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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Rebel XT dead... Help!!!
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Showing posts 1 - 23 of 23, (reverse)
AuthorThread
 10/11/2007 11:57:11 AM · #1
Hey guys... I was doing a shoot for work today and myk Rebel XT died on me. Every time I turn it on, it says "Err CF". It does it with ALL my cards. I tried the cards in a Rebel XTi and they work. So I suspect the camera is the problem. I looked at the pins and they "seem" fine. The warranty ran out 20 days ago. Of course! I hate Murphy's Law. Did anyone ever experience this? Is it an expensive fix? Your help will be greatly appreciated...

Now let me go cry for a while...
 10/11/2007 12:04:44 PM · #2
pull the battery out for a bit, put it back in, and try again.
 10/11/2007 12:07:41 PM · #3
I did take them out. What do you mean by "a bit"? A few hours? Days?
 10/11/2007 12:30:53 PM · #4
If it's going to work, a minute or two should do the trick.
 10/11/2007 01:04:46 PM · #5
Make sure it doesnt have a bent cf pin. Pull the card out and look down into the slot for a pushed over pin. Common occurrance for people who change cards alot.

MattO
 10/11/2007 01:07:18 PM · #6
Look into the CF slot and repeat:

OOO Waaa Taaa Gooo Siam.

(someone beat me...maybe next time I should just help you without adding a joke!)

Really though....a buddy of mine had that happen and it was a "bent" pin where the card pushes into the camera. So all the connectors were connected except one.

I think he sent it in for repair. (it wasn't a Canon though)

Message edited by author 2007-10-11 13:08:34.
 10/11/2007 01:21:26 PM · #7
OOO Waaa Taaa Gooo Siam...
OOO Waaa Taaa Gooo Siam...
OOO Waaa Taaa Gooo Siam...

No. Still not working.
 10/11/2007 01:30:32 PM · #8
well, i dont recommend this, but when my stuff dosnt work i throw it against the wall, or a pillow usually juggles something around, and it usually works for me, lol but idk if its something you would want to do
10/11/2007 01:46:25 PM · #9
Have you tried to format one of the cards and try again... format it in your computer (I am assuming you have the Card Reader in your comp)

Just for the hell of it.
 10/11/2007 01:48:11 PM · #10
Originally posted by FocusPoint:
Have you tried to format one of the cards and try again... format it in your computer (I am assuming you have the Card Reader in your comp)

Just for the hell of it.


I sure did...
 10/11/2007 02:16:47 PM · #11
did you take out the small battery out as well to reset the camera's setting as well?
 10/11/2007 02:18:54 PM · #12
did you look or can you tell if any of the pins in the CF compartment are bent.

Message edited by author 2007-10-11 14:19:07.
 10/11/2007 02:34:10 PM · #13
One of the pins look like it could be a 'tiny' bit out of place. How can I fix that? And what "small" battery are we talking about here?
 10/11/2007 02:36:56 PM · #14
Originally posted by candlerain:
One of the pins look like it could be a 'tiny' bit out of place. How can I fix that? And what "small" battery are we talking about here?


Your machine should have a little place I think in same place where regular battery goes... to keep the date settings. If you take that battery out, Machine resets itself. But, if you found a bend pin, that probably causing the error. I doubt reseting machine would work. but try anyway. for the pin, I have no clue how to fix, maybe somthing thin and long like paper clip or something.
 10/11/2007 02:49:54 PM · #15
Is your battery low? If so, try a freshly charged battery.

Low battery can sometimes cause funky problems in things.
 10/12/2007 11:48:30 AM · #16
Ok... Here it is... The camera is in the shop now. $300 for a little bent pin. Yes, CompactFlash cards are very tough, but the "receiving" units are not. What a stupid design. I was always careful putting the card in and taking it out and the pins still got screwed up. Darn! If the pin actually scratched the main board, the price will be over $400. There goes my dream of selling my XT to get a 30D or 40D.

This thing teaches me that I will never loan my camera or borrow one again. They are just not built tough enough. The guy at the shop showed me an "open" camera. After seeing the "guts" of it, I am VERY disappointed with the build quality. Why can't they build electronics like old American cars?
 10/12/2007 12:19:46 PM · #17
Originally posted by candlerain:
Ok... Here it is... The camera is in the shop now. $300 for a little bent pin. Yes, CompactFlash cards are very tough, but the "receiving" units are not. What a stupid design. I was always careful putting the card in and taking it out and the pins still got screwed up. Darn! If the pin actually scratched the main board, the price will be over $400. There goes my dream of selling my XT to get a 30D or 40D.

This thing teaches me that I will never loan my camera or borrow one again. They are just not built tough enough. The guy at the shop showed me an "open" camera. After seeing the "guts" of it, I am VERY disappointed with the build quality. Why can't they build electronics like old American cars?


Just for that reason, I try to use the cord as much as I can. Take pictures, move to computer, delete from the card, reuse it.

It's me though. I had pin problems before, I hate to take out and put back something has millions of pins in it.
 10/13/2007 12:34:36 PM · #18
I had that problem with a computer processor, but at least with the processor i could just put it on the table and fix it with a mechanical pencil. I removed the lead from the pencil and put the pencil over the pin to straighten it.
So now with the antquated CF cards i put it in the camera and never take it out. Canon should switch to SD.
 10/13/2007 03:02:40 PM · #19
Perhaps on the upgrade next time look for a camera that uses SDs. They don't have pins like CFs do!

My Nikon has SD; I was upset about that at first (since I have lots of CF cards), but this is one of the advantages. Plus they are cheap too. About $25 for a high speed 2GB card.
 10/15/2007 09:32:31 AM · #20
All higher end cameras that I look into use Flash. How retarded is that...
 10/16/2007 02:13:57 PM · #21
you should have given Canon Service Center a call see what they could do...
 06/23/2013 01:07:34 PM · #22
I realize this is an old thread but I just recovered from this problem without any cost to me, I know that I got lucky but would have rather bought a new camera before paying to have the pin straightened or the pin board replaced. Below is the method I used and my thoughts on the result:

My case was that I purchased a new 8GB CF card and got the Error 99 and my camera wouldn't format it or use the original 2GB CF card that I replaced. After REMOVING THE BATTERY, I was able to use an illuminated magnifier to look into the CF card slot to see the pin was bent. I then used a flat bladed (standard) jeweler's screw driver, reaching into the CF card slot and gently bent the pin to it's original position but it sprung back a little so I had to bend it a little farther until it sprung back in alignment with all of the other pins and then I was able to insert the largest CF card I had (8GB) and then all of the errors, inability to format the card ended and the camera is functioning again. I will have to remember to never remove the CF card, as the pin is now weakened and will eventually break off. I'll use the USB A to USB mini cable to transfer photos from now on so I won't have to pull the CF card and chance a pin bending or breaking.

I hope that this post will someday help another soul in the same boat as I was to solve this problem themselves? Good luck to you all. :D

Sincerely,
TampaNative
 06/23/2013 01:43:45 PM · #23
Good advice TampaNative, and welcome to DPC.

Using the USB cable saves wear and tear on the pins. Also, I have had instances where my computer did not like the larger CF cards, but would read the camera just fine.

It also solves the issue of forgetting to put the card back, and then driving for an hours to do a shoot. (Been there, done that, and was really angry with myself.).
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