FalconeFotographx Loc: Michigan

You mentioned SD card, what about the CF card? On my 7D II and 5D IV, I always record RAW to CF and JPEG to SD. Hopefully you have a RAW backup on CF. Also, when you check out a pic every so often on the LCD screen, didn't you notice the issue and stop the shoot to investigate? Hope all the UHH users have helped shed some light (no pun intended) on the situation.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Hmmm.
That makes me wonder-
Has anyone had a problem with their nose changing things on the touch screen?

Michael1079 Loc: Indiana

I agree. I have a 5D MkIV and also had this happen to me once. I check it now to make certain EC is not on prior to shooting.

johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle

My 5D screen is rarely on unless I am actively using it to change a setting or using live view. I think it is set to cut off when the shutter release or my two focus buttons are pressed.


I have had issues with heavier lenses and my waist changing the aperture when carrying sling style and not using the lock.

dasgeiss

Yep, last time I had a problem with my Canon camera, Canon was of no help at all either. I then bought a Nikon!

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

Ask Canon and let us know what they said. (800) 652-2666

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

The most likely thing was that you accidentally changed the exposure settings. I'm not saying it's certain that this is what happened... just that it's the most likely thing. It's far more likely than a fault of the camera that might require repair... Further, simply changing memory cards is even more unlikely to cause problems like you describe.

If you were using any of the auto exposure modes (Av, Tv, P or M+Auto ISO), it's pretty easy to bump and accidentally change Exposure Compensation, which is set by turning the rear dial on the camera. I've done that myself, when carrying or handling the camera (not 5DIV, but other Canon DSLRs with virtually identical controls).

Maybe you already know, there's a "Lock" switch near that dial that can be set to prevent accidentally changing Exposure Compensation, after you've set it. Using this Lock doesn't prevent the rear dial from continuing to function for other purposes... such as navigating image reviews or doing things in the camera's menu.

That Lock will prevent accidental changes if using strictly manual exposure mode too (M with no Auto ISO). When using M in the default setup of the camera that rear dial changes the lens aperture (while the top dial behind the shutter release button changes shutter speed). It also is possible to reassign and swap the functions of those dials with personally customized settings. In that case, accidentally bumping the dial would change shutter speed. But, either way, it's possible to accidentally change exposure in manual mode, too. So, after making your settings, use the Lock switch. It's a minor inconvenience next time you go to change the settings, having to first unlock the dial.

Check the EXIF of the good images and compare with the EXIF data of the badly over-exposed images. This will tell you for certain if there was an accidental change in the camera's exposure settings.

The only other logical explanation would be failure of some system in the camera that happened to coincide with changing the memory card. Simply switching to another known, good memory card would be an easy way to now confirm or disprove whether the card is somehow involved (highly unlikely). The camera's metering system or it's shutter would have had to suddenly fail completely, exactly when you swapped out the memory cards. Don't you think it more likely that you bumped something while changing the cards? I know I've done that at times.

You mention that the card was new... out of 100+ cards I've had two fail, both right from new. One card wouldn't even format... it was simply unreadable. The other brand new card I lent to someone at an event. Told him to format it in his camera before shooting and he said he did. He shot approx. 500 RAW + JPEGs with it, which appeared find on the camera. Later he downloaded the JPEGs only to his laptop, then gave the card back to me so I could retrieve the RAW files... but the card was now unreadable. Never did figure out why.

My point, though, is that memory cards don't "fail" like that. They can't "overexpose" images. First, they either have files on them or not. Second, they are either readable or not. They may corrupt files, but that makes select, individual files unreadable or "truncated" by partial data loss, where only part of the file is displayed and the rest is either missing or turned to a pure, single color.

I think it unlikely to be camera system failure and even more unlikely to be card failure.... Most likely to be incorrect exposure settings, which can be checked by looking at the image file EXIF data.

We might be able to tell a lot more if the original poster would upload a sample "good" image and a sample "bad" image from the shoot here. If you do that, please don't delete the EXIF data and be sure to check "store original", so we can see it.

When "stuff happens", people tend to first assume "it's the camera" at fault. With the reliability of modern gear, I bet 9 times out of 10 "it's the user" who made a mistake.

P.S. When the camera is in "shoot mode".... after half-press of the shutter release with your forefinger or pressing the AF On button with your thumb.... the rear LCD screen is disabled (unless using Live View or shooting video, which in neither case your nose would be anywhere near the screen). So, no, there is no way one's nose can "make changes" on this camera due to the Touchscreen. However, this does happen at times with mirrorless and point 'n' shoot models that have Touchscreens. In those, often the screen is used to control AF point selection, Face Detection and autofocus. So the typical nose-related problem with those is causing the camera to mis-focus by accidentally changing the point of focus. For this reason, some of these models now have a neat feature where the user can limit AF Point control to one quadrant of the screen, away from their nose. That's really only needed on models that have both a Touchscreen and a built-in or optional viewfinder, otherwise why would you be putting the camera up to your face?

Regarding turning the camera off when swapping out memory cards... That's not necessary. As someone noted, there's a micro switch on the door covering the memory card slots that does that for you. (There's a similar switch on the battery compartment door, when it's separate from the memory card compartment.) I've been using Canon DSLRs for over fifteen years... a dozen or more different models.... and I've NEVER turned off the camera prior to changing memory cards. At some sporting events I might use a dozen or more different memory cards.

The only time I ever had a problem was years ago, shooting with an older model camera that was slower writing to memory cards. I opened the door too quickly, before it had completed writing the last shot(s) of a burst. That caused some of the images on the card to be corrupted... but nothing like what the original poster described above. I was able to use image recovery software to save most of the images. Cameras I use today write to the memory cards so fast that this isn't a problem. Even so, I usually pause for a couple seconds and check the red LED to see if the camera has finished, just to be safe, before opening the memory card compartment.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

How about the touch screen is turned on and being touched by the nose?

My screen has oil where my nose or cheek touches the screen. My personal default for the touch screen is "Off". I can turn it on if I want it.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Sounds like a bad memory card you just put in there.

Danielmb

The images on the first card were OK. None were even able to open on the 2nd card. With both of those cards out of the camera, a 3rd SD card also was unwriteable.

Danielmb

Of course. That is a reflex.

Danielmb

Actually, that was my first thought. But exposure compensation was smack in the middle where it needed to be. But the memory cards (2) are totally blown out.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

You probably want to try <quote reply> if you're responding to specific prior comments.

DeanS Loc: Capital City area of North Carolina

Worth a try, if all else has failed, reset everything to factory specs, and restart.

ez22 Loc: The World

Well, it's correct that the camera needs to be shut off before you remove or put anything in. I've never had a single problem with any of my long list of Canons because of always going by the book. ONE of the reasons, I'm told for this advice is that when the camera is on and things are opened in that state, the camera is very magnetized and will attract dust and crap like nobody's biz. I like to err on the side of caution with any of my gear. I handle every piece of photo equipment like the Queen's jewels while still getting on and down with it.