A system error is caused by a diagnosis systems check when camera is powered up. When the camera powers up it goes thru a zoom, shutter, and auto focus check and if any of these has a problem it will put the camera into a system error. It does this to let you know there is one of the functions not working properly. It will need to go to a repair shop or the manufacturer. These type of errors can be cause by impact damage or any sand or debris that found it's way in the camera that could be jamming up parts internally.I have repaired these types of errors before on digital cameras, it's hard to determine whats causing your error without actually seeing the camera. Hope I could help you out with your problem.

I am not totally sure on this model, but ones that I have repaired in the past you might have to order the whole front lens assembly which would require you to disassemble the camera and replace the assembly or you might be able to replace just the front lens which will have an adjustment either cammed or just screw it into place. To find that out see if the ring around the front lens is removable by either unscrewing or it may just pop out, then you can see if the front lens can be replaced easily. You will have to call Nikon to fine out if parts are still available for this model. Hope this info helps you out.

Its possible that some debris found its way in the mechanism or gearing that operates the lens barrier doors when the camera powers up. I would suggest to have it looked at by a repair shop there are small springs and parts that make up for the operation of barrier doors. If your mechanically inclined and can repair it yourself with some patience, some of the barrier door assemblies can be removed at the front of the lens assembly. It may come out as a one piece unit or the doors are part of the lens barrel assembly. I have 13 years experience in the camera repair field used to see this problem on quite a few cameras, found anything from a grain of sand caught in gearing to timing being off from impact damage. Hope this was helpful for you.

Due to the age of the camera your problem is not the battery but the release capacitor located on the bottom of the camera when you remove the bottom plate. You can replace this capacitor yourself, just unsolder the old cap, but pay very close attention to the polarity of the cap when removing so you can put the new cap in place the same way. Put fresh batteries in and it should start working again. I have 13 years experience in repairing camera equipment and i used to see these come across my bench a lot for the same problem you are describing.

Hi Herb, I used to work on dozens of the x-370's. The problem might be the shutter is already advanced and the shutter won't release because of a bad capacitor on the bottom of the camera. If you remove the bottom plate you will see a small flexible circuit with a little black can soldered to the flexible circuit. That is more than likely the culprit. So i would replace that and make sure you have a good battery to try it out. If thats not the problem you might have an issue with the film advance gearing which requires replacing and timing the gearing to the shutter assembly.