What happened? (please look at these pics)

do that every time the camera is started.

I read on the net that firmware updates are supposed to fix an issue with the 20D corrupting raw files...I don't have a 20D so I've never come across this but perhaps you might check and see if your camera has the current firmware update...

thank you, Permagrin. I'll do it asap.

Oh no! Hope it all turns out OK for ya. Hopefully sandpiper wasn't correct about it having almost 80,000 shots on it already... forget refurbished, that's downright USED - a lot.

If it's not your CF card, it could be a bad transfer from your card to the computer. I had that happen once. A couple of my images came out looking just like yours. I thought that maybe my card was going bad but just on a hunch, I redid the transfer of those images and they uploaded fine the second time.

I forgot to mention that when I reloaded those images, I first reseated the cardreader on it's base (I have the SanDisk reader that plugs into a base when connected to the desktop) and double checked the USB connector. The reader had actually become partially loose and reseating it tightened the connection again.

checked the camera, and have the current, updated firmware installed.

I also spoke to Canon. She said since it's ONLY showing up in RAW formats, and the jpgs of the same files are fine, that it can't be a camera problem and isn't likely to be a card problem, but something in between getting the info from the card to the pc.

ARGGHHHH! Nothing ever goes well for me!

Let me also say - I can't see how this camera has 80,000+ actuations on it. It doesn't have a MARK on it, and that's no exaggeration. It is as clean as it would be as a brand new camera. B&H told me it was a 'demo' model.

So sorry about all this. I know it's frustrating, especially when it's not a small purchase! At least things are being narrowed down. Did the canon rep. explain why the computer wasn't reading your raw files? (I found this on the web, so it's a common issue http://www.dphoto.us/f​orum/showthread.php?t=​5396 )

All your cards wouldn't go bad at once, that much is certain. Is there any way you could borrow another card reader (do you know anyone near, with one) to see if that might be the problem?

Sorry about not being more help...everything online says that firmware updates should fix any raw issues...(which there were, not only with the camera but the MKIIN so I'm not sure why the canon rep. said that).

You know, having read the progress you've made it sounds more and more like a RAW conversion issue. IF the embedded JPEGS of the same shot are fine then I can't see how it could be a camera problem (unless it's extreamly complex, i.e. not writing RAW info properly - but I can't imagine this would be the case especially as its converting and writing the JPEG OK).

I was wondering if you knew anybody that's been using a 20D for a while and has a reliable RAW converter. You could give them a copy of a suspect RAW file and see if it converts properly.

Also Trish, when I upgraded from a 300D -> 30D I had to change ALL my software to cater for the new RAW format in the 30D, they are not always compatiable between models. Are you sure you've got the correct 20D RAW converters installed? I'm assuming your 20D came with the S/W CDs and that you've uninstalled the old 300D stuff and then installed the 20D S/W?

KansasMom wrote in post #2184049
Let me also say - I can't see how this camera has 80,000+ actuations on it. It doesn't have a MARK on it, and that's no exaggeration. It is as clean as it would be as a brand new camera. B&H told me it was a 'demo' model.

Kind of odd that a demo model had pics of someone's family on it though? Unless it was taken out of the store and actually demo'd...

That said, it doesn't really sound like it's the camera, since the images appear fine on the LCD... have you tried transfering the faulty shots again to see if they still come out garbled, like PacAce suggested?

No, I haven't. I'll try that today, for sure.

I really appreciate all the help you guys have offered up to this point. I just don't know what I'd do without this forum!

Trish,
First - you can reset the image number to anything you want on your 20D. Several threads here.

Second - if you want someone to try the conversion I'm game. Send the raw file to TeamTitus213 at Comcast.net and I'll look at it. I do shoot a 20D so I have all the software installed along with CS2 and ACR.

For what it's worth,
I've had a similar problem about five years ago, when I came home from a ski holiday and tried to download my pics via an USB card reader, and half of the pics showed up like yours : serious banding, warped colors etcetera.
It appeared that the cardreader was the culprit, and it destroyed almost half of my pics.
Ever since tha tincident, I download pics straight from the camera via a cable, and never had that problem again, with any camera.
By the way, the camera was fine, there was nothing wrong with it, I used it happily ever after, same for the memory cards.

KansasMom wrote in post #2184049
Let me also say - I can't see how this camera has 80,000+ actuations on it. It doesn't have a MARK on it, and that's no exaggeration. It is as clean as it would be as a brand new camera. B&H told me it was a 'demo' model.

Not too sure how Demos are displayed in the store, but while I was in Japan, they had the cameras out on display with full access and no saleperson bothering you. I noticed that everyone who picked the camera up ALWAYS had it on continuous shoot and would just hold the shutter button down for a minute or so.

sandpiper wrote in post #2182966
If that is folder 899, it's done about 80,000 shots so is about ready for a shutter failure. Folders start at 100, so it's filled 799 folders with 100 images in each. RAW doesn't matter, it's 100 shots per folder, regardless of RAW, Jpeg or both.

I don't mean to jump in but I bought my 20D refurb, and fired up at least a few thousand shots my current folder is at 101-175 so how can that be, that would mean 175 shots?, impossible, I have mine on continues numbering