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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Canon 40D shutter death possibly?
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05/16/2013 04:54:11 AM · #1
I was taking some photos this morning with my treasured Canon 40Dand suddenly the shutter started making a different sound and also the photos appeared as if there was something in the front of the lens i.e all black apart from a thin strip of the proper photo.

Not sure what happened before inside the camera but if I remove the lens and take a photo one side of the little mirror appears to rise slightly.

I am guessing it is a shutter problem - and guessing it is for sure as I have no idea really. I have reset the camera and taken both batteries out - I am sure I read somewhere that could fix some problems.

I have had the camera since October 2008 and have probably taken over 100,000 photos with it.

Unfortunately this leaves me with only one camera - an Olympus CAMEDIA C-2000Z which whilst being a fab camera in its day is not ideal.

So before it goes off to the Canon Repair Shop for an autopsy, I thought I would see if anyone has any idea what the issue is?

Thanks
Paul
05/16/2013 06:13:40 AM · #2
Sounds like it's fried. Canon rate the 40D good for 100,000 actuations.

You can check your shutter actuations with this > Canon 40D shutter actuations

Message edited by author 2013-05-16 06:15:58.
05/16/2013 07:20:09 AM · #3
Thanks Mike. I did have in the back of my mind that this event was likely to be on the cards. I have packaged it up now for swift delivery to repair center as every day without my camera is a sad day. Hopefully the repair bill will not be a show stopper. I can see I can buy a new Canon 40D body off Ebay for just over two hundred pounds and suspect the repair bill will be in that region.
05/16/2013 12:07:31 PM · #4
Sounds like a mirror box mechanism failure, not a shutter failure.

That mirror should slam up, all the way to the roof of the box.

Good news? Canon fixes shit cheap and fast.
05/16/2013 12:23:41 PM · #5
Yup -- it's dead, Jim.

I had it happen, they fixed it. It died about a month outside of the 90 day warranty or whatever the new warranty was -- I complained, they replaced basically all the inner workings for free and it works great.

Moral of the story is, Cory's pretty much right. The prices aren't bad, they're usually fast. And the fix should last -- if it doesn't, they make it right.
05/16/2013 12:24:43 PM · #6
Have to wonder if it would be cheaper to fix it or get a lightly used 40D...those things have dropped in price quite a bit lately
05/16/2013 12:26:22 PM · #7
Originally posted by Scapeshots:

Have to wonder if it would be cheaper to fix it or get a lightly used 40D...those things have dropped in price quite a bit lately


I'd fix it -- you don't know where the other 40D has been.... :D
05/16/2013 12:35:05 PM · #8
If you're even considering changing bodies, please do yourself a favor and take a VERY serious look at the 5D classic.
05/16/2013 12:46:40 PM · #9
Thanks guys - I knew I could rely on a good diagnosis here.

Being impatient I have packaged it up and sent to a UK Canon repair centre. I have sent this off for repairs before and it is usually 2 to 3 weeks turnaround - boo hoo!! I can hope they are not busy and it is quicker as it is painful not to have my Canon 40D.

Unfortunately not considering a new body due to lack of funds. I bought the camera in 2008 with a kit lens and a 50mm 1.8 prime and don't seem to have been able to afford a new lens since:(
05/16/2013 01:00:50 PM · #10
Originally posted by P-A-U-L:

Thanks guys - I knew I could rely on a good diagnosis here.

Being impatient I have packaged it up and sent to a UK Canon repair centre. I have sent this off for repairs before and it is usually 2 to 3 weeks turnaround - boo hoo!! I can hope they are not busy and it is quicker as it is painful not to have my Canon 40D.

Unfortunately not considering a new body due to lack of funds. I bought the camera in 2008 with a kit lens and a 50mm 1.8 prime and don't seem to have been able to afford a new lens since:(


Hey wow!

I'm using you as an example from now on of someone who's done amazing work with minimal gear.

Awesome man, I'd never realized.

05/16/2013 01:13:49 PM · #11
Originally posted by Cory:



Hey wow!

I'm using you as an example from now on of someone who's done amazing work with minimal gear.

Awesome man, I'd never realized.



Thank you kind sir - that is a mighty fine compliment:)
05/16/2013 01:39:24 PM · #12
Originally posted by P-A-U-L:

Thank you kind sir - that is a mighty fine compliment:)


...he said sheepishly. ;-)
05/20/2013 11:48:50 AM · #13
Originally posted by Cory:

Sounds like a mirror box mechanism failure, not a shutter failure.

That mirror should slam up, all the way to the roof of the box.

Good news? Canon fixes shit cheap and fast.


You were right I think!!

The following work to be carried out:
Dismantle Camera
Repair Mirror Box
Replace Shutter
General Service
Recalibrate All

Please note that in extreme cases, the repair charge may need to be increased. We would advise you should this be necessary.

P & P £11.00
SPARES £24.39
LABOUR £105.00
VAT £28.08
TOTAL £168.47
05/20/2013 11:51:51 AM · #14
Originally posted by P-A-U-L:

Originally posted by Cory:

Sounds like a mirror box mechanism failure, not a shutter failure.

That mirror should slam up, all the way to the roof of the box.

Good news? Canon fixes shit cheap and fast.


You were right I think!!

The following work to be carried out:
Dismantle Camera
Repair Mirror Box
Replace Shutter
General Service
Recalibrate All

Please note that in extreme cases, the repair charge may need to be increased. We would advise you should this be necessary.

P & P £11.00
SPARES £24.39
LABOUR £105.00
VAT £28.08
TOTAL £168.47


And this, my friends, is why I always strongly recommend Canon. It's not because of the images, the other camera systems do fine there too. It's because of this type of service experience.

Canon's loyalty program, their repair service and pricing, and yes, I admit it, those beautiful big white lenses. How can you not love this company?
05/20/2013 11:58:19 AM · #15
Yes the service has always been great in the past. Obviously it always takes too long to get the camera back as every day without it is painful. I would like to say that a very kind member of DPC offered to lend me a Canon 20D in the period whilst my camera is being repaired. I was quite taken back by such a kind offer considering I am a more or less a complete stranger to this other person. It just shows what great people the members of this site are. I didn't take up the offer as I don't like borrowing things from people and also as I thought I would give my Olympus CA-Media C2000-Z a chance to show why it was so good so many years ago. Unfortunately my standards seem to have gone up or the camera has deteriorated in my drawer as the results were not great and the batteries lasted for just one outing:)
05/20/2013 12:39:14 PM · #16
the two times I had to ship my camera into canon - once I received it back in 8 days, once I got it back in 5. that's including shipping in both directions.

minor repairs, mind you. but still great turnaround.
05/20/2013 11:42:07 PM · #17
The three shutters I've put in my 40D (oh, nooooo...you don't have a lemon even though you couldn't get 10K ac's on a shutter) were always around $200 and they did the work in around 2 weeks. Still firing that thing. I love my 40D.
05/21/2013 01:57:51 AM · #18
Seems like a camera is more like a car and will require these periodic repairs but worth every penny to keep this baby up and running.
05/28/2013 10:53:05 AM · #19
Bah I just received an updated estimate. Seems like they have removed the "Replace Shutter" element of the repair and changed "Repair Mirror Box" to "Replace Mirror Box" and the price has shot up:(

Tempting to buy one from Ebay for about the same price and try and flog the broken one for parts especially as without the "Replace Shutter" element, the shutter has had over 100,000 shots taken so surely likely to be next thing to break.

Any advice appreciated

The following work to be carried out:
Dismantle Camera
Replace Mirror Box
General Service
Recalibrate All

Please note that in extreme cases, the repair charge may need to be increased. We would advise you should this be necessary.

P & P £11.00
SPARES £68.65
LABOUR £105.00
VAT £36.93
TOTAL £221.58

See my previous estimate in a post above.
05/28/2013 11:19:23 AM · #20
I'd ask them to replace the shutter too, despite it not being borked yet, explain that it's at end of life and needs replaced- they did it for me with the 50D.

Still, even on e-bay you're not going to get a fresh 40D for just over 200 pounds.
05/28/2013 11:26:59 AM · #21
Good thinking Cory. I will ask how much extra to replace the shutter. Guess you never know the history of the ones on Ebay so it is risky but more than likely they have not been used as often as mine as I have used mine pretty much every day for over 4 years:)

Out of interest, is the 50D better than the 40D just by the fact it is newer? I see a lot of people mention the 40D but haven't noticed many mention the 50D.
05/28/2013 11:33:16 AM · #22
Originally posted by P-A-U-L:

Good thinking Cory. I will ask how much extra to replace the shutter. Guess you never know the history of the ones on Ebay so it is risky but more than likely they have not been used as often as mine as I have used mine pretty much every day for over 4 years:)

Out of interest, is the 50D better than the 40D just by the fact it is newer? I see a lot of people mention the 40D but haven't noticed many mention the 50D.


Yes. I've only shot with a 40D a few times, but I can, without any hesitation, say that the 50D is one of the best cameras ever produced by Canon, and I've shot with every xxD body to date, except the 30D, and also have shot with the 5 and 1 series bodies as well. Trust me - the 50D is really a great body.

Still, the 40D wasn't really a slouch.

Although, if you're interested in RAW video, the ML guys just turned the 50D into something truly astonishing.
05/28/2013 11:45:35 AM · #23
Thanks Cory - that is really useful to know. I may be tempted to see what I have lying around to sell in the house and try and pick up a used 50D instead and then try and sell the 40D for parts. As much as I love the 40D it would be nice to try a different camera.
05/28/2013 12:11:58 PM · #24
If I'm advising you on buying a new used camera, my advice, without any hesitation, is to grab a used 5D classic.

ETA: Unless you want to do video.

Message edited by author 2013-05-28 12:12:52.
05/28/2013 12:29:07 PM · #25
I believe that is a full frame camera and I believe that requires some posh lenses which I can't afford to buy. I see the prices for a 5D Classic are very reasonable and comparable to 50D assuming I am looking at the right camera:)
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