7D joystick problem!

So I've seen this happen when my 7D gets damp/wet outside where the joystick toggle on the back stops working well/at all. It seems to be a common issue and, when left to dry, typically resolves itself. However mine hasn't been wet recently and the joystick has stopped functioning well. I can't scroll to the left any more and even depressing it doesn't seem to register the right way.

I've tried reinstalling the firmwire but that's had no impact at all on its performance.


I've done some googling and it seems that a few things have come up as solutions

1) Send it to Canon - costs and takes time but has a high chance of being repaired

2) Dismantle and repair at home - not really something I want to do.

3) Dry it out - already done its dry

4) Attempt compressed air blown over it to flush it out - I'll likely try something like a IT Dusters CompuCleaner since that seems to offer similar performance with pure air and no droplets of moisture (plus I've been planning to get one for general dust cleaning in the computer anyway).


Option 4 is the most attractive, though it still costs me and whilst its something that has a use elsewhere , this isn't really something I've "budgeted for" at this stage.

Has anyone else here had the issue and found tips/tricks to resolving it? I've even wondered if letting the camera get wet again and then drying out fully once more might resolve it if the issue could be a tiny bit of mineral material that, with a rewetting, would get dissolved and dislodged. Though I'd rather not get it wet if I don't have too (and the British Weather is being rather a pain on that front with being all sunny and bright and not wet!)

It sounds like Canon missed the mark on the weather seal for that control. Give them a ring and ask if they have a replacement seal that works properly. After multiple moisture exposures it is likely that corrosion is now the problem and a blow of compressed air may do nothing but that is what I would try first if it were my camera.

Overread wrote in post #19052588
So I've seen this happen when my 7D gets damp/wet outside where the joystick toggle on the back stops working well/at all.

If you really mean the original 7D, it was released in late 2009 so Canon may no longer support it. Certainly justifies a call first and then you may have seek out an independent repair facility. At least in my neck of the woods, I suggest https://perfectimageca​mera.com/. They have in house technicians as opposed to sending the camera to another shop which just increases costs, by at least the shipping charges to/from the 3rd party.

John from PA wrote in post #19053229
...At least in my neck of the woods, I suggest https://perfectimageca​mera.com/. .

He mentioned British weather.

Aye and its not imported either - so repairs have to be UK side. I did just have a glancing brows at the Canon website for repairs and the guide prices are not cheap £85 per hour estimates; plus looking at things like replacing the back or LCD plates were running near to £200. Scarily Camera Price Buster shows excellent condition second hand 7D units for only £280 or there abouts. Which makes me somewhat weary about seeking a repair from Canon. Though of course that comes with 6 months warranty and unless I can find some examples of others who have had the unit repaired I can't be sure what the repair entails. Ergo one might think its just a clean around the joystick, but it might end up being one of those "Oh the whole rear PCB board has to be replaced" situations whereby the price is more than a secondhand unit.


Double annoying is that canon keep messing with their mirrorless and don't seem to want to make a 7DMIII

That is always the big dilemma. Repair something old or replace it with something just as old.

chuckmiller wrote in post #19053243
He mentioned British weather.

Hence the reason why I said “ At least in my neck of the woods...”. I do not know, or would I recommend an independent repair facility in the UK.