Dreaded error 99

[Fenman]

I have now been without my 40D for about a month (gives you some peace from my postings) Had the dreaded "99" and nothing fixed it so back to the shop. Went in for repair and it was ready after two weeks and £140 lighter I agreed for them to ship it back rather than a 100 mile round trip to collect.
When it did not arrive as expected I phoned them and after a day or so and more called they found the couriers had mislaid it and were searching along with a 1D and very expensive canon glass dispatched at the same time. It seems that they had done a round trip of the depots in the UK before returning to the shop.
I phoned today to see if they had it back and I was going to collect only to find that they had nine others in since mine - all 40D's with the same problem and similar ID numbers and Canon today had issued an upgrade! They hope to get this in the next couple of days and fix things. It looks as if ther may have been a problem with a batch.

The camera was a replacement as my first failed after a couple of days and I had to wait for its replacement . . . . not a happy bunny!

[Antarctican]

Sheesh, that's terrible! That there's such a widespread problem, that they mislaid your camera, and that you were without it for a month. Your 'trigger finger' must be itchin' to take some pics!

[KMann]

How awful. Good that your camera will be fixed but exceedingly horrid to have lost all your equipment!. It seems typical. I will bet that the shop didn't actually care much at all.

Glad to hear that you will soon be back in business without the Error 99.

[Terri]

That's some bad luck. Wow, sounds like Canon has some issues with that run of 40D's. At least they've been in contact with their field teams, and hopefully it will be a quick repair.

Good luck!

[Matt Needham]

That sucks. Error 99 is like the check engine light. It could mean anything.

Recently a friend of mine began getting it on his Rebel after taking one shot. If he fiddles with the memory card door, and wiggles some other button he can get it to go away and take another shot. Then it happens again, and he has to do it all over again. Canon wants about what the camera is worth to fix it (almost $400). He got pissed, and now happily owns a new Nikon. :)

I was surprised that it would be that much to repair. I've sent numerous D series cameras in for all sorts of damage, and it's never cost me more than $200. It makes me wonder if the Rebels are supposed to be throw away? Canon doesn't build them to be repairable, because they want folks to upgrade when they break.

[Antarctican]

^^^ I had a similar problem with my Rebel XT, and for a while could get away with jiggling the card, turning it off/on etc to make it keep working. But the time came that I took it in to Canon for repair. It was $200 (Canadian) just for them to look at it, and the problem was the shutter. So my total cost was about $217 for them to look at it and repair it.

I too find the $400 (US) cost high, and wonder what exactly they needed to do to get it up to that price.

[Matt Needham]

He said the Canon guy on the phone was really pushing a refurbed 50D. :eyebrows: I've seen the camera. I know he's been shooting with it a lot over the last 3 years, but it appeared immaculate. He said no bangs or drops. It just started happening one day.

[KMann]

Just made the upgrade to the 50D from the XT myself. Pretty cool upgrade.

[Fenman]

I am still without the 40D - it went in to the shop on 21st April . . . . After the carriers returned it to the shop Canon had come up with an update that had to be ordered and that was fitted, but they had heard of other problems and have ordered new motors as these seem to have been the trouble (better damping?) Hopefully these should have been in by today and the camera ready by the end of the week! Dusty knees from prayers from all members please!!!!!
Just downlaoded the new Lightroom 3 so have something to take my mind off things with 330 images from the Fete on Saturday to work through preparing slideshows for the various groups taking part.

[Antarctican]

Dang, that is a loooooong time to be without your 40D. I hope they throw in a free Canon coffee mug for all your trouble!

Let us know what you think of LR3...how different is it etc.