Err99 - Another Possibility ?

[Mark_48]

I happen to visit a hospital this past week and upon entering was greeted with a sign at the door cautioning not to use cell phones within the building. Basically the hospital is concerned that electromagnetic interference from a cell phone could disrupt or corrupt sensitive electronic equipment used for life support

Also did a Google search on: "cell phone" electromagnetic interference.

This sort of set the brain cells in motion wondering if some random err99's in Canon's cameras could be the result of nearby cell phone use that glitches up the cameras processor.

Just some incoherent ramblings......

Mark................

[Eric DeCastro]

it can be anything. but it is RF, not electomagnetic (there isn't any in a cellphone). but cellphones aren't powerful enough to disrupt your camera, but that isn't to say some illegal hi power CBs, radio stations, things like that. things that have windings create electromagnetic waves. (ie transformers)

and the Err99, I only got that with a lense that wasn't compatible to my camera. never happened again. what camera do you have? mine is a 10D.

[robertwgross]

it can be anything. but it is RF, not electomagnetic (there isn't any in a cellphone). but cellphones aren't powerful enough to disrupt your camera, but that isn't to say some illegal hi power CBs, radio stations, things like that. things that have windings create electromagnetic waves. (ie transformers)

Eric, you might want to rephrase this, because it is misleading.

Radio Frequency Interference and even low frequency interference are commonly transmitted electromagnetically.

There are both Radio Frequency emissions from a cell phone, since it transmits an electromagnetic signal. Most of them are digital, but that doesn't mean there there is no RF.

Yes, it is correct that high power transmitters are more often to blame for interference. However, many electronic devices have susceptibility to RF that puts them more to blame than the transmitter.

---Bob Gross---

[Rob612]

Do not forget that a cellphone is not really that "low power"... a Group 3 mobile is about 2W @either 900/1800/1900 MHz. UMTS and CDMA are a little up in frequency. And 2 watts at that frequency are something ! We are in the microwave spectrum, sure enough any digital cam CAN (I do not mean MUST, it just CAN) be disturbed. Time to make some testing...

[Bsmooth]

Oh the Error 99 is definately a problem,I've had it happen 6 times so far with my 18-55 kit lens.I hope Canon realizes this and comes up with some sort of a solution.Also tried it with another 18-55 that i borrowed and had the same thing happen after 20 or 30 shots.With all the reports of Error 99 I've seen on various forums it isn't just happening here or there.It IS a problem and Canon needs to address it at some point.

[griff2]

The err99 seems to be a bigger problem for the consumer slr's particularly the digital rebels. I have been getting intermittent err99s on my 300D with all my lenses for about nine months. I've got a three-year extended guarantee, of which I'm about ten months in, so I've got a fair amount of latitude as to when I can send the camera back to Canon. I'm loath to send the camera back though, since I could be without it for weeks, and there's no guarantee that the problem will be rectified when I get it back!