My 30D quit on me today while shooting vintage racing at Lime Rock. I was using my 70-200 non-IS when I started getting Err 99s. At the corner I was at the sun was often throwing really strong reflections back at me, so I thought that might be the problem (something that seems common with the 100-400).
I'd shut off the camera, take a few more frames, and then it would happen again. After a few of these iterations, I started getting Err 99 every time I pressed the shutter. It sounds like it fires, but nothing is written to the card. Except once, I did get a black frame.
The Err 99 happens with all my lenses, with no lense attached, and with or without the grip. I took out the button cell, let the camera sit for 30 minutes, then replaced the cell and a freshly charged battery. No change.
When I put the camera in Cleaning mode the mirror flips up and the shutter opens. No sign of a problem (like hanging blades). (Edit: Update - it looks like the mirror flips up but the shutter blades stay down. And I have to take the battery out to make the mirror come back down. Turning off the power doesn't do it.)
I tried invoking MLU, but that doesn't work. Regardless of whether MLU is on or off, or the shutter speed I set, I just get a quick shutter actuation sound (probably the mirror slap) and then the error.
So it's going back to Canon for the second time in about 4 months. The first time was for an AI Servo focus problem that was fixed under warranty. I'm out of warranty now. I have about 14,000 clicks on the shutter.
Hopefully it won't be too expensive to repair. If it's over $400, I might seriously think about a 40D.
Do these problems sound familiar to anyone? Just looking for clues as to what to expect. I'm assuming I need a new shutter, even though I had no symptoms until the end of the day today.
My 300D does the same thing, sometimes it is OK for hundreds of shots, sometimes it gives it on every one and other shot.
Does it without lens/flash/grip attached.
When I put it in MLU it flips the mirror up, but then gives err99 as it is to open the shutter. Mirror stays up.
Nicely explain that this is the second major repair, don't mention the shutter count (which really should be inconsequential anyway), and politely ask for an accommodation. You might get lucky, and it's certainly happened before.
As a side note, sure wish I was at LRP with you. I grew up in the area, and was there practically every weekend during my teen driving years in the late mid-late 70's. Now I'm in South Florida, and haven't been back since, but one day . . .with one of my Alfa's. Do you have a site with any pics posted? I'd love to see them, good, bad, or otherwise.
dcains wrote:
Nicely explain that this is the second major repair, don't mention the shutter count (which really should be inconsequential anyway), and politely ask for an accommodation. You might get lucky, and it's certainly happened before.
As a side note, sure wish I was at LRP with you. I grew up in the area, and was there practically every weekend during my teen driving years in the late mid-late 70's. Now I'm in South Florida, and haven't been back since, but one day . . .with one of my Alfa's. Do you have a site with any pics posted? I'd love to see them, good, bad, or otherwise....Show more →
Hi Dean. Yes, that's my strategy. I'm going to be nice about it, and hopefully they'll cover it. At first I wasn't positive it was the shutter (It definitely opened to expose the sensor in clean mode at first.), but that seems likely now.
I love LRP. I used to go for the IMSA prototype events in the early 1990's, then I stopped. I started going to the vintage events in 2004, only skipping last year because of sketchy weather (it's 3.5 hrs away for me). I've also gone to the last 3 ALMS events, and this year the Grand Am event in May for the first time. LRP is celebrating it's 50th anniversary this year.
This year I thought the vintage event was a bit weak. Definitely fewer cars than in 2004 and 2005. One Bugatti, no 250 GTOs (there were 3 in 2005, including 2 racing), not even that many Porsches.
Later this weekend I hope to have yesterday's photos up, and I may post some on the Sports board. I'll let you know. The 30D quit late in the afternoon, so I have a bunch from earlier in the day. I also happened to bring my 10D, and I think I got some good shots in the late afternoon light with that body, but I haven't even had time to download them yet.
I just returned from Alaska, and was very frustrated by the same type of problem with my 350. I have the additional problem when I pull up the menu, I get a decreased number of options and the highlight bar flickers and moves uncontrollably. I have also tried multiple lens and I continue to get Error 99.
I suppose this is an electrical problem, and I am also concerned that the price to repair will be greater than the camera's worth. Does anyone have any previous experience with this type repair.
Randy
I figured there could be two things wrong. Either my shutter itself is gone, or there's an electrical issue that's keeping it from firing. I expect a new shutter to be less than $300. The electrical problem, well who knows.
Unfortunately Randy, your's doesn't sound mechanical. Is it intermittent? That might make it even harder to fix. Sounds like you need to send it in too.
I've also downloaded my 10D photos from Lime Rock, and there are a lot more in focus than there are with the 30D. That's why I sent the 30D to Canon earlier this year, and I thought it was fixed. Maybe not.
Did you also try removing the batteries, cleaning the contacts and such (I know it does not look like the solution here, but who knows what a computer can do ? ---just in case---).
Anyway, I hope that it will not be too bad (not too much $$$).
