20D Lockups. How Often?

[pcasciola]

I haven't really had my 20D lockup on me in a while now, but I see they are still happening to many people. I was just wondering how often others are getting them, and with what lenses. Is it typically just with one of your lenses, or has it locked up with all or most of them?

I've only had 3 or 4 lockups in 5,000 actuations which I guess I can live with, and all have been with my 50/1.8, either switching to or from that lens.

[wintoid]

I voted 1 in 500, but in reality I'm getting 2 kinds of lockup, both of which are cleared by removing the battery.

Type 1 - Camera locks up, powering it down leaves the LCDs on. Sometimes preceded by inability to lock focus
Type 2 - External 550ex flash locks itself on full power and displays "TTL" instead of "ETTL".

I've taken 5500 shots, and had about 5 of type 1, and perhaps 7 of type 2. I can't point the finger at any lens, but the ones it's locked up with include Canon 85mm f/1.8, Tamron 28-75, Canon 17-40L, Canon 50mm f/1.4.

[Andy_T]

I have voted 'never', because the only times I had ever experienced was when it was user error (changing lenses with camera on).

I can hardly blame that on the camera.

Best regards,
Andy

[tim]

Only once out of maybe 3000 frames, a reset fixed it.

[mr.photoguy]

It only gave me an ERR 99 once with the kit lens when I was at the seaport.
Never had an issue again after that.

[Mark_48]

I have voted 'never', because the only times I had ever experienced was when it was user error (changing lenses with camera on).

I can hardly blame that on the camera.

Best regards,
Andy
I have not had an Err99 or lockup as of yet. (Just cursed myself for that statement)

I know it's a recommended practice from this forum to turn the camera off before a lens change. In both the manuals I have for the 20D and 300D neither one suggests to do so. Nor can I find it on Canons USA site. The manual does however clearly state to turn the camera off when removing the CF card.

Was turning the camera to off during a lens change an undocumented procedure from Canon or did it just evolve in the forums as one of the probable causes of Err99.

Mark...

[pcasciola]

Was turning the camera to off during a lens change an undocumented procedure from Canon or did it just evolve in the forums as one of the probable causes of Err99.I think turning the camera off mainly evolved out of people worrying that any static charge caused by the electronics could attract dust into the camera during a lens change. I never used to turn it off, but now I do since I had to clean my sensor for the first time about a month ago.

I had one Err 99 lockup right after a power off lens change to my 50/1.8, so I'm not sure that helps.

[mr.photoguy]

yeah, but has anyone noticed, that when you open the CF door, the camera SHUTS OFF, and when you take the lens off the camera SHUTS OFF.

Sometimes, I don't even bother with turning the camera off to change lenses...

[pcasciola]

I should have mentioned that I "try" to remember to turn the camera off during lens or CF card change. It reality, I remember less than half the time.

I think the only reason they recommend turning the camera off for a CF card change is because you will lose pictures if you open the door while the red light is flashing and the camera is still writing to the card.

[Jon]

I said 1 in 100, but I can force it whenever I want, and I think it's the lens (100-400 IS) not the camera, as I can force the same on my D60.

[Andy_T]

Was turning the camera to off during a lens change an undocumented procedure from Canon or did it just evolve in the forums as one of the probable causes of Err99.


I think it is helpful whenever assembling or disassembling electronic components that exchange information.

Best regards,
Andy

[flw88]

I have mine lock quite often, before i send back for check up. The battery always stop, any body facing the same problems as me

[k2kv]

I've not had even one lockup, and I don't turn the camera off to change lenses!

Is it just me?

[Phil V]

I voted 'never', with the following riders;
When I didn't put the grip on properly it just switched off randomly (well yeah!)
When I attached an old Sigma lens to check for compatibility (err 99)
Error 00 this weekend, cleared when I reformatted the CF card (don't know why, but it was obviously card related).

[Phil V]

yeah, but has anyone noticed, that when you open the CF door, the camera SHUTS OFF, and when you take the lens off the camera SHUTS OFF.

Sometimes, I don't even bother with turning the camera off to change lenses...

It certainly shuts off when you open the CF door, but mine never switches off when I detach the lens, nor does my 300d. :rolleyes:

[robertwgross]

Never, in one month.

---Bob Gross---

[J.A.F. Doorhof]

It has happened a few times to me.

Two times a really severe hang, had to remove both batteries before I could get the camera back in action, preview would not work and the light would stay on untill I decided to open the batteries and reset the camera.

Sometimes a small lockup err02 but on/off helps.

Sounds like much but to be honest it really is not, 99,9% of the time the camera works like a charm.

[FlyingPete]

Now at over 8000 frames shot, no lockups. Using all Canon lenses and a Canon flash, firmware still 1.0.5.

I never switch off for lens changes either, no one has given me a good reason why I should yet! (Can't be dust, as the sensor is 'protected' by the mirror an shutter whilst the lens is off)

[pcasciola]

Now at over 8000 frames shot, no lockups. Using all Canon lenses and a Canon flash, firmware still 1.0.5.Nice! 0 for 8000.

Well, I just had another of the odd lockups like I had over the weekend. I must have jinxed myself starting this thread.

I was just hanging around, taking pictures of a POTN strap of all things (hint, hint), and after the first shot I could not take any pictures again. Just like before. Everything else was operating as normal. No "Err" display. Camera would still focus when the shutter was half depressed, I could adjust settings, switch modes, everything as normal, except I could not take a picture. WTF!!! Off and on serveral times. Nothing. I had to remove the grip again, just like before. That's twice in three days, and before this it was 3 or 4 of the traditional Err 99 lockups in about 5,000 shots.

This is a weird one. I've never seen anyone have this type of lockup. Me thinks I need to take it to Canon, if I can reproduce it that is.

[JSolie]

I've had two lockups, one Err99, and one strange one where the camera wouldn't turn on. It cleared up after taking the grip off and re-attaching (equivalent of removing the battery & replacing). Strange... Other than that, it's been fine, and I've probably taken between 2000-3000 pictures with it by now...

-- John

[avdh20]

I haven't really had my 20D lockup on me in a while now, but I see they are still happening to many people. I was just wondering how often others are getting them, and with what lenses. Is it typically just with one of your lenses, or has it locked up with all or most of them?

I've only had 3 or 4 lockups in 5,000 actuations which I guess I can live with, and all have been with my 50/1.8, either switching to or from that lens.

This is the only time that my camera has locked up on me. When using the 50/1.8 Ive shot over 8500 shots with mine and it just locked up a couple of days ago. Grrr...:evil:

[RichardtheSane]

I've had 1 lockup in 5000+ actuations.
That was good enough for me to say my 20D has never locked up as I even know what caused it. Trying to AF on a low contrast strongly backlit subject that was 2m away with my lens set to AF limit 3m.

So it didn't lock up, it just told the stooopid photographer to get it right next time.

[Longwatcher]

I think turning the camera off mainly evolved out of people worrying that any static charge caused by the electronics could attract dust into the camera during a lens change.

Talk to the folks with D60s, Like me.
When I first had the D60 I learned to turn off the camera because otherwise it had a 50/50 chance of locking up. Can't remember if a firmwear update fixed it or not as I have not swapped lenses on it without turning it off since I figured out the problem. There was also the potential static thing which further incouraged me, but since my D60 has never had a dust spot, I was not too worried about this reason for turning off. So I got in the habit of turning off the camera when changing lenses. It also seems to avoid some rare secondary problems reported, like the camera getting confused at which lens is on the camera.
So the turning the camera off probably came from the pre 10D era.

Just my opinion and memory,

[Jon]

I got my D60 late in the prduction cycle, and I haven't had it lock up on me even though I usually don't remember to turn it off before lens changes. So I think a firmware change took care of that.

[eosster]

Once only.

[Nascar Nut]

I had mine lock up once so far out of about 300 shots. Had to take the batery out to get it running again

[Volatile]

2 out of 1000 shots for me.

I thought I had my third, but a quick inspection revealed that I had bumped the lens from AF to MF...