What's this?

[gjx5]

Hi and thanks for sharing your wealth of knowledge. My first post:rolleyes: so bare with me. Santa brought a whoopin EF 24-70 f2.8 L to go on my sweet little 300D AND I LUVVVVV THIS LENS! However on some of my outdoor photos, not all, but some, I am getting this ring of light in the middle of the photos. The lens seems to be firmly attached and the polarizer does its thing. Or maybe I have the polarizer at the wrong angle. Using a hood and still getting the ring. Not using flash. If the lens is defective, why wouldn't all the photos have the ring of light? Probably user error but darned if I know how to prevent it.??? Can you solve my mystery? And thanks for taking a look.:D

[mxwphoto]

Do you get it only when you use the polarizer? Doesn't seem like user error to me.

[Jon]

I think your shutter's starting to go. It's a fairly easy repair; Canon USA charges a couple of hundred dollars and it should take no more than 3 weeks door-to-door. Average life of the 300D shutter's around 25K shots, IIRC. but remember that's an average. You probably get this mostly at faster shutter speeds, I'm guessing?

[gjx5]

Wow, thanks for the response. I keep the polarizer on the lens as I do mostly outdoor shooting. Hmmmm, maybe bad polarizer? It's a cheaper one.

[gjx5]

YES, faster shutter speeds and I did not want to hear it is my shutter going! TIme for a new body! Thanks for your help!

[runninmann]

I think your shutter's starting to go. It's a fairly easy repair; Canon USA charges a couple of hundred dollars and it should take no more than 3 weeks door-to-door. Average life of the 300D shutter's around 25K shots, IIRC. but remember that's an average. You probably get this mostly at faster shutter speeds, I'm guessing?Jon, would a failing shutter exhibit the arc shape as in the images or would it be vertical?

[Total Minimoto]

Sorry to say but that is a failing shutter.
I experienced the exact same on my 300d but luckily it was under warranty and I got it repaired very quickly by canon here in the UK.
Good luck.
http://www.neilison.co.uk/IMG_0223.JPG

[mxwphoto]

Wow that's interesting. How come it makes an arc shape when failing? Any reason to this?

[Total Minimoto]

Wow that's interesting. How come it makes an arc shape when failing? Any reason to this?
I can only tell you what the tech at canon told me when I asked about my repair, he said the shutter blades can become warped for a number of reasons and will then allow light to pass through.
I'm sure one of the more experienced and technically minded members will be able to offer a more detailed explanation.

[VFTT]

Wow, bummer, but good info to know. When I see it I'll know what it is. Hopefully I wont see it for a while...

- d

[Dave_G]

I second the shutter failure - also happened to me on my 300D

[Glenn NK]

Interesting - I would never have guessed shutter failure would produce a curved line of light. I'll keep that one in mind. Thanks.

[syntrix]

I would say that the forum points to your shutter.

But does this happen at all with other lenses? It's the question that has to be asked!

[Nikolas]

shutter definitely.
The reason it arcs that way is because thats the way the shutter curtain opens and closes.

[Mark_Cohran]

Yes, there's a few of us around that have seen this as a precursor to shutter failure. It's not a good thing, but it is an easy, if moderately expensive repair.

Mark

[Bob_A]

Shutter failure ... no doubt at all.

[gjl711]

Take a look at this thread (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=244441&highlight=shutter+failure). If you scroll down to post 29 you can see what will eventually happen if you let this go unrepaired.

[Sydor25]

That's good to know, but Canon should put that information in their manual. Most users wouldn't know that the curved light is shutter failure.

[gjl711]

That's good to know, but Canon should put that information in their manual. Most users wouldn't know that the curved light is shutter failure. I agree. A chapter on failure symptoms would be a good thing. Better yet, a bit of software built in that could analyze the pic and look for the tell tale signature of the impending shutter failure. Then it could put out an ERR code warning that the shutter is not healthy. But alas, all we get in the manual is a few blurbs about the error codes.

[mxwphoto]

Doubt Canon will ever do that. They'll probably think that doing so will make their product look bad. After all, which company would want to tell their customers all the possible things that can go wrong with it before they even buy the darn thing? :)

[Balliolman]

This is very useful information to know. Presumably this tell tale sign is common to all Canon EOS cameras?

[gjx5]

I put the 50mm 1.8 back on the body so will play around with that lens to determine if the same thing happens at higher shutter speeds. I have been having so much fun with the new lens, just put the others aside.Thank you all for responding. I had several issues with the body corrected last June, the shutter among them. Was very happy with the response time and the result with Canon. AND the camera is still under extended warrenty so better get it boxed up and on the way to the repair center! I appreciate your help so much.

[Dave_G]

I had mine repaired under warranty, it wasn't an issue in my case.

[fstop11.net]

Shutter is letting in light leakage. Time for a new body.

[gjx5]

Update: According to advice reading the threads on this issue, I contacted my extended warrenty people and they are sending me the shipping slip to get the camera repaired at one of their Canon approved repair centers. NOW, we'll see if Canon covers the problem. If they don't, extended plan don't!! Ordering the Conon 30D tomorrow while the double rebates are still in effect (got the 24-70 f2.8L for Christmas!). Shutter life of 100,000 shots vs 25,000 on the 300D. Thanks again for your help and happy shooting in 2007!