20D fails days before wedding - help?

[Eoseni]

I recently got a 30D as a second camera to my 20D, as I have an important wedding coming up. Yesterday as I was using it, it failed.

Powers on. LCD panel shows normal info, but when i depress shutter button halfway, LCD panel goes blank, and depressing the shutter fully , nothing happens. No shutter activation, no sound, no lens focusing, nothing. Only thing that happens is the access lamp on the main wheel lights up as if it were recording an image.

Pressing the shutter button several times, "err CF" shows up in the LCD panel. Then goes off again. off and on it comes on again.

But I doubt it's my CF cards, as they work fine in the 30D. I did the normal troubleshooting of taking batteries out and putting back in, recycling (Canon) lenses etc.

The camera just won't take a picture anymore. I tried "clean sensor" option, and the mirror locks up as it should, but depressing the shutter button does nothing.

The camera failed while I had a Tamron lens on it. but I've used this combo for years. It was also a fairly dusty environment and humid - a open field on a hot dusty day. But I had not detached the lens at all during this shoot, just opened the CF card door several times to change cards.

Any tips? Thanks.

Now, I have to probably rent a body if any is available. Anyone recommend renters out there? I'm in CT.

[picturecrazy]

yo tim! great to see you again! It's been a while.

Don't know what is up with your 20D though... yeah, you might need to borrow one to get you through the wedding. Or... perfect excuse to buy the new AWESOME 40D!!!

sorry. I've been drooling over it all day.

You might get more knowledgable responses in the EOS bodies section of the forum.
But great to see you again anyhow!

[ImagesByInku]

...Powers on. LCD panel shows normal info, but when i depress shutter button halfway, LCD panel goes blank, and depressing the shutter fully , nothing happens. No shutter activation, no sound, no lens focusing, nothing. Only thing that happens is the access lamp on the main wheel lights up as if it were recording an image...

Similar thing happened to me... but then I realized that I had the timer on. Hahah!

[Eoseni]

40D I considered it, but well, you know, I wish i had the funds - actually I decided it's bells and whistles are nice but I'm not needing them yet or let's say i can survive without them still.

What are you saying? I thought you had the Mark III? why 40D drooling?
Good to talk to you again, Lloyd.

[tim]

Obviously you need to get another camera, if you can't afford to buy a new 40D consider a used 20D/30D or rent for the weekend. You can't go with just one body - as you've discovered cameras do fail.

[picturecrazy]

But it's bells and whistles are actually USEFUL bells and whistles! Highlight tone priority, 6.5 fps for those bouquet tosses, interchangable focus screens, big boost to the AF sensitivities with cross types active with smaller apertures! It's awesome!! DO IT! hahaha

and yes I have a Mark III but I have a serious soft spot for 1.6 crop format. I think it's awesome.

[Eoseni]

But it's bells and whistles are actually USEFUL bells and whistles! Highlight tone priority, 6.5 fps for those bouquet tosses, interchangable focus screens, big boost to the AF sensitivities with cross types active with smaller apertures! It's awesome!! DO IT! hahaha

and yes I have a Mark III but I have a serious soft spot for 1.6 crop format. I think it's awesome.

Mark III just Ok for you? It doesn't have all those 40D bells?

I did not read about the highlight tone priority. Nice. I agree. Who wouldn't like that? I might DO IT!

Tim, I have a film camera to fall back on, but it's just so awkward if i had to use it as a back up really. I will have to rent. You're right.

[picturecrazy]

Mark III just Ok for you? It doesn't have all those 40D bells?

yes it does have them too, but I almost feel stupid for buying it when the 40D specs came out with many of those bells and whistles, and the mark III is almost 4 times more expensive.

[Eoseni]

Hey lloyd, How are you online without being visible? No green light on?

Ahh, I see what you mean about the 40D now. It's much lighter too, no?

[picturecrazy]

Hey lloyd, How are you online without being visible? No green light on?

huh? invisible? what? green light? What on earth are you talking about?

[Eoseni]

HUh? the green light below your avatar.

[Woogie]

Tim, do you by any chance use the grip with your 20D? The grips can come loose and cause your LCD to read err CF. If you do have the grip, try taking it completely off and then putting it back on. If that doesn't work, take the grip off all together and throw the original battery gate back on there.

[liza]

Hey lloyd, How are you online without being visible? No green light on?

Ahh, I see what you mean about the 40D now. It's much lighter too, no?

You can opt to remain invisible. It's a setting in your user CP. I do it, too.

And I'm on the list at Robert's Imaging for the 40D. I can't wait!!!

As for your dilemna, I'd rent something if you can't borrow a camera.

Good luck. :)

[Eoseni]

Woogie, I don't use a grip....but thank you anyways!


Ah, Liza, thank you. Yeah, It looks as though I'd have to rent...but I haven't found a place yet. Still surfing.

[liza]

www.lensestorent.com

www.lensprotogo.com

[patrickpkt]

My only thought is to check for bent pins in the CF compartment. I don't have any suggestions for what to do if they are bent though (perhaps a jeweler's screwdriver?).

[Eoseni]

Thanks but Yikes, that might be, but I would not feel comfortable doing it myself. The cards go in and out normally though, so i doubt that's the case....but now I'd have to go see for sure.

[strmrdr]

tried a different battery?

[Eoseni]

yep - i am quite convinced it's gonna need Canon's help. Alas.

[picturecrazy]

Sorry to hear that. Hopefully canon is better for you in your part of the world than it is for me. They are slow up here and don't fix things well...

[Eoseni]

Lloyd, this will be my first time. I hope it's good service. They have not returned my email yet but it has been only 5 hours. What are their prices like? i suppose it depends....

[tnicol]

I assume you've tried all the "clear settings" options. I clear them all once in a while just to be safe. Also, be sure the main battery and the small backup battery are good.

[Eoseni]

I assume you've tried all the "clear settings" options. I clear them all once in a while just to be safe. Also, be sure the main battery and the small backup battery are good.

Actually, no. I will try that, thank you. Right now, I have the camera in my bag with the CF door and the lens detached, sitting with those silica packs to dry up any moisture that may have entered. last ditch effort. I'll try your suggestion tomorrow morning.

[tim]

Just send it to Canon, even if you coax it back to life it sounds like it could fail again at any moment. It's currently a liability, not an asset.

[tango_28]

Has been hot lately where you live? If so, put camera in plastic bag and put in the fridge for 20 minutes. Then try again. I tried this my Minolta 7D and it worked again. I got this idea from this article
http://geeksaresexy.blogspot.com/2006/01/freeze-your-hard-drive-to-recover-data.html

[KRM]

Tim,

I feel your pain, that happened to me last year! That's how I got my 30D :)

[tim]

It's better than failing during a wedding, which is how I got my 30D.

[thebrewer]

I have an XT for sale HERE (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=375951) , I am only a day away UPS. It has served me well as a backup and second shooter camera. Good luck with the repair.

Rich

[Tish]

It's better than failing during a wedding, which is how I got my 30D.

And how I'm likely to get my 40D 6 months sooner than planned. One 20D apparently went seriously sideways yesterday; one unexplained Err99, one complete shutdown of power, and a bunch of photos very out of focus. Thank God I wasn't the primary & that everything on the other body is fine.

I'm planning to rent for my next wedding while the 20D goes to Canon, then buy based on what they come back at me with. Guess our 20Ds are reaching end of life. :(

[Eoseni]

Canon hasn't replied my email from yesterday yet. It's too late to get it repaired in time for Sept 22 anyways seems to me. How long does Canon take I wonder?

[picturecrazy]

Canon hasn't replied my email from yesterday yet. It's too late to get it repaired in time for Sept 22 anyways seems to me. How long does Canon take I wonder?

I'm always told 15 days but it usually takes longer. I have to ship my gear though as there is no service centre in my town. If you have one you can walk into, maybe take it right there and see if they can help you meet your deadline.

[Eoseni]

www.lensestorent.com (http://www.lensestorent.com)

www.lensprotogo.com (http://www.lensprotogo.com)

Liza, thank you. I looked at both sites...

[tim]

Canon customer service worldwide sucks. 3 months service times aren't unusual. Don't count on them even bothering to reply to your email, always call them. Assume the camera is lost then be happily suprised if Canon actually manage to fix it before it's obsolete.

[Eoseni]

Canon customer service worldwide sucks. 3 months service times aren't unusual. Don't count on them even bothering to reply to your email, always call them. Assume the camera is lost then be happily suprised if Canon actually manage to fix it before it's obsolete.

Thanks for the warning,tim.

[picturecrazy]

Canon customer service worldwide sucks. 3 months service times aren't unusual. Don't count on them even bothering to reply to your email, always call them. Assume the camera is lost then be happily suprised if Canon actually manage to fix it before it's obsolete.

BWHAHAHAHAHA!

I thought canon canada was bad. I should count my blessings.

[thebrewer]

Canon hasn't replied my email from yesterday yet. It's too late to get it repaired in time for Sept 22 anyways seems to me. How long does Canon take I wonder?

Call them, last time I sent a body to them, turnaround was quoted at business days. With shipping it took 2 weeks. FYI: the closest service center is in NJ.

Rich

[Padawan Dad]

I've only had to send two lenses to canon (New Jersey,) both times I received them back in less than 2 weeks. I never had an issue with Canon and felt that they were efficient, and pleasant.

[videochicke]

The shutter is rated for 100,000 shots. Those who I know with failed shutters, they failed around the 75,000 mark. And the repair cost made it more worthwhile to just buy new.

[Eoseni]

Canon replied today - 2 days from my initial email contact - with the advice to send it in. I don't think it's too bad (email reply in 2 days, that is) - so it's a matter of what the cost is , how long, etc.

Rich, yes, I found out NJ was the closest center for me.

Videochicke, my camera is at folder 425. What's that make my shutter activations? I don't quite know - 42,500? I have not reset the counter. And I think I have treated my camera gently....and i also bought it new.

I'm disappointed. I now hope it won't cost half the price of a used 20D or 30D to repair but i have a feeling it will!

[ctgirl]

Try lensrentals.com too, I've used them and always had great service! Good luck with getting your camera repaired.

[JimAskew]

Lloyd, this will be my first time. I hope it's good service. They have not returned my email yet but it has been only 5 hours. What are their prices like? i suppose it depends....

I have had two recent experiences with Canon's NJ Repair Center...both were very positive.

In Dec 2006 I sent my dRebel XT with the 24-70MM EF L stuck on it to have them separated and the underlying issue repaired. I got it back in 8 days, repaired under warrenty, and with a new lens locking mechanism. They also cleaned and serviced the camera. I was well pleased and there have been no subsequent issues with the DRebel.

Last month I sent my 30D to Canon NJ as there was a problem with the sensor...it was leaving a small black triangle on the bottom middle of every photo I made. It came back in 6 days with the sensor cleaned and calibrated, the camera serviced, and a "back focus issue" corrected...all at no cost It works just fine now and again I am well pleased.

So, my 2 sample survey says that Canon's NJ Service Center is great :D

[videochicke]

Canon replied today - 2 days from my initial email contact - with the advice to send it in. I don't think it's too bad (email reply in 2 days, that is) - so it's a matter of what the cost is , how long, etc.

Rich, yes, I found out NJ was the closest center for me.

Videochicke, my camera is at folder 425. What's that make my shutter activations? I don't quite know - 42,500? I have not reset the counter. And I think I have treated my camera gently....and i also bought it new.

I'm disappointed. I now hope it won't cost half the price of a used 20D or 30D to repair but i have a feeling it will!

Not sure how many pics that makes. I know in my case some folders seem to end up with more pics than others. Plus, if you are deleting as you go along, not sure how that affects things either. It still counts as a click even if it no longer in the folder.

[BJ Pulsipher]

I got that error once with my digital rebel. I turned the camera off, took off the lens, put it back on and turned on the camera. The error went away and I never had that problem again. It was wayyyy cold out when it happened.

[Grace]

Hey Tim - how did it go?

[Eoseni]

Hey Tim - how did it go?

Ok, this is an update report: Canon came through for me with excellent service! Good news for a change - I sent in my 20D and 50mm lens - both were dead (I dropped my 50mm down a rocky slope but glass was not damaged - but AF and manual focus were dead)

They emailed receipt of my package, requested approval & payment info over the phone (I called them after I received their email - they won't call you), then they sent documentation in the mail, and then delivered my repaired 20D and 50mm - as promised - well within the 7-10 days turn around they set for themselves!

Cost of repair was reasonable. I cannot complain of anything. The only thing I would say is that the wait over the phone was about 10 minutes.

Canon also gives a 6-month guarantee for the repaired parts. Reasonable.

So, another happy customer here.

[louiep83]

One of our 30D die this summer and Canon has to replace the whole electronic guts of it under warranty. It took 4-5 weeks in the middle of wedding season.
One rental 30D also died, but eventually it was traced back to a missing stop screw on the 16-35 lens. (probably caused the same problem in the first 30D).
Another 30D's right most AF point is not working, sent in back to Canon 3 weeks ago, they are waiting for parts from Japan! something to do with SPC assembly. Lucky our season is done and we still have our backups.
:-(
Maybe I should consider pro body?

[Solaria]

I have an "err cf" going on too, had it happen during the last wedding I shot, thankfully I had a backup N***N to shoot with, for the remainder of the day...
I've got my camera boxed up and ready to go to Canon in Irvine, can only imagine what repairs will cost though...