Error 99 (40D)

On Friday I put my 60 macro lens on my new (to me) 40D and went to an indoor free-flying butterfly exhibit. During the afternoon I took about 150 shots and got four or five Error 99 messages. Each time, simply switching the camera off and then on again cured the problem and I was able to continue shooting.

Before then, I'd taken perhaps 300 shots with the camera, mostly outdoors, with a couple of different lenses, and had no problems at all. Yesterday I took another 200 or so shots with the 60 macro, to see if the error message would come back, and it didn't. The guy who sold me the camera assured me he'd had no problems in the past, and I tend to believe him.

It was very hot and humid at the butterfly exhibit: could this have been a factor? I've been to the same exhibit in previous years with my XTi, and never had a problem. Also, the error messages started after I'd popped up the onboard flash as fill for a portrait of my daughter (first time I'd used the onboard; I normally use a Speedlite but hadn't mounted it for the trip), but they recurred when I wasn't using the flash.

Should I be worried about this? The camera was purchased new in May 2008 (locally) by its previous owner and had about 4,000 actuations when I bought it. I have the receipt and warranty card. My instinct is to shoot a whole lot more frames this week, to see if the message happens again. I'm kind of reluctant to send it into Canon if I can't reproduce the problem. Has anybody else had this happen to them in hot, humid conditions? Or with the onboard flash? Thanks for any insight (or reassurance!!) you can give.

Try cleaning your contacts and taking everything out of the camera. Also try cleaning the lens contacts.

The info below was taken the the Canon UK website help pages, hope it helps you:

FAQ: What do error codes indicate?

Answer:

If a camera error occurs, " Err xx" will be displayed on the top LCD panel. Follow the instruction below to resolve the problem.
If the same error occurs repeatedly, something may wrong with the camera. Write down the " xx" error code and take your camera to the nearest Canon Service Centre.
If an error occurs after you have taken a picture, the camera might have missed the shot. (No images are recorded on the memory card in this case.) Press the < Playback> button to see if the image appears on the LCD monitor.
Error Code List
Error code
Countermeasures
Err 01
Communications between the camera and lens is faulty.
Clean the lens contacts.
Err 02
There is a problem with the CF card. Try any of the following:
- Remove and re-insert the memory card.
- Formatting the CF Card.
- Use another CF card instead.
Err 04
The memory card is full. Erase unnecessary images in the card or replace the CF card.
Err 05
Something obstructed the built-in flash's automatic pop-up operation.
Turn the power switch to < OFF> once, and then switch it to < ON> again.
Err 99
An error other than the above has occurred.
Remove and re-install the battery.
This error may occur if you use a non-Canon lens and the camera or lens does not operate properly.
Err CF
A problem with the CF card is preventing the image data from being recorded or read.
Use another CF card instead.

So Err99 = An error other than the above has occurred?

SteveNC wrote in post #7630061
So Err99 = An error other than the above has occurred?

Err99 is a blanket error code for everything else that does not have a specific error code.

Thanks guys. I'd done a web search before posting, but thought somebody might have found other solutions. I guess I'll just keep shooting and see what happens. I was going to put my XTi up for sale, but will hang onto it for now, in case the 40D has to go in to Canon. There have been no more error messages since last week. Here's hoping it was just a humidity thing.

I'm using a fully charged Canon battery, a Canon lens, a CF card formatted in the camera, and have cleaned everything in sight. I don't really know what else to do. Let's hope it's enough; "error 99" isn't exactly specific, is it?

Err99 has a lot of reason...
in you case it might be a memory card also, try using another memory card.
but if it doesn't happen a lot it means it is not something, it might be just something with the contact of the body and the lenses... keep them clean and see what happens

Got the Err99 on my new 40D today, only had it for little over a month . Have not used it that much . I tired everything the Tech at canon walk me through a few things and nothing worked so it is off to Canon tomorrow . The tech told me that i should have it back by the first of the week.

sphillips45 wrote in post #7634307
Got the Err99 on my new 40D today, only had it for little over a month . Have not used it that much . I tired everything the Tech at canon walk me through a few things and nothing worked so it is off to Canon tomorrow . The tech told me that i should have it back by the first of the week.

When i got my Err99 message twice on my 40D i had to send my canon for shutter replacement twice

I got a 99 when I used a non-OEM battery. It was dead, and apparently the camera was having issues with that. That's the only time I've seen it. Hopefully it's not your shutter.

Are you using a battery grip? If so, try removing it.

The only time I got err99 was when my lens was crapping out. I got the lens fixed and all was well. If it only happens with this lens, the lens is at fault.

There's the chance that a contact was not fully connecting with the camera, possibly due to material expansion from the heat. Humidity would not be an issue unless you had a drop of water across two contacts. Or perhaps if the camera had been dunked, but not fully dried out.

I may be paranoid, but I would think twice before buying any used item of the complexity of a camera. Or a great deal on a late model car after a 100-year flood. I would be wondering why the seller wanted to get rid of it.

For whatever the reason, I used to get Err99's when I would shoot too much (not sequencing, but hitting the shutter numerous times in quick succession). I thought it was my batteries, third party ebay ones, but as long as I dont try to do a "manual" sequence I'm good.

had it happen to me...had to send it in.