Viewfinder jammed The viewfinder is out of focus and does not move when the zoom control is operated. The main lens mechanism seems to work, the field of view changes on the LCD display and pictures taken are in focus. Perhaps the zoom mechanism makes more noise than it did. Does anyone know how the viewfinder is adjusted and whether repair is likely to be feasible? Thanks

This issue is caused by fiedd of view angle and means that the lens is not compatible with the camera. You can set the F-stop higher and sometimes reduce that effect.

A rangefinder is a camera that has a rangefinder mechanism. This is a device that measures subject distance. Through this device, you see two images. When the two images coincide through moving the dial, the correct distance is displayed. On older cameras, this was a separate device and one must transfer this to the lens.
Now they are built into the viewfinder. You have different viewfinders for different focal lengths (zoom lenses are difficult, as a result).
A viewfinder is what the photographer looks through to compose, and in many cases to focus, the picture. Most viewfinders are separate, and suffer parallax, while the single-lens reflex camera lets the viewfinder use the main optical system.

Can you check that you haven't moved the little toggle switch on the side of the 4-way controller/wheel to the L (or Lock) position? If it's locked then you won't be able to move the focus field in the viewfinder.

The "r10" message in the viewfinder is NOT an error code. The "r" stands for "remainder" and the "10" is the value. Together, it tells you how many more photos the camera's built in, high speed memory buffer can hold BEFORE the shutter will be stopped - so that the pictures in this memory can be transferred to the removable memory card. The process will take a few seconds or more - depending on the speed of the memory card you provided in the camera. If you pay attention to the the "r" number, while taking photos is rapid succession, after each picture - the number will decrease by one. When it reaches 0, you can no longer take additional pictures. During this time - the camera is moving the pictures to the memory card. When done, the "r" number will be high again, and the shutter will operate again.

The auto focus motor will make some noise it is turning to advance or retract the focus mechanism, and is normal. The camera requires sufficient contrast to obtain focus. Most of the time, a well lit subject will provide this. If you are zoomed in on a rather featureless subject - such as a clear or overcast sky, solid color flat wall, etc., where there is a lack of contrasting objects in the viewfinder, the camera can not detect an "edge" on any object; so it attempts to focus over the entire range of the lens to find it. If it can't, it prevents the shutter from releasing.

There is also a minimum distance that the lens will focus, too. If you are trying to zoom in on a close object, the lens may not be able to do it. In this case: either back away, zoom out - or both. If you need to get close to objects, you should consider buying "Macro" lenses. Nikon brand lenses that do this type of photography, oddly are called "Micro" lenses instead.

I hope this helps. Good luck!

Two possible situations. It might be that the lens focusing system isn't working. Try focusing by hand (turn the lens manually) If the image moves through a point of sharp focus, then you have a lens or focus motor problem.
More likely, you have improperly adjusted the diopter. There is a small, circular wheel on the right side of the viewfinder, toward the top corner. It is sometimes covered by the rubber viewfinder hood so you might not notice it. This adjusts the diopter correction in the viewfinder and if it's set wrong, nothing will ever look in focus. The pictures would be fine, but since the diopter is a correction for your eyesight, the viewfinder will be out of focus.

make sure the lens is not in manual mode. on the side there is MF and AF make sure its in AF for auto focus. id its still looking nblurr in the viewfinder when pressing the shutter half way then user the smal wheel next to the viewfinder so the viewfinder is calibrated for your eye.

Try these procedures.

Yes, common problem, small plastic tab(s) connecting viewfinder to the zoom are broken.

The small gears that link the viewfinder and lens may be out of sync. If you are a technical person, you can remove the frontcover, first taking off the topcover, (one screw is hidden under the mode dial). Power up the camera and remove the batteries when the lens is fully extended. BE CAREFUL NOT TO TOUCH THE CAPACITOR! Gently lift the viewfinder and move the viewfinder gear one tooth. It will probably only move one way. Put the batteries back in and try the lens. If this does not solve the problem, you may need to replace the lens or viewfinder.

1. Stop shooting while out on a shoot: Perhaps the batteries were running low? 2. Lens won't retract all the way and close: Could be same reason as #1.? 3. Viewfinder is out of focus in wide mode: Could it be that camera was left in "Macro Mode" (Flower icon)? Did you set, "Custom Function 1, or 2," and accidentally set the unintended exposure mode? 4. Sticks in telephoto, won't return to wide, blurry shots: Probably cold weather related? Perhaps, "reboot" the camera by removing all batteries for over 10-15 seconds, and replace with a freshly recharged set of NIMH batteries? If all of the above failed, then I'd say take it back to where you purchased it, and get a replacement unit. Good luck. ^_^