Problem: Camera simply stopped working. Film was loaded, turned camera on and the display normally populated with all the settings. As soon as I press the button, there is a soft click and the display clears out to the low battery symbol. Bought new batteries, tried it again, and it did the same thing. Tested both sets of batteries with my multimeter and they were all fully charged. Took the film out and loaded a new roll (in case it hadn't reset with new batteries) and problem still occurred. Per Canon, took the batteries out for at least 20 minutes to reset (actually, overnight) and then put them back in. Problem still occurred. This happened within 2 months after I first bought the camera and the store replaced the body. It is now out of warranty and the exact same thing is happening to this one. Any ideas?

-- Kevin McDowell (kevinmcd@microsoft.com), October 18, 2001

Answers

What camera?

If it's an Elan II (EOS 50), I may have the fix.

-- Kenneth Katz (socks@bestweb.net), October 18, 2001.

And what lens? It might make a difference.

-- Jim Strutz (j.strutz@gci.net), October 18, 2001.

(This is yet another example of why it is very wise to buy Canon's modestly priced, extended camera warranty coverage).

-- kurt heintzelman (heintzelman.1@osu.edu), October 18, 2001.

Kevin resonded in a personal email that the lens was the original Canon lens that came with it. He still didn't tell me what lens that was & since I don't know what camera he has, I have no idea what lens that might be, but we can be reasonably sure that it isn't a Sigma... Maybe.

If you want us to help, Kevin, give us more info.

Meanwhile you might want to round up out the usual suspects. Try these:

1) Another new battery of a different brand (Really, sometimes it works), 2) Clean the battery contacts on both the battery and in the camera, 3) Clean the lens contacts on both the lens and the camera body (use a pencil eraser, but don't get any dust into the camera), 4) Try another lens, even if it is a Canon. 5) Try it without a lens.

If all else fails, send it in.

-- Jim Strutz (j.strutz@gci.net), October 19, 2001.

In terms of usual suspects, there are three more I can think of: try a new battery, try a different brand of battery (sometimes there are minute size differences which result in low contacts) or try the famous "jam a folded bit of cardboard under the battery cover door" solution for loosely-fitting batteries.

-- NK Guy (tela@tela.bc.ca), October 19, 2001.

I had the same problem and discovered that the problem disappeared when I changed from the 35-105 lens to any other lens. I took the lens in for repair and was informed that the zoom mechanism jumps teeth and renders the camera useless. Canon would not repair the lens. Tossed the lens in the trash can, replaced it and haven't had a problem since. Hope that helps.

-- Steve Skinner (sskinner@wwnet.net), October 20, 2001.