Nikon coolpix L5 digital camera only switches on with playback button

Start in the record or playback menus go to the setup menu

scroll down to reset all.

Just charge and use the battery a few times and see if it will work better after 2 or 3 times. If to, buy a new one. Then to make sure nothing is wrong with the camera, switch to the auto mode like you can read on page 15 of the manual. the camera should make pictures when there is some light and you press the shutter release button.
The manual is still online with Nikon USA.

The Nikon Coolpix is a compact digital camera that is well-suited for amateur to semi-professional photographers. Occasionally, some issues with the built-in flash can occur. If the hardware is damaged, the camera must be taken in for repairs. More often, problems occur because of obstructions or issues with the camera's settings and are easily repairable. Follow the troubleshooting guide to fix the built-in flash.

Instructions:
1.Ensure the Nikon Coolpix digital camera battery is fully charged.
2.Wait several seconds before pressing the shutter-release button if the "Flash Ready" indicator light is flashing red. Press the "Flash Mode" button once or twice to change the flash settings from "Off" to "On" or "Auto" if the "Flash Ready" indicator light is off.
3.Ensure there are no obstructions, like your finger or the camera strap, that are preventing the flash from firing if an error message appears on the display screen and the flash is not firing when the flash mode is set to automatic.
4.Press the flash back into the camera after every photo to ensure the flash always fires in "Auto" mode instead of just in low illumination settings. Press the flash back into the camera to turn off the flash in "Manual" mode; otherwise the flash will continually fire.
5.Change the auto focus setting from "Infinity" to "Auto," "Macro Closeup" or "Self-Timer" by pressing the "Focus Mode" button once, twice or three times to automatically turn the flash back on.
6.Use only Nikon external flash accessories to avoid damage to the built-in flash and camera circuits.

I hope you find it very helpful. Thanks.

This is a common situation with most compact point&shoot cameras. This "shutter lag" is because the camera has to do so much work when you press the shutter release button: focus on the subject, meter the light for proper exposure, and switch the electronics from viewing on the LCD to recording to memory. Larger (and more expensive) cameras have additional hardware to reduce this lag.

You can reduce the lag somewhat by anticipating the action. Press the shutter release button halfway to focus and meter. Keep it pressed halfway until the right moment, then press it the rest of the way to take the picture.

Try these procedures.

The Nikon MC-EU1 Remote Cord is an accessory available for the Nikon COOLPIX 880/885/990/995 4300/4500/5000/5400/5700/8700 cameras. The MC-EU1 Remote Cord is 80 cm long and allows the camera to be fired remotely like a cable release for a film-based camera.

The MC-EU1 Remote Cord's main function is to prevent camera shake. As well as the shutter release function, the MC-EU1 has the following functions.
1. operate the camera's zoom remotely,
2. advance or return images in the playback mode,
3. Controlling interval photography, automatically fire the cameras over a given interval.
Note this is the only Nikon remote cord available NIKON COOLPIX cameras and is only compatible with the cameras listed.

The Nikon MC-EU1 remote cord has two Interval modes, A and B

In Interval Mode A: the first photograph is taken at the start; and subsequent photographs taken at the specified time intervals, thereafter.

In Interval Mode B: the first photograph is not taken until the specified time interval has passed and subsequent photographs taken at the specified time intervals.

These modes can be selected by pressing the MODE button. The device cycles through settings in the order, Remote Mode, Interval Mode A, and Interval Mode B. When the Remote Mode is selected, the LCD panel displays Remote; when Interval Mode A is selected, Interval appears together with the letter A and Interval Mode B is indicated by Interval and the letter B.


The interval Modes, allow you to take photographs one after the other at a selected interval, which can be set in increments of one second to any value from two minutes to twenty-four hours. Interval modes are only available when the camera is in recording mode and cannot be used when the camera is in playback mode.

Setting the Interval

1. Setting the camera to recording mode and the remote cord to Interval Mode A or B, the interval setting will be shown in the remote cord LCD display. Items currently selected for editing will flash. Each time the selection (SEL.) button is pressed, the item selected will change as shown below.


Select the desired time by altering the settings (second [S], minute [M], or hour [H]) one at a time. While the item is flashing, press the down button to decrease the time set, or the up button to increase the time set. The value displayed will change by one each time either button is pressed.

2. After adjusting settings, press the selection button until the display is no longer flashing.

Starting Interval Mode Photography

• Half-pressing the remote shutter-release button has the same effect as half-pressing the shutter-release button on the camera, readying the camera to take a photograph. If the interval is set to less than two minutes when the shutter-release button is half-pressed, the interval display will flash. Choose an interval of two minutes or more.

• Full-pressing the remote shutter-release button has the same effect as full-pressing the shutter-release button on the camera, starting interval mode photography.

• When the camera enters interval mode, it will either take a picture and then begin the count to the next photograph (Interval Mode A), or begin the count to the first photograph (Interval Mode B). The Interval indicator in the LCD display will flash while interval mode is in effect.

Ending Interval Mode Photography

• Half-pressing the remote cord shutter-release button while an interval mode is in progress stops the interval photography.

• Photography will also stop should you run out of available space on the compact flash card; In this case, the number of exposures remaining displayed in the LCD panel will be 000.



The MC-EU1 has a feature that when the zoom button is pressed twice in rapid succesion, the camera will start zooming until this function is cancelled by pushing the button a third time. If this function is not cancelled, no other function is possible with the MC-EU1. If the MC-EU1 does not respond as expected please ensure you have not activated the zoom function.

i had someone with the same camera have a problem like yours but it wouldnt turn off and the only way to power the camera on was pressing the power and blue play button. i called nicon and they said try a reset all in the setup menu but this didnt work. i then played for a little longer with it and found if i gentally twisted the body of the camera it would turn on and off as per it should. so i removed the back of the camera ( coution very small screws) and found that the blur control ribbon cable for the top control board had come loose.take something non conductive and not sharp and carfully push the ribbon cable back into is socket. once i had done this everything worked ok.
a few other words of caution while doing this keep track of where the screws come from as they are different lenghts.do not have the batterys in the camera as the flash caps will be charged and if you touch the wrong thing ZAP you could get a nice supprise. and finally when repacing the back of the camera make sure the selector switch for movie , scene and camera is connected right otherwise you will have to remove the back again and fix this issue

i hope this works for you

Did you remove that batteries out of the camera and put them back in?

have a red hand flashing and auto will not work.

SD cards have a slide switch along one edge. The position farthest from the contacts locks the card, protecting it from writes. The position nearest the contacts unlocks the card. If the switch is already in the proper position, slide it fully the other way and then back again.