Ive got the nikon d40. when i take photos close up they are blurred. there r 2 settings on the focus lense one is letter a one letter m. you have to move switch to indicate one or other. camara wont take photos on letter a it makes a squeeky clicking noise it takes on letter m but they are blurred. this is a recent problem and i cant find manual.

The letters you're referencing is the M/A (manual / auto) focus switch. The lens has this switch and operates in Auto Focus mode when set to "A" and manual focus mode when set to "M".

You have to manually focus on the subject when in letter "M". If you do not, the result will be out of focus. From your description, it sounds like the camera / lens combination is attempting to focus and operate the shutter in auto, and focusing in manual; but due to some type of damage resulting from possible mishandling, exposure to dust, dirt or even moisture is interfering with the successful completion of the process.

You could isolate the problem to determine if the cause is in the lens or camera by simply attaching the lens to another compatible Nikon camera or placing a different auto-focus lens on your D40. The problem will either stay with your D40 or follow the lens when attached to a different camera. It is also *possible* that due to numerous attempts of auto-focusing with your D40 & lens combination, that both the lens *and* the camera have been damaged. If the problem is severe enough, the problem in the failed device could cause failure in the otherwise normally working device, too.

You might be best served by contacting Nikon Service & Support below:

http://www.nikonusa.com/Service-And-Support/Service-And-Repair.page

You also said you lost your manual. You can download the manual for the D40 directly from Nikon in your choice of English, French or Spanish from the link below:

http://support.nikontech.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/14157/session/L3NpZC9YRTgxQVpKag%3D%3D/kw/D40%20manual/p/19%2C334/c/187/r_id/116678/sno/0

Good luck!

Hi There,

The Letters stand for:

A = Automatic focus
M = Manual focus

It sounds as though the focusing mechanism may have stripped a few teeth. (I.e. the squeeky clicking, blurred).

While on 'A', it won't take shots until it thinks it's focused, if the lens doesn't move, it never gets focused, it never takes the shot.

While on 'M', it will take shots, if the lens doesn't move, it never gets focused, your shot is blurred
.
If you try to focus manually, does it make the same noise?

If this is the case, it needs professional help.

Best regards, sorry I couldn't be of more assistance

Mike

In my opinion, there's a chance that there's nothin wrong with your camera. There's possible not enough light to take a good picture, and the camera can't find the right position in auto mode to take decent picture. What can you do, while it look for the focus it changes from blurry to decent and then to blurry again. You got the bottom with a key next to viewfinder. You need to press the botton when it will be in focus, while holding the botton, press the shutter(take a picture). Check it out.