Posted by Gabor Olah on December 1, 2010 at 5:21 PM
I presume to post this issue of mine which is actually related to bird photography equipment, namely my Canon 40D and lens 400mm f5.6.
I hope somebody can give some advice on this.
I have a canon 40D and 400mm f5.6. I noticed that sometimes when I want to shoot after focusing with it pressing the release button halfway, my camera does not want to fire. But when I press it hard than it works (of course the bird has already gone). I shoot in AI Focus, High Speed contin., Manual or Av mode.
I sent lately both in to Canon and they could repair them, the camera around for $200 and the lens for $340. I am just confused what if just one of them has the problem. Should I have both repaired?
Has anybody ever had same issue? Any suggestion?
Many thanks,
Gabor
Posted by David Rogers on December 1, 2010 at 7:40 PM
Take your camera and your lens to someone else that has a camera and lens (like a good camera store). Mount your lens on their camera and see if the problem duplicates itself. Mount another lens on your camera to see if the problem duplicates itself.
Also, Canon typically does a good job cleaning and tweaking the camera when you send it in for other problems. I had my old 20D in once, and they replaced several items and then tightened/cleaned everything (in addition to what was being fixed). So, you can get a repair and a good cleaning at the same time.
Posted by Terry Sohl on December 2, 2010 at 10:49 AM
Gabor!! BEFORE sending it to Canon, check out the post I made about a similar issue, over on the "Digital Imaging" section.
There's a youtube video posted on their about this problem. I have a 50D, and the same 400mm 5.6, and out of the blue this week, my camera started doing the same. I was about to send it in, when I saw the posted youtube video. Sounds extreme, but it worked for me! Just take out the battery, tilt the camera downward in that direction, and pour in a bit of as pure of isopropyl alcohol as you can (90+%). Push the shutter button many times while you're doing this. The alcohol goes through the top of the battery compartment and out through the shutter button area. Then let it dry.
I reluctantly gave it a try last night, and it worked! No more shutter delay when I tried it this morning! There are known problems with the XXd shutter buttons, and many people do end up sending them in for the $200 repair on the body. But try this first!
Don't worry about your lens...I don't think it's that. To be absolutely SURE it's your shutter button...do you have a remote cable release? I tried the cable release on my 50D, and the camera body and my 400mm 5.6L worked perfectly, so that's how I knew it was the shutter button.
Posted by Ákos Lumnitzer on January 11, 2011 at 10:19 PM
Just watched that video and I will do it to my 30D as the shutter sticks occasionally. WOW! Such a simple solution Terry. Thanks for the heads-up!
Discussion
3 repliesI hope somebody can give some advice on this.
I have a canon 40D and 400mm f5.6. I noticed that sometimes when I want to shoot after focusing with it pressing the release button halfway, my camera does not want to fire. But when I press it hard than it works (of course the bird has already gone). I shoot in AI Focus, High Speed contin., Manual or Av mode.
I sent lately both in to Canon and they could repair them, the camera around for $200 and the lens for $340. I am just confused what if just one of them has the problem. Should I have both repaired?
Has anybody ever had same issue? Any suggestion?
Many thanks,
Gabor
Also, Canon typically does a good job cleaning and tweaking the camera when you send it in for other problems. I had my old 20D in once, and they replaced several items and then tightened/cleaned everything (in addition to what was being fixed). So, you can get a repair and a good cleaning at the same time.
There's a youtube video posted on their about this problem. I have a 50D, and the same 400mm 5.6, and out of the blue this week, my camera started doing the same. I was about to send it in, when I saw the posted youtube video. Sounds extreme, but it worked for me! Just take out the battery, tilt the camera downward in that direction, and pour in a bit of as pure of isopropyl alcohol as you can (90+%). Push the shutter button many times while you're doing this. The alcohol goes through the top of the battery compartment and out through the shutter button area. Then let it dry.
I reluctantly gave it a try last night, and it worked! No more shutter delay when I tried it this morning! There are known problems with the XXd shutter buttons, and many people do end up sending them in for the $200 repair on the body. But try this first!
Don't worry about your lens...I don't think it's that. To be absolutely SURE it's your shutter button...do you have a remote cable release? I tried the cable release on my 50D, and the camera body and my 400mm 5.6L worked perfectly, so that's how I knew it was the shutter button.