There were some reports on DPreview of 50D owners that got a err99 after a few hundred shots. After shutting down the 50D and moving the battery in and out of its compartment, the err99 was gone and didn't come back in most cases. Maybe the firmware upgrade tackles this issue?
If it's any consolation, when I purchased my Xsi earlier this year, I received the Error 99 within 3 days of purchase and was extremely pissed. Happened just one time and have over 5000 clicks now with not a hiccup since that one time. Maybe it's just getting broke in. .... or so I hope.
I had this same error problem with my 40D. The camera store took the camera back and gave me a new one. In order to make the exchange easy, the sales guy just swapped the body out and I kept all the other stuff that came in the original box. A few days later I had the same problem on the new body too. I came to the conclusion it was the battery...
WOW, talk about screwing over the customer. You support Canon by being the first to buy a product, only to have it WORSE than someone who waits a few months.
Before I sent mine back, I got the Err99 message twice in a 10 minute period. And it seems to only have happened after I ripped off a long burst of shots in AI Servo. Guess I'll try it again when I get my body only replacement.
After a week I haven't had any errors with my 50D. None with my 40D after a year of use. Come to think of it, none on my nearly 3 year old 5D. In fact the only error warnings I ever recall were back in the film days when I mounted a Sigma...
Hoping I could join the party and moan 'n cry like a little girl, I tested the darn thang for backfocus with several of my fav lenses and nuttin'. Seems to be perfect thus far.
I received an err99 on the 50D within a few hundred shots of new. I was testing an older, rechipped Sigma lens and attributed it to the lens. It's not come back but after reading the dpreview thread, maybe it wasn't the lens....
BenV wrote:
WOW, talk about screwing over the customer. You support Canon by being the first to buy a product, only to have it WORSE than someone who waits a few months.
Had the same on my MKIII. So this does not surprise me. Took it to canon, sounds like if its the same it doesn't 'just disappear'. Have them check it out if it continues. Mine was a faulty internal contact. [thats what canon said, anyway ;~) may be just the new battery though. Good luck.
Two days old? Why mess with it? Send it back, get another one, and be done with it. If that that doesn't work for you for whatever reason, send it to Canon. Their service is great and responsive, and they will often pay for FedEx shipping both ways. Give them a call. They're really great.
.... or so I hope.