Nikon 950 -- damage or configuration

This old Coolpix 950 appears to be in working order --
except that the top selection button PLAY appears not
even to turn the camera on. Selections M REC and A REC
both work OK and the camera records pictures.

Setting PLAY mode produces no image in the topside information
window, and the Menu button appears not to work. Does this
suggest the whole PLAY module is broken, or did I fail to find
in the manual (PDF) some setting that switches this on/off?

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

Don Phillipson wrote:
This old Coolpix 950 appears to be in working order --
except that the top selection button PLAY appears not
even to turn the camera on. Selections M REC and A REC
both work OK and the camera records pictures.

Setting PLAY mode produces no image in the topside information
window, and the Menu button appears not to work. Does this
suggest the whole PLAY module is broken, or did I fail to find
in the manual (PDF) some setting that switches this on/off?

It's a well known problem with the Coolpix range. You may cure it with a
very small drop of switch cleaner applied in the gap between the rotating
part and the static part, while operating the control.

David

Thanks gents both.
(I just wish I had seen these helpful replies before driving
20 km. into town and 20 km. home for an essential
lawnmower part, right next to Radio Shack . . . )

Don P

wrote in message
...
On Sun, 14 Jun 2009 11:59:40 -0400, in rec.photo.digital "Don Phillipson"
wrote:

This old Coolpix 950 appears to be in working order --
except that the top selection button PLAY appears not
even to turn the camera on. Selections M REC and A REC
both work OK and the camera records pictures.

Setting PLAY mode produces no image in the topside information
window, and the Menu button appears not to work. Does this
suggest the whole PLAY module is broken, or did I fail to find
in the manual (PDF) some setting that switches this on/off?


I'll second David's suggestion. I've used the same technique on my CP-990.
Specifically I used some Radio Shack tuner cleaner/lubricant. Apply a
small
amount, work the switch back and forth, then turn the camera with the
switch facing down to allow excess liquid to drain from the switch. Repeat
as needed.