Help! Problem with Canon 20D!

[Cowgirl]

Greetings!

Well I've never had a camera problem like this before...geeezzzz

I bought a new 20D from B&H in December 2004. I have hardly used it, until last weekend and today for 2 weddings. Thank God I have back-up equipment!

Anyway, it sometimes (often) does not fire when pressing the shutter. I thought it was an autofocus issue or a lens-camera connection issue, and turning the lens to manual seemed to help at first. But now it sometimes does not fire when in manual focus. I have swapped out the lenses, and the same thing still happens!

Lenses I've used include: 17-40 L, 28-135 IS, 50 1.8, and 70-200 L - so I know its not a lens problem.

It will focus on a subject, and the focusing red box lights up as if nothing is wrong, but when I press the shutter all the way down, sometimes it fires, and sometimes it does not fire!

Batteries are charged - 2 batteries in grip. I've tried Program, AV, and TV mode and it still happens.

So now my 10D is my Main Camera again, and I've got 5 weddings booked in March & April, and now I'll have to use my EOS 3 Film camera as backup!

Anyone else having this problem? Any ideas?


Please advise and Thank you!

Kathy

[almo]

I'm no expert, but it sounds like a probable CPU issue. Also there could be a loose connection from the shutter release to the processor, or to the shutter itself.

If you have a warranty then I suggest you use it now.

almo

[almo]

Also, I had a similar problem with a rebel G. I wanted a better camera so I never had it looked at. It never worked again.

almo

[Peter_AUS]

Kathy,

Have you tried removing the battery grip and trying it with just the one battery in the camera, by any chance.

If that doesn't help, then I would also agree to get it into service. Or ring Canon Helpline and discuss with them.

[SmartWombat]

A friend of mine had this problem, and tracked it down to the battery grip contacts.
But he also had firmware 1.0.0 and that contributed to other lock-up problem he thinks.

I had my first body replaced by tho shop for non-focussing, and the first 10-22 EFS replaced because the MF switch didnt' work.

The new body has firmwate 1.1.0 and seems to work much better, but for motorsport the autofocus is disappointing.


I'd recommend trying it with one battery in the body first, to see if it's a grip problrm.
Then if your camera shop won't dort it for you, go to Canon.

If you have firmware 1.0.5, go to Canon's website and get the update.

[Cowgirl]

Thanks!

I have firmware 1.1.0.

I will try the battery test tomorrow.

Today I had a booth at a wedding expo, and I showed it to a fellow Canon photographer. At first everything worked fine (of course ), but after several shots it locked up many times!


Thanks!

Kathy

[Cowgirl]

OK - I just removed the grip and installed one fresh battery in the body. I yurned it on, lens was on auto, focused, the red box was lit up, and it focused, I pressed the shutter all the way and.......


NOTHING!!! No fire!

I tried at least 20 times and no firing at all!!!


UUUUUGGGGHHHHHHH!!!

Kathy

[Cowgirl]

yurned= turned

Oops! Its been a looong day!

[almo]

Get thy pet to a vet, girl!;)

almo

[Liz]

Kathy -

I'm sorry to hear this. Here's a few suggestions - things I've done myself.

Quick Option: take it to a (digital) camera repair place - for them to check it out. It would help if the place is Canon approved (warranty fix). Don't let them fix it or change anything unless they are an official Canon repair place, but they might be able to give you an idea of what the problem is.

Call Canon and ask about it - it may be something they are familiar with.

It's still under warranty since it's only 3 months. See if there is a Canon warranty repair place near you and take it there to get fixed. Otherwise you might have to send it out.

Liz

yurned= turned

Oops! Its been a looong day!

[Cowgirl]

I just got off the phone with Canon customer service. What a nice Canon tech I had! We tried many different settings, cleaned contacts, changed lenses, used a flash, took out the card - inserted the card....

Sometimes my 20D fired and sometimes it didn't. - Its weird! The poor Tech guy kept on trying differnt things, he told me that he has never had a problem like this before. Usually its an autofocus issue, but my camera will focus! It just does not always fire!

I have to give the Canon Tech an 'A' for effort!


I am sending in my 20D to Canon. Hopefully they can repair it!

GO CANON!

Kathy

[Liz]

I am sending in my 20D to Canon. Hopefully they can repair it!

Gee, this is hard. I hope it doesn't take too long. Kathy - since it's still under warranty, they have to do something - so if they can't repair it, don't they have to replace it? I would assume so.

Sorry you're going through all this, but at least you have the 10D to work with.

Liz

[pbr]

I'm happy to hear about the positive customer service experiance you are having with Canon. I plan on purchasing a 20D as well. I recently had(am having) a horrible time with Sony's customer service/support with a digital camcorder (suddenly stopped working, Sony charges over half the replacement cost just to look at it). I'm now researching companies to see how they deal with customer service issues to avoid this in the future!

Please keep us updated on your situation!

I just got off the phone with Canon customer service. What a nice Canon tech I had! We tried many different settings, cleaned contacts, changed lenses, used a flash, took out the card - inserted the card....

Sometimes my 20D fired and sometimes it didn't. - Its weird! The poor Tech guy kept on trying differnt things, he told me that he has never had a problem like this before. Usually its an autofocus issue, but my camera will focus! It just does not always fire!

I have to give the Canon Tech an 'A' for effort!


I am sending in my 20D to Canon. Hopefully they can repair it!

GO CANON!

Kathy

[Cowgirl]

What can I say, Canon is awesome!!!

I sent in my 20D, they replaced a part in the shutter button, and thoroughly checked everything else out. They shipped it back within about 3 weeks.

I shoot several weddings each month, and I've been using it as my main camera ever since I got it back, and its been working perfectly.

FYI - While my camera was at the factory, I filled out the paperwork to join Canon Professional Services (CPS). I was approved, and now my factory repair time should be just a few days instead of about 3 weeks.

GO CANON!

Kathy

[Cowgirl]

Forgot to mention - everything was under warranty - no charges!

Kathy

[Liz]

Hey there Canon girl - or should I say Canon Cowgirl!

This is very good news. I didn't know there was such a thing as CPS. Sounds like good news. Your turnaround time is encouraging too.

Glad you have your trusty 20D back doing what it's supposed to do - making you happy.

Thanks for the update - I did wonder what happened.

Liz

What can I say, Canon is awesome!!!

I sent in my 20D, they replaced a part in the shutter button, and thoroughly checked everything else out. They shipped it back within about 3 weeks.

I shoot several weddings each month, and I've been using it as my main camera ever since I got it back, and its been working perfectly.

FYI - While my camera was at the factory, I filled out the paperwork to join Canon Professional Services (CPS). I was approved, and now my factory repair time should be just a few days instead of about 3 weeks.

GO CANON!

Kathy

[SmartWombat]

FYI - While my camera was at the factory, I filled out the paperwork to join Canon Professional Services (CPS). I was approved, and now my factory repair time should be just a few days instead of about 3 weeks.

Excellent result.
You can't get CPS in the UK without at least 3 "L" lenses and two "professional" bodies.
As far as I can see the 20D doesn't count for me


I'm limping along with the faults on my 20D until it gives in, or I get a long enough gap in the racing season to get it fixed/