Strange prob with 20D shutter (long post)

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM for Nikon

03/01/2005 08:27:58 PM · #1

Has anyone had any trouble with the 20D shutter button? I returned mine to the store today, actually the second 20D that's being returned because of shutter button locking up.

I traded my 10D to a 20D on Jan. 29, three weeks later the shutter button stopped working. The camera would focus properly but would not take the picture, the shutter button would not press down. I could only get focus pressing the shutter halfway and that was it. The green focus indicator on the viewfinder only showed up for a second and disappeared. The vertical grip worked fine.

I brought the camera back to the store and they tried it and the rep said they haven't seen this problem before but gladly replaced it with a new one. That was on the 19th of Feb.

Today, 10 days into having this second camera, the same trouble happened again. This time though it was happening intermittently whereas before once it stopped, it never worked.

So back to the store again, talking to the same rep, he could not believe that I'm back with the same issue as before. I'm sure he was starting to believe that it was a user error because not only he hadn't seen this problem anywhere else before, it was also my second time to return 2 cameras for the same problem, I could be doing something wrong or another of my equipment attached to it was causing it, lens, grip, etc...

When this problem happened the first time, I was using the Canon 24-70 F2.8L. I had just taken a few shots when the shutter gave up. Today I was using the Sigma 105mm macro, took maybe 60 shots with it then switched to the Canon 28-70 and after a few shots, the shutter locked up.

Based on that one would think that the 28-70 was causing this problem. But last weekend, I used the 28-70 almost the whole time and switched to the 50mm only towards the end. I had no trouble.

At the store today, the rep removed the vertical grip, reset the battery, cleared all the camera settings back the factory default, tried their own lenses and the problem persisted. In fact, it got worse after so many shutter presses. So now I'm on my third 20D in one month. But is this going to happen again?

He suggested to have my sigma lens re-chipped so I left it to them to send to the repair shop. I had that lens and been problem free since I had the Rebel and the 10D. If you own this lens, did you have problem using it with the 20D? Did you need re-chipping?

I'm also now afraid to use my 28-70 lens, in case it is the culprit. Do you think I need to get the lens checked? At the store, we used this lens on another 20D body without problems. Maybe we didn't try long enough to break it. :)

Has anybody seen anything like this? Could certain camera settings or a combination of them cause hardware malfunction? I've only been using a DSLR since Sept 2003 and know that it's easy to take crappy pictures when the camera settings are wrong but I doubt that it could actually break a camera.

Thanks for reading this far. I'm interested to hear any advice/thoughts.

Zal

Nikon D200

03/01/2005 08:35:04 PM · #2

Sounds like the infamous shutter lock up problem that early cameras experienced. Firmware 1.0.5 fixed it, but I think the latest version is 1.1.0. You might want to check to make sure you have the latest firmware.

From the 1.0.5 Firmware Q&A:
Q: Does the version 1.0.5 firmware incorporate all of the fixes from previous versions?

A: Yes, it does. The following version 1.0.4 fixes are also included.
1. Fixes the problem of shutter release not working. In rare cases, the camera freezes and the shutter stops working if a lens removed or attached while the camera is in auto power off mode. (In other cases, the camera might hang up during continuous shooting.) - This problem has been fixed.

More info here:
//www.canon.co.jp/Imaging/eos20d/eos20d_firmware-e.html

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

03/01/2005 08:35:44 PM · #3

Boy that is a head scratcher! Once you can understand, but twice with the same unusual problem?? That's strange. The fact that the second camera was only doing it intermitently suggests something other than a software/firmware setting or issue. If resetting the defaluts does not clear up the problem, then it's almost certainly not a setting issue. I really don't think a lens would be at fault, especially if the lens is not giving you an error when it is mounted; could be wrong on this one though. It certainly wouldn't hurt to have the "suspect" checked out.

krazyivan

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

Canon EF 50mm f1.2L

03/01/2005 08:42:10 PM · #4

Never had that problem. I would contact Canon directly to see if there are any known issues with your situation. Maybe there is a bad batch of 20D's out there. Or if it is a lens issue, contact the manufacturer for the lens.

Did this ever happen while you had the kit lens on? If not, I would take as many pictures as possible with the kit lens, in all modes, especially high speed, just to see if the shutter locks up again. If it doesn't at least you know that it's not the camera; hopefully.

BTW, I would buy an extended warranty!!

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

03/01/2005 08:44:57 PM · #5

Originally posted by Zal:

The firmware on all three cameras was vers. 1.1.0... that site actually came up on top of my google search when I first had this problem. so I've eliminated the firmware as the cause. Thanks though.

zeuszen

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

03/01/2005 08:53:58 PM · #6

Henry, have the cameras been stored in or passed through a strong magnetic field (i.e. don't take pictures while on the phone to Canon's support line ;-0); Did you expose them to extreme temps, moisture, vibration?

Just fishin...

03/01/2005 09:10:59 PM · #7

Originally posted by kirbic:

Yeah, there was no error message. None. It happens without warning. It's really baffling especially since the vertical grip works without glitches. Having said that the store also replaced the grip just to rule it out as the cause, but I think it's unlikely.

03/01/2005 09:27:42 PM · #8

Originally posted by zeuszen:

Nope to all situations, Zeus. Maybe extreme temps but very brief. Haven't had the chance to go out on long photo trips outdoors not because it's cold, just I have no time. There was one time when my cell phone rang and the camera was right next to it.

03/02/2005 02:35:24 AM · #9

Originally posted by krazyivan:

Did this ever happen while you had the kit lens on? If not, I would take as many pictures as possible with the kit lens, in all modes, especially high speed, just to see if the shutter locks up again. If it doesn't at least you know that it's not the camera; hopefully.

BTW, I would buy an extended warranty!!

I bought just the body so I don't have the kit lens. I emailed Canon Canada and asked if I should have the 24-70mm lens checked. I think they will say bring it in but I need to have it back because I have a big fundraising banquet to cover on March 11th.

I forgot to say that the other thing that was the same when the lock up happened was that in both instances the camera was set in Custom white balance. I took a picture of a gray card and used that as the image reference for white balance. I doubt this has something to do, just thought I throw that out as I'm trying to re-collect on what might be similar in terms of settings or whatever thay may have cause shutter failure.

I'm still interested to hear feedback or if you've heard anything like this before and how it was resolved.

Thanks again,

henry

nova

Canon EOS-6D

Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM

03/02/2005 07:24:32 AM · #10

Henry-- I've had my 20D since October and have experienced the same thing a few times. I haven't pinpointed the problem, in fact I have wondered if I am somehow causing it, this being my first dslr. The most recent occurance was when I was working in somewhat colder temps - mid 20s, I think - but I wasn't out for a very long time period (probably less than 1/2 hour). Even though that isn't extremely cold, I believe the Canon manual says not to use it below 32* f, so that may be it. I've also wondered if it isn't caused by the battery being slightly run down. When it happens, if I keep trying it will usually re-engage and fire off a shot after a minute or so; does yours do the same? BTW, I'm also using the 24-70 f2.8.... suspicious. No correlation to using custom wb when mine has locked up, also. I'll be interested to see what they say if you send your lens in to be checked out, please let us know. Hope you're able to run it down. --Ray

Tokina AF 12-24mm f/4.0 AT-X Pro DX

03/02/2005 09:31:22 PM · #11

I didn't hear from Canon yet but the one reply I got from a yahoo group talked about turning the camera off when changing lenses. It's likely that the camera was on when I removed the Sigma and put the Canon on. But then again I may have done the same thing on occassion with the Rebel and the 10D but didn't have a shutter problem. I can't really pinpoint that this was the cause. I'm not about to try it either. :)

zagman

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

03/02/2005 10:34:05 PM · #12

I don't have that shutter release problem with my Canon 20D. The only problem I have is the image file order. When I transfer the files from the camera to the computer, some of the first shot images appear out of order. I have checked the "file continuous" settings to no avail. So when I look for a specific file number it could be almost anywhere in that image folder. Any thoughts...

03/02/2005 10:54:03 PM · #13

Zag, are you transfering from camera to computer via WinXP camera wizard? I had the same problem before but now I use a card reader to copy the images from the card. I then delete the images on the card in the camera.