Canon 50D will not read cards: A fiend called me with the following problem. She was shooting her son's HS football game, filled a card, went to put in a new card and the camera...

Roger Salls Loc: Stratford, CT

A fiend called me with the following problem. She was shooting her son's HS football game, filled a card, went to put in a new card and the camera wouldn't read that card or any other card. The 50d kept saying either"cannot read card", "format card for this camera", "busy", "error 02". I took the cards downloaded the images and formatted the card in my computer. We also tried formatting in camera. Help!!

dfalk Loc: Chugiak, Alaska

I've always heard it's best to format in the camera.

Have you tried a different card? Maybe the card is bad.

Roger Salls Loc: Stratford, CT

yes...several different cards...will not read at all.

dfalk Loc: Chugiak, Alaska

No idea if this will help but try taking the battery out of the camera. Sometimes on "computer stuff" you need a power interruption so that the device will reset itself.

Swamp Gator Loc: Coastal South Carolina

From what I understand error 02 is supposed to indicate a bad CF card. Formatting it in the camera can sometimes get the camera to recognize the card again, but for my money I would just toss the card and go with a new one.

But you say this is happening with any and all other CF cards you have tried?!?
If so, that is quite confusing.
Has your friend tried any other cards that have never been used in that 50D?

Roger Salls Loc: Stratford, CT

Swamp Gator wrote:

From what I understand error 02 is supposed to indicate a bad CF card. Formatting it in the camera can sometimes get the camera to recognize the card again, but for my money I would just toss the card and go with a new one.

But you say this is happening with any and all other CF cards you have tried?!?
If so, that is quite confusing.
Has your friend tried any other cards that have never been used in that 50D?

She has several cards, none of which will work. I shoot Nikon and use Lexar cards and mine will not work either. I will suggest that she remove and reinstall the battery, I too have had that work.

Swamp Gator Loc: Coastal South Carolina

Roger Salls wrote:

I will suggest that she remove and reinstall the battery, I too have had that work.

Yeah try that. I have done that with my 7D to get it running fine again with an error 40 issue.

Roger Salls Loc: Stratford, CT

Swamp Gator wrote:

Roger Salls wrote:

I will suggest that she remove and reinstall the battery, I too have had that work.

Yeah try that. I have done that with my 7D to get it running fine again with an error 40 issue.

Just heard from my friend, taking the battery out, waiting afew min and reinstalling didn't do the trick. Thoughts anyone?

RixPix Loc: Miami, Florida

Roger Salls wrote:

Swamp Gator wrote:

Roger Salls wrote:

I will suggest that she remove and reinstall the battery, I too have had that work.

Yeah try that. I have done that with my 7D to get it running fine again with an error 40 issue.

Just heard from my friend, taking the battery out, waiting afew min and reinstalling didn't do the trick. Thoughts anyone?

Time for a service on the camera. I had this happen on my T1i and the board in the camera was shorted. Any exposure to weather while opening the camera to replace the card or keeping a card in your pocket without a plastic case and then inserting it could cause a short in the camera. It was a tough lesson to learn. You could try cleaning the contacts on the card and in the camera with rubbing alcohol on a lint free cloth like one used to clean eye glasses or touch screens before going for service. Also a little shot of air in the cavity that holds the card while holding the camera so the opening is facing the ground may help if there is some small lint or other material in the cavity from inserting a pocket stored card.

Dria Loc: Ohio

Roger Salls wrote:

Swamp Gator wrote:

Roger Salls wrote:

I will suggest that she remove and reinstall the battery, I too have had that work.

Yeah try that. I have done that with my 7D to get it running fine again with an error 40 issue.

Just heard from my friend, taking the battery out, waiting afew min and reinstalling didn't do the trick. Thoughts anyone?

DID she..
1.remove battery
2. turn camera to on position
3. depress shutter button and hold it for 15 seconds
4. turn camera off
5. put battery back in
then try it.
this is what Canon had me do with my Xsi when it had a little fit. then it was fine.

russelray Loc: La Mesa CA

Roger Salls wrote:

A fiend called me with the following problem. She was shooting her son's HS football game, filled a card, went to put in a new card and the camera wouldn't read that card or any other card. The 50d kept saying either"cannot read card", "format card for this camera", "busy", "error 02". I took the cards downloaded the images and formatted the card in my computer. We also tried formatting in camera. Help!!

I had a similiar problem with my Rebel XSi. It was my walking around snapshot camera. The card worked fine in my 550D but the XSi wouldn't read any other cards. It kept saying "No card in camera." I put the XSi aside with the intent of taking it to my local camera shop. It sat there for probably two weeks. I accidentally took it one day when I was leaving and when I turned it on everything worked fine. I think maybe some Nikon electrons invaded my Canon house.

wilpharm Loc: Oklahoma

thanks, Dria, just now tried that on my 50D .been getting error message 5...flash mechanism blocked...this seems to have fixed it.....

Manny Jay Loc: Colorado

To Roger Salls:
One of Murphy's Laws says that if you leave something alone long enough it will repair itself. If you try again later and it still doesn't work, you didn't leave it alone long enough.

thunk_it

Have you look to make sure none of your pins are bent or broken? And does the card you filled still work (let you play the photos back if it is still full?)

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Yes , I would carefully examine the card socket with a strong light for dirt/debris and blow out with compressed air.