10D Dies in middle of a wedding

[Schroder]

So Im 100-something shots into the day before the ceremony in the middle of some pre-ceremony group shots and I get a "Err 99" on my display. I was pretty cool about it thinking that all I need top do is take the battery out and put it back in and everythings back to normal. Well no go. I switched everything possible lens, battery, internal battery, reset camera to default functions, you name it and zippo. Everything worked until I hit the shutter, then Err 99.

So I quiclky switched to my old reliable e10. While the e10 served me well for 2 years it was tough going back today. Had to get used to it and get used to it fast. I was very frustrated with the Canon, that in 3 months or so of ownership it has been to the shop once and now this err 99. Meanwhile the Oly e10 going on 3 years without 1 problem.

I tried again during the event but eventually gave up and stuck it out with the e10. I still dont know what the problem is. BTW I was using a Canon 24-70mm L series lens at the time it gave me the error. I hadnt switched the lens yet and the batteries were pretty fresh. Simply a mystery. Did I say yet how ticked I am at Canon?

Now Im thinking maybe I should buy a 2nd 10D so that in these cases I dont have to readapt to another camera (e10), but 2 10d's actually scare me since this one just died on me, imagine if both did.

Has anyone experienced this? Solution to this Err 99? Again, I wasnt using Sigma lenses which seem to cause this error.

[Schroder]

ERR 99 SOLUTION!

Take note 10D owners. I found the solution to this particular Err99 by posting on DPreview and someone had the same problem.

Seems to be an obvious glitch with the camera or software. The solution to my problem was to do a "SENSOR CLEANING" function from within the MENU. Take the lens off, do sensor clean (But I didnt have to actually clean it!) then just turn it off and back on with a lens. Bingo, it worked. I wish I knew this at the wedding today, I wouldnt have had to shot 75% of the wedding on the e10.

While I ran the CLEAN SENSOR function I looked at the sensor and it looked clean! So I dont know whats up, but after running that simple function the camera went back to normal. Nothing else had worked. Canon needs to solve this problem which is obviously a glitch.

[boyhowdy]

I have several Sigma lenses, have taken over 1500 shots now and never had an err99! My sensor has gotten pretty dirty and no err99. I'm not sure but maybe you just have a defective 10D. Have you upgraded to firmware 1.01 yet? Maybe that might do something.

Patrick

[CyberDyneSystems]

It wasn't the sensor cleaning that solved it,.. it was the removal of the lens and reistallation.

Error99 occurs frequently when there is a communication issue with the lens (In the case of the Sigma' it is the aperture communication failure)

My guess is that by removing and reinstalling the lens during the faux sensor cleaning you regained communication through a bad contact between the camera and lens.

Try clleaning the contcts on the lens (I assume the body contacts are Okay on sauch a new camera.)

If it happens again,. try just giving the lens a good twist or two,. don't even have to actually remove it.

[Schroder]

CyberDyne,

Thats not true. If you read my original post you will see that I took the lens off various times and that didnt solve the problem. The problem was only solved when I did the sensore clean.

[Hawkeye12]

schroder wrote:
CyberDyne,

Thats not true. If you read my original post you will see that I took the lens off various times and that didnt solve the problem. The problem was only solved when I did the sensore clean.



this is just not true..............the camera doesn't have a "sensor clean" mileage meter..............(like vehicles that tell you to change oil)..............it is pure coincidence that this solved the problem.

[jray]

Don't be too hasty guys. The problem might be totally mechanical. It's possible there's something to the 'sensor cleaning mode' fix, although taking a shot on 'BULB' for a few seconds might have produced the same result.

I have heard more than once of sticky shutters on the 10D. If this is the case, it's quite possible you received the error 99 due to a timing issue caused by a sticky shutter that failed to open fully. Opening, and holding the shutter open, could potentially place enough tension on the shutter curtain to cause it to open fully which might clear the problem. The problem is, there's no reference information to show if this is in fact the problem, and if the shutter may break-in and cease to exhibit problems in the future, or if it's going to be a long term problem that gets worse with time.

I'd contact Canon, tell them what happened, and say it has happened more than once. There's nothing worse than being told to call them if it happens again, and then have it happen again just outside the warranty period.

[DVWarrior]

I also had an Olympus e10 and appart from slow buffer and dedicated lens it was a great camera for it's time. The new E-1 D-SLR looks very promissing and may be a better bet than a second 10d. Olympus have at least made dedicated lenses for the E-1 more than can be said of Canon who still hobble along with lots of slightly out of spec lenses that were made to fit a full frame 35mm film system !!!

[tenerife]

Hi Schroder,
first of all my compliments to your great Wedding Photos..

I hope your D 10 working now verry well..

Sensor cleaning - how and with what..?

Do you use a SpeckGrabber -a Cleaning Tool for Digital Imagers..?

Regards from Tenerife
Klaus

[Schroder]

Let me clarify.

I tried everything...various times. I changed the lenses, the cards, the batteries, reset the camera, many times and it wouldnt get out of err 99 mode. When I got home I posted my problem everywhere and ONE persone on Dpreview wrote that he had the SAME EXACT problem. He then tried to use the SENSOR CLEAN and amazingly his camera worked. ONCE I READ THAT, I got the camera and did the same thing and BINGO, it worked too. This is NOT A COINCIDENCE.

If anyone has the same sympthoms in which the err 99 will not go away(and showed up for no apparent reason) , I am willing to bet that the "sensor clean" function will fix it. BUT REM, I didnt ACTUALLY clean it, I just ran the function and immediately shut off the camera and then turned it back on.

Louis

[Parallax]

Hi Louis,

I'm a very new 10D owner. I read your problem and solution with interest. I haven't experienced the problem, but I agree that it sounds like a firmware glitch. Too coincidental that someone else on DPReview would also have such a unique solution. I would assume that Canon would like to know so they could add it to their database of issues which might be addressed in a future firmware release.

Regards,

Eric

[defordphoto]

schroder wrote:
BUT REM, I didnt ACTUALLY clean it, I just ran the function and immediately shut off the camera and then turned it back on.

Louis

The camera would have no idea if the sensor had actually been cleaned or not. This is the first I have heard of this, but I'll definitely keep it in mind if it happens to me! Thanks so much for the followup on this so everyone knows the cure. Whether it's a freaky firmware glitch or not is for the Canon-bashers to beat to death. All I need is the cure and I'm out shooting again...

[CyberDyneSystems]

schroder wrote:
CyberDyne,

Thats not true. If you read my original post you will see that I took the lens off various times and that didnt solve the problem. The problem was only solved when I did the sensore clean.



Sorry Schroder,

I did miss that you had changed the lens when I read your first post. My mistake.

I wonder of the shutter explanantion makes sense?

[Arnie]

Scroder,

I do weddings myself and really appreciates your sharing this kind information to us. It does not matter whether the solution may be "absurd" the important thing is that it works for you and may also work for us. Thanks man!

Well i guess this is common to all electronic computer driven gadgets they all have their unique "quirks"

[defordphoto]

arnie wrote:
Well i guess this is common to all electronic computer driven gadgets they all have their unique "quirks"


I think that is found to be true with most anything these days. Cars, computers, watches, TV's, printers, scanners, microwaves, refrigerators, you name it. Sometimes the right sequence of events spits out a "1" when it should be a "0" and all (heck) breaks loose.

Like the story of the car that died in the middle of the road. The only way to 'wake it up' was to open and shut the car doors and trunk in a certain sequence and then the cars runs fine. Sure, that may be folklore, but as we all know some freaky things can happen with all these electronic doo-dads.

[Parallax]

By implying that it might be a firmware glitch, I wasn't "bashing" Canon. I've used their equipment for over twenty years. These cameras are very complicated and are bound to have quirks that surface as thousands of purchasers put them through their paces. Most companies maintain a knowledgebase of such problems for use by their customer support personnel and for possible cure in firmware revisions.

Forums like this one and DPReview are a great source of information directly between users of the equipment and constitute a knowledgebase of our own. I really appreciate the sharing of solutions such as the one found by the original poster.

Eric

[soumya63]

jray wrote:
Don't be too hasty guys. The problem might be totally mechanical. It's possible there's something to the 'sensor cleaning mode' fix, although taking a shot on 'BULB' for a few seconds might have produced the same result.

I have heard more than once of sticky shutters on the 10D. If this is the case, it's quite possible you received the error 99 due to a timing issue caused by a sticky shutter that failed to open fully. ......


I think jray is correct. It is a sticky shutter problem which is causing Err99. When that happens, the camera just do not fire the shutter release. Most probably the sensor cleaning mode overrides the error and opens the shutter irrespective of Err99. This cause the shutter to unstick and camera becomes operative again.

Well this is my assumption. Only Canon can answer is correctly. But thank you Schroder, for sharing such an important piece of information.

Soumya

http://www.mitraphoto.com

[jcsorensen]

Had a similar problem. Didn't matter what lens, battery, or CF card I used. Once I got the ERR99, the only way it would not happen every shot thereafter was to use the built in flash. That would clear the problem (after powering off and back on once). Never happens when using the flash. Sensor clean did not fix. I did finally narrow the problem--I only got the ERR99 code when I was taking a picture and the camera body was not held at 90 degree (portrait) or 180 degree (landscape). Anywhere in between, or moving quickly between the two seemed to cause the ERR99 to happen. I believe there is a sensor in the camera that detects camera angle, and I'm betting that when Canon checks it out, that is where they will find my problem. (Canon signed for it yesterday--hope to get it back in a couple of weeks--fixed). Amazing that this camera has been on the streets less than 3 months and this many problems are being noted. Maybe I'll go back to my FTb--It at least never fails me--just hate scanning film/slides.

[Parallax]

I believe that there is a sensor in the body that detects the orientation of the camera. It works in conjunction with the auto-rotation feature when viewing images.

[gsrossano]

A few months ago I experienced this same problem with a D60. Got the error and then the camera stopped cold dead. Wouldn't turn on again when I tried to clear the condition. Toggled the power. Took the lens on and off several times ( Canon 200 f/1.8 ). Tried other lenses (Canon and Sigma), swapped batteries. Tried AC power. Nothin. Sent it back to Canon. They said it was caused by a communication problem in the lens and only the repair center could reset the body so it would function again in this state. It came back from Canon magically healed. Don't know if I believe their explanation. In any event, the problem is not unique to the 10D. The idea that an error condition will lock up the body and require a trip to the service center, or some undocumented magic combination of actions to reset the camera's brains (or lack of them), seems pretty damn stupid engineering to me. But such appears to be the case.