What causes Err99?

[FlyingPete]

I have noticed now that questions pop up here quite regularly about what to do about the dreaded Err-99.

Now I am an engineer by training, so my engineer mind is curious about this, I have had a 20D now for over six months and almost 10,000 frames with no issues, yet it seems that some people have these errors on a weekly basis.

I think with some careful observations it might be possible to narrow down some common conditions that they occur. I thought it might have been third party lenses etc but some people still have them with Canon lenses.

I have no issues at all, so here is my problem free profile:
Camera: 20D Firmware 1.0.5
Age: 6 months
Frame Count: 9500
Err99's: 0
Conditions of Err99's occurring: NA
Lenses: Canon EF18-55 Mk1 (6 months old)
Canon EF50/1.8 Mk2 (4 months old)
Canon EF28-105 f/3.4-4.5 Mk2 (3 years old)
Canon EF75-300IS Mk1 (8 years old - the only lens left from my original EOS50 kit)
Flash: 420EX (3 years old)
Battery Grip: None
Batteries: Mainly Third Party (mydigitaldiscount.com)
Flash Memory: All Kingston Elite Pro
Shooting Profile: Mainly fairly general shooting, family etc, low flash usage, prefer high-ISO (never use internal flash), rapid fire frequently used, lots of low light work. File Formats: 2/3rds JPG to 1/3rds RAW shooting

OK that is the profile of someone with no issues, what else do we need to know? I am sure we can work together and narrow this thing down :cool:

[ssim]

I think that alot of people just freak at the site of this error code when its normally not all that bad in most cases. I have only ever had one of these pop up on me. I changed lenses and took the battery out and put it back in and everything was fine. If my memory serves me correctly, ensuring that the contact between the lens and the camera are clean helps alot. Perhaps some of the occaisons of this were simply not ensuring good camera handling and these got dirty. In most cases that I have read about on here, the photographer was able to resolve the issue without having the camera serviced.

Now why is it that engineers always have to have a logical answer for everything.http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_confused.gifhttp://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_confused.gifhttp://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gifhttp://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif

[pcasciola]

I'm a software engineer, and this is a software/firmware problem. It may be triggered by a hardware failure (due to poor contacts like Sheldon said) but the firmware is not handling it correctly. The reason why it cannot be fixed is that no matter how much data you collect, if you can't reproduce the error consistently, it's VERY hard to fix. I send back lots of tickets with "can't reproduce", and if the QA dept. can't send me back clear steps that will reproduce the problem, it gets closed as a non-issue.

We've tried this before. I've also had my 20D for about 6 months and taken just over 10,000 shots, and the 50/1.8 has been the lens involved in more than half of my lockups, yet you have the 50/1.8 and haven't had a lockup yet. ???

I've only had about 4 or 5 Err 99s in 10,000 shots, which is not so bad, but I've been having a worse lockup lately with my 70-200/2.8L IS. No error codes, just won't let me take a picture. It's happened to me three times in the past month, so something is up there. I've read elsewhere that this is a documented problem with this lens, but again not many people experience it and I can't reproduce it, so it's tough to diagnose.

[John57]

I've had err99 many times ..... on a 10d, 1D Mk II and now 1DS Mk II - it comes along every so often.

One thing is consistent - my 70-200 L IS is the lens on the camera at the time! It is one of those things I have got used to. It doesn't happen a huge amount but is annoying. I just power down, etc and it resets.

The link between the lens and the camera - or lack of - causes the problem ; allegedly. If the mount is not 100% then you get err99.

Canon don't seem that bothered to sort it so I'll have to put up with it. If they won't acknowledge it then they no doubt won't tell us if they actually sort a fix for it.

[jbradc]

Error 99 is a catch-all, it can be a simple software/firware issue that power cycling will fix or (as in my case) a hardware problem that requires the camera to be sent to a Canon service center. I had a 1D Mark II for 9 days, it error 99'd and died! I called Canon and they said to send it in for service, I called the dealer and exchanged it for another one.

[Duncreavy]

For what it's worth, I've had my XT 2 months or so, I use it daily and have had ERR 02 and 99 once. Turned out to be a bad card that totally locked up the camera. the only issue I've had since I bought the camera is with card readers (plus my own slow learning curve). I'm convinced a card reader damaged the card but who knows. I prefer uploading pix from the camera actually but was convinced to use the reader and had grief ever after. One reader was bad and replaced, then the damaged card with the new one. Dealer has replaced everything and offered to try and recover a card full of photos but I didn't think they would worth the trouble. Otherwise, I didn't think it was possible to love an inanimate object they way I love this camera.

[dave_bass5]

Ive had and can genterate err99 on my 350d when ever i want. i borrowed a canon 55-200 USM and any mode other than portrait will cause it. the kit lens is fine, a 75-300 USM IS is fine. the 55-200 is fine on a friends 300d.
ok so i gave back the 55-200 but where would the problem be?
Dave.

[Hellashot]

Here is one cause: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=73034

[Jon]

Err-99 simply means "An unexpected error has occurred". As opposed to those errors the software engineers foresaw: Err-01 - cruddy lens contacts. Err-02 or Err-CF - CF card error. Err-04 - full memory card. Err-05 something blocking the pop-up flash. You put on a lens that's too dumb for your camera (unrechipped Sigma)? Err-99. Lens is broken? Err-99. Shutter died? Err-99. Bottom body plate fell off? Err-99. Battery exploded, shattering the mirror? Err-99. "hey - something really weird just happened, Dude!" Err-99.
OTOH, Christie Hefner asking you to drop by the office to conduct a photo shoot shouldn't be an Err-99, no matter how weird and unexpected.

[FlyingPete]

Err-99 simply means "An unexpected error has occurred". As opposed to those errors the software engineers foresaw: Err-01 - cruddy lens contacts. Err-02 or Err-CF - CF card error. Err-04 - full memory card. Err-05 something blocking the pop-up flash. You put on a lens that's too dumb for your camera (unrechipped Sigma)? Err-99. Lens is broken? Err-99. Shutter died? Err-99. Bottom body plate fell off? Err-99. Battery exploded, shattering the mirror? Err-99. "hey - something really weird just happened, Dude!" Err-99.
OTOH, Christie Hefner asking you to drop by the office to conduct a photo shoot shouldn't be an Err-99, no matter how weird and unexpected.

Bummer. A catch all, I hate those, in my industry we usually just put with those, although badely designed systems with dodgy software are more prone to issues.

I do keep my gear nice and clean, and only have including contacts, so that and the fact I have all Canon lenses might contribute to my excellent run, or just good luck :rolleyes:

EDIT: I just thought of a potential point of difference, I have my LCD screen turned off whilst shooting, no review. Probaly not releavnt, but you never know!

[Jon]

Bummer. A catch all, I hate those, in my industry we usually just put with those, although badely designed systems with dodgy software are more prone to issues.

I do keep my gear nice and clean, and only have including contacts, so that and the fact I have all Canon lenses might contribute to my excellent run, or just good luck :rolleyes:

EDIT: I just thought of a potential point of difference, I have my LCD screen turned off whilst shooting, no review. Probaly not releavnt, but you never know!

No. I think you can attribute your "excellent run" of good luck to it only going back 6 mo. Canon lenses aren't an out. I got Err99 when the IS on my 100-400 L died. I'd hate to think that turning off the LCD would allow me to continue thinking that my camera was operating smoothly when, in truth, the shutter, or the lens, had died.