20D shutter release not working, HELP!

[mkitson]

I have had my 20D for about 3 weeks and have been delighted with it. I have taken about 1000 shots without any problems until half way through Christmas day when the shutter release button stopped working. Everything else works fine, it switches on and half depressing the shutter button activates the AF and exposure etc. It just won't actually take any pictures.

I have tried changing the battery/card/lens but the problem persists:confused: .

It has firmware version 1.0.5.

I expect I will have to get in touch with Canon after the holiday period but if any one has encountered a similar problem and knows how to fix it I would be most grateful.

[Toogy]

Have you tried removing the internal battery?

[RJSorensen]

I think the 20D is currently at firmware version 1.1.0. However I am not sure this version will help with the stuck shutter.

[cecilc]

This suggestion is kinda weird, but I actually did this once ...

Make sure you haven't inadvertently placed the camera in "self-timer" mode. You can press the shutter button and it doesn't take a shot - at least, right away ....

The reason I suggest checking that out is that I actually did that once - I could NOT figure out why the camera wouldn't take a shot when I pressed the shutter .... I'd just accidentally moved the control to "self-timer" .... definitely one of those "I'm an idiot" moments ....

[kndreyn]

Another thing to check is the mirror lockup feature. I forgot to turn that off once and when I went to use the camera again, thought it was broke. Just some thoughts....

This suggestion is kinda weird, but I actually did this once ...

Make sure you haven't inadvertently placed the camera in "self-timer" mode. You can press the shutter button and it doesn't take a shot - at least, right away ....

The reason I suggest checking that out is that I actually did that once - I could NOT figure out why the camera wouldn't take a shot when I pressed the shutter .... I'd just accidentally moved the control to "self-timer" .... definitely one of those "I'm an idiot" moments ....

[DaveG]

I have had my 20D for about 3 weeks and have been delighted with it. I have taken about 1000 shots without any problems until half way through Christmas day when the shutter release button stopped working. Everything else works fine, it switches on and half depressing the shutter button activates the AF and exposure etc. It just won't actually take any pictures.

I have tried changing the battery/card/lens but the problem persists:confused: .

It has firmware version 1.0.5.

I expect I will have to get in touch with Canon after the holiday period but if any one has encountered a similar problem and knows how to fix it I would be most grateful.

Is there a CF card in the camera?

[mkitson]

Thanks for the suggestions so far. The camera won't take a shot with or without the CF card in. It is not on self-timer mode. By the internal battery I assume you mean the date/time battery Toogy-I have taken it out, no joy, replaced it, no joy. The mirror lock up feature is disabled.

It still just refuses to take a shot.

[pcasciola]

Have you tried self-timer mode, or a remote shutter release? Not a huge help there, I know, but at least it will tell you if it's the button that's bad or something more complicated.

[mkitson]

Thanks Philip, just tried the self timer mode and no joy so I guess that means it's the button? Strange though that half depressing the button works but a full depression doesn't. Unfortunately I don't have a remote shutter release to try.

[yellow_belly]

Hi, I had a similar thing happen with a 300D, I then noticed that the focus indicator in the viewfinder was flashing which means it wasnt focusing and it wont let you take a shot if its not focused. I cleaned the contacts on the lens and body and that cured it :) I *think* (but am not certain) that it would still take shots if the lens was set to manual focus ??? so that may also be worth trying :)

Terry

[kawter2]

have you tried to release the shutter w/o a lens?

[cmM]

have you used any 3rd party flashes or anything else that could have fried your shutter release unit?

[mkitson]

Thanks for the latest batch of suggestions. The autofocus is definitely working OK, switching to manual focus makes no difference. Without a lens it still does not work. I have not used any 3rd party equiptment but I was taking a lot of flash shots with my Speedlite 420EX at the time it went on the blink-could this have 'fried' it as you say cmM?

[defordphoto]

How about the bulb setting? How about trying a sensor clean. Sounds to me like that puppy is locked tight. :(

[cmM]

but I was taking a lot of flash shots with my Speedlite 420EX at the time it went on the blink-could this have 'fried' it as you say cmM?not bloody likely :)

If you run out of troubleshooting ideas, just send it to Canon, and let them do the guesswork.

[mkitson]

I guess that's a no then! I'll be on the phone to Canon tomorrow. It will be a shame to be without the 20D over the holidays. I'll have to dig out that EOS 500 and a few rolls of film for when the relatives arrive tomorrow. Thanks for everyones help. It's a great forum.

[pcasciola]

Before sending it back for repair, and lose it for the holidays like you mentioned, I'd check out the remote shutter release which is a good thing to have anyway. If you can go down to a local camera store to make sure that will work, that might be a good way to keep it for another week or so before sending it out for repair.

[mkitson]

The saga continues!

The camera is back from the Canon repair shop with a repaired release switch unit. Now it does take some pictures but is still not behaving properly.

It takes shots fine when in manual focus mode. When in auto focus it takes a shot as long as I stay still and don't recompose the shot with the shutter release half depressed.

The problem now is that the AF is not held when half depressing the shutter release. When I recompose the shot, depressing the shutter causes the camera to refocus on the new central point (I have set the AF point to just the central point) and then may take an out of focus shot or not fire at all.

I notice that the green circle in the viewfinder is only staying lit for second or less despite keeping my finger on the shutter release.

I know it not my technique as it worked wonderfully for 2 weeks before all the dramas started.

Has anyone else experienced similar problems?

Suffice to say it will be on it's way back to Canon!:cry:

[megaweb]

The saga continues!

The camera is back from the Canon repair shop with a repaired release switch unit. Now it does take some pictures but is still not behaving properly.

It takes shots fine when in manual focus mode. When in auto focus it takes a shot as long as I stay still and don't recompose the shot with the shutter release half depressed.

The problem now is that the AF is not held when half depressing the shutter release. When I recompose the shot, depressing the shutter causes the camera to refocus on the new central point (I have set the AF point to just the central point) and then may take an out of focus shot or not fire at all.

I notice that the green circle in the viewfinder is only staying lit for second or less despite keeping my finger on the shutter release.

I know it not my technique as it worked wonderfully for 2 weeks before all the dramas started.

Has anyone else experienced similar problems?

Suffice to say it will be on it's way back to Canon!:cry:
sound quite seriously. you should perform basic test at the canon centre and maybe ask them to demostrate to you, I think you should it back to Canon Centre.

I have sent 20D and 3 lens for calibration last week and collected 2 days later. None of the lens are calibrated to my 20D. I called them and they told me that the lens are calibrated to their machine. They also told me to send my gears back to canon and this time they want to calibrate the lens to my 20D. This sound very silly to me but no choice I sent my gears to them yesterday and now awaiting for good news (i hope).

[evilenglishman]

The saga continues!
The problem now is that the AF is not held when half depressing the shutter release. When I recompose the shot, depressing the shutter causes the camera to refocus on the new central point (I have set the AF point to just the central point) and then may take an out of focus shot or not fire at all.

I notice that the green circle in the viewfinder is only staying lit for second or less despite keeping my finger on the shutter release.

could that be anything to do with AI servo mode?

[cmM]

could that be anything to do with AI servo mode?That's what I was thinking.

Set it to "one shot"

[evilenglishman]

might sound dumb but have you tried resetting all custom functions and settings?
if that doesn't work I'd have it back to canon.

[bigadg]

another daft question i know but
what lens is on the camera has it got room to focus
this happened to my friend he had a zoom on is camera and was trying to focus on something to close to him
not tyring to make out that you dont know what you are doing
stu

[smudge]

Type ' 20d lockup' into this forums search engine and you will find all of the relevant tips and solutions including some folks that cured their lockup by updating firmware etc.

[Jesper]

It takes shots fine when in manual focus mode. When in auto focus it takes a shot as long as I stay still and don't recompose the shot with the shutter release half depressed.

The problem now is that the AF is not held when half depressing the shutter release. When I recompose the shot, depressing the shutter causes the camera to refocus on the new central point (I have set the AF point to just the central point) and then may take an out of focus shot or not fire at all.Sounds like you have set the camera to AI Servo or AI Focus mode. In those modes, the camera will continuously try to focus even if you keep the shutter button pressed halfway. Good for sports and moving subjects.

Set it to One Shot AF mode and it should behave normally (i.e. locks the focus once you've half-pressed the shutter button).

[mkitson]

The AF is set to one shot when the problem I describe occurs. I have tried most things, different lenses, clearing the settings to the default ones etc.

Basically half depressing the shutter button does not lock the focus and it's driving me nuts! This is my 4th EOS so I know how the system works, unfortunately this is the only EOS that I've had any trouble with and it's far and away the most expensive. Don't get me wrong, when it works correctly it's a super camera. I'd just rather be using it than sending it to and fro to Canon!

[cc10d]

It sure sounds like it could be in AI servo mode