Error 99 on 10D & 28-135 USM

[DamoRed]

Hi all,

This is my first post here, but I've been reading and enjoying the site for the past two years, finding endless valuable information from the regular contributors, for which I am grateful. Thankfully I haven't had any problems until now.

On Saturday I had the very surprising problem of having an error 99 fault when fitted with the 28-135 USM lens. I don't know if it's the lens, because I've had it attatched 90% of the time since I got my 10D, 18 months ago.

I turned off the camera, the back on after a few seconds and it cleared the problem momentarily. About 10 minutes later, it happened again.

Has anyone else experienced this? If so, did you find the source of the problem?

Damo

[Jim_T]

Error 99 is an 'unspecified error' ..... Really useful :)

As far as the lens goes.. If there is grit or finger oil on the gold contacts located on the lens or on the camera, you could wind up with errors.. These have to make a good contact..

Make sure they're clean. I had a few lens errors once in the field and wiped the contacts with the sleve of a cotton shirt I was wearing. That worked..

I don't recommend using your sleeve, but wiping the contacts gently a few times with a dry lint free cloth might dislodge a bit of stuck dust or wipe off any oil that chanced to wind up there.

It is possible the lens has problems. Try shooting with IS on.. If you get the error, then after that, shoot only with IS off. If you dont, then that will at least let you know if the IS is causing the problem.

Also.. I wouldn't attribute the error to the lens alone.. I'd try a different compact flash card just to make sure.. Normally a bad card will give a bad flash card error, or corrupt image error, but not always.

If cleaning the contacts and trying a different memory card doesn't help, then it's probably time to send the lens and/or camera in to Canon service...

[CyberDyneSystems]

Indeed,.

Error99 CAN be caused by miscommunication with a lens.. and due to the "Sigma Chip" issues.. error 99 quickly became assocoiated with lens issues.

But .. a stuck or dieing shutter.. incorrect voltage, or even some memory card errors can cause an error99.

Cleaning the contacts is a good place to look first. If you have any toher lenses.. you may ant to try another for a while and see if this solves the issue... to narrow it down to a specific lens.

Of course with a sporadic problem.. it is hard to be sure.

When my 10D's shutter dies.. it spent a few eeks with off and on error 99s before the bitter end finally came. During that time I spent a good deal of time swapping lenses trying to figure out whcihc was casuing it.. and of course it was neither.

Good luck.

[samdring]

But of course, for CDS. Error 99 is the count of Tie-Pin Miss-takes :wink:

Eh, it matters not a jot - the message gets through

[CyberDyneSystems]

'tis a trusome fo sho...