problems with XTi 400d

When I turn on my XTI 400d I see only the info screen, not what camera is aimed at. Battery display says battery is charged (but I put it on the charger for a while anyway). Autofocus not working. I reverted to default settings. No change. Memory card is empty, formatted and in place. What is going on? It has been a couple of months since I used the camera.

babbobubba wrote in post #16693987
When I turn on my XTI 400d I see only the info screen, not what camera is aimed at. Battery display says battery is charged (but I put it on the charger for a while anyway). Autofocus not working. I reverted to default settings. No change. Memory card is empty, formatted and in place. What is going on? It has been a couple of months since I used the camera.

Among other things, the XTi is not a Live View camera. When the camera is powered up,you'll only see the info screen.

Do you get an image for a short period of time after taking an image? As far as autofocus, make certain the switch marked A M is in the A position.

Actually, it's AF/MF, and that switch is on the lens, not on the camera. Only very old lenses had this switch marked AF/M.

Sorry. I forgot to add that the shutter will not work. I press button but nothing happens.

Does the shutter work in MF, then?

Shutter works in neither mode. Lens does not autofocus when shutter is partially depressed. Doesn't seem to matter that I too am partially depressed by this.

babbobubba wrote in post #16702780
Shutter works in neither mode. Lens does not autofocus when shutter is partially depressed. Doesn't seem to matter that I too am partially depressed by this.

Did you activate back button focusing so that the * button does focusing? I suggest you reset all camera settings and cf values, and try again.

I reset everything to default.

Did you take the lens cap off?

babbobubba wrote in post #16704984
I reset everything to default.

Custom functions have their own reset I believe.

Assuming you mean that you cannot see what the camera is aimed at when looking through the viewfinder, it is possible that the mirror is not in its normal or lower position. The early Rebel's where prone to a small pin breaking in the mirror box that has something to do with the mirror 'flip' mechanism. If that has broken the mirror could be jammed in the 'locked up' position. I'm not sure if the XTi suffered from this problem but try taking the lens off and having a look to see if the mirror is actually in the lowered or raised position.

DC fan reminded me that this is not a live-view camera. When I checked the mirror as gofer suggested I discovered that the shutter (and mirror) work when the lens is dismounted. It's the only lens I have so I can't test with another. Any ideas from these facts? And yes, klassenl, the lens cap is off.