It says shutter release disabled..... how did that happen

Sure you did not turn the dial to mirror up?
Always chack all settings on the camera, if something unexpected happens. Like you can press the shutter release button and it won't take a picture. You left the dial in the setting for remote release. I can't believe there is anything wrong with the camera. Just a setting.

Try pressing the "Menu" button and disable "Active-D Lighting", also try setting the "Autofocus mode" to "Single". When the camera is off, press the shutter release and twist with the zoom know back and forth. Hopefully that fixes it! It worked for my P500 with the same problem.

Hi Jane,
When we press the shutter release the mirror flips up after the shutter opens and closes the mirror flips down. When it flips down we then see out the viewfinder.

At first blush is sounds as though the mirror flipped up but not back down. Remove the lens look inside the camera press the shutter release what happens?

Cordially,

needs repairing at a qualified shop, miss my F4S its a work horse

What happens when you press the shutter release button? Are you talking about a message about a real problem or is the message about a non-issue? Please give all the details.

The Nikon D40 in Auto Focus mode will only allow the shutter to operate when the image is in focus. When looking through the viewfinder, the bottom edge provides information relative to what you are looking at. See the image below:



Item 2 is the focus indicator. It must be illuminated to allow the shutter to release. If it is not illuminated, the lens has not been able to determine the correct focus. This can happen when attempting to take a picture in low light conditions. Make sure that the front facing "focus assist lamp" on the camera (between the shutter release and lens) has not been blocked or disabled (Settings Menu # 09) and try again. Many times, you will see and or hear the lens "hunt" for proper focus - the lens will travel from one end of its focus range to the other trying to find focus. When it can't, it stops and prevents the shutter from releasing. You can get around this "unable to focus" issue by changing the position of the switch on the lens to "Manual Focus" mode, detailed below:

If a lens has an "A - M" switch, move it to "M" to manually focus. If the switch says "M/A - M " then leave on M/A (unless you're going to be taking several or more in manual mode), as these lenses may be focused manually at any time in either position. As soon as you tap the shutter button in M/A you return to autofocus.

More advanced lenses, like the 18-200mm, 70-300mm VR and 18-135mm, and any lens with an M/A position, may be focused manually at any time without moving any switches. Leave them in their A or A/M positions.

I hope this helps and good luck!

I'll give you a couple: 1. Is your mode in shutter priority or focus priority? Check your menus and go into the AF area to see which one it is. If it's in focus priority you will have to be focused on a subject before the shutter releases. The other setting is 'release priority' which will enable you to snap the shutter regardless if you're focused or not. If you tried to re-compose the picture you were trying to take, you may have locked in focus and then when you re-composed it was not in the same area thus not releasing the shutter.
2. 2 button re-set.

Jim Silva

I was taking pictures, then when I pressed the shutter release button, it took a long time. Then the error message came up. I tried pressing the shutter release button again, nothing happens. Still the error message. Please help me

some times you can gently tap the camera on its side while pushing the shutter button and free it loose.

if you see no reation of the pressing of the button i.e. no focusing, no error message nothing , then most probably a simplest problem , the shutter release button may not be working for few reasons : 1) defective switch. 2) defective flex cable. 3) camera exposed to some physical jerk or dropping resulting into disalingment between inner switch and the shutter release button.