A70 with E50/Memory card error

[PCH1]

I have a Canon A70 that's about 6 months old and has been working fine up until now. Recently after downloading a bunch of photos I started getting a 'Memory card error' whenever I turn on the camera. I have been using a SimpleTech 256MB CF card and initially thought it must be the card. Attempts to reformat this card resulted in E50 errors and the camera shuts down. I switched to the 16MB card that came with the camera, but I continue to get 'Memory card error' at startup. It does allow me to format the 16MB card, but after formatting it says I have 3.8MB and I still get the card error.

Before I send this off to Canon (and cross my fingers...) I was wondering if anyone had any additional information about this problem. I have also tried taking the batteries out for 20-30 minutes since that was suggested to me - this did nothing.

Thanks.

-Paul

[stduc]

Assuming that you have checked the obvious - namely are the batteries good ones? As you have problems with 2 different cards I suspect you have a camera problem. In your position I think I would first try powering up the camera and holding the power button for 5 seconds. This resets the camera to factory defaults. If that didn't work I would remove all the camera batteries (including the clock battery) for 24 hours. In addition I would press the power button for a few seconds after removing all batteries. Whilst waiting I would put the CF cards in my reader and do full diagnostic checks and then re-format them and re-check. In XP a 'scan and attempt recovery of bad sectors' should suffice. That should prove the cards are okay. at the 24+ hour mark I would re-insert first the button cell and then the other cells. I would then check the camera out and re-format the cards (or attempt to anyway) in the camera and proceed from there. If the problem has not gone away then I guess it's a call to CANON - unless someone knows better?

[PCH1]

Thanks for the response. Taking out all of the batteries, etc. has not helped my situation. The response from Canon tech support is that this requires factory service. So, unfortuatley I'm off to the Post Office this morning to send it in.

This is a great camera...when it's working. I'm disappointed in the quality and I'll miss it while it's gone. At least it's under warranty. Does anyone think getting an extended warranty is a good idea?

-Paul

[stduc]

If your dissapointed in the quality why would you want extended warranty?

[PCH1]

Let me be a little more specific: I'm very happy with the camera when it's working and disappointed that it has broken in the first 6 months. So, since I already own the camera I was thinking that an extended warranty might be a good idea...to guard against potential future defects.

[stduc]

Fair enough - I thought you were saying you were disappointed in the camera! Well, I believe only you can say whether you thing paying extra warranty is worth it. Personally I nearly always refuse and take the risk. Whichever way you go I hope you win.

[stopbath]

Don't get too miffed at what seems like poor quality of the A70. It isn't. There are so many parts in there, and they have been well tested and well designed, but when you have thousands of parts and make thousands of cameras, you really can't expect 0.000% failure rate. Something, somewhere isn't going to work properly. And that is what the warranty is about.

The warranty period is a year and that is about the norm for the industry. Most warranty defects occur well within that period of time. After the warranty period, failures will likely occur due to damages through outside forces (drop, water, abuse, grit...) and not through material failure.

If you wish to spend money on the extended warranty, think of this: It's a money maker for the company selling the extended warranty. They sell say 100, and process a few claims from that 100. The money they make on selling the hundred, covers the cost of them paying for repair on the others, and leaves them with a lot of money left over. This is not a break even prospect, or even a customer goodwill prospect. They make a lot of money on it (that's why almost everybody sells them.)

My suggestion: Forgo the extended warranty, but if you want piece of mind, go for it. If you plan on using your camera extensively, the value is better than if you use it only for vacations and special occasions.