I have a Rebel XTI and while shooting this weekend, got an "Error 99" message.
Here's the situation: we were snowshoeing in the early morning. I don't know what the temp was but probably 10-20 degrees - not terribly cold. The battery in the camera was about 1/2 charged. We'd been out for maybe half an hour when I stopped to take my first shots. I fired off 3 shots, then "Err 99" appeared and told me to remove the battery and replace with a new one. I did so, replacing with a fully charged battery I had in my pant pocket (so it was warm). Tried to shoot, got the same message. I took the battery out a couple more times and finally gave up when it wouldn't work. We went on down the trail.
About 10 min. later we stopped and I tried again. I fired off 1 shot, then got the same message.
Later in the afternoon, it worked perfectly with no error messages.
The hit & miss nature of this problem concerns me. I've never had an error message of any type with this camera since I bought it 3 years ago.
I did an internet search for the error message and am seeing it's a "catch all" error message and could be anything from dirty contacts to serious problems. Anyone here had similar experience with this message?
A friend received this error, plus I've read numerous accounts online about this error. It's usually something that requires you to send the camera to Canon.
Angela,
To the best of my knowledge it is, unfortunately, rather a catchall. If it's any help, I've had reported to me from friends or clients at workshops that the message was a result of all of the following: 1) dirty contacts on either the lens itself or the lens mount on the body; 2) use of 3rd party lenses; 3) defective battery; 4) weak battery; 5) 3rd party battery; 6) bad electronic board in the camera.
In your case, perhaps you'll be lucky and it is battery related since it did work later. You don't mention how hot or cold it was on your hike. Batteries do sometimes have problems in colder weather. I guess too it could've been condensation almost anywhere which then dried and cleared the problem.
If the camera is still under warranty, I'd sure send it to Canon for an evaluation just for peace of mind. If it's not or you'd just rather not, heck, it may never happen again. If it does, be sure to pay close attention to all circumstances and get it analyzed.
Not a lot of help I guess and sorry for that but maybe at least some ideas. For what it's worth, it seems not uncommon for it to be the contacts between lens and camera, either dirty or damp.
Angela, I have a much better idea: turn to your hubby and say "Dear, can I use our tax return this year to buy a 5D Mark II? I really need this camera."
To clarify the situation: it wasn't that cold - only about 10 to 20 F. My camera was inside my bag while we were out so don't know if condensation would have been an issue. I was using Canon lenses & batteries. The first battery was weak, but the second was fully charged and warm (I kept it in my pant pocket close to my skin).
Maybe I'll try cleaning the contacts and see if it happens again. The error did not occur again the rest of the trip.
I had not had this problem, and I have been out in 10 degree weather with my XTi and XSi. I use mostly non Canon lenses. If it happens again, and I hope it does not, and you have to send your camera in could you post what was wrong? Thanks. I do hope you have no more problems.
Posted by Scott Fricke on March 8, 2010 at 4:56 PM
I had this problem on my 1DS II. Almost the exact sequence of events, doesn't work, then does for a couple shots, then doesn't. It happened to me on a 80+ degree day. I did everything you did, shut off the camera, turn it back on, switch batteries, switch lenses, nothing helped. I called Canon and they said that error message requires it to be sent in for service, it is a "general error" code. I sent it in, and they had it back to me within a week (no charge) with no issues since. They were fairly non-descript with what they did, I believe it was noted something like "Serviced and cleaned".
If it's telling you to replace the battery, it may be referring to the watch battery not the rechargeable battery. Also, a few people on the POTN forum have mentioned that it sometimes helps to clean the contacts on the camera & lens being used.
Angela, I had the same problem with my 40D 2 months ago, it too told me to remove the battery.
send it to canon and they replaced the shutter for free, no warranty issue what so ever, well done canon
Posted by Scott Fricke on March 10, 2010 at 10:33 PM
Russell, it does tell you to remove the main battery. It first says to turn the camera off and then back on, and if that doesn't work to remove the battery and then reinstall it.
Discussion
9 repliesHere's the situation: we were snowshoeing in the early morning. I don't know what the temp was but probably 10-20 degrees - not terribly cold. The battery in the camera was about 1/2 charged. We'd been out for maybe half an hour when I stopped to take my first shots. I fired off 3 shots, then "Err 99" appeared and told me to remove the battery and replace with a new one. I did so, replacing with a fully charged battery I had in my pant pocket (so it was warm). Tried to shoot, got the same message. I took the battery out a couple more times and finally gave up when it wouldn't work. We went on down the trail.
About 10 min. later we stopped and I tried again. I fired off 1 shot, then got the same message.
Later in the afternoon, it worked perfectly with no error messages.
The hit & miss nature of this problem concerns me. I've never had an error message of any type with this camera since I bought it 3 years ago.
I did an internet search for the error message and am seeing it's a "catch all" error message and could be anything from dirty contacts to serious problems. Anyone here had similar experience with this message?
To the best of my knowledge it is, unfortunately, rather a catchall. If it's any help, I've had reported to me from friends or clients at workshops that the message was a result of all of the following: 1) dirty contacts on either the lens itself or the lens mount on the body; 2) use of 3rd party lenses; 3) defective battery; 4) weak battery; 5) 3rd party battery; 6) bad electronic board in the camera.
In your case, perhaps you'll be lucky and it is battery related since it did work later. You don't mention how hot or cold it was on your hike. Batteries do sometimes have problems in colder weather. I guess too it could've been condensation almost anywhere which then dried and cleared the problem.
If the camera is still under warranty, I'd sure send it to Canon for an evaluation just for peace of mind. If it's not or you'd just rather not, heck, it may never happen again. If it does, be sure to pay close attention to all circumstances and get it analyzed.
Not a lot of help I guess and sorry for that but maybe at least some ideas. For what it's worth, it seems not uncommon for it to be the contacts between lens and camera, either dirty or damp.
Good luck.
John Reed
To clarify the situation: it wasn't that cold - only about 10 to 20 F. My camera was inside my bag while we were out so don't know if condensation would have been an issue. I was using Canon lenses & batteries. The first battery was weak, but the second was fully charged and warm (I kept it in my pant pocket close to my skin).
Maybe I'll try cleaning the contacts and see if it happens again. The error did not occur again the rest of the trip.
I had not had this problem, and I have been out in 10 degree weather with my XTi and XSi. I use mostly non Canon lenses. If it happens again, and I hope it does not, and you have to send your camera in could you post what was wrong? Thanks. I do hope you have no more problems.
send it to canon and they replaced the shutter for free, no warranty issue what so ever, well done canon