Delay when pushing the shutter button on 30D

I just got my 30D back from Canon yesterday and it's all clean and looking good, and according to Canon, up to factory specifications.

I noticed yesterday and again today that there are instances where the focus is locked, visually and audibly, and the shutter dooes not fire when I fully depress the shutter button. Instead there is a small delay.

Things I've tried, before making suggestions...

- Powering down and up again
- Take the battery out and replacing it
- Make sure the battery is charged
- Tried another battery
- Tried another CF card
- Checked all the parameters and those that might have returned to default at the factory.
- Make sure I am in fact pressing firmly on the shutter (never had to think about it, so this would be very odd).
- Checked for pattern or consistency to the problem. Can't find any.

Any ideas or suggestions?

I just saw someone with a similar problem the other day. They mentioned that they were using a grip and reseated the battery and all was well. I don't know if this is a related problem at all. I was not using the grip and reseating the battery did not change anything.

Just a thought, have you tried this with a different lens?

Hi Steve,

Thanks for that suggestion. I just did some extensive testing and unfortunately can't find rhyme or reason.
Originally when I posted I had been using the 70-200 f/4 L. I just tried with the 50mm f/1.4 and the 85mm f/1.8. The 50mm never did it (not sure that actually proves anything) and the 85mm did it once while doing all the same things I had originally done with the 70-200 and then with the 50mm. I don't think it has anything to do with the lens used.

I just tested with the shutter button functioning as AF and then with the * button for AF. Results were the same.
Also, it doesn't seem to do it during a burst or on the first shot of a burst. Again, not sure that means anything since it just seems to do it when it feels like it.
Each time it happened it did happen with a single shot.

I was just trying to establish whether is was the 30D or maybe a lens.
As changing lens's appeared to have some effect, I also wonder if proper contact is being made? More of a hope really, I'd hate you to have to return the body to Canon again.
When you removed the battery, did you also remove the button cell? - Sorry to be so obvious.

I experienced a problem with my 85mm 1.8 on my 5D, when auto focusing, then adjusting manually as its a full time focus lens, I have trouble firing the 5D, I wondered was the point of full time focus if this problem occured? I just use auto or manual now its far easier.

However, that doesn't help you, sorry to drift. I hope you get it sorted soon.

I noticed this occasionaly on the 30D. When shooting sports this would happen a few times a day(out of 3000 or so). No thoughts on how to help but at least you know someone else had the same experience.

Switch your lens to MF. Does it still do it? If not then it's an AF issue(s) or setting(s) you need to look at.

I think something may be wrong with the camera.

Only one thought -- Try center-point AF only, see if that changes the result.

eigga wrote in post #4020438
I noticed this occasionaly on the 30D. When shooting sports this would happen a few times a day(out of 3000 or so). No thoughts on how to help but at least you know someone else had the same experience.

I had heard of others reporting this now and then but didn' understand it until it happened to me.

cosworth wrote in post #4020467
Switch your lens to MF. Does it still do it? If not then it's an AF issue(s) or setting(s) you need to look at.

I just ifgured it out. It is AF. Now the question is....am I more sensitive to it or has it changed somehow after coming back from the factory?

hortonsl62 wrote in post #4020470
I think something may be wrong with the camera.

Only one thought -- Try center-point AF only, see if that changes the result.

Yup, I almost exclusively use center AF. I just did some testing and here is what I found.

Oh Steve, I cleaned the contacts on the camera and each lens. No change.

I put the camera on a tripod with the 70-200mm since that was where I seemed to have more of an issue. Using AF, center point seleted, one shot, I focused on a tree branch in the foreground with other trees and houses in the background. With the AF on the * button, focusing once I could fire as many shots as I wanted and not have the issue. BUT, if I initiated AF before each shot I had the problem. As I was looking carefully through the viewfinder it was obvious what was happening. I was at 200mm and the area inside of the AF point was very small. If the branch moved at all it would change what was in that AF point from the edge of the leaf where there is contrast to suddenly trying to focus on a larger green area with no contrast. So it actually hunted for a split second until the branch moved that slight amount again, allowing the lens to focus.

This explains why it happened the most with the 70-200mm, some with the 85mm and not at all with the 50mm.

I'll do some additional testing to make sure that is in fact the only issue but I think that is the problem. I'm still scratching my a little as to why I never noticed or felt I had this problem for almost a year. Could not having my camera for a week heighten my senses?

Glad you sorted it

Well.. I found another user with this issue.. I updated my post on this..

I called the canon Tech support last time this happened and they suggested that I send it in.. I will probably drop it off in NJ myself..

I tried all the suggestions already, MF mode, Different lenses, With flash and with out flash etc..

I do have a grip on my 30D, and I tried removing the grip and it still does it.. Although.. I did some searching online.. I found other people has this issue as well.. But it doesnt happen with I use the Grips shutter release.. Other people posted the same on other sites.. I wonder if it is the shutter release button itself..

Here are the links..

http://photo.net …a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00MHpz
http://malaysia.answer​s.yahoo.com …qid=20070925181​501AAYxPfL
http://forums.dpreview​.com …rum=1019&messag​e=24989757


I will update my post when I get an answer from canon..

TMR... PM Sent..

Mine did this and I solved the problem by removing the small battery that backs up the memory inside the main battery chamber. Let it set out for 30 seconds, put it back in, reset the time and all was well for me.

Interesting MGW172. I'll have to give that a try and see what happens.

MGW172 wrote in post #4072032
Mine did this and I solved the problem by removing the small battery that backs up the memory inside the main battery chamber. Let it set out for 30 seconds, put it back in, reset the time and all was well for me.

How long did it stay good for? or did the issue return?

ItsMike wrote in post #4077868
How long did it stay good for? or did the issue return?

That was about 4 months ago and the issue has not returned.

Oh, I should add that I also replaced the button battery soon after, so that also might have something to do with it.