shutter release is wierd

[jpbeale]

Just got my D30 today. At first I thought the shutter lag was very long, and even stranger, of variable length. Then I realized that I wasn't pressing the shutter button hard enough. On my D30, you press the shutter half-way and the lens autofocuses, then you press further and you hear an audible "click"- but still nothing happens. Then, you press even harder, and while there is no further noise from the button, and it doesn't perceptibly move, the added pressure causes the shutter to release. Is this true of all D30 bodies or is mine special this way? I'm concerned that I have to press the shutter so hard, it jiggles the camera. Is there a modification to make the shutter fire in concert with the button "click", which is the way other cameras work?

[nitwit3]

Your situation is news to me...I press half way down..AF...press down the other half...click...picture.

Have you checked all your settings in the LCD panel? Set the camera to manual...press the MENU button... go to C.Fn using the big dial next to the screeb (remember, the set button is inside the dial)
Get your manual out...open to page 120...read the settings and compare each to yours...you can change the settings by hitting the center button. It seems difficult at first, but when you really read both pages (the right hand page explains each function) you will have no trouble.
Maybe you have a problem, maybe you don't. The manual is pretty good though.
The Nitwit

Another thing is you may have the wrong exposure... too dark (example) and it doesn't want to let you take that bad a photo. try just plain auto focus setting and see how it does.
Then emulate the AF setting to get your bearings.
This S.O.B. is a helluva camera, but it does demand skill from the user...you are in for the same learning curve so many of us have had to go through...I'm still learning.
The end result will be photographs like you only friggin' dreamed of shooting...that's your reward for learning.
Good Luck and keep asking questions.
Nwit

[gerry]

there is a delay on shutter release when shooting in certain modes and at long exposure times.

This also may be a function of red eye reduction is you are shooting with flash.

I'm sure you must have something turned on, or be taking long exposure shots.

If not, I'd be getting the address for the Canon service center near you. But I'd bet it's the set up of the camera.

[jpbeale]

thanks for your replies. The situation is the same with all three of my lenses, and in all shooting modes, even in manual exposure and manual focusing modes. I can slowly press until the button "clicks" and maintain the pressure for many seconds... no shutter... then whenever I simply press harder, the shutter fires. Or, if I press very hard to begin with, the shutter does fire, consistently. so it seems to be an issue with the shutter switch itself, not a camera mode. I'll see if it goes away in the next few days before looking up the service address.

[WaterFaller]

Two other things to try: Use the RS-80N3 Remote Switch, and see if pressing it half way acts the same way as your shutter button. Also, try the shutter button on the Battery Grip BG-ED3, ans see how it acts.

The problem you describe should not be happening.

[jpbeale]

just to follow-up on this issue: I've been using the camera for the past week, and the shutter problem has gone away! I'm aware of the D30 autofocus and memory-access delays, but my problem was in fact a mechanical issue. After some use the shutter switch appears to be working properly now (that is, it now has the normal two states, rather than the three which it formerly exhibited).