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View Full Version : Sent my 20d to Canon UK to fix the lockup bug...


wintoid
10th of May 2005 (Tue), 00:08
I bought my 20d in September from Jessops in the UK, and I've had several problems in the 6000 shots I've taken since then. Some or all of these could be the camera body.

1) Whole camera locked up about 5 or 6 times. On/off switch wouldn't even turn it off.
2) With 550ex attached, would go into TTL instead of ETTL mode, and fire flash at full power. Happened perhaps 5 times.
3) Sensor was FILTHY
4) Didn't seem to focus well with 50mm f/1.4, but fine with 85mm f/1.8

Canon turned my camera around in about a month, and returned it to my local Jessops with a piece of paper listing what they'd fixed. The piece of paper was blank!

Jessops arrangement with Canon is that they are not allowed to call Canon! Canon call twice a day and get a list of questions, and then call back to answer the questions. I got Jessops to chase up what they'd fixed, and they got me an answer. For anyone who's interested, here's what they did...

1) Replaced analogue and digital PCBs
2) Full service of camera
3) Cleaned sensor

Well, the proof is in the pudding. The sensor is definitely CLEAN. I couldn't get it clean using the Copper Hill method after about 20 attempts, so I'm really glad Canon did such a good job cleaning it for me. I don't have a 50mm f/1.4 to test any more, so I don't know if the focus issues were fixed.

Unfortunately, I've had one instance of the 550ex bug described above since I got the camera back. Perhaps it's the flashgun, who knows. I haven't had the camera long enough to know if the lockup bug is fixed.

Just giving feedback for the benefit of anyone else who has been in the same position.

yellow_belly
10th of May 2005 (Tue), 02:03
Hi Wintoid, can you keep us updated with your feelings if the lockup problem has been solved or not :) The reason I ask is that I get this occasionally and emailed Canon to say that a lot of people are complaining about lockups and ask if Canon knew anything about this. They replied that my camera (20D) should go back to be fixed, I havnt done this because so many people have experienced the lockup problem that I feel it is a software problem and may be fixed at some point by a simple update to the firmware.

Terry

wintoid
10th of May 2005 (Tue), 05:56
Sure, or feel free to PM me if I forget. It will be at least a month before I have an idea, as I get about 1 lockup per 1000 shots or so. If I do get a lockup, I'm likely to return to this thread to post my discontent!

I'm wondering if I should try a 50mm f/1.4 again to see if it focuses properly now. I used to love that lens on my 300d, and my 85mm f/1.8 is a bit long for indoors in my flat.

wintoid
5th of June 2005 (Sun), 05:50
3 weeks and 850 shots later. Haven't had another lockup yet. I do still get the flash problem intermittently, but that could be the flashgun, or something else.

Rob612
5th of June 2005 (Sun), 05:55
What firmware you have installed now ?

yellow_belly
5th of June 2005 (Sun), 06:01
Thanks for keeping us informed Wintoid :)

Terry

wintoid
5th of June 2005 (Sun), 23:43
1.1.0

wintoid
16th of June 2005 (Thu), 00:16
Final bit of feedback from me on this issue.

About 1500 shots and no lockup. It's definitely fixed. Also I got another 50mm f/1.4 and it focuses dead-on now, so I reckon that whatever caused the lockup bug was probably causing bad focus with that lens. Perhaps it's a power issue, where some lenses need less power to focus well than others? Who knows? Anyway, 20d+50mm f/1.4 is now a killer combination.

malla1962
19th of June 2005 (Sun), 16:05
1.1.0
firmware 2 is now out.just put it on.

wintoid
20th of June 2005 (Mon), 00:02
Everything's working fine now, so I see no reason to upgrade.

ghocking
20th of June 2005 (Mon), 00:09
Having checked out a few lenses in different shops recently, they all used display models to let me test the lens with no rush to put dust caps back on, or any form of protection. Therefore I can see why the sensor was dirty.

Buying a body in futuure, will have to be in a sealed box not off the shelf or mail order.