Ive a nikon d40 camera when tryed the shutter release button it shows error press shutter release button and try again. i can not take any pictures. I've never had this problem before.

I found the fix for this Nikon Shutter problem and posted it on my blog.

http://jacko0.wordpress.com/2009/10/13/d40x-underside/

OK, don't worry. The repair is easy to be done, although a little "creepy". I have a girlfriend who owns a Nikon D60 which presented the very same problem, and this afternoon I repaired the camera myself. It's working very well so far. Here's how I did it.

First of all, check whether the menus are working properly. If they are, it means that the problem is not electronic (otherwise, it should provoke a general camera lock down).

Get the following equipment:

1) A very small cross head screwdriver (watchmaker size)
2) A can of WD40 (lub oil) - that one that has a little plastic tube for delicate jobs.
3) Double faced sticky tape
4) Printing paper (A4 size), and pen/pencil.
5) A good light

Remove the camera's Battery and SD card.

On the A4 paper, draw the bottom scheme of the camera with the position of the screws; on each position, place a little piece of double-faced sticky tape (so you'll be able to know exactly where each screw must be put into). You''l need two drawings, one for the camera's outter plastic cover and the other for the inner steel plate.

Open up the bottom of the D40x putting the small screws onto the sticky tape in the corresponding positions.

Then, remove the metal plate used for the tripod mount. You will need to remove the back of the camera as well.

All the screws must go for the correct corresponding places on the A4 paper scheme, otherwise you will find hard to put all the parts together again.

After you have the bottom of the camera open, you'll see small gears, one red and one white. They are there to transfer the up-and-down movement from the small motor to the camera's mirror, and they should be stuck due to lack of lubrication. If you move the red gear, you'll see the mirror moving together. Spray a SMALL amount of WD40 onto the red and white gear wheels. Don't use so much that it drips down onto the optics or the delicate electronic circuits - you don't want any oil in there!!!

After the oiling is done, put the battery in and hold it down to make contact. Switch the camera to MANUAL mode. Put in the SD card and switch on the camera. Thereafter, try its shutter button.

It might start working normally, without any error messages. If it's not moving, probably the oil has not spread properly yet throughout the red and the white gears. Move the red wheel a few stops and try again.

Once it's lubed up and the wheels move freely, camera should be ok. Before settling all the covers back to their places, keep taking pics until you feel that the camera is functioning normally. Probably you'll note that the error message will be gone.

Then reassemble the camera's parts following the screws backwards on the sticky tape.

Enjoy your camera again!