50D sticky shutter button...

Just last weekend my 50D developed a sticky shutter button. I have had it for 2 months and I think the previous owner had it for 1 yr. So it is likely just out of warranty. I know some 30D and 40D owners had experienced this.

I tried the compressed air (in case of dust) but I really hesitate to try the contact cleaner. I think the 50D is sealed a little better than the 30D/40D and don't care to risk the damage to the plastic. Any other quick fixes before I contact Canon?

Try a vacuum instead of canned air... If it's dust in there, you don't want to force farther into the mechanism.

If that doesn't work, it's probably best to take it to a local camera repair shop (if out of warranty) or send to Canon.

I had a shutter button die on my 20D after almost 29K clicks. As I investigated my issue, I found out that a shutter button problem is more common than I thought.
In my case, I sent it to Canon and 3 days later (and the standard $180 parts and labor fee) it was finished and working perfectly. When I picked up mine, someone else was turning theirs in for the same problem. Unfortunately, I could not tell if it was a 40D or 50D from the back but I knew it was not anything older due to the LCD size.
Hopefully you can resolve it without sending it in.