ERROR 99 at all lenses ->EOS 300D

[nucki]

Hi!

got in big trouble today! My girlfriend and I went to the zoo today. She made about 20 or 30 pics with the 100-400 L. Then we changed lenses. She takes the 28-135. Some photos worked, after these suddenly Error99 appears. She switched off and on again. The error is still there. I tryed now all leses. All the same error!

The mirror goes up and down. the message error99. sometimes its working (about 1 out of 10) Firmware is 1.1.1, its now 1 mount old. there was never a problem until today.

PS: its the same on canon or sigma lenses

PPS: I clead the contact allready

any suggestions?
need your help!

thanks
best regards Peter

[PeterS45]

Error 99 is on page 127 of the manual:

An error other than the above has occurred.
Remove and re-install the battery.

I hope it helps.

[nucki]

Error 99 is on page 127 of the manual:

An error other than the above has occurred.
Remove and re-install the battery.

I hope it helps.

Hi Peter!

Thanks for the quick answer. It worked! but just for 1 photo! when I did the second one. exactly the same error. switched it off and on. and now something strange:
photo was taken with flash, but it was completely dark. just black!
removed the battery. error 99 from begining!

Peter

[nucki]

some additional info to the problem:

* I have taken out the CF card and the battery ->error 99

* The lenses wich are not working on the 300D are working on my 10D

* all contacts are clean

* tryed another CF card ->error 99

* contacts in the CF slot are clean

* tryed fresh charged batteries

I think I had to take it to canon....

[/list]

[PeterS45]

Well, this is what the manual says:

If the same error occurs often, something is probably wrong with the camera. Jot down the “xx” error code and take your camera to the
nearest Canon Service Center.


So, it's still a new camera so use your warranty.

Good luck! :)

[nucki]

Well, this is what the manual says:

If the same error occurs often, something is probably wrong with the camera. Jot down the “xx” error code and take your camera to the
nearest Canon Service Center.


So, it's still a new camera so use your warranty.

Good luck! :)

yes, I think I had to speak with the canon guys...

thanks
Peter

[zonetailed]

Hi Nucki,

I bet you I know what's wrong with your Dig Rebel with regards to the error 99. I bet it's a defective shutter unit. I also have the 100-400 L series lens. Some shots the camera is fine and others I get the error. I sent it to Canon for repairs and they told me it was a defective shutter unit indeed. Hopefully, you have another camera for backup! Hope that helps.

[drisley]

Hmmm, that is interesting.
I just received the error99 this weekend a couple times using my new 85mm f1.8 and Digital Rebel. I just turned off the camera, and when I turned it back on, the problem went away.
I never saw that problem before using my other lenses.

[drisley]

What is the best method for cleaning the lens contacts?

[nucki]

Hi Nucki,

I bet you I know what's wrong with your Dig Rebel with regards to the error 99. I bet it's a defective shutter unit. I also have the 100-400 L series lens. Some shots the camera is fine and others I get the error. I sent it to Canon for repairs and they told me it was a defective shutter unit indeed. Hopefully, you have another camera for backup! Hope that helps.

I think you'r right. yesterday I went to canon. I will receive the camera back in about 5-7 days, maybe a little bit earlier.
Yes, I have a backup unit. the 300D is the camera of my girlfriend, I own a 10D and never had this error99 problem. even not with any sigma lens except one very old 70-210 APO sigma.

Peter

[Kelianne]

I just got Error 99 again today. Has anyone gotten this error and been able to correct it without sending the camera in for repair? The user guide says to take out the battery, however that didn't work. Every time I try to take a picture, the camera flashes Error 99. I even took out the small watch size battery and left it out for 10 minutes. All other functions work on the camera and it will auto focus, but it just won't take a picture.

This happened a few days after I first bought the camera when I tried to use a non-Canon 2x Extender. I took the camera back to Ritz Camera and they gave me a new one and told me not to use the Extender because that probably wasn't compatible. Now I have shot about 1100 photos in 2 months using the Canon lens from the package and my Quantaray 70-300mm zoom - I mainly use the Quantaray. Today when I was using the Quantaray lens after several shots I got the Error 99 and now I can't take a picture. I tried putting the Canon lens back on too, but nothing seemed to help.

I had driven an hour and a half to a beautiful Victorian town called Cape May in NJ where all of the tulips are in bloom and the camera stopped functioning after an hour. I did not have my film camera there for back up so the rest of the day was wasted. I was so angry. I can't bring the camera back to Ritz until Monday and I am sure they will have to send it out for repair so I will be without the camera for weeks.

[FJC]

If this is happening with two different cameras, I'm not sure I'd blame the camera.

I'd say look at the CF card (if you've been using the same one), or that non-Canon lens...

[robertwgross]

If this is happening with two different cameras, I'm not sure I'd blame the camera.

I'd say look at the CF card (if you've been using the same one), or that non-Canon lens...

I agree.

---Bob Gross---

[petiot]

i have not readl all messages in this thread, just the description of the problem. I have a 10 D and had exactly the same symptoms. the camera was sometime taking one shots, or two before it goes in err 99. the mirro seemd to do the first part of its travel but not the second.

sent it back to canon. they changed the shutter mechanism. I didnt have 5000 shots on it, but now it is new!!

Dan

[INV]

This is a second attempt to post a reply. Here is what I recieved from Canon about the err 99 on my 10D using a Quantaray tech-10 24mm macro. It works in my D30 but not in my 10D.



"On all of Canon's EOS cameras, any Canon EF series lens is designed for
the camera.
Canon does not support non Canon equipment. It has not been tested and
we do not know the effects. It could cause malfunctions with the camera.

A variety of lenses from third-party manufacturers - Sigma, Quantaray,
Tamron, and others - are available in Canon EF mounts to fit Canon EOS
camera bodies. However, contrary to popular belief, these companies are
not "licensed" to produce these lenses; instead, their designers must
basically take apart and analyze EOS cameras and lenses, and then
"reverse-engineer" them to fit and operate on EOS camera bodies.

Lens to body communication

All Canon EF lenses have a microprocessor within the lens that provides
a number of items of information to the camera. When you turn on an EOS
camera (film or digital) the camera and lens communicate, and the camera
"knows" the lens's focal length, if it's a zoom lens the actual zoom
setting it's currently set to, and the maximum and minimum apertures,
among other things. When the camera is activated, this basic information
is transmitted to the camera body's main processor.

When the autofocus and light metering are activated by pressing the
shutter button halfway down, additional communication is carried out,
chiefly signaling the aperture control motor within the lens to stop the
diaphragm down to an amount determined by the camera (or the user, if
the camera's used in Av or Manual exposure modes), and a start signal is
sent to the lens's built-in focusing motor to begin driving the focusing
elements of the lens for autofocus. This is only a thumbnail sketch of
what occurs between body and lens. Many additional items are
communicated back and forth between the time the camera is turned on and
the moment the shutter button is fully depressed.

Communication errors

Whenever an EOS camera cannot complete electronic communication with a
lens, or detects an internal disturbance, the camera is designed to
lock-up on the first attempt to fire the shutter. Usually, a
dead-battery icon blinks in the same manner as a "check engine" light in
a car. This assures that there's almost no possibility of a user
shooting an entire wedding or vacation, for instance, with a lens that's
not stopping down its aperture properly or otherwise not working with
the camera properly.

Third-party lenses

The makers of third-party accessory lenses are not given this
information when Canon introduces new features or improves the
performance of its cameras and lenses. It's up to them to continue to
"reverse-engineer" their equipment to enable it to continue to work on
new EOS bodies as they're developed. Since Canon designs our own
processors and all electronics within the body and lens, we have been
able to maintain backward compatibility. This is one of the many
advantages of choosing a Canon EF lens.

When changes in communication result in a third-party lens that now
produces errors, it's up to the makers of that lens to update the
equipment to work on the EOS camera in question. Again, Canon's own EF
lenses work without modification.

The meaning of "fully compatible"

Many third-party lenses with EF mounts are sold to customers with the
claim by store salespeople or even the lens manufacturer that they're
"fully compatible" with all Canon EOS cameras. Canon, Inc. in Japan and
Canon USA offer no rebuttal to those claims.

Any compatibility is based on the reverse engineering we described
earlier in this document. And if a user mounts this lens on a certain
Canon EOS camera and it locks up, it's up to the user to contact the
lens manufacturer (after verifying it's a lens issue; see below) and
tell the lens maker's service department, "make it right."

Thank you for choosing Canon.

Sincerely,

Todd
Product Support Representative"

[RichYoung]

I received error 99 on a Sigma lens. Sent back to Sigma to be rechipped. ...Rich

[Kelianne]

This is all great information. So if it is just the lens that has a problem as the latest post with the letter from Canon states, then once I put the Canon lens back on then I shouldn't get the error 99 anymore. It shouldn't stop the camera from working completely! I guess I am going to have to spend even more money now for the Canon 70-300 lens!

[nucki]

This is all great information. So if it is just the lens that has a problem as the latest post with the letter from Canon states, then once I put the Canon lens back on then I shouldn't get the error 99 anymore. It shouldn't stop the camera from working completely! I guess I am going to have to spend even more money now for the Canon 70-300 lens!

but all started with the Canon 28-135 IS USM!!! hmmm...??!!??!

[INV]

I don't have an answer for you. Here is the page that has the link to the "Interactive troubleshooting" from Canon.

http://www.powershot.com/ciw/ppg/EOS10D.html

Once you pick "Interactive Troubleshooting", select "other inquires" and go from there. You might even cut and paste the reply I got to it and explain your situation. Good Luck.

:?

[INV]

Darn, I gave you some incorrect information. After you go into the "Interactive troubleshooting" pick "Difficulties with camera operation". From there you can pick err messages.

[INV]

Hey Nucki,

Were you able to get the problem resolved? If so can you tell us what the outcome was so my learning curve continues to curve.

:P

[jlero]

I'm no technician, but after trying to clear the 'error 99' from my 10D using all of the above, I finally looked inside. Try this... lift the mirror and visually inspect the shutter curtain. If each segment is not completely straight, touch it lightly with your blower bristles and try to pop it back into alignment. Mine took about 1 second. I remounted the lens and voila! Back to business!! Not sure how long it will last, but so far so good.

[jlero]

I'm no technician, but after trying to clear the 'error 99' from my 10D using all of the above, I finally looked inside. Try this... lift the mirror and visually inspect the shutter curtain. If each segment is not completely straight, touch it lightly with your blower bristles and try to pop it back into alignment. Mine took about 1 second. I remounted the lens and voila! Back to business!! Not sure how long it will last, but so far so good.:)

[MrThanh]

i got my 20D about 2 weeks ago, and i got "Error 99" once. It happened as i was transferring files to the computer. I disconnected it from the pc, turned off the camera and turned it back on, and tried to take a photo to no avail.

I changed the battery and it was fine from then on. it turns out that it was just a flat battery that caused the error.

[arpi]

I just got error 99 on my 20D. Whenever I tried to shoot, I got the error message. It just happens that I had a spare battery with me and after I change the battery the message error went away.

My feeling is that the battery power indicator does not work like it is supposed to. I was waiting to get a message that the battery was low since I was using the same battery for two days but I never did get the message and all I got was the error 99. The little battery picture in the LCD shows a fully charged battery. I measured the old battery and I got 7.8 volts. The new one had 8.2 volts. I believe that Li-ion batteries do not have a gradual voltage drop, anyway, empty batteries do not provide enough current to power up the processor and write in the CF card.

Next time you get the error 99 code, try recharging the battery or better yet, try another battery.

Cheers

[EOSAddict]

When I first got my 300D I had Err99 using my old (10 yrs +) Sigma zooms. These have now been replaced by the Tamron and no further problems!!

If in doubt, spend money!

[robertwgross]

I measured the old battery and I got 7.8 volts. The new one had 8.2 volts. I believe that Li-ion batteries do not have a gradual voltage drop, anyway, empty batteries do not provide enough current to power up the processor and write in the CF card.


There is more to a battery than just the open-circuit terminal voltage. Measuring a battery in a standard current condition can be more useful, even if it takes longer. This can be tricky if there is a power fault within or around the camera (e.g. in a battery grip).

---Bob Gross---

[KnobCreek]

I was having the same issue with a Sigma lense that I had purchased and am currently exchanging emails with both a Canon and Sigma technical rep. Sigma is offering to rechip the lense free of charge, so you may just want to see if the manufacturer of your lense will do the same.

[I Simonius]

Hi!

got in big trouble today!<snip>the message error99. sometimes its working <snip>r

I goy my first error 99 ypday
camera locked up completely
It was after about 4 shots with the new 17-400 lens, having chaned from the 50mm
I noticed the AF was acting oddly on the shot before, the centre spot kept glowing slightly _ I half pressed the shutter button a couple of times and it seemed to clear but then - ERROR 99 on the next shot
I couldn't remember immediately what to do and lost the best shots of the day _ The sun hhad finally come out and I had talked a really interesting guy into letting me shoot his tattoos and leather work
-error 99
Grrrr

WHAT CAUSES IT?
HOW DO I AVOID IT?
does it mean my new lens has a fault?
I noticed that some exposures were way off too - way overexposed...

[kufel]

buddy of mine in my presence received err99 on 20D right after he hooked up ext 1.4X+ext2x+70-200 IS - all by Canon. Since 20D can AF only up to 5.6 and his was efectively f/8 it's definitely camera-lens communication. after removing grip , batteries CF card and starting camera without the grip it went away. he's not using 2 extenders any more an no more err99 my 1DMkII report the same configuration as f/5.6 lens but does not go into err99

[Agus]

I also have error 99 on my camera for no apparent reason, I have changed CF card, battery, lenses, you name it. And I do not have non Canon accesories, they are all original Canon. I sent the camera to the Canon repair center in Irvine California twice and they are not able to fix the problem. Sometimes I shoot 20 or 30 pics and then it fails, sometimes it fails right away. i can not pin point the cause of the problem and it is very frustrating since the camera fails at the worst moment. I would think that with this kind of failure Canon would replace tha camera but I have not seen much response from them. Any help would be appreciated.