HI,

I'm having problem with the shutter on my camera.

All of a sudden, last weekend, I had to press really hard on the shutter-release button to be able to take pictures.

Two or three times, even if I pressed hard on it, it wouldn't take a pic (and it wasn't that "can't focus - can't take a pic" situation).

This morning I tried the camera, it seems fine.

The camera has between 40K-50K clicks on it. Is it the Shutter mechanishm failing on me?

I have heard of a similar problem, quite awhile ago though. From memory, it turned out to be the shutter button. I hope it is not the shutter as my 20D has similar "clicks" on it and I'd hate to be without it while they replace the shutter.

Maybe you're right. That would make sense, because I'd think that if it was the shutter, it would stop functioning immediately (not that I know anything about shutter problems).

I'm a bit releived.

I'll send it in for repair.

Since you're sending it in for repair, ask how much it'd be to have the shutter replaced at the same time. You're at the relative low end yet, but 100,000 is the mean so some do fail at 50k and some not until 150k. It's worth asking about, especially if they make it affordable enough for you or give you free shipping, etc. as incentive.

I don't think there is hard published data on the expectancy of a 20D shutter directly from Canon. Some sources say 50,000 and some quote 100,000.

Go to uTube and search for 20D shutter and there are quite a few that have gone but the most common symptom for the 20D was it would fire countinuously without stopping even when if the camera was turned off.

check this

Totally correct as to no hard data on shutter expectancy. Just a suggestion to check into shutter replacement if it's at a bargain price, if sending it in for something else. I haven't had a 20d shutter failure (yet, knock on wood), but my 40d failed around 20k.

try a remote release and see if it still has problems. If it does, the shutter is suspect. If it does not, then the shutter release button is suspect.

excellent suggestion joe.

I have heard of just the "button" switch going iindependently of the shutter itself.

Thanks for all of the answers.

I found this Post about a 30D having similar problem:
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/821134/0?keyword=shutter#7607778

About replacing the whole shutter mechanism, unless they have a really good price, I won't have it done (I hear it would be about $300-400) – that's about half the price of a used 40D (which I have been thinking about buying recently). I'll enquire about the price anyway.

I don't have a remote, so I won't be able to check that. Good point though.

If you don't have a remote, you can trigger the shutter to fire anyways with a key or a knife or any other small metal object. Look at the remote trigger pinout on this page: http://martybugs.net/blog/blog.cgi/gear/CanonN3Connector.html

Take your metal object and connect the ground (bottom pin) to the shutter (top right pin) and the camera will fire. Connecting ground (bottom pin) to the focus (top left) is like pressing the shutter button down halfway.

Doing this you'll be able to see if it's a shutter problem or a shutter button problem. FWIW, I've had a 20D where the button failed. I've also had the camera's shutter fail on another incident. So it could be either one. My guess is that it's just the button give that it's such a common issue, but your test will help us figure that out more definitively.

My 20D's shutter button's acting up too. Many times if I half press and hold to keep focus, when I fully press the button, it refocuses before taking the shot. I'm still debating if I'm going to have it repaired or not. The button on my BG-E2 grip works perfectly fine probably since it doesn't get as much use.

Thanks Ariel for the suggestion.

I laughed; I'm sure it would work but I thought it was funny also. Plus I'd be too scare to try it and something wrong happened.

I'll just send it in for repair.

If I use the Battery Grip, the button is snappier than the button on the camera. Does that mean anything?

I had this happen to my 20D, but after I changed the clock battery, it hasn't happened again. Do that, or even, do a total reset, before sending it anywhere. If you do send it, you might try the following.

http://www.mcvr.com/

Very good prices.

Clock Battery? Ummmm.

Would the time be wrong then? I checked the time and it is correct.

No. The time might be correct. I can't tell you for sure whether that was it, but lack of battery power can do weird things. It is a long shot, but how old is the 20D? At the very least test the clock battery. If it is low, change it. Can't hurt. Those batteries don't last forever.

It could be the shutter button itself, otherwise.

The clock battery change and total reset (where you take both batteries out and leave the camera sit overnight) are just things to try before sending it in.

The 20D was bought in June 2005.

It's worth a shot, I took the clock battery out and will check the camera again in the morning with both batteries in. I'll have the camera store check it tomorrow, if they can.

Thanks.

a few years ago, my 20D's shutter button stuck half way during a soccer game, couldn't lock focus, couldn't do a thing ... sent it in, and they replaced the button

now, it won't take a pic, button is ok, just won't click even though auto focus locks on target

Well, I just got it back from repairs (not by Canon) and they "replaced release switch, cleaned, adjusted & tested"
$247 Canadian + Taxes.

They also replace the Serial # plate at the bottom, because the serial # was illegible. Fine, but they gave the camera a NEW serial #. I thought that was odd – new serial #. I'll have to check if this new serial # will be reflected in the Exif of the photos.

Glad it was just your shutter release and not the shutter itself.