ugghhh....the dreaded Error 99

[Tnkrbelle565]

So my new Tamron 17-50mm came in tonight. Took about 10 pics with it and the 99 came up. Shut the camera off, let it sit, turned it on...same thing So I took out the battery which was almost dead and used a fully charged one. Error went away

However, I'm now panicking about our trip to WDW and that my camera may fail. Anyone have any thoughts if the battery thing was a fluke or if the new lens actually caused it????

I've been shooting random stuff for about an hour and the error code did not come back.

HELP

 

[VVFF]

So my new Tamron 17-50mm came in tonight. Took about 10 pics with it and the 99 came up. Shut the camera off, let it sit, turned it on...same thing So I took out the battery which was almost dead and used a fully charged one. Error went away

However, I'm now panicking about our trip to WDW and that my camera may fail. Anyone have any thoughts if the battery thing was a fluke or if the new lens actually caused it????

I've been shooting random stuff for about an hour and the error code did not come back.

HELP

What camera is this?

 

[photo_chick]

Error 99 is usually the lens and camera not working together.

I've got a Sigma lens that gives error 99 intermittently on my old Rebel XT. It comes and goes. Usually turning the camera off then taking the lens off and putting it back on will stop it.... but not all the time.

From what I've seen it's more common with third party lenses than with Canon lenses.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

What camera is this?

Canon XT. I read something online that it could also be something with the firmware on the camera????

 

[VVFF]

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/c...oadDetailTabAct&fcategoryid=314&modelid=11154

You can try updating to the latest firmware.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

What camera is this?

Thank you!!! That's nice of you to look that up!

 

[pointandshoot]

Ouch. I had this happen during the Indy show at Hollywood Studios last year on my 40D. Turned out to be the shutter assembly. Canon Service was awesome. I am a big fan of having two bodies on vacation after that incident.

This can be caused by things not connecting correctly (memory cards, flash, lens, battery). It can also be a real failure. Some suggestions are to clean contacts with pencil erasure.

What worked for me was a process of elimination. I could configure the 40d to shoot without a card, without lens, etc. I would take away one possible failure point and fire the shutter routinely until I thought it was ok for it failed. Once I took away everything, it ERR 99 and I knew the body was the issue. Canon can walk you through this process.

Hope this helps. Chuck

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Well I'm thinking at this point that it has to be the battery or the lens because those are the only things that changed. It could be a 3rd party thing but I've used Sigma and Tokina lenses on this camera before without an issue.

Wish I could afford to have a 2nd body to take on vacation

 

[photo_chick]

It doesn't matter if you've never had any issues with a particular lens before, or any type of lenses in general. As with all things electronic, problems can crop up when you least expect them. The reason third party lenses tend to have the issues is because of the way they are reverse engineered. That doesnt make them worse lenses or anything, just slightly more prone to certain issues.

I hope you get it figured out, whatever the issue is.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

So if the problem shows up once is it more likely to keep popping up? I haven't had any issues with it at all since last night. BUT Murphy's Law would be that it will happen again just as I'm about to get that perfect shot on vacation.

 

[oogieboogieman]

I've done a little reading on this error code and it sounds to me more like the electronic contacts on the lense or camera. I would suggest cleaning them with a pencil eraser, just make sure to not get any debris in the camera body.

Try using Google and search that error code. Lots of interesting info.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

I've done a little reading on this error code and it sounds to me more like the electronic contacts on the lense or camera. I would suggest cleaning them with a pencil eraser, just make sure to not get any debris in the camera body.

Try using Google and search that error code. Lots of interesting info.

I have! Thanks!

Oddly found NOTHING about the battery dying causing it But like I said, the camera immediately started working after changing the battery and has been working since so that appears to be it for at least now! Tomorrow will be another story

I got this camera body less than 2 years ago. If it happens again, do folks think I should try to have it fixed (and thus not have a camera for awhile) or just upgrade (not that I really want to spend the money but a camera is a necessity in my life )

 

[disneyboy2003]

BUT Murphy's Law would be that it will happen again just as I'm about to get that perfect shot on vacation.

I've received that Error 99 message several times on many different occasions. And you're right, it's always at the WRONG time!

One time, my wife and I went to a concert that features about a dozen different singers. My wife was really looking forward to 1 particular singer who was toward the end. In the meantime, I was taking pictures all throughout the concert with my Canon 40D. Of course, minutes before my wife's favorite singer comes out, my camera decides to give me an Error 99!!! To make matters worse, after the guy did his couple of songs and left the stage, my camera goes back to its normal, regular self, and no more error messages for the rest of the night!!!

Yes, in general, when you get the Error 99 message, you should turn off the camera, remove the lens, remove the battery, put the battery back in, put the lens back on, and turn the camera back on. For some reason, this works for me whenever I get that error message. Yes, there's also that thing with the pencil eraser gently rubbing the metallic lens contacts, but I haven't needed to do that...yet.

My other Murphy's Law vacation story. We were at the Magic Kingdom in line to take pictures with the princesses. I was next in line to see Cinderella, and I was as giddy as a little school boy. My wife helps me take my picture with Cinderella. But sure enough, as I'm posing arm in arm with Cinderella, my camera's shutter BROKE! AAARRRRRGGGHHH!!!! How did my 40D know that I was standing right next to Cinderella for the 2nd most important photo of my life ?!!??! (the first being my wedding photo with my wife) My wife "claims" she didn't do it, although I could see the sparks of jealousy in her eyes.

Turns out, the shutter's secondary mirror broke, so I had to send it back to Canon, and $200 later it was all fixed. Luckily, I had a back-up dSLR in the hotel room and went back later on during the vacation to get my picture with Cinderella.

Yes, these things can and DO happen. Always at the WRONG time. How does it know?


(yay! my 350th post)

 

[oogieboogieman]

Here's one of the many articles that I read and I don't even use a Canon. Currently an Olympus user but always looking.
http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2005/04/29/50mm-lens-contact-points/



I hope it's just a one time fluke and it's an easy fix. Good Luck

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

I've received that Error 99 message several times on many different occasions. And you're right, it's always at the WRONG time!

One time, my wife and I went to a concert that features about a dozen different singers. My wife was really looking forward to 1 particular singer who was toward the end. In the meantime, I was taking pictures all throughout the concert with my Canon 40D. Of course, minutes before my wife's favorite singer comes out, my camera decides to give me an Error 99!!! To make matters worse, after the guy did his couple of songs and left the stage, my camera goes back to its normal, regular self, and no more error messages for the rest of the night!!!

Yes, in general, when you get the Error 99 message, you should turn off the camera, remove the lens, remove the battery, put the battery back in, put the lens back on, and turn the camera back on. For some reason, this works for me whenever I get that error message. Yes, there's also that thing with the pencil eraser gently rubbing the metallic lens contacts, but I haven't needed to do that...yet.

My other Murphy's Law vacation story. We were at the Magic Kingdom in line to take pictures with the princesses. I was next in line to see Cinderella, and I was as giddy as a little school boy. My wife helps me take my picture with Cinderella. But sure enough, as I'm posing arm in arm with Cinderella, my camera's shutter BROKE! AAARRRRRGGGHHH!!!! How did my 40D know that I was standing right next to Cinderella for the 2nd most important photo of my life ?!!??! (the first being my wedding photo with my wife) My wife "claims" she didn't do it, although I could see the sparks of jealousy in her eyes.

Turns out, the shutter's secondary mirror broke, so I had to send it back to Canon, and $200 later it was all fixed. Luckily, I had a back-up dSLR in the hotel room and went back later on during the vacation to get my picture with Cinderella.

Yes, these things can and DO happen. Always at the WRONG time. How does it know?


(yay! my 350th post)

Congrats on your 350th post

That story about Cinderella was adorable That's what you get for letting your wife touch your camera. My DH is only allowed to hold mine to help me switch out lenses

Here's one of the many articles that I read and I don't even use a Canon. Currently an Olympus user but always looking.
http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2005/04/29/50mm-lens-contact- points/


That's the article I used last night when I started panicking!!!


I hope it's just a one time fluke and it's an easy fix. Good Luck

 

[mom2rtk]

My other Murphy's Law vacation story. We were at the Magic Kingdom in line to take pictures with the princesses. I was next in line to see Cinderella, and I was as giddy as a little school boy. My wife helps me take my picture with Cinderella. But sure enough, as I'm posing arm in arm with Cinderella, my camera's shutter BROKE! AAARRRRRGGGHHH!!!! How did my 40D know that I was standing right next to Cinderella for the 2nd most important photo of my life ?!!??! (the first being my wedding photo with my wife) My wife "claims" she didn't do it, although I could see the sparks of jealousy in her eyes.

Turns out, the shutter's secondary mirror broke, so I had to send it back to Canon, and $200 later it was all fixed. Luckily, I had a back-up dSLR in the hotel room and went back later on during the vacation to get my picture with Cinderella.

Yes, these things can and DO happen. Always at the WRONG time. How does it know?


(yay! my 350th post)

I guess I'm the flip side of that story. We were in Disneyland in 2007. My daughter was wearing her Belle costume and we had stood in line for over an hour without even knowing if Belle would be in the Meet & Greet when we got to the front of the line. I really wanted that shot of them together. When we got to the front of the line, the handler told us to wait a minute, and kept checking to see if Belle was there. When she arrived, he sent us back. I snapped away and got all the memorable shots I wanted.

From there we walked to Small World right next to where we were. I took out the camera to take a picture of the facade ..... and....... NOTHING. Turns out my shutter assembly was shot. I spent the rest of that day using what I tell the kids is my "ankle camera"... the one I keep for just such occasions.

It wasn't much fun shooting Zion and Canyonlands with a tiny card deck sized P & S on our way home, but at least the camera had the good sense to wait until after we met Belle!

OP: Good luck with your error. It must be a huge disappointment after finally getting your new lens!

 

[klmall]

When I was using my new XSi out west with my 55 - 250 lens and shooting several shots in rapid succession. Suddenly saw this on the screen.

Luckily, I had about read about this before my trip. The camera was barely a month old and this lens even newer. I turned the camera completely off and then back on and everything was okay. Whew!!!!!

Haven't seen this error in thousands of shots since!