Nikon D70 Help!?

Question

My nikon D70 won't let me change my Shutter speed, Autofocus, and AF-area mode. They all show up a light gray color and it dosen't allow me to click and open them.

Does anyone know how I can unlock this?

Answer 1

I'm not sure I understand what you're doing.  Don't you use the dials to change your shutter speed and aperture?  Front dial for shutter speed, back dial for aperture.  What exactly are you trying to click to open?

Answer 2

It's been a while since I used this camera, but here goes.  For the AF-area modes, you have a switch somewhere on the back that locks it.  Switch it from L to the dot.  Shutterspeed can only be changed when in S, M or P mode.  Also, if you flash is up or if you have a speedlight attached, then shutter wont go beyond 1/500.  Check the lens doesn't have an aperture ring.  If it does, set it on the highest number.  Try taking off your lens and putting it back on (or try another) because on occasion, ive seen the contacts get dirty and prevent settings from  being changed.

Other than these bits of fragmented information, I can't think of anything else.  Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Take it out of the automatic zone and venture towards Manual.

I will ask my Nikon buddies if they can come answer this.

Answer 4

The camera is set on the point and shoot mode ( the green little camera) Need to put it in aperture priority , shutter priority , Program or manual mode

Answer 5

Even I as a Canon man can take a stab at this. It is because you have the camera in the wrong mode. You have a large circular nob on top of your camera, this controls what mode your camera is in. To change the settings on your camera such as the ones you named above, try the setting that says 'M', this will give you full control of your camera. But I highly recommend that next time you read the manual (no matter how emasculating it is!!!!!).

Answer 6

Just to cover some additional ppossibilities...

Inspire and Anti-Yahooligan have probably got it for you, but:

See that the little switch on the side of the lens housing is set to AF and not M.  This might be the reason the autofocus options are shaded out in your menu.

If the AF mode is accessible, you can change between single (AF-S) and continuous (AF-C) modes.  If you want the little confirmation dot to light up with the accompanying beep, you have to be in AF-S.  Otherwise, the camera will just continue to focus as you move it around and you will never get a focus confirmation.

If you are not using an AF-S lens (not to be confused with AF-S focusing...), you will need to set it to the smallest aperture (highest number) and THEN click the little locking switch to keep the aperture ring in that position.  I am not sure if the camera will autofocus if the switch is not locked, but give it a try.

There is a switch (mentioned by Inspire) located just under the multi-selector button. If it is on the "L" position, you will not be able to change the AF area.  It will be locked in one position so you can't change it by accident.

Otherwise, there are a whole host of little interactions between various focus modes beginning on page 64 of your manual.  Go back to the basic AF (with the switch), AF-S (with the menu), single-area mode (also menu) and see if it works.  Make no more than one change at the time when you leave this point and you will slowly learn what goes with what.  It's confusing.

I'll bet a nickel that it's the AF-M switch on the front of the camera, though.