50D dying?

Any suggestions welcome to the following please.

My 50D is just over a year old, and about 9,000 activations -today when I need it most it keeps "dying".
I've tried taking the bg2en grip off & the same thing happens - Take the battery out & put it back in again - the camera comes on, go to take a pic & it just dies again.
These are all freshly charged batteries btw - so it's not dead battery.

Doesn't matter what mode, auto, manual,etc - just "dies"!!

Edit - As an afterthought in case it was the shutter button, I attached the remote cable & still happens.

Any suggestions please - Obviously it's a case of taking it to the shop to be sorted, but to be armed with half an idea as to what it is would be good.

Thanks folks

you could try replacing the the little watch battery that keeps the settings. Another thought is to do a reset of the settings... but that's a shot in the dark

Thanks timbop - I've cleared all settings, and the firmware is up to date.
Not sure about the memory battery - but it has crossed my mind.
I have this gut feeling that this won't be a cheap repair (is anything ever??)

Edit - have just exchanged internal battery with the one in the 30D (same type) - no difference.

Try replacing the little, silver memory battery. My local grocery store has them for $1.50. It's worth a try.

While that silver memory batt is out, also remove the main (rechargeable BP511A) batt(s), and then press the shutter release button exactly once. This will "reboot" the camera. Put the batteries back in. You should need to reset the time and date after doing this. Probably your custom functions will need resetting, too. Rebooting the camera completely like this might clear some bad instructions "stuck" in the camera's circuitry.... might or might not help... but it's free and easy to try.

If you have extra BP511A, have you tried it (or them, since it sounds as if you have a grip that uses a pair of batteries)? This would eliminate the possibility that the batteries are at fault.

Do the batteries work in your 30D after a charge? This would eliminate the possibility that your charger(s) aren't working right, would tell you if the batteries are getting fully charged.

Is the rechargeable battery(ies) run down after the camera dies? I.e., does it take a full charge? If so, it sounds as if the camera is draining the batteries very quickly, which would indicate something wrong with the camera that's causing it to draw far, far more power than usual. I can get 1000+ shots with a pair of freshly charged batteries in 50D/BG-E2n.

If the batteries aren't drained, check the battery contacts on the batteries and inside the battery grip, and remove the grip to check the contacts on it and up inside the battery. Inspect them with a flashlight and clean the contacts with a tissue moistened with isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol).

You also might try using the camera without the BG-E2n... Just with the single main battery inside the camera. This might tell you is the fault is with the grip.

If none of the above helps, I'm afraid the camera will need to go to Canon service. Being that it's a year old with only 9000 clicks, any repair might be done under warranty. Canon will let you know.

amfoto - have tried all that to no avail (I was really hoping it was going to be something simple!!!).
Have replaced internal battery, exchanged the 511a's - all of them (and they all charge ok, and cross exchanged internal battery from the 30 - which works fine).
I think the cameras "brain" has had some form of seizure, as a reboot does nothing to help it.
I can take the battery out, and put it back in & the camera will come on, but as soon as I touch the shutter button or the remote cable release - it powers straight off.

Looks like a trip to the Canon Hospital

Vulcan58 wrote in post #10805487
...the camera comes on, go to take a pic & it just dies again.
These are all freshly charged batteries btw - so it's not dead battery.

Be absolutely sure they are good batteries. I had two batteries die recently, they would show up as charged in the charger, but dead in the camera.
Try the battery in your 30D or buy a new battery first before suspecting the camera.

Mark2Mark wrote in post #10806405
Be absolutely sure they are good batteries. I had two batteries die recently, they would show up as charged in the charger, but dead in the camera.
Try the battery in your 30D or buy a new battery first before suspecting the camera.

Good idea. Rule out battery failure before sending your body in to Canon. Try the batteries in your 30D

Mark2Mark wrote in post #10806405
Be absolutely sure they are good batteries. I had two batteries die recently, they would show up as charged in the charger, but dead in the camera.
Try the battery in your 30D or buy a new battery first before suspecting the camera.

crn3371 wrote in post #10806422
Good idea. Rule out battery failure before sending your body in to Canon. Try the batteries in your 30D

Should have mentioned I have tried all 3 batteries in the 30, and all work fine.

I've also tried taking a pic without the CF card in, different lenses etc - virtually all avenues (desperately lol) taken.

Thanks for your inputs & suggestions so far

Have you tried different lenses as well as different CF cards?

I have a Sigma lens that causes immediate camera blackout on any of my more recent EOS, the moment it tries to focus. It works fine on EOS-3,10D and other older models I've used.

Have you checked the lens to camera contacts, on both the lens and inside the camera mount? A short there might cause what you are seeing.

You didn't say, are the batteries drained when you remove them from the 50D, or do they still have power remaining?

I have to say, it's likely the camera will need to go to Canon... these are just some ideas that you might try, to narrow down where the fault is.