50D Won't format my CF Cards

Hi guys, I hadn't used my 50D for a month or so, charged the batteries, then put a normal CF card in, and it comes up that I need to format the card, so I tried to use the in camera format and it then says I cant format that card. So I put in a different card and same problem! Tried about 6 cards and get the issue, so it makes me think it is the camera. I cant check the cards because I only have the one camera. Any ideas of what it could be?

Try swapping to a different battery and remove the lens

With a bright light, look down into the CF slot, checking for a bent or missing pin. There should be two rows of 25 each as I recall.

John from PA wrote in post #16290661
With a bright light, look down into the CF slot, checking for a bent or missing pin. There should be two rows of 25 each as I recall.

+1

After you check this, if you find no problems, try formatting the card first in a computer then try to format in camera.

there it is! one bend pin, will let you know how I go

mitch.mccabe wrote in post #16291743
there it is! one bend pin, will let you know how I go

tweezers and lots of patience should fix this.

mitch.mccabe wrote in post #16291743
there it is! one bend pin, will let you know how I go

Mate...
How did you do that?
Are you using cheap cards.
Get a hyperdermic needle and slip it over the bent pin to gently straighten it.

the CF pin connectors themselves are avail as a separate part (rather than being part of the main board) so it probably wouldn't be a king's ransom to repair. Dunno if they're soldered on or just bolted though - anyone had one apart?

see: http://www.uscamera.co​m/ws1-6998.htm