Camera refuses to shoot! I apologise for this in advance, it may be a really stupid question, but sometimes my camera (Canon20D) refuses to shoot even if it's set on automatic setting.

energizerdel

I apologise for this in advance, it may be a really stupid question, but sometimes my camera (Canon20D) refuses to shoot even if it's set on automatic setting. I press to focus and go to press again - and nothing happens. I had wondered if it had something to do with the automatic focusing but even if I change that to manual it won't work. this only happens sometimes - any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

oldmalky Loc: West Midlands,England.

I have a Sony a57 and also had a problem with my camera refusing to shoot, I would try everything and eventually it would work but I didnt know what i did to correct it, I found the reason when i downloaded the pics i had taken,my thumb had turned on the video and i had some fine shots of my feet,the ground and occasionally shots of the lake and sand martins.I do not know if your video button is in a daft place like mine but at least it is one reason to eliminate, hope you find your problem.

Kat Landreth

This usually happens to me if the camera (Canon 50D) isn't focused correctly. If the camera isn't focused (with auto-focus on), it won't let me take the picture. Turn Auto focus off, and focus manually. If you're trying to take pictures too close up, it will never focus correctly with some lenses, so you might have to take a step back. Hope that helps!

RocketScientist Loc: Littleton, Colorado

I once had the mirror lock up mode going and was wondering WTF on a similar problem.

Can we assume you have plenty room on the memory card?

energizerdel

Kat Landreth wrote:

This usually happens to me if the camera (Canon 50D) isn't focused correctly. If the camera isn't focused (with auto-focus on), it won't let me take the picture. Turn Auto focus off, and focus manually. If you're trying to take pictures too close up, it will never focus correctly with some lenses, so you might have to take a step back. Hope that helps!

I've tried turning the auto focus off but it still doesn't work. I had wondered about the focusing settings though as at the moment it focuses on the whole screen.

energizerdel

oldmalky wrote:

I have a Sony a57 and also had a problem with my camera refusing to shoot, I would try everything and eventually it would work but I didnt know what i did to correct it, I found the reason when i downloaded the pics i had taken,my thumb had turned on the video and i had some fine shots of my feet,the ground and occasionally shots of the lake and sand martins.I do not know if your video button is in a daft place like mine but at least it is one reason to eliminate, hope you find your problem.

Thanks for the answer but the Canon 20D doesn't have video :( Hope your video of your feet came out well though :)

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Could it be that there was insufficient light?

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

My 20D will not fire if I have the shutter control set improperly. It needs, i believe, to be set to Servo instead of One-Shot. Otherwise it will not fire unless focus is achieved and locked.

energizerdel

SteveR wrote:

Could it be that there was insufficient light?

Thanks for that tip - I tried this afternoon to see if that was the problem, but it wasn't that either. Thanks for the answer though.

Nic42 Loc: Cardiff, Wales

Subject to the settings you have on your camera; in the auto/semi auto modes the camera will not fire if the exposure isn't correct. I suggest you look at your manual to find this out.

hecsas Loc: braintree uk

If it's not focusing on auto, does it take fotos on manual if so it's the motherboard on the camera, cos my 30d did that and it had to have a new motherboard

hecsas Loc: braintree uk

If it's not focusing on auto, does it take fotos on manual if so it's the motherboard on the camera, cos my 30d did that and it had to have a new motherboard

Clicker2014 Loc: Canada

I have had this problem too. Usually because of it not focusing due to being too close or because there is not sufficient light. A friend of mine could not get hers to shoot and it was the "mirror lockup" within the menu. She had it set to be on all the time. You indicated that it happens "sometimes". Perhaps you can let us know what you are doing when it happens... i.e. lighting, etc. ? Just a thought. Hope you solve your problem...can be pretty darn frustrating!

GW Loc: Idaho

I had the same camera and the same problem , tried a lot of things before I found the answer for mine. I cleaned the sensor and the lens contacts , that was 8 months ago and it's still working. Dirt on the sensor doesn't allways have to be visible to be a problem.

warrior Loc: Paso Robles CA

energizerdel wrote:

I apologise for this in advance, it may be a really stupid question, but sometimes my camera (Canon20D) refuses to shoot even if it's set on automatic setting. I press to focus and go to press again - and nothing happens. I had wondered if it had something to do with the automatic focusing but even if I change that to manual it won't work. this only happens sometimes - any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Are you in range for the lens???