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AR15.COM
4/28/2025 4:54:28 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Gopher][Edited]
My Nikon D3100 with a 70-300 lens has started leaving a lighter strip across zoom pictures. Looks like this.
Attached File

Attached File

It's not doing it on the lower settings.
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Any ideas why?
Politicians Prefer Unarmed Peasants
Caddyshack
Some men are morally opposed to violence. They are protected by those who are not.
4/28/2025 5:38:37 PM EDT
[#1]
Damaged lens. It's getting a light leak from somewhere when you zoom out.
4/28/2025 5:47:28 PM EDT
[#2]
DM inbound.
I am determined to defend my rights and maintain my freedom or sell my life in the attempt. - Nathanael Greene
4/28/2025 5:59:34 PM EDT
[Last Edit: brass][Edited] [#3]
Is the lens fully mounted correctly?

Do you have a second lens to try out?

Is it the aperture change that causes the stripe or the focal length change?  Try aperture prior ity at both far and near to narrow it down.  I have a Sigma lens that works fine so long as it's forced to f/1.4 and works great, outside that the camera malfunctions and gives a lens error.

Might be a sensor issue which pushes it to warranty/repair problem on the body.   Bummer if not a lens issue and not in warranty.

The person who complains most, and is the most critical of others has the most to hide.

All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.
4/28/2025 7:43:58 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Gopher][Edited] [#4]
Quote History
Originally Posted By brass:
Is the lens fully mounted correctly?

Do you have a second lens to try out?

Is it the aperture change that causes the stripe or the focal length change?  Try aperture prior ity at both far and near to narrow it down.  I have a Sigma lens that works fine so long as it's forced to f/1.4 and works great, outside that the camera malfunctions and gives a lens error.

Might be a sensor issue which pushes it to warranty/repair problem on the body.   Bummer if not a lens issue and not in warranty.

View Quote

This will give me some options to explore. I bought the camera off eBay, so I don't have a great deal tied up in it.  I'll try the other lens and see if the problem follows. Will a 20+ year old camera be worth repairing vs replacing if it is a sensor issue?
Politicians Prefer Unarmed Peasants
Caddyshack
Some men are morally opposed to violence. They are protected by those who are not.
4/28/2025 8:09:23 PM EDT
[#5]
Work up an exposure bracket* at different focal lengths.

Same exposure using the range of f/stops and shutter speeds. Use a tripod, timer or remote shutter release, same subject for all shots-like the ones with the image issue. This will show wheee the problem comes from.

I was going to guess shutter issues. But with out testing IDK.
4/28/2025 10:51:52 PM EDT
[#6]
It almost looks like one blade of the shutter isnt closing properly but I would think that would shot up on all images
4/29/2025 12:24:28 AM EDT
[#7]
Quote History
Originally Posted By Gopher:

This will give me some options to explore. I bought the camera off eBay, so I don't have a great deal tied up in it.  I'll try the other lens and see if the problem follows. Will a 20+ year old camera be worth repairing vs replacing if it is a sensor issue?
View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Quote History
Originally Posted By Gopher:
Originally Posted By brass:
Is the lens fully mounted correctly?

Do you have a second lens to try out?

Is it the aperture change that causes the stripe or the focal length change?  Try aperture prior ity at both far and near to narrow it down.  I have a Sigma lens that works fine so long as it's forced to f/1.4 and works great, outside that the camera malfunctions and gives a lens error.

Might be a sensor issue which pushes it to warranty/repair problem on the body.   Bummer if not a lens issue and not in warranty.


This will give me some options to explore. I bought the camera off eBay, so I don't have a great deal tied up in it.  I'll try the other lens and see if the problem follows. Will a 20+ year old camera be worth repairing vs replacing if it is a sensor issue?


If you've already got lenses and it's not a lens problem (but kind of acting like it is), then I'd suggest a new setup.  $900 for either Nikon or Rebel beginner DSLRs (Canon Rebel, Nikon 7500) would be a much more viable option than sending camera in for repair.   The lens going for repair might be a different price (dependent on manufacturer), depending on aperture as a fast long lens can be worth upper 4 digits or more.

The person who complains most, and is the most critical of others has the most to hide.

All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.
4/29/2025 12:27:10 AM EDT
[#8]
Quote History
Originally Posted By Goostoff:
It almost looks like one blade of the shutter isnt closing properly but I would think that would shot up on all images
View Quote


Test with a very long exposure at f32 in standard room lighting and see if it is better or worse.  Lots of things to take pictures of to figure out more.

Varied focal length, fixed aperture from small to wide open, different lens, different shutter speeds, then see which mix can reliably re-create the problem OP is seeing.   If it's intermittent and shows up now and again on all photos, no matter the lens or aperture, then your idea might be on the money and it's new camera time.

The person who complains most, and is the most critical of others has the most to hide.

All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.

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