There is a "close focus" limit, depending on your lens. The standard "kit lens" won't focus closer than about 2 feet away. Check that the switch on the lens is set to "AF" not "MF" "MF" means, "manual focus".
When you lightly press the shutter button, the viewfinder should blink with little dots/squares indicating what it focused on, and beep. If it doesn't, and you are set for "AF", then your camera needs repair.

Hi Anna,

In order for your Nikon to auto focus correctly, you need to have several things:

First - focus indicator. In your viewfinder, locate it on the bottom row of the status information bar; you should see a small, green circle in the left-most position. This will BLINK when you partially depress the shutter release (or back button focus - depending how you focus your D5000) whenever the subject is OUT of focus. It will switch to "STEADY ON" when the subject is IN focus. Please note that you will not be able to release the shutter any time it is blinking unless you make a change to the setting that will allow you to release the shutter when the camera is out of focus (not recommended).

Second - light. You must have enough light entering the camera for it to detect areas of different contrast on the selected focus point. If there is not enough light there is too little contrast for the camera to autofocus and no matter how close or how far (and everywhere between) the focus is set resulting in the camera "hunting" near and far to find it. The green circle will not stop blinking. Have you tried in a well lit room or outdoors in daylight?

Third - minimum focus distance. All lenses have a minimum focus distance. Acording to Nikon, yours is rated at 3.6' (1.1m) (see: http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Nikon-Products/Product/Camera-Lenses/AF-S-DX-VR-Zoom-Nikkor-55-200mm-f%252F4-5.6G-IF-ED.html for full specs on this lens). This means your subject needs to be at least 3.6' away to be able to focus on it - manually or aut0matically - it makes no difference. There are lenses that do "very close" focussing that are called "Macro" (but curiously Nikon branded versions of these lenses are called "Micro"), that are also telephoto lenses. Your lens is not a macro/micro type.

Lastly - operational equipment. It is possible that there is an issue with the D5000 camera body or lens (or even both). Try another lens to see it it works as expected. No other lens? Go to camera store with your camera and lens and "shop" for a new lens. Ask to try it out in the store and see if it it works. Maybe the counterperson will identify another issue with your set up.

I hope this helps & good luck!

It may be the lens try a different lens at your nearest photography shop as the auto focus is usually a lens problem. other wise try resetting your cam remove all batts including the lithium one and the CF card wait about 20mins then replace if prob still persists then try again without any lens and see if it trys to focus and make sure the shutter is working if its ok so far then u need to try a new lens at local shop and then if it works the body is ok if not then it needs a service!

The shutter will not release if the camera is unable to obtain focus. If the switches on both the camera body and the lens (if equipped) are set to auto focus, the camera will prevent the shutter from releasing. The most common cause of a focus problem is the lack of light. The "focus assist" light on the front of the camera will come on automatically for a moment in dark places to help the camera gather enough light to focus. If you haven't disabled the light in the menu, make sure it isn't obstructed.

You can override the whole auto focus issue by setting the switches on the camera / lens to "manual focus" instead. Of course, this means that you are shifting the responsibility of focusing from the camera to you. The camera will release the shutter every time in this situation.

If you still have problems, provide the mode you're running and the lens you're using & I'll try to help out some more. I hope this helps & good luck!

Make sure both the lens and the camera are switched to af (auto focus). If that doesn't work remove the lens and replace it to make sure it is mounted properly. You can also check the camera with a different lens to make sure it isn't a problem with the settings on the camera. If all of that fails take it to a camera or electronics store that does service work to make sure it hasn't been damaged.

I could be that your lens isn't focusing. If the Auto focus can't find something to focus on the shutter won't fire. If you are shooting in low light sometimes it has trouble try shooting something that is well lit. also your auto focus point may be somewhere other than the center. there is a button on the top of your camera that looks like this [ ][ ] [ ] [ ]
More or less that will switch where your focus point is. If you look in the view finder and see a red dot when you push on the shutter button that is your focus point. push the above button until the red dot is in the centre. that may fix your problem.

Try this...remove the lens and fire off a few shots. Clean the contacts on the lens and camera body where they meet with a cotton swab lightly dampened with rubbing alcohol. Re-attach the lens and try it.

Try cleaning the contacts on the lens and camera body where they meet with a cotton swab lightly dampened with rubbing alcohol.

TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTITf correct focus cannot be obtained
When the subject to be focused is not on the AF target mark (not positioned
in the center of the composition), you can use the following steps to obtain the
correct focus on the subject. This operation is referred to as "focus lock".
Determine the position of the subject after focusing (Focus Lock)
1 Press the power switch.
• The camera turns on in the shooting
mode.
• The lens extends and the monitor turns
on.
• The orange lamp lights.
2 Turn the mode dial and select a
shooting mode.
"Shooting mode" (P.36)
3 Position the AF target mark on
the subject you want to focus on.
• When shooting a hard-to-focus
subject, point the camera at an object
about the same distance away as the
subject.
Press the shutter button halfway
until the green lamp lights.
• When the green lamp lights steadily,
the focus and the exposure are locked.
• When the green lamp blinks, the focus
and exposure are not locked. Release
your finger from the shutter button, reposition
your subject and press the
shutter button halfway again.
5 Keeping the shutter button
pressed halfway, recompose
your shot.
6 Press the shutter button fully.
Try the above, info from D-535, C-370 and X-450.
I can email you the complete manual if this works.
Regards
Phillip

jeep111

be sure batteries are good. pull up on the rewind knob to open film door. load film ,push down rewind knob. pull enough film to connect to take-up spool. close film door. advance film to counter # 1. look through finder and set meter ( push shutter button to turn on meter ) focus subject and fire shutter repeat to end of film. push rewind button ( bottom of camera ) rewind film.
remove lens by pushing button and turn lens left to remove.