HELP!! 40D is acting up!! - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

01/24/2010 11:39:50 AM · #1

I know that the 40Ds have issues with their shutters, but is there ever any warning??? My camera has worked perfectly until yesterday. I could press the shutter, but wouldn't completely depress and then nothing happened. No picture taken and the shutter wouldn't release until you took the batter out and put it back in.

I've reset all the camera functions, taken all batteries out and card and left it out overnight. Result: I reset the date, time etc. but still have the same problem. At one point yesterday it was doing exactly the same thing, but would say busy. I get no error codes and everything but the shutter seems to work. It's almost like something is in the way.

Has anyone else had this and what was the fix? It has not been dropped, I've tried different cards, different lenses and the result is always the same. Camera is two years old w/ 7356 clicks. DANG!

I cannot afford to let Canon have it right now, so any ideas would be helpful! Thanks for the windy read.

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

01/24/2010 11:44:14 AM · #2

Sorry to hear that. I've had mine since 2007 and have over 15000 clicks on it without that issue. I do find with some lenses I have to press harder on the shutter to get it to work. Using a remote shutter release solves that problem.

Do you have the same issue if using a remote?

kenskid

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

01/24/2010 11:57:43 AM · #3

If not a remote how about the "timer" function.

Originally posted by cpanaioti:

scooter97

Canon EOS-6D

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

01/24/2010 11:58:45 AM · #4

Kat, I'm sorry to hear that you are having trouble with your 40D. I too had similar troubles with mine and I ended up sending it off to Canon for repair. It cost about $200. The camera was less than 2 years old and I had maybe 40,000 clicks on the shutter when it failed. The cost was basically labor and shipping. They didn't actually charge me for the shutter. I don't know what parameters they use as far as when and how much they charge for their repairs, but I think it is based on the age of the camera and how many clicks the shutter had on it. I didn't want to look too far for a qualified repair shop so I just chose Canon for the repair. I doubt the local shop would give you the shutter for free. Good luck!

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

01/24/2010 12:13:12 PM · #5

You may see warning signs, or you might not. My 40D shutter acts up, too� sometimes you press the button and nothing happens or there's a delay. Presumably I need to have the shutter replaced. My old 20D NEVER did that, and yet shortly after

YoSpiff bought it, the shutter failed.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

01/24/2010 12:24:23 PM · #6

Your description sound similar to what happened with my 20D, but not identical.

What happened to me is that all of a sudden, the shutter started continuously actuating, though it was not recording any images. The shutter button did not feel right, the half press position was missing. My assumption was that the button itself had failed and was stuck in the actuated position. Sounds like yours has also had the button physically fail, but in a different way.

When I sent the 20D to Canon, the estimate they gave me appeared to be a standard price for a shutter related problem and that nobody had really taken a look at it. The price described replacing the shutter for $252. I'm pretty sure it was just the switch, which I'm sure would not be as expensive to fix, if it had actually been looked at. I appreciate that standard charges do help to keep costs down. Being in a repair business myself, I know it is expensive to spend time troubleshooting something only to have the customer decide not to fix it, or they take their business elsewhere once they know what it needs.

In my case, I decided their alternate offer of a refurbed 50D at half the usual retail was the way to go.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

01/24/2010 12:29:22 PM · #7

Originally posted by scalvert:

But it did bring me a couple of high scoring freestudy entries before that happened. It must have had a little of that Scalvert mojo still in it.

david_c

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

01/24/2010 03:42:18 PM · #8

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

It must have had a little of that Scalvert mojo still in it.

Then you're gonna need a little shot of penicillin. :-P

01/24/2010 03:57:44 PM · #9

Thanks gang...I"m going to try giving a call to a couple of places here and see if they do repairs. If not, guess it will (eventually) go to Canon for repair. It is extremely frustrating as it is ALMOST working, lol, just the stinkin' shutter! Minor detail.....HA! *Can't believe it only has 7356 shots on it and it's already dead! I thought 2010 was going to be a better year...

Digipixer

Canon Power Shot SX10 IS

01/24/2010 04:09:45 PM · #10

Sorry to hear about your shutter problem. Can you take your camera to your local camera store and attach the Canon BG-E2 batery grip, you can then use it to try the shutter. Then you will know if its the button or internal circuitry.

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

01/24/2010 04:17:24 PM · #11

OH, good idea! This whole thing just makes my tummy flip! Ugh!

Originally posted by Digipixer:

CJinCA

Canon EOS-7D

01/24/2010 04:42:06 PM · #12

OMG! I have a shutter problem too and didn't even know it! Here I thought it was just me - Who knew? The last time I used my camera the shutter didn't always work and I wasn't getting it to auto-focus so thought that maybe I was too close for my macro shot. I ended up using manual focus/tripod/timer, and it worked. My flash stopped working too a little while ago but I thought that maybe it was because I got it wet. I could make do without the on-board flash but if the shutter isn't going to work all the time it might be time for a repair or taking advantage of the loyalty program. I wasn't sure about getting a 50D though - I'd rather get the 7D. :-)

vawendy

Sony Alpha 1

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS

01/24/2010 06:01:59 PM · #13

Sent you a pm as well, so this might look familiar:

Yup - I sent my camera in. Mine starting out making an awful noise. When it finally went, I would push the button and it would open the shutter, but it wouldn't ever close the shutter. I also had to pull the battery to get it to finish the shot. After the second time, it just froze this way and wouldn't release. Had to send it in.

This is what they said on the invoice:

we have examined the product and it was found that the part was loose causing noise to occur. Replaced extension terminal cap, mirror motor and O ring. adjusted and cleaned.

It was $164.00 and was done quite quickly, and it seems to be still working just fine.

Ristyz

Apple iPhone 12 Pro

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

01/24/2010 07:51:53 PM · #14

Yup... just like that but in the middle of day 2 out of 3 at an event I was shooting as the official. (Thanks goodness for back-ups! The 10D still going strong) My shutter was on a 30D, they had that same issue. You never knew when it would fail. 2,000 clicks or 100,000. I think mine was about 35,000.

FWIW, those that are having focus issues... it's usually a different problem. I went through that 2x as well, once it was the camera and once it was the lens. edit to add: those cameras also have a shutter BUTTON issue which sometimes causes lag and sometimes total misfires.

Bergiekat, I don't really know anyway around Canon fixing it. I wouldn't dare, myself. At Canon they replace all the parts with brandy new ones. It's going to be pricey wherever you do it and a local place will likely send it to Canon anyway and charge your for that service.

After I had the shutter replaced, it was happy again and did another 10-15 thousand clicks and I sold it to a friend who was out of a camera, all info fully disclosed of course. I have another 30D that is now my back-up and still have the 10D, which will never leave me, as the back-up to the back-up.

Message edited by author 2010-01-24 19:53:18.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

01/24/2010 08:20:36 PM · #15

Update.
Tried using the self-timer ~ no go! Tried using the remote ~no go!

Again tried depressing the shutter (as if I would get a different result, lol) and it felt like there was some clunky movement in the camera. It's almost like the mirror gets stuck and never fully moves. Every time the shutter is depressed, the lcd on top goes blank. Remove battery and it all clicks back to normal. Not sure if it's the shutter or the button. Maybe it's just the button, but then wouldn't the self-timer and the remote still work?

Guess I better call Canon and get this thing fixed.
I so don't need this right now! ugh!

delin

Canon EOS-40D

01/24/2010 09:03:26 PM · #16

Just out of curiosity, have you tried it in live view? That would hold the mirror up. My 40D has had occasional blackouts, pulling the battery has always brought it back from the brink.

Good luck with Canon service, in my experience and others I know who've suffered through the experience it's pretty much a nightmare. They never did fix my lens problem after $250, sending it in twice and 4 months of bungled logistics on there part. IMHO they suck. I think I'll try local next time. I can't imagine how it could be worse, and $40 bucks a pop for insured shipping got old.

Tez

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

01/24/2010 09:08:24 PM · #17

my 40d died a similar death (was later resurrected). The mirror assembly fell apart.

The first few minutes during the problem, there were no error warnings, then I got the fabled ERR 99 and no amount of CF cards, lenses, contact cleaning or anything else could fix it. I had to send it to Canon to get a new mirror assembly installed, which was like $320 NZD.

One thing though, if you do send the camera in, make sure they don't dick you and charge you $50 for 'updating firmware'. They tried that with me and they told them to basically go fock themselves because I can do that myself in about 10 minutes, so read your receipt, ask for a breakdown of costs and just inspect it.

My 40d died at around 21,000 shots.

pidge

Canon EOS-7D Mark II

01/24/2010 11:49:45 PM · #18

recently 40D would not take a picture. Shutter would flip, then not do nothing and camera would shut down. Only way to get shutter down was to take out battery, replace and then turn it on. Took it in to a local place, hadn't seen this problem before, so had to send it to Canon Canada. Thankfully, extended warranty on credit card covered costs... No warnings for when it happened. Worked one day.. then next time I turned it on, pushed the shutter, shutter sounded like it flipped, and then shut down.

Hope it works out... but in a nutshell, it seems not much to do but send it in :(

Ristyz

Apple iPhone 12 Pro

01/25/2010 02:46:36 AM · #19

I doubt it's the button.

Sounds like you needed that about as much as I needed my computer to die last week! (hard drives were fine AND backed up anyway.)

Originally posted by bergiekat:

MAK

Leica M Monochrom

Voigtlander Ultron 21mm f1.8

01/25/2010 07:09:38 AM · #20

I have a friend who had this problem with a 40D and it turned out to be a dud battery.

After replacing the battery with a new one he then updated the firmware and problem solved

I have not read all the thread so if this has been suggested sorry.

01/25/2010 12:09:29 PM · #21

Pidge sounds like the problem is identical! What did Canon do and how much did they nik you?

MAK, I've tried two different, fully charged batteries - nada! :)

Tez

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

01/25/2010 01:08:23 PM · #22

haven't you called Canon yet? They can tell you the charges over the phone if they can ascertain the problem.

They do charge a flat rate though just for looking at the thing. Also, on the repair form, it gives you the option to cap the repairs at a certain price and if it is over that, they will call you before they touch anything to tell you what's up.

When my 40d screwed up, they sent me a 5d in the interim so I could continue working.

Just call them... any advice/info you get on here isn't going to fix your camera.