450D error 99

[Ruggerbugger]

I got an error 99 at the end of yesterday's Old Warden show and I've run out of ideas to try and get the camera working again. It's about 4 years old and has had fairly heavy use, especially in the last couple of years. I was planning to buy a 7D next year but will obviously have to bring that forward. Before I do, is there anything anyone can suggest that I can try? The general impression I've got from searches is that repair will be expensive enough to make a new camera an attractive option.

Thanks all

[g8ina]

eyup matey,

What symptoms are you getting ? A big blob in the VF ? May be something has snapped off inside and is jamming the shutter.

What's your shutter activation count ? And is it the same with all lenses ?

[Ruggerbugger]

There's nothing in the viewfinder. I get the usual sound when I turn the ON button (a small, shutter-like sound), then straight to the Err 99 screen. I have no idea of my shutter count, but I've got 18 000 images on the hard drive, mostly from shows. Generally I keep 1/4 to 1/3 of what I shoot, so 250 or so each time. Given that, I'd expect 80-90K. It's the same with all lenses, no lens, different batteries and different cards. The lenses work on someone elses Canon so I know they're OK.

[TheAnimus]

you can tell the shutter count from the latest picture you have, it should be in the exif.

Basically, its a generic something is wrong. http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2008...e-man-the-myth

[Bobster]

remove lens, clean contacts..

take battery out, replace..

above usually solved my 99 troubles.. but if camera gave me 99, i swapped to backup camera until i had a chance to sort it..

[Bobster]

you can tell the shutter count from the latest picture you have, it should be in the exif.

nope, Canon does not store actual shutter count in exif (when camera rolls around 10K clicks it sets back to 0)

[Bobster]

There's nothing in the viewfinder. I get the usual sound when I turn the ON button (a small, shutter-like sound), then straight to the Err 99 screen. I have no idea of my shutter count, but I've got 18 000 images on the hard drive, mostly from shows. Generally I keep 1/4 to 1/3 of what I shoot, so 250 or so each time. Given that, I'd expect 80-90K. It's the same with all lenses, no lens, different batteries and different cards. The lenses work on someone elses Canon so I know they're OK.

shutter count has no tie in with when you camera goes wrong.. shutter life of a 450D is rated 100K

my first 20D (rated 50K) shutter went at around 89K, replaced shutter is still going strong - over 250K

[Ruggerbugger]

OK, I moved the mirror back, and this is what the shutter looks like

[g8ina]

Yikes !

[Ruggerbugger]

Indeed. I've popped it back out and it will now turn on and let me download the photos. I'll try a small test when that's finished.

On the thumbnails of the last two photos I took yesterday there's a huge black smudge which must be that shutter blade.

[GoNz0]

not good, it looks bent a bit

maybe time to invest in a new camera after all if thats had a good life.

[Bobster]

looks like the curtain has had it!

prolly a 250 fix..

[Ruggerbugger]

Yikes. That sort of money makes me think seriously about just going for the upgrade.

Here are the last two images

[TheAnimus]

As said above, its the curtain.

Error 99 is just the generic "somethings is wrong" code, but that right there

I'd hazard a guess its broken loose at one end. I don't know anything about cannon repair, but its normally the curtan shifting mech that goes, rather than the pin. This is what the picture looks to have happened.

Sadly I've seen curtans break like this a LOT on the non-Pro cannon. If you are looking to fix it yourself (which is doable for not much dosh!) you must take care that the sensor hasn't been trashed already (or letting it happen by the curtain sliding over it).

If you want some help fixing it DIY, let me know a friend of mine used to do this for hobby money!

[TheAnimus]

shutter count has no tie in with when you camera goes wrong.. shutter life of a 450D is rated 100K

my first 20D (rated 50K) shutter went at around 89K, replaced shutter is still going strong - over 250K

Actually it says a lot about build quality (you know that thing you always say doesn't matter!)
http://olegkikin.com/shutterlife/

But its hardly complete data, yet Rugger could add to the sample.

[Bobster]

i know ppl who had troubles with their 5D2 - the mirror fell out after a couple of months

i know someone who had a 1D2 which after just 10K of clicks the shutter failed..

shutter or anything can fail at any time, just luck when.. (reason why wedding photographers have 2 bodies!)