40D or 60D dilemma: I originally posted this question on the New Member section but it may be better here. Following an error 99 on my 40D while on vacation in SW USA I purchased a new...

Evan Loc: Cotswolds

I originally posted this question on the New Member section but it may be better here.
Following an error 99 on my 40D while on vacation in SW USA I purchased a new 60D and 18-135 IS lens combo. On my return to the UK and with a repair cost of £156 for the 40D I am not sure whether to sell the 60D and hope that the 40D error does not happen again. It only had 1800 actuations. Does the 60D have the same error 99 issues?

What would other Canon owners suggest?

traveler90712 Loc: Lake Worth, Fl.

Evan wrote:

I originally posted this question on the New Member section but it may be better here.
Following an error 99 on my 40D while on vacation in SW USA I purchased a new 60D and 18-135 IS lens combo. On my return to the UK and with a repair cost of £156 for the 40D I am not sure whether to sell the 60D and hope that the 40D error does not happen again. It only had 1800 actuations. Does the 60D have the same error 99 issues?

What would other Canon owners suggest?

Have your seen this?
http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2005/04/29/50mm-lens-contact-points/'

Or this
http://www.advancecamera.com/2012/02/17/canon-eos-error-99/

Evan Loc: Cotswolds

Yes thanks for your reply. I had my laptop with me and tried everything that was suggested. I ended taking it a very good Canon dealership in Monterey and we tried all the options with new bits/ lenses etc. We cleaned everthing in sight but no luck. I suppose I am now worried that it will happen again with the repaired 40D or possibly with the 60D should I keep it.

redpepper Loc: Central NY

I've had my 60D for 2 years with no problems. I like the size of the 60 in my hand vs the 50 or 40. I don't use the video, so I can't say that's a plus. But I shoot high school sports and I like the burst rate. I'm not rough on my camera equipment and I've had canons ios cameras for a long time and have never had error issues.

Wick Loc: Venice, Florida

Having big hands, I like the 40D. Also I don't care for the plastic body of the 60D. I'd consider it fixed and not worry so much. You've got what I consider the best APS-C camera out there with the 40D. Not only that but now you can pick up a like new used 40D body for under $500 U.S. Best of luck to you.

Cotondog Loc: Saskatchewan, Canada

I have had the Canon 50D since they first emerged on the market almost 4 years ago, and have never had a problem with it. I even dropped it from waist level onto a cement driveway one time, picked it up, and continued shooting. It's been a great camera for me.

Chris

I always like to keep a back up camera so when I got my new Mark III, I kept my 40D for the backup and gave my husband (who's not into photography, but it gives him something to do when I'm photographing) my 10 D. After a couple times it got the error 99 and it was loosing battery power quickly. After researching on line I did what I found. I took some alchohol (not the drinking kind for you wise guys lol) on a cotton swap and cleaned the contacts in the battery compartment. Then I took a red eraser (website said they are softer) and gently went over the contacts in the camera where the lens contacts meet. Make sure camera is facing down when you do this. Error hasn't come back since.

Ron B Loc: Sunshine State/Live Free or Die State

Cotondog,
We have a lot in common, I too own a 50D and dropped it on a cement sidewalk also. (and then kicked it too) Lens trashed, camera fine. My question is are you satisfied with the noise you get at asa settings 400 and above? I dont own much in the 2.8 line, so I use high asa settings. I find that it falls short of my expectations.

Evan Loc: Cotswolds

I tried the eraser trick and the alcahol wipes but to no avail. I did get attached to the 60D during the rest of our trip so I am currently thinking that maybe I will keep the 40D as a standby.

What to do about the packaged lens? It is a 18-135 IS. I already have a 17-85 IS USM and I am not convinced I need both.

I keep thinking I shall never be happy with my kit. By the way I play golf as well and that is just as bad; always thinking the latest technolgy will make me a better player!

Grammarazzi

I get the error 99 on my 60D. I have turned it off and back on (doesn't ususally help), switched the battery and the card (doesn't help very often) but turning it off for a few minutes does. And that is a very frustrating feature because the shot you want is often gone. Some times just changing the angle of the shot helps so I wonder if the lighting isn't a factor...

Cotondog Loc: Saskatchewan, Canada

Hi Ron:
I don't really have a problem with noise. I have attached (I hope) a picture I took of the milky way recently. Shot at 1600 iso. There is no post prossing done to the picture.

Ron B wrote:

Cotondog,
We have a lot in common, I too own a 50D and dropped it on a cement sidewalk also. (and then kicked it too) Lens trashed, camera fine. My question is are you satisfied with the noise you get at asa settings 400 and above? I dont own much in the 2.8 line, so I use high asa settings. I find that it falls short of my expectations.

Cotondog Loc: Saskatchewan, Canada

By the way, those are great shots. Really like the first one.

Ron B wrote:

Cotondog,
We have a lot in common, I too own a 50D and dropped it on a cement sidewalk also. (and then kicked it too) Lens trashed, camera fine. My question is are you satisfied with the noise you get at asa settings 400 and above? I dont own much in the 2.8 line, so I use high asa settings. I find that it falls short of my expectations.

photosarah Loc: East Sussex, UK

Grammarazzi wrote:

I get the error 99 on my 60D. I have turned it off and back on (doesn't ususally help), switched the battery and the card (doesn't help very often) but turning it off for a few minutes does. And that is a very frustrating feature because the shot you want is often gone. Some times just changing the angle of the shot helps so I wonder if the lighting isn't a factor...

I use Canons and have never had an error message. Can I ask, what is "error 99"?

Grammarazzi

My camera is pretty new to me (and me to photography) so I am not sure if error message is the correct term. I called it that because when the 99 shows when I am trying to shoot I am prevented from pressing the shutter all the way.

Evan Loc: Cotswolds

The 'error 99' message appears on the screen when you depress the shutter and I believe that it is a 'catch all' message for a failure of the electronic interface between the body and the lens. The error code is not shown in the troubleshooting guide in the handbook and originally Canon denied that such a message existed.

If you Google it you will see that many people have had the problem over the years and there are just as many suggestions as to how you can correct it. Suffice to say that when it happened to me at the Grand Canyon I could have cried when I couldn't clear it.