[EDIT] My 70-200mm IS lens is buggy

[JX]

I bought a brand new 70-200 F/2.8 IS USM lens the lens cost about $1,500.00. I believe the IS unit is faulty. My camera locks up every time I am in low light situations when “IS” is on. I receive an err 01. After searching through different forums, this lens has been plagued with problems. Canon may make quality lens, but they have poor quality control.

[Belmondo]

Sorory to hear you're having a problem. I don't think the problem is chronic, however, and it may not be a quality issue as much as a design problem. (Is there really a difference?)

I was shooting my Mk II with the 70-200 f/2.8L IS a couple days ago and had a similar problem. I finally ended up removing and reinstalling the lens and the problem went away.....for now. It's the first problem I've had with the lens in almost a year.

Or is it the Mk II?

BTW, which body are you using? I'm wondering if there's a compatability issue between the lens and the DIGIC circuitry.

[dhbailey]

I just received my 20D yesterday, along with the 75-300 IS zoom lens, and the documentation says that in low light the IS won't work and it should be turned off.

I wonder if this is the problem you're having -- not a bad IS mechanism, just that it can't really lock on the image in low light.

[Cadwell]

I just received my 20D yesterday, along with the 75-300 IS zoom lens, and the documentation says that in low light the IS won't work and it should be turned off.

I wonder if this is the problem you're having -- not a bad IS mechanism, just that it can't really lock on the image in low light.

Ummm... so what precisely is the point of IS then? I thought one of the big selling points was that it gave you "an extra couple of stops" to allow you to shoot hand held in lower light levels :?

[ssim]

I have the lens in question and have used it on my MKII and 10D without any errors. It is probably the sharpest lens in my bag and have used it in low light conditions. I've never really read the part in the manual where it says that the IS won't function in low light. I suppose that it depends on how low a lighting situation that you are working in. Are your expectations set too high for the lens. Perhaps you could explain the situation that you were shooting in a little more.

I do take exception to your shotgun approach to your subject line. It implies that Canon is lacking in quality across their general product lines. Yes I am a fan of Canon products. I own several of the L series lenses and a couple of very good bodies.

[Belmondo]

Canon may make quality lens, but they have poor quality control.


I do take exception to your shotgun approach to your subject line. It implies that Canon is lacking in quality across their general product lines. Yes I am a fan of Canon products. I own several of the L series lenses and a couple of very good bodies.


Yeah, JX, that probably is an overly-broad statement. The fact that you're having a problem does not mean the issue is widespread. It's unfortunate, especially for you, but is far from being justification for a 'Bash Canon' campaign.

I think the vast majority of Canon purchasers would tell you they think the quality control is just fine (if not excellent).

[JX]

If I am shooting at f2.8 at 1/200 sec, and the camera metering system determines this is not a correct exposure it just won't take the picture. When "IS" is on under the same conditions the camera locks up. An “err 01” code is displayed. The Mark II will not function. The only way to clear the error is to shut the camera off and dismount the lens.

[FlipsidE]

Since it took me six Digital Rebels to get a good one, I almost tend to agree with the subject of this thread. But, at the same time, I'm not sure I can blame that on Canon. It might have been Best Buy's fault.

FlipsidE

[roanjohn]

Since it took me six Digital Rebels to get a good one, I almost tend to agree with the subject of this thread. But, at the same time, I'm not sure I can blame that on Canon. It might have been Best Buy's fault.

FlipsidE

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

SIX!!!??!!! I would've switched to Nikon on the 3rd one!!! :twisted: :twisted:

Ro1

[Deckyon]

I have the 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS lens and have never had a problem using it on either my 1D MkII or 20D. I shoot low light a lot, and have had no problems at all.

Take the lens back to the store and get a new one.

[FlipsidE]

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

SIX!!!??!!! I would've switched to Nikon on the 3rd one!!! :twisted: :twisted:

Ro1

- Well, I honestly wanted to stick with Canon if I could. I bought a Powershot S30 two years ago, and it's been working flawlessly. I knew Canon had it in 'em, so I stuck it out.

When I found out the fifth one was bad, I went to a different Best Buy store. That Best Buy had a much more friendly and helpful staff, and so far, this camera seems to be good.

FlipsidE

[mattchase]

JX, that sounds more like a focus problem than metering system. I have never seen a metering system that wouldn't allow you to take a picture, even if the exposure was totally wrong. But if the camera / lens can't find a point to focus on, then it won't take the picture.

When you have the problem, does the focus indicator dot in the viewfinder blink, or is it solid? Solid means it found focus, blinking means it can't, in which case it won't take the picture. If you switch the lens to manual focus, or if you switch the camera to AI Servo mode, then the camera won't care if it is in focus anymore, and will let you take the shot pretty much no matter what.

As far as the ERR 01, I don't know what error that code is for. I have read about many people having error codes that went away after removing and remounting the lens, leading to the theory that if the contacts on the lens or camera aren't clean or lined up and making good contact, that it will cause an error code. Doesn't seem to matter who makes the lens, I have seen it happen with just about every brand out there. But I think that problem usually gives an ERR 99 (but maybe different bodies give different codes for the same error).

[JX]

ssim wrote: I have the lens in question and have used it on my MKII and 10D without any errors. It is probably the sharpest lens in my bag and have used it in low light conditions. I've never really read the part in the manual where it says that the IS won't function in low light. I suppose that it depends on how low a lighting situation that you are working in. Are your expectations set too high for the lens. Perhaps you could explain the situation that you were shooting in a little more.

I do take exception to your shotgun approach to your subject line. It implies that Canon is lacking in quality across their general product lines. Yes I am a fan of Canon products. I own several of the L series lenses and a couple of very good



"I've never really read the part in the manual where it says that the IS won't function in low light. "
Da!!! That is my point.

ssim wrote "I do take exception to your shotgun approach to your subject line. "
If you received a defective lens that you paid $1,500.00 you just might have a different opinion.

Ssim wrote: "It implies that Canon is lacking in quality across their general product lines."

Ask all the 20 D users who posted problems how they feel about quality across general product line.


Ssims wrote: "Are your expectations set too high for the lens."
My expectations for an "L" lens is that it work and be free of defectives when purchased brand new.

[JX]

Matt,

The err 01 code is a communication problem between the lens and the camera.

But if the camera / lens can't find a point to focus on, then it won't take the picture. Matt that is a good point. I am not sure if the green light was blinking or solid. But even so the camera should not lock up. Also, as long as I leave IS turned off, I don't have a problem.[/quote]

[Belmondo]

Ask all the 20 D users who posted problems how they feel about quality across general product line.

Ooooh. Cheap shot! :lol: :lol:

I don't think we've heard much about problems with the 20D since firmware v.1.05 was released. I'm not sure that really pertains to this discussion.

[JX]

belmondo wrote
I don't think we've heard much about problems with the 20D since firmware v.1.05 was released. I'm not sure that really pertains to this discussion.



As far as quality control and testing, I think it is very relevant.]

[JX]

belmondo Wrote:

BTW, which body are you using? I'm wondering if there's a compatability issue between the lens and the DIGIC circuitry

I have a EOS 1D Mark II

[Deckyon]

Sounds like you just like complaining. Take the lens back to the store and get a different one. Or, if Canon is SOOO bad, sell your Canon rig and buy something else.

BTW, IS does not imply it will focus on nothing. It only means you can handhold as two (roughly) stops lower in either shutter or aperture. The camera still has to achieve focus first.

[Belmondo]

I respectfully disagree, but don't think it's a point worth arguing about.

You're not happy; most owners of that lens are. Your personal dissatisfaction with Canon is duly noted, but does not necessarily reflect the attitudes of the vast majority of Canon owners. It is only anecdotal and does not support your contention that a general problem exists with their quality control.

Whatever the problem, be it bad design or bad quality control, I hope you get it straightened out to your satisfaction. Missing an important shot because the camera has frozen is confidence shaking.

[JX]

Deckyon

Sounds like you just like complaining. Take the lens back to the store and get a different one. Or, if Canon is SOOO bad, sell your Canon rig and buy something else

Tell me what would you say or do if you bought something brand new and it did not work. Let me guess, you say "Oh I am so happy my new lens that I paid $1,500.00 does not work properly. I just love buying lemons."


I bought the lens from B&H Photo, they have a one week return policy. I had already had the lens a week before I notice the problem. I am going to send the lens in for repair. Do you think a brand new lens that is a month old should be sent in for repairs?

I did not say Canon was bad, just lacking quality control.
[/quote]

[scottbergerphoto]

The Canon 70-200 2.8 IS is known for its problems. Here are 13 pages of complaints:
http://www.robgalbraith.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=248404&page=&view=&sb=5&o =&fpart=1&vc=1
Regards,
Scott

[JX]

Thank You Scott

[Scottes]

I bought the lens from B&H Photo, they have a one week return policy.

14 days actually.


Should it be necessary to return an item, you may return it for a refund or exchange, excluding any shipping charges, within a period of 14 days for Photo equipment, and 7 days for Video, Audio, and Digital equipment.

Betcha you're wishing you had read *that* a while ago, huh?


Seems like you're willing to complain but not do anything constructive about your problem.

[ssim]

Thanks for the link Scott. Interesting reading.

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones because I haven't experienced any lockup problems with my 70-200 f/2.8 L IS.

I know quite a few people that have bought the 20D and not one of them have complained about the issues that we heard so much about on here. This was even before Canon issued the firmware update.

[KennyG]

I have probably had the 70-200 2.8IS longer than most people here. I have used it with two 10D's, a 1D and a 1D MK-II and it has never, and I mean never, given one single problem.

IS will not help you focus in low-light situations, period. You can't get better than F2.8 maximum aperture, IS or no IS. IS will reduce the vibration at low shutter speeds which occurs when there is poor lighting, nothing more clever than that. If you can't get focus with the lens wide open, increase the ISO, and if you still can't get focus at maximum ISO then there is simply not enough light to take the shot without a flash.

This isn't a fault with the lens or the camera. People expect too much from IS with some mistaken idea it will turn an F2.8 lens into an F1, which of course it won't. IS will get confused if the lighting is very poor and not being able to take the shot or get AF should be a warning. This is why Canon print the warning in the manual.

Some, but not all, people have experienced problems with this lens on the 1D MK-II and it appears that it is either newer manufactured lenses or some random problem with the MK-II camera. The jury is still out as to why this happens, and it is only a very small number of instances.

Claiming that it is some form of massive problem that everyone has just isn't true.

Scott, count the actual number of posters with the problem on the 7 pages that my system shows for that link.

[daveh]

After searching through different forums

Sure - if you search through forums for problems, then you'll find them. Many people never think to post something about a product unless they're having a problem. Then other people search, see other people with problems and come to the conclusion that their product is unusually trouble-prone. Happens all the time. Sometimes I even see someone complaining about product A and saying product B is much more reliable but I also regularly read a product B forum so I know that people over there have made the reverse complaint. Sometimes I post a message like this on both the A and B forums and neither complainer believes me.

Do you think a brand new lens that is a month old should be sent in for repairs?

This is what warranties are for. Most won't have to be sent in of course, but if none needed to be sent, then there would be no point to a warranty.

[SSonnentag]

I've found that if it's cold outside the lens/body contacts tend to lose contact. If I loosen the lens and the tighten it back on again everything works as it should. You might try cleaning the lens/body contacts also.

Shawn

[JX]

This problem is not a temperature problem. It happens indoor and outdoors. I did try cleaning the contacts. That did not help.

[Chris1le]

Tell me what would you say or do if you bought something brand new and it did not work.

Well, I'd try and figure out if it was the lens or camera. If I decided it was the lens. I'd call Canon and make arrangements to have it repaired. I bought a Sigma lens that had a front focus problem. I posted a question with pics on this forum and the general consensus was that yes, there was a problem. I sent the lens to get repaired and it works fine now. :wink:

[JX]

Kenny,

The fact is the camera should not lock up, and it only happens when "IS" is turned on. The camera is useless until I turn the camera off and dismount the lens.

[Leigh]

Neither manual, for either my 28-135 IS, or 100-400 L IS, mention any caution of shooting in "low light"; in fact of the 4 "Tips" given for use of IS, in the 28-135 manual, #2 states: (for) "Subjects taken at dusk, or indoors, that are dimly lit".

As to Canon's Q.C., BOTH lenses were defective "out of the box. ---
The 28-135 IS had a defective IS lens element, and was at the Factory Service facility for more than two months awaiting a part.
The 100-400 L IS had to be sent in due to misalligned lens elements, and couldn't focus properly. I don't consider that being dissatisfied, as such, is "bashing" Canon.

I leave it to anyone's imagination, due to my experience, as to what I think of Canon's Quality Control, or lack thereof.

Leigh

[J___]

Since it took me six Digital Rebels to get a good one, I almost tend to agree with the subject of this thread. But, at the same time, I'm not sure I can blame that on Canon. It might have been Best Buy's fault.

FlipsidE

what do u mean "wrong" with it? wat was wrong exactly? i have a 300D but i never tested it out to find out whats wrong, it seems to work properly... please tlel me..... or should i know? i'll prolly get paranoid... ahhhhh the dilema!!!!

crap... i'm already paranoid. so please tell me

[JX]

If I did not think that Canon was the forerunner in digital cameras, I would have purchase another Nikon. That fact is I like Canon. I just am not satisfied with their quality control.

Please don't bother posting a relpy if your going to bash me because I think Canon quality control is lacking.

Please do post a reply if you have a suggestion on how to fix the problem or have encounter the problem before and what you did to solve the problem.

I intend to send the lens in for repairs. Right now it is the only lens I own. I was going to buy another Canon lens, and then send this in for repairs.

[roanjohn]

I intend to send the lens in for repairs. Right now it is the only lens I own. I was going to buy another Canon lens, and then send this in for repairs.

..........might I suggest Sigma or Tamron.............why buy Canon again with thier QA issues??

:?

Ro1

[scottbergerphoto]

There is a problem with the IS mechanism on that lens in some units. This should not be a Love/Hate Canon fest nor should it be a referendum on Canon's quality control. There is a problem with some of theses lenses as they come from the factory and that is a fact. Just like it's a fact that the 20D has some issues in some of its bodies.

I don't think it's helpful to make blanket statements like Canon suc*s or Canon is great. That usually winds up like this thread with someone wanting to shoot the messenger.
I think it is important that people report the problems they are having so they can find out out if they are the only unlucky person or maybe they are doing something wrong or if there is actually a known problem/solution with a particular item.
Regards,
Scott

[JX]

roanjohn, I am considering buying a Sigma or Tamron. But I am still considering buying a Cannon EF 50 Fl1.4. I have not read any bad posts on this lens.


[scottbergerphoto
I would not have purchase a Mark II if did not like Canon. The issue at hand is quality control. It seems to me that a lot of people were asking the same questions that I am a few weeks ago with the 20D firmware disaster.

[defordphoto]

One thing we all need to keep in mind here while Canon is being bashed; we are dealing with highly sophisticated assembly procedures and a very high-tech piece of equipment. When thousands of these are produced yearly, there will be some defective units make it through QC no matter how good QC is. It will happen no matter what company it is, Canon, Nikon, Fuji, whatever. Just go over to a Nikon board and read their problems, bitches and gripes.

I have had my 70-200 f/2.8 IS for over a year and have not had ONE issue with it on ANY of my cameras. Obviously there are issues with some copies of this lens. That thread over at Glabraith's is quite overwhelming.

Anyway, just send the lens in, let them fix it and it'll all be good. Canon does stand 100% behind their work.

[JX]

Thank you for your post. And you are right defects do happen. However, is Canon going to compensate me for the weeks my lens is tied up in repairs?

By the way you have some awesome pictures on your website.

[defordphoto]

Thank you for your post. And you are right defects do happen. However, is Canon going to compensate me for the weeks my lens is tied up in repairs?

By the way you have some awesome pictures on your website.

Thanks! Unfortunately no they do not compensate you. If you are a member of CPS they will loan you gear, but that does not apply to the majority.

I have had a camera and a lens repaired by Canon and they did fine, although the lens took three trips (they paid overnight costs both ways for the last two).

And usually it's about a 2-week or less turnaround time, depending on their current workload.

[Woten]

Don't know how many people work in the production world, but let me give a bit of insight. I work in a location where we mass produce some of the most advanced products in the world. During initial design and manufacture, the products are tested to no ends. Trying to ensure all the bugs are worked out. As the wrinkles are slowly ironed out, less and less problems arise. In turn, less testing is performed, enough to check most of the major funtions. Generally only the basic tests are performed. Occassionally units will be right at the extreme of the requirements and still pass test. When they finally get to the consumer, it may eventually fall out of spec. At that point, it is returned and repaired. It would be way to cost prohibitive to attempt and thoroughly check to extreme detail the functions of each and every product produced. Especially when trying to quantify the results of the tests. If Canon were to do this with each and every lens, the simple 50mm f1.8 would cost $5K! Therefore, some units are going to fall through the cracks and Canon will end up paying to have them fixed. It is still cheaper to repair <5% of the products then to test every single unit. I know it is not an answer (or excuse) that someone wants to hear when they buy a new product and it is bad, but that is just the way it goes. Sorry to hear you got a bad product, but I would imagine Canon will do everything they can to repair it and make you a happy customer.

Sorry for the essay........

[CyberDyneSystems]

Title of thread has been edited to reflect the actual concern.

Title's with sweeping statements such as the one originally posted are likely to inflame and are "trolls"

The direcction the thread has gone is a direct result of the thread title which has little bearing on the actual specific problem at hand.

CDS
MODERATOR

[evilenglishman]

sorry but i disagree. The simple fact is when someone pays $1500 for a lens and $3000+ for a camera body (both of which are considered professional products), one would expect them to work as intended.

When people complain this way about Sigma lenses no one gets up in arms about it and quite a few people join in with the "bashing".

#If# Canon loan gear to professional users and the fact that L lenses are considered a pro product they should at the minimum send out a loaner to the user regardless.

[daveh]

sorry but i disagree. The simple fact is when someone pays $1500 for a lens and $3000+ for a camera body (both of which are considered professional products), one would expect them to work as intended.

You can expect however you desire, however in the real world there are problems at every price point. One would hope that if two lenses were identical in every other respect that a more expensive one would be more reliable than a less expensive one but even that isn't always true. In addition, it's hard to find two products that are identical in every other respect. The lens in question doesn't cost a lot simply because it claims to be the most reliable lens ever. It's a high image quality, fast zoom (three things which are tough to do at the same time) with image stabilization. I would expect it to be less reliable overall than the average Canon prime without IS. In many ways it's more of a Ferrari than a Rolls Royce and Ferraris break down all the time. (Rolls Royces break too but they treat you very well when they do ;))

As for Sigma vs. Canon: it's not whether they have a few that break but the percentage of each that break that is meaningful.

[JX]

evilenglishman Thank You.

daveh it is very easy to make comments when its someone else $1,500.00 dollars. The question is would you be so understanding paying off your Visa bill for a brand new lens that has a defect.

[daveh]

The question is would you be so understanding paying off your Visa bill for a brand new lens that has a defect.

Sure. Basically it's a matter of understanding that a single sample doesn't outweigh statistics even when the sample is your own. My new $30,000 car has had some issues too and I haven't told anyone to beware of the company. I've looked at their reliability ratings and they're at the top. I will, of course, report the issues on my Consumer Reports annual survey and let the data roll up with everyone else's. If my car still shows as very reliable next year, that will verify that my problems aren't typical. Stuff happens. Sometimes even to you and me. Sorry.

[evilenglishman]

okay, look at it this way.

You go out and buy a top of the line Sorny VCR for some special event you want to record.
You get it home and set it up only to realise that it works okay but it wont actually record.
You look on the net and find that this top-of-the-line Sorny VCR has had reports of the same problem from a few people.
You call sorny and they say "yes we are aware of the problem on a few of these machines - send it in and we will fix it".
Of course they want 3 weeks to fix it and by then the event you wanted to record has long passed.

How do you feel? Should Sorny actually be allowed to sell that VCR when they know that a few of them have bugs?

[CoolToolGuy]

okay, look at it this way.

You go out and buy a top of the line Sorny VCR for some special event you want to record.
You get it home and set it up only to realise that it works okay but it wont actually record.
You look on the net and find that this top-of-the-line Sorny VCR has had reports of the same problem from a few people.
You call sorny and they say "yes we are aware of the problem on a few of these machines - send it in and we will fix it".
Of course they want 3 weeks to fix it and by then the event you wanted to record has long passed.

How do you feel? Should Sorny actually be allowed to sell that VCR when they know that a few of them have bugs?

Using your criteria, perhaps one should search the net first to see which model(s) don't have issues...

Anything made by humans can be defective. As mentioned above, the percentage of failures is the best test of determining crap versus bad luck.

It doesn't feel very good to be the one that got the defective unit, but I'm having a tough time with the argument of poor quality control based on one unit.

My two cents.

Have Fun,

[daveh]

Sorny? ;) If you mean Sony, I've had to send two of my top-of-the-line Sony VCRs in for repairs quite early in their lives. A third Sony VCR was replaced by the store since it started having problems in the second week.

How do you feel?

I felt annoyed but I remained reasonable. (My experience with top-of-the-line Toshiba and NEC VCRs was much worse by the way.) This is a perfect example of what I was talking about earlier where people in one forum use the products that people complain about in other forums as examples of perceived higher quality. Thank you! :D

Should Sorny actually be allowed to sell that VCR when they know that a few of them have bugs?

In a free country with a free market - absolutely yes. If you require bug-free products then you need a different economy than the one I live in and a different kind of engineering to produce them. I can't think of any product that has no design or sample bugs.

[defordphoto]

Even Mercedes makes lemons. Stuff happens. It's a fact. It always sucks when you are the one getting the lemon and yes, it's easy to say just deal with it when you're not the recipient, but I had my 100-400 go belly up on me and though I was bummed it happened I was not crying "compensation" from the rafters either.

And also: Sometimes products are released with known issues. I beta tested for a software company for 6 years and when the release date came, the software went out with known bugs.

[phili1]

Lets see, god made your heart but sometimes it's defective and he has made billions and still gets a bad one in the batch. Man made electroincs and I know man is not perfect so every once in a while we get a bad one.

I got my 20 D and thought I had a bad one because a saleman at B&H said he has been doing this thing all his life and let me tell you this Camera does not focus, bring it back to Canon. well I brought it to my local Camera store and he put a different lens on and guess what perfect, sharp pictures. It was not the Camera but the Sigma lens and the idiot saleman who knows nothing making a comment on something he knew nothing about.

My point, do you have the IS on the right mode as I understand it if it is not it will not work properly. Second are you using a 20 D and if you are it had issues with certain lenses inculding Canon. When I did the firmware update it solved all my problems.

Now if it still does not work then you got one of gods mistakes and I would return it to the store and try another.

and the guy who would have bought a NIkon, I owned them and like god they make mistakes also.

I love Canon's, they make good Cameras and lenses. Are they they only ones who do, no. Nikon/Olympus/Minolta/Pentax also make fine equiptment but when it comes to inovation Canon has them beat, so I will take all the problems and work on them one at a time till I have the product thats perfect.

[evilenglishman]

...It was not the Camera but the Sigma lens and the idiot saleman...

don't start sigma bashing :shock:

[defordphoto]

...It was not the Camera but the Sigma lens and the idiot saleman...

don't start sigma bashing :shock:

Yeah.

At least start a new thread for that. ;)

[JX]

I would like to thank every one who shared their thoughts. While I may not agree with every one, I do appreciate that the fact that you posted them. That is what a forum is all about.

Jim

[G2Jim]

Wow Jim - hot topic huh!

As we discussed on my prior thread http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=45460, Jim is having the exact same problems I had with my new 70-200 f/2.8L IS lens mounted on my 300D. I sent it in to the CA Canon repair site and finally got it back a little over one month later. It seems okay now, but I admittedly haven't had time to take too many pictures with it to totally erase my fears.

Judging by the number sold and other accounts, I agree it's a great lens, but it does appear their quality control of the IS feature could be improved. The bottom line seems to be if you get repetative problems and the contacts are clean, arrange to return it for repair and be patient.

[phili1]

I am not bashing Sigma. The 20D had issues and because of these Sigma rechipped my lenses in three days. I sent it Wednesday and friday I had it back fixed.

[Hugewally]

I've had my 70-200 IS for over a year now and just about 4 months ago it started the mirror lock-up routine. Didn't matter what settings I had on the camera (1D) or the lens. Low or bright light, IS on or off, high or low shutter speed, camera vertical or horizontal makes no difference. It just decides on it's own when it wants to mess up. Only thing it does do, is give me a little warning before it happens by spooling up the IS motor (even with the IS off), When that happens, the mirror locks-up. The only way I can clear it is to take off the lens and reinstall it, and remove and re-install the camera battery pack. Just turning off and on the camera won't clear the 'err' mesage...

Been too busy shooting to call Canon, but will be tomorrow...