HELP! Camera issue

[sarahsmom]

Hi there, I'm new here and desperately need help! I was just snapping a few snapshots of my daughter and after a few I noticed that the images looked odd on the screen. About 5 shots later the camera stopped taking pics and said "Err 99" on the screen. :cry: I tried cleaning the contact points on the lens, removing and changing battery, memory card, turning off and on, but its still doing this. Has my shutter crapped out on me? This camera (Rebel XT) is a little over 4 yrs old. I was shooting these just on auto, just because my 3 yr old had said "Take my picture!" so I obliged.

Does anyone have ANY IDEA what is going on?

Pic taken right before the weirdness started (excuse the paper cutting mess she made!)
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n285/dwilkinson621/IMG_6967.jpg

and then when it started.. these are sooc images, same exact settings as above.
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n285/dwilkinson621/IMG_6971.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n285/dwilkinson621/IMG_6973.jpg

[TheBurningCrown]

Has my shutter crapped out on me?
See the line on the left?

That's what I would guess :(

[sandpiper]

another vote for a crapped out shutter, I'm afraid.:(

[sarahsmom]

Thanks for your input. Its what I was thinking too, I use it a LOT (not that you can tell from the crappy snaps posted today LOL). Next question: is it worth it to repair, or should I just buy a new body? I was googling around and looks like a min. $200 to fix this one and I can get a new body for under $500. Decisions, decisions.

[TheBurningCrown]

Thanks for your input. Its what I was thinking too, I use it a LOT (not that you can tell from the crappy snaps posted today LOL). Next question: is it worth it to repair, or should I just buy a new body? I was googling around and looks like a min. $200 to fix this one and I can get a new body for under $500. Decisions, decisions.
Actually, Canon has something called the Canon Loyalty Program which will let you buy a brand new 50D for MSRP minus the retail price of your (now dead) XT.

I think it comes out to around ~629 or so, which is a fantastic deal to get on your dead camera. And if you don't want the 50D, you can always resell it to get the difference back from your XT :D.

[sarahsmom]

Actually, Canon has something called the Canon Loyalty Program which will let you buy a brand new 50D for MSRP minus the retail price of your (now dead) XT.

I think it comes out to around ~629 or so, which is a fantastic deal to get on your dead camera. And if you don't want the 50D, you can always resell it to get the difference back from your XT :D.

REALLY! Oh that is awesome - I would love to upgrade for sure. I will have to look into this, thank you!

[TheBurningCrown]

REALLY! Oh that is awesome - I would love to upgrade for sure. I will have to look into this, thank you!
A link to get you started:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=742683&highlight=canon+loyalty+program

Good luck!

[yogestee]

To me it looks like camera shake and because you've shot on auto your camera has exposed for the ambient light.. The sharper areas in the images are where the flash have frozen any camera/subject movement.. Try the same shot with your camera set to manual mode with a shutter speed of around 125th-160th..

In the first image it appears there was less ambient light so the exposure was based on the flash only resulting in a sharp image..

[Dunedan]

To me it looks like camera shake and because you've shot on auto your camera has exposed for the ambient light.. The sharper areas in the images are where the flash have frozen any camera/subject movement.. Try the same shot with your camera set to manual mode with a shutter speed of around 125th-160th..

In the first image it appears there was less ambient light so the exposure was based on the flash only resulting in a sharp image..

I don't think camera shake would cause Err99 though, else we'd all have probably have a lot more of that going on ;)

[yogestee]

I don't think camera shake would cause Err99 though, else we'd all have probably have a lot more of that going on ;)

Maybe I misread the first post but I thought the 2nd and 3rd images were taken after the err99 was cleared..

BTW,, I've had two err99 on my 20D 12 months ago within a month's period.. I cleaned all contacts and it hasn't happened since..

[sarahsmom]

Maybe I misread the first post but I thought the 2nd and 3rd images were taken after the err99 was cleared..

BTW,, I've had two err99 on my 20D 12 months ago within a month's period.. I cleaned all contacts and it hasn't happened since..

The first image is just the first one I snapped .. then I took the others and noticed on the screen that they looked odd.. the 2 & 3 images that are all blurry and crazy were taken right before the ERr99 popped up - I took maybe 5-6 that all looked like this and THEN the error message came on. I did clean the contacts and change the battery, etc. Err99 went away and I took another picture, looked the same as these two.. then Err99 came up again. Turned it off, took another picture, same thing. :cry:

[yogestee]

OK,, before you lose faith in your XT take a series of pics outside in good light.. Set a highish shutter speed and a corresponding aperture and see how that works..

[sarahsmom]

OK,, before you lose faith in your XT take a series of pics outside in good light.. Set a highish shutter speed and a corresponding aperture and see how that works..

I'll try it - but its never, ever had this problem before in auto or manual ,so I am kinda freaked out! LOL!

[yogestee]

I'll try it - but its never, ever had this problem before in auto or manual ,so I am kinda freaked out! LOL!

OK sarahsmom,,deep slow breaths:-P

[sarahsmom]

OK sarahsmom,,deep slow breaths:-P

Haha!

[Absolutely Fabulous]

keep trying it, if the same error happens and the pics are awful then it's not something that is just going to go away

[sarahsmom]

Ok I feel like I am in the twilight zone. I tried all the tricks again - removing battery, card, etc. and then put in a BRAND NEW never used SD card just for kicks. Turned the camera back on and went outside to try some full manual shots like Yogestee suggested. Lo and behold they were fine. I was flabbergasted, and switched it back to auto just to see if auto was still not working right.. it worked fine too! This is bizarre. Why would just putting in a new SD card change the pictures so drastically - see I too was thinking it had to be the shutter, given how screwed up the images I posted above were.. does not seem logical that just the SD card could do that but I guess it can. Crazy, crazy.

Thanks you guys all so much for your advice, I'm going to stick around, I like this forum a lot!! And on the upside, my husband has come to terms with the possibility that my camera may or will have to be replaced in the near future so at least that hurdle is jumped :lol: He actually thought the 50d was a good deal since back when he bought my XT five years ago when they were still new it cost a fortune :p

I will try to post some decent pictures later! :)

[yogestee]

That's good news.. I owned a 350D (XT) since it's release in 2006 which is now in the hands of my daughter.. It's got over 60,000 clicks on it but still works like new.. My old 350D has been into some pretty tough environments and has never been babied.. The 350D is a very reliable camera..

Enjoy your good fortune:D:D