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Canon 5D Mark III error 20
May 4, 2014 12:51:43   #
jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ
 
At the close of my shoot this morning I got this error 20 message on my 5D Mark III. I tried several batteries, removing the grip, R&R the lens, R&R the cards and nothing worked. Still getting the message.

Any of you hoggers out there get the same message? Was it a bad shutter? I Googled it and it seems to be a mechanical failure; it's probably a mirror or shutter problem I'm guessing.

In any case, it's going back to Canon in Irvine Monday morning.

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May 4, 2014 19:55:39   #
Fran Loc: Northeast, United States
 
That is terrible. I checked the web and found the following:

http://www.learn.usa.canon.com/resources/articles/2012/eos_error_msgs.shtml

Sounds like you need to send it in. Please keep us posted.

Fran

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May 4, 2014 22:47:14   #
jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ
 
Will do Fran. I'm driving there in the morning.

Fran wrote:
That is terrible. I checked the web and found the following:

http://www.learn.usa.canon.com/resources/articles/2012/eos_error_msgs.shtml

Sounds like you need to send it in. Please keep us posted.

Fran

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May 5, 2014 02:28:22   #
BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA
 
jeep_daddy wrote:
Will do Fran. I'm driving there in the morning.

One last thought based on Fran's research. Remove the lens. Is the mirror locked up? Reset (reboot) the camera.

"Err 20: Mechanical malfunction
Within the mirror, shutter or aperture mechanism (most likely), some sort of disturbance, error or lock-up has been detected. This error code doesn’t specify where the exact problem is, but points to the cause being mechanical rather than an electronic gremlin."

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May 5, 2014 10:13:37   #
mutrock
 
Be thankful. I received no error message with my original 5D Mark I. One night I was doing a portrait of an especially manly drag queen. As I took the shot you could hear breaking glass inside the camera. Turns out the mirror flew off of it's frame and shattered. The 5D was prone to mirrors flying loose. The glue did not like heat and humidity.

The subject asked me "what happened?" I replied with calm nonchalance: "You broke the camera."

Postscript: The camera was out of warranty but Canon repaired it and had it back to me in 3 days for no charge.

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May 5, 2014 15:07:02   #
jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ
 
Fran wrote:
That is terrible. I checked the web and found the following:

http://www.learn.usa.canon.com/resources/articles/2012/eos_error_msgs.shtml

Sounds like you need to send it in. Please keep us posted.

Fran


Took it to Canon this morning and they weren't able to duplicate the error but checked the log in the cameras software and they could verify that it was throwing that code. To be on the safe side they are going to take it apart and check it out and if it doesn't require any parts it will cost me $175. They will warrant it for 6 months parts and labor from that point on. Checking it out without taking it apart there wasn't anything apparently wrong with the mirror so I may get lucky and not have to pay for any parts. They will have it repaired withing the 3 day time frame since I'm a CPS Gold member and the overnight FedX shipping is free for Gold members. If I can find my receipt and it's dated less than 14 months since I purchased it, they will refund all the money. But I doubt that I purchased it within that time period. I think I'm a little more than that out of warranty. It's got 27,000 clicks on the shutter.

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May 5, 2014 21:07:18   #
Fran Loc: Northeast, United States
 
jeep_daddy wrote:
Took it to Canon this morning and they weren't able to duplicate the error but checked the log in the cameras software and they could verify that it was throwing that code. To be on the safe side they are going to take it apart and check it out and if it doesn't require any parts it will cost me $175. They will warrant it for 6 months parts and labor from that point on. Checking it out without taking it apart there wasn't anything apparently wrong with the mirror so I may get lucky and not have to pay for any parts. They will have it repaired withing the 3 day time frame since I'm a CPS Gold member and the overnight FedX shipping is free for Gold members. If I can find my receipt and it's dated less than 14 months since I purchased it, they will refund all the money. But I doubt that I purchased it within that time period. I think I'm a little more than that out of warranty. It's got 27,000 clicks on the shutter.
Took it to Canon this morning and they weren't abl... (show quote)


Although it's no longer "throwing the code" it's a good call to have it inspected. It's a fantastic camera and comes with a high price tag. It's frustrating and disappointing when something like this happens. Good luck and let me know what they have to say after their inspection.

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May 5, 2014 21:26:03   #
jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ
 
Fran wrote:
Although it's no longer "throwing the code" it's a good call to have it inspected. It's a fantastic camera and comes with a high price tag. It's frustrating and disappointing when something like this happens. Good luck and let me know what they have to say after their inspection.


I already received notice that the repair is completed and it's been shipped. They have overnighted it FedX and I should have it tomorrow along with my 1D MkIV and 300mm f/4 lens that I had them do a clean and check on. I should have it all by tomorrow. Now I just have to wait at the house because I have to sign for it. I hope they do it before 11am because my Lightfooted Clapper Rails have 10 day old chicks and will be parading them in the wetlands about that time tomorrow.

Then at 2:45pm I've got another MRI scheduled for my back. Ugh!

Hopefully there's some kind of repair sheet as to what they found, if anything, with the 5D MkIII. I'll let you know.

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May 5, 2014 21:45:40   #
Fran Loc: Northeast, United States
 
jeep_daddy wrote:
I already received notice that the repair is completed and it's been shipped. They have overnighted it FedX and I should have it tomorrow along with my 1D MkIV and 300mm f/4 lens that I had them do a clean and check on. I should have it all by tomorrow. Now I just have to wait at the house because I have to sign for it. I hope they do it before 11am because my Lightfooted Clapper Rails have 10 day old chicks and will be parading them in the wetlands about that time tomorrow.

Then at 2:45pm I've got another MRI scheduled for my back. Ugh!

Hopefully there's some kind of repair sheet as to what they found, if anything, with the 5D MkIII. I'll let you know.
I already received notice that the repair is compl... (show quote)


The chicks must be adorable. Look forward to the pics.

Good luck with the MRI...they can be daunting.

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May 6, 2014 22:25:22   #
jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ
 
Bad news. FedX did me wrong. All three of my pieces from Canon were supposed to be overnighted by FedX and the tracking numbers indicated that they were on a truck at 6am for local delivery to me but they never came. I checked the tracking number about 6:30pm and they say they attempted a delivery but that I wasn't here and they would attempt delivery again tomorrow. They flat lied because I stayed home all day and waited. I live in a gated community and my guess is that the drive was too stupid or lazy to look up my last name at the kiosk and have it ring me so I could buzz the driver in. I'm so pissed off about this that I could scream. In fact, I called FedX and got some person from India and I demanded that they have my stuff put on a truck tonight and deliver it tonight but they lied to me and said they closed the office at 5pm. I've seen FedX out as late as 9pm delivering packages so I know they are not telling the truth.

You see what I missed out on because of FedX

Anyway, I missed going to the wetlands to get my shots of the Lightfooted Clapper Rail chicks but I'll post some of my best friends images that he got and sent to me. Ugh!!!!!!!!!! I'm still screaming at FedX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fran wrote:
The chicks must be adorable. Look forward to the pics.

Good luck with the MRI...they can be daunting.


(Download)


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May 7, 2014 22:52:00   #
jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ
 
Update: Got my stuff today and the FedX driver told me that he was sorry that he mistakenly rang the wrong door bell and left the tags at that house down and around the bend from me. I forgave him and moved on. Went to the wetlands today but didn't get any opportunities to shoot the Clapper Rails. I'll try again tomorrow. That's what wildlife photographers do. We do it over and over again until we get just the right happy ending.

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Feb 15, 2019 12:07:44   #
East Banana
 
jeep_daddy wrote:
Took it to Canon <> they are going to take it apart and check it out and if it doesn't require any parts it will cost me $175.


I call that theft. They could not duplicate your problem and obviously acted on an old code being tripped of which they were 100% clueless as to why. I call that unnecessary and taking advantage if this is "exactly" how this transpired.

I feel slightly qualified to comment about this and explain the importance of my point:

I am retired now, but since 1978 and completion of training that is no longer offered today, I was a bench level tech, not a Tech like today where all they do is swap out pc boards either, a tech who troubleshoots the pc board affected and replaces the specific components on that board to complete the repair? Simply, manufactures frowned upon board swappers at that time. Times change though, especially when you consider there is no place to educate and train techs today. "Real" techs that can identify the types of circuits on a board and comprehend their purpose beyond...it either works or doesn't.

If I could not duplicate your problem all I could responsibly do is monitor it and see if the err would happen in my care, which is what Canon wanted to charge you $175 for and possibly did. $175 for babysitting your camera and waiting to see if it failed like you and the register claimed it did. Not $175 to open it up and look inside because why would they? It's not broke and until it says err20 or whatever it is working, so why do anything if it's not broke? "Don't fix it if it's not broke" is a saying ALL techs apply regularly. It means if it isn't broken you have nothing to fix, and tinkering around inside is a sure fired way to make sure it is broke?

A bench charge for checking (babysitting) is normal and acceptable, $175 for sitting a camera on a shelf and waiting for it to fail is a crime in my book, there is no way to justify that charge and it's outrageous.

I will not accept that any tech opened that camera up because if they did? why? what led them to a conclusion that there was a problem inside if no current err was present?

That's a pure profit driven charge that penalizes people for not being able therefore they are charging you for being disabled, and they 100% have the ability to wave that fee and should...if it's not broke how can they charge you $175 BECAUSE YOU THOUGHT THEY OPENED IT UP AND LOOKED INSIDE? If they did that was no favor, it wasn't broke.

Folks? Trust me when I tell you, there are fewer and fewer trained techs and fewer trained techs mentored by trained techs, they are vanishing before your eyes....really.

What's left is management handling service using a decreased and depleted, highly untrained with limited abilities.

With their hands tied like this? The big lie is, they have to extort you in part to dissuade you and because they have an inadequate workforce to handle the demand and high cost in repairs forces people into buying new instead.

Since the advent of a boom in consumers electronics, 89-91 it really started heavy exploding into the 90's... Management has not had any concept of "Service" and has used it and the techs to extort paying customers by charging excessive rates for labor and parts (often marked up 500% to 1000%) or forcing you buy an extended warranty or purchase a new item all together.

Simply put, Service is something no one wants to provide - because the true meaning of that word would never imply is ripping you off with high charges or forcing you to make a new purchase ? How is either a service to you? Service means, helping you not screwing you.

Consumers need to stand up and fight back - take a look at the car sales industry today and see how much service matters? Look at all the incentives? Remember they used to charge you extra for warranties? Now they are inclusive....

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Feb 17, 2019 01:06:21   #
speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho
 
jeep_daddy wrote:
At the close of my shoot this morning I got this error 20 message on my 5D Mark III. I tried several batteries, removing the grip, R&R the lens, R&R the cards and nothing worked. Still getting the message.

Any of you hoggers out there get the same message? Was it a bad shutter? I Googled it and it seems to be a mechanical failure; it's probably a mirror or shutter problem I'm guessing.

In any case, it's going back to Canon in Irvine Monday morning.

Do you use a battey grip on it, I do not know the error 20 or any other for that matter, because I never had any such issue, with my bodies, but the reason I asked, I could see that by maybe loosen the grip screw somehow, that the connection and therefore the communication between it and the camera could malfunction and cause some kind of error reading. Just a thought!

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