D-50 error 01 message

I have a used D-50 (approx. 3 or 4 years old) and it is displaying an "Error 01" massage, meaning camera and lens are not communicating.

The problem occurs only sometimes however, and only when using my EFS 17-85 mm lens. I have a Canon 75-300 mm telephoto lens that works ok with the D-50 - when I click a shot, no error message shows.

When the 17-85 lens is in use, the error message only shows up in brighter conditions, such as outdoors or on snow (in didn't used to under these conditions before). In dimmer conditions, such as lower light or indoors, and with or without flash, the images still get taken as normal.

Does this sound like a lens repair issue, or just cleaning contacts? (I'm assuming if contacts were dirty, lens would not work in all situations).

Thanks in advance for any useful advice.

rondeaujohn wrote in post #16636957
I have a used D-50 (approx. 3 or 4 years old) and it is displaying an "Error 01" massage, meaning camera and lens are not communicating.

The problem occurs only sometimes however, and only when using my EFS 17-85 mm lens. I have a Canon 75-300 mm telephoto lens that works ok with the D-50 - when I click a shot, no error message shows.

When the 17-85 lens is in use, the error message only shows up in brighter conditions, such as outdoors or on snow (in didn't used to under these conditions before). In dimmer conditions, such as lower light or indoors, and with or without flash, the images still get taken as normal.

Does this sound like a lens repair issue, or just cleaning contacts? (I'm assuming if contacts were dirty, lens would not work in all situations).

Thanks in advance for any useful advice.

If it is just the one lens I would suggest you clean the contacts on the lens, check the mount for wear.

Is your camera a 50D, and not a D-50?

What is happening is the camera is trying to tell the lens to close the aperture blades, that's why it isn't working in bright situations.

Absolutely clean the contacts on the lens. The reason it will 'sometimes' work, is because the lens isn't being asked to stop down, and to shoot wide open, so the lens doesn't need to be told to stop down.

It could also be a real problem. Your aperture blades may be jammed, the aperture motor may be done, or a ribbon cable may be damaged. No real way of knowing unless the lens is opened and checked.

Canon recommends using a pencil eraser to clean the contacts. I use that as a last resort. I start with isopropyl alcohol on a clean rag, then move to electronics cleaner, and then will resort to the eraser. If none of those work, it's probably a physical problem with the lens internals. You can also try cleaning off the contacts on the camera body, but do so gentle, as to not damage or bend them.

Another possibility, although not likely as your other lens works, is that one (or more) of the pins on the body is not extending all the way, and therefore not making contact with the lens. Something to check, but as I said, it's unlikely.

Good luck!

Thanks for your reply - (yes, it is a 50D camera - just wasn't thinking on that first line) Anyway, thanks much for your advice - you sound like more of a Canon expert than me...I love the brand name...just not when it acts up like this..will start with a good contact cleaning. thanks again!

if it's just with that lens, then it's the lens at fault...that lens is also prone to the aperture ribbon failing...so it could be that