I bought a nikon coolpix 800 about 3 weeks ago. it worked fine - everything was great. then one day i opened it and got the messgae : system error - still could take pictures but there seemed to be some mechanical problem with the zoom motor (i couldn't zoom - only focus/auto focus worked) when i tried zoom buttons it issued clicking sounds from it.) The camera didn't sustain any hits or damage or anything - i really am very cautios with it. i wanted to know if you had any feedback about that clicking sound - how to fix it - how much fixing it cost or anything more you know about the problem.

on nikons tech site there is a specific mention of this problem - http://www.nikontechusa.com/message.htm (goto button "my lens is clicking") that takes you to : http://www.nikontechusa.com/Serviceinfo1.htm

and there nikon says : "If your Coolpix camera fails to power up correctly and your lens is making a Clicking Sound, or the words "System Error" appear on your LCD, your camera requires repair."

well it seems nikon is aware of a wide scale problem here but doesn't say anything more than : "get your camera fixed".

there seems to be more evidence on the web showing that the whole line of coolpix cameras has this defect - there is a site that showed a series of steps you could reproduce on the nikon coolpix 990 to re-create this problem (http://www.globaldialog.com/~biggers/html/990_firmware_1.0.html#q1)

and there is a mention of a similar problem occuring in the nikon coolpix 900 (http://www.globaldialog.com/~biggers/html/cp900_repair_story.html)

to summerize: there seems to be a firmware glitch that probably allows users to render their cameras usless needing expert repair just by following a sequence of button pushes on the cameras (that any user can do by mistake or intentionaly). i suspect that i have done such a sequence of button pushes that caused my problem. i also suspect that this is caused because the software in the camera issues a wrong setting for the zoom motor that moves it 'off the allowed range of settings' and by doing this causes permanent damage to the camera.

I can not prove this theory scientifically, but as i have showed, if you search the web enough you will find more evidence of this. (the coolpix990 site mentions that it got 100(!!!) different people's emails stating they had the same problem).

I wish there was someone to turn to in Nikon - but their tech site has discontinued all forums and posted a 1-800-nikon-ux support line instead (which i called internationally - at US business hours and waited 10 minutes with no reply).

As i can't find my warenty or recipt - i suspect i will have to go to the local nikon dealer to have this fixed and that it will cost me a furtune... :(

I will post an update after i have been to the dealer and write what they said about it...

hope to hear about this from anyone that knows more than me (especially Nikon Co.).

eran wass. the_drs@hotmail.com

-- eran (the_drs@hotmail.com), December 06, 2000

Answers

I have the same system error issue with my coolpix 950. Did you ever get you camera fixed? If so can I ask, who did you take it to, and how much were the repair costs?

Thanks

-- 950 owner (rw_achatpro@yahoo.com), November 09, 2002.

i have cp 900 waiting for the same condition. if it is possible to have the the same error why can i pay 100$ now?

thanks for any info mailed me about the condition.

-- mesut balci (mesutbalci_@hotmail.com), November 11, 2002.

I have a coolpix 800 and have the EXACT same problem. I was about to send it to the Nikon plant, but I have a feeling they will just send me a $200 bill. Please post any results you find. Thanks-

-- Brian MacDuckston (macduckston@msn.com), December 09, 2002.