Problem with Rebel XT - Camera Shutting Off [Archive]

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pradeep1

21st of March 2005 (Mon), 16:09

Hello Everyone,

As most of you know, I got a Digital Rebel XT last week and I've been playing with it. Today I got my 17-40L and also my 50 1.8, so I thought I'd do the focus testing. Seems like my XT is within acceptable focus parameters with both lenses, so I am satisfied there. One thing I did notice is that when I was switching lenses between the 17-40 and the 50 and especially when I was putting in and replacing the compact flash card in between, once or twice, the camera shut down and would not start up. I could not reliably replicate this problem, but it seems that a combination of lens change with CF card change, especially with the camera ON when the CF was taken out and inserted seems to cause the XT to lock up. Nothing is displayed on the back LCD and nothing in the viewfinder. The camera is dead for all intents and purposes. Only with the removal of the battery and reinsertion that the camera comes back to life?

Has anyone else experienced this, and do you guys think this is worth worrying about? I figure this is a small bug somewhere in the firmware and maybe a future upgrade would solve this. Everything else works well on this camera.

Thanks,

Pradeep

p.s. Here are two focus tests...the first with 50 1.8 at f1.8, and the second with a 17-40L at f4.0. What do you think? It seems to be within the DOF range.

kawter2

21st of March 2005 (Mon), 16:10

UH OHHH I see the mass hysteria now!!!!

pradeep1

21st of March 2005 (Mon), 16:12

UH OHHH I see the mass hysteria now!!!!

Yeah, I know what this will cause. I am pretty level and cool headed about it, but I thought I'd get feedback from other cool and level headed users of this camera. My primary concern is not the focus, but the camera shutting off. Sorry to cause mass hysteria. Maybe this should be moved to another forum. ;)

kawter2

21st of March 2005 (Mon), 16:14

Sorry to cause mass hysteria. Maybe this should be moved to another forum. ;)

No WAY!!! If it is a problem, it needs to be made public, any and all hysteria helps get Canon on the ball.. remember error code 99's on the 20d?

lmelendez

21st of March 2005 (Mon), 16:16

Hi there

When I first got my DRebel (300, not the 350), it was shutting off with no reason. After a little investigation... I found out that if the battery door is not properly closed, the camera will not turn on.

I've read here that the same problem happens when the CF card door is not properly closed too.

My first suggestion when the problem happens again is to make sure that everything is closed. I know... this is very basic, but sometimes we don't see the simplest things.

Leo.

Headcase650

21st of March 2005 (Mon), 16:17

UM.......
Turn you camera off when changing lenses so your sensor isnt charged and attracting dust.

Both my 300D and 20D shut down when opening the CF or battery door, but both come back to life right away when the door is closed.

pradeep1

21st of March 2005 (Mon), 16:27

You guys might be right. But the camera was mounted on a tripod with a full sized plate, so the battery door could not open. The CF card door was closed, as I knew that the camera shuts off if the CF card door is open. I'll see if I can replicate this error again tonight and let you guys know what I find.

Is it possible the pressure from the tripod plate would cause the battery to think it was not closed properly. Each time, I had to take off the plate to remove the battery and close it again.

Jackal

21st of March 2005 (Mon), 16:33

Haven't experienced this problem...

How about you shut the camera off when doing that like I do? Heh.

pradeep1

21st of March 2005 (Mon), 16:36

Haven't experienced this problem...

How about you shut the camera off when doing that like I do? Heh.

I do shut the camera off between lens changes and CF changes...I just forgot in these two instances. :o Enough chiding me...I am not a digital noob. :D Let me know if you can replicate this problem.

tim

21st of March 2005 (Mon), 17:07

UM.......
Turn you camera off when changing lenses so your sensor isnt charged and attracting dust.

People constantly say that, but it's covered by a shutter and a UV filter, so I wonder if it's true.

ijohnson

21st of March 2005 (Mon), 17:21

That myth is enough for me. I would never take a lens off without turning the camera off, unless it was a total accident. I would also never pull a CF card out of a USB card reader while it was plugged in, which is why the camera always gets turned off when I pull the card out.

I would like to help but I am too scared. Sorry.

jimsolt

21st of March 2005 (Mon), 17:26

Hello Everyone,

As most of you know, I got a Digital Rebel XT last week and I've been playing with it. . . . I could not reliably replicate this problem, but it seems that a combination of lens change with CF card change, especially with the camera ON when the CF was taken out and inserted seems to cause the XT to lock up. Nothing is displayed on the back LCD and nothing in the viewfinder. The camera is dead for all intents and purposes. Only with the removal of the battery and reinsertion that the camera comes back to life? . . .

On page 27 of the Rebel XT manual it says,
"1. Set the Power switch to <OFF>, Check that the "buSY" message is not displayed on the LCD panel, Make sure the access lamp is off, then open the cover. 2. Remove the CF Card . . ."

Perhaps when the card is removed without following those instructions you may find "Such actions may destroy the image data. It may also damage the CF card or camera."

Just a thought.

Jim

bobgaither

21st of March 2005 (Mon), 18:35

pradeep1

21st of March 2005 (Mon), 19:14

I had a problem with my 350D locking up when I was shooting with a timer and then going to view an image that I took on playback. It locked up on me twice yesterday. I had to take the battery out each time. When I got home I tried to do on purpose and couldn't get it to do it. That's what I have been looking for on the Internet to see if anyone else had a problem. I notice the 20D and 10D had lockout problems.

Hey...one critical thing I missed to mention...I had both mirror-lockup engaged also was using the timer. I was doing the focus testing...so we may be onto something here. Hmmmmmm.... :confused:

pradeep1

21st of March 2005 (Mon), 19:16

On page 27 of the Rebel XT manual it says,
"1. Set the Power switch to <OFF>, Check that the "buSY" message is not displayed on the LCD panel, Make sure the access lamp is off, then open the cover. 2. Remove the CF Card . . ."

Perhaps when the card is removed without following those instructions you may find "Such actions may destroy the image data. It may also damage the CF card or camera."

Just a thought.

Jim

If you open the CF door while the camera is on, it shuts off the camera and anything in your buffer not already written to your CF card is lost. You may lose a picture, or you may lose a bunch of pictures. At worst a CF card may get trashed if the file allocation table was not updated properly. I doubt it would destroy or hurt the camera much.

jimsolt

21st of March 2005 (Mon), 20:10

If you open the CF door while the camera is on, it shuts off the camera and anything in your buffer not already written to your CF card is lost. You may lose a picture, or you may lose a bunch of pictures. At worst a CF card may get trashed if the file allocation table was not updated properly. I doubt it would destroy or hurt the camera much.
Could be you're right, but the guy who writes the manual for Canon doesn't hold that view. I didn't make up the quote. And as a backup for my rather cautious approach, I follow the directions and my camera doesn't have the problem you describe.
Jim

ijohnson

21st of March 2005 (Mon), 20:38

Hey...one critical thing I missed to mention...I had both mirror-lockup engaged also was using the timer. I was doing the focus testing...so we may be onto something here. Hmmmmmm.... :confused:

Is this serious?

jfrancho

21st of March 2005 (Mon), 20:54

That myth is enough for me. I would never take a lens off without turning the camera off, unless it was a total accident.

How do you clean the sensor?

Pradeep: I had similar issues with the my 300d. It turned out that the slider latch on the battery door was not fully engaged in the closed position (but the door was closed). The camera would go dead, I'd start looking it over, but wouldn't be able to find anything. Then it would start right up. It turned out that as I was inspecting the camera, I must have gotten the door to lock shut. It is something I check now, but since I started using the battery grip, it isn't an issue.

pradeep1

21st of March 2005 (Mon), 21:14

Is this serious?

Response to BobGaither's similar symptoms.

pradeep1

21st of March 2005 (Mon), 21:15

Could be you're right, but the guy who writes the manual for Canon doesn't hold that view. I didn't make up the quote. And as a backup for my rather cautious approach, I follow the directions and my camera doesn't have the problem you describe.
Jim

Okay, good for you.

Raj

21st of March 2005 (Mon), 21:15

It seems to start all over again :cool:

pradeep1

21st of March 2005 (Mon), 21:17

How do you clean the sensor?

Pradeep: I had similar issues with the my 300d. It turned out that the slider latch on the battery door was not fully engaged in the closed position (but the door was closed). The camera would go dead, I'd start looking it over, but wouldn't be able to find anything. Then it would start right up. It turned out that as I was inspecting the camera, I must have gotten the door to lock shut. It is something I check now, but since I started using the battery grip, it isn't an issue.

I'll take a closer look at this. But since both time it happened, the battery door could not have been touched, since it was mounted on a tripod with a bracket attached to the base covering the door. I am guessing that it may be this, but I'll investigate a bit further.