rebel XT freezing up

[BirdWoman 0]

Has anybody else had this problem with their rebel xt? It has happened to me a couple times in the last few months, and happened twice today...

It completely froze up on me. First time today it was on the forth jump of the day, second time was on the sixth jump. Every time it happens I have to take the battery out to get it to unlock. It doesn't matter what you do (turn it off, take the card out, etc), the display is frozen and you can't do crap. It does't react to any buttons being pushed or anything. I can't find any kind of commonality with the occurances. Sometimes it happens in the middle of freefall, sometimes it happens on exit, sometimes on the ground. Battery level is full. Memory card has plenty of room.

Any ideas?

"I don't know where it is that I'm going, but wherever it is there I'll be!" --quoted by me

[ltdiver 3]

What lens are you using? What shutter release as well?

ltdiver

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon

[jacketsdb23 49]

I just posted a very similar problem I had this weekend. My camera will freeze and the only way to fix it is to take the battery out. I can't jump it until if I figure this out. It also won't turn on sometimes.

Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen
God is Good
Beer is Great
Swoopers are crazy.

[BirdWoman 0]

I am using a canon EF-S 10-22mm and I had this problem with both this and the stock lens. I am shooting in aperture priority ranging from 6.3-8.0 pending on conditions. I can't find any common thread between the occurances. It usually freezes up in freefall, but this last time yesterday it happened before exit. I also use a tongue switch and never hold it down for rapid shot...I am pretty good about knowing when I take my pics and how closely together so that shouldn't be an issue. On another note, I have used the camera a lot and have taken God only knows how many pics. I have two Canon batteries that I switch between so I'm thinking maybe it's a bad cell in one of the batteries??

"I don't know where it is that I'm going, but wherever it is there I'll be!" --quoted by me

[The111 1]

Quote

I just posted a very similar problem I had this weekend. My camera will freeze and the only way to fix it is to take the battery out. I can't jump it until if I figure this out. It also won't turn on sometimes.

When it is locked up, does the power light stay on whether you turn it off or on?

My XTi would do this, but not my XT. I actually returned my XTi and got another one that did the same thing. After some testing I figured it out. If I allow the camera to be turned on for a certain amount of time the LCD will go off as it goes back into power save mode. Usually halfway depressing the shutter SHOULD bring it back to life. However I found out that when a remote is plugged in, it locks up sometimes, when going into power saving mode, and nothing will bring it back to life except removing the battery. So, easy solution? Disable the power saving feature in the menus. OR... once you turn it on and the helmet is on your head, fire a test shot every 30 seconds until you exit.

www.WingsuitPhotos.com

[BirdWoman 0]

The small screen stays lit and the only way to get it to turn off is to take the battery out. Keep in mind that the big LCD menu on the XT does not stay on like the XTi does while taking pics. That's not the issue. I can't do anything with it while it's frozen. Pressing the button half way does nothing. If I plug in the USB cable while it's frozen, an error screen pops up on the puter saying that "device is currently busy and this application cannot be run". As for the power saving mode, that wouldn't explain why it freezes up in freefall when it is active. And I ALWAYS take test shots in the plane...part of my routine to make sure things are all good

"I don't know where it is that I'm going, but wherever it is there I'll be!" --quoted by me

[shropshire 0]

Quote

I just posted a very similar problem I had this weekend. My camera will freeze and the only way to fix it is to take the battery out.

My Canon 400d does this too. But I have only ever noticed after jumping it; never whilst using it on the ground.


There is a firmware update on their site that may be worth investigating -> clicky

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[jacketsdb23 49]

Matt,

Pressing the button does nothing for me either. It completely freezes up. I'll look into the powersave mode but I suspect that is not the issue.

My firmware is the latest version. I have also been advised to clean my lens contacts which I did this morning.

Not sure what else I can do at this point.

Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen
God is Good
Beer is Great
Swoopers are crazy.

[The111 1]

Quote

The small screen stays lit and the only way to get it to turn off is to take the battery out. Keep in mind that the big LCD menu on the XT does not stay on like the XTi does while taking pics. That's not the issue. I can't do anything with it while it's frozen. Pressing the button half way does nothing. If I plug in the USB cable while it's frozen, an error screen pops up on the puter saying that "device is currently busy and this application cannot be run". As for the power saving mode, that wouldn't explain why it freezes up in freefall when it is active. And I ALWAYS take test shots in the plane...part of my routine to make sure things are all good

Hmm, so when it happens in freefall it has already taken some successful shots before the lockup? I guess the best advice I can offer is try to reproduce the problem on the ground. Then start changing variables and see if you can still reproduce it without or without remote, with or without different lens, with or without different CF card, etc.

www.WingsuitPhotos.com

[jacketsdb23 49]

Stacey,

Have you gotten a Err 99 code?

During the issues I described this weekend I received this error code once. The O&M for the camera describes this issue as a problem between the lens and camera.

I took my lens (canon 18-55mm) off and cleaned the small gold contacts. This happened to a buddy of mine and when he changed lens the problem went away. Try cleaning your lens contacts.

Marcel

Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen
God is Good
Beer is Great
Swoopers are crazy.

[azureriders 0]

My thoughts on this, from an earlier thread

[shropshire 0]

Thanks - I'll test that out on mine tomorrow and see if I can force it into a Locked Mode.

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[BirdWoman 0]

Nope, no codes have shown up as of yet, unless I have to go in to the menu somehow and check. Maybe I will call Canon and see what they suggest.

"I don't know where it is that I'm going, but wherever it is there I'll be!" --quoted by me

[jacketsdb23 49]

I emailed canon with a description of what I was experiencing and they told me (via email) to send it to their repair shop. It was kind of a generic response so I'm not sure if they really understand what was going on.

Anyway...since i've cleaned the lens contacts i'll see if I can get the problem to repeat.

Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen
God is Good
Beer is Great
Swoopers are crazy.

[shropshire 0]

I've just been testing my 400d for the last hour or so and can not get it to lock up on the ground.

I'm using my Tongue switch, let it time-out a number of times and tried various different modes... unplugged the switch whilst it was both switched on and off - still nowt

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[shropshire 0]

O.K So it's finnaly locked up. The screen will not come on. The ON LED is lit even when the power switch is cycled.

I've removed the lens and refitted it - Fault Still on solid.

Changed the memory card - Fault Still on solid.

The only thing that cleared the fault was removing and refitting the battery (as everyone else has found).

Jeeze, this is a pain.

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[BirdWoman 0]

Yup, sounds like what I get. What did you do to get it to lock up on you?

"I don't know where it is that I'm going, but wherever it is there I'll be!" --quoted by me

[shropshire 0]

Hi - It seems to be a random event. I had the tongue switch fitted and taken some photos then let the camera time out (sleep) but the Green LED stayed on and nothing else happens.

I've tried but can not get it to happen every time I use the camera

I have not been able to get it to lock without the Tongues switch attached (yet)

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[jacketsdb23 49]

Hey all.

Any updates on the issues? I've cleaned my lens contacts and have not had a problem on the ground (without the tongue switch). I can't replicate the problem I had last weekend.

Has anyone else tried contacting Cannon to explain the issue? Thanks!

Marcel

Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen
God is Good
Beer is Great
Swoopers are crazy.

[BirdWoman 0]

I have not had a chance to contact Canon yet but will try to do so on Monday. On another note, I have taped a quarter to the outside of my helmet so that if I notice this has occured again when I get down, I can take the battery out to reset it before my tandem lands

"I don't know where it is that I'm going, but wherever it is there I'll be!" --quoted by me

[PhreeZone 20]

Why would you need a quarter? Is your Quick Release covering the battery door? If so get a quick release that does not

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[jacketsdb23 49]

Just an update -

Sent my Cannon back to the factory in SoCal. It cost me about 180 bucks labor and some shipping charges. The had to fix the PCB - (Power Control Board ?). It came back with a 6-month warranty.

Worth it? Well if I don't have anymore problems with it, definitely.

Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen
God is Good
Beer is Great
Swoopers are crazy.

[BirdWoman 0]

What was their turn time? Did they do anything else to it, like clean it or anything?

"I don't know where it is that I'm going, but wherever it is there I'll be!" --quoted by me

[jacketsdb23 49]

I had the camera back in about 10 business days. They cleaned it up to the point the only way I new it was mine was the serial number stayed the same. They took care of all the scratches (damn PAC 750).

I borrowed a buddy's camera for the time it was gone so it worked out well.

Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen
God is Good
Beer is Great
Swoopers are crazy.

[jtval 0]

Quote

When it is locked up, does the power light stay on whether you turn it off or on?

My XTi would do this, but not my XT. I actually returned my XTi and got another one that did the same thing. After some testing I figured it out. If I allow the camera to be turned on for a certain amount of time the LCD will go off as it goes back into power save mode. Usually halfway depressing the shutter SHOULD bring it back to life. However I found out that when a remote is plugged in, it locks up sometimes, when going into power saving mode, and nothing will bring it back to life except removing the battery. So, easy solution? Disable the power saving feature in the menus. OR... once you turn it on and the helmet is on your head, fire a test shot every 30 seconds until you exit.

Thanks for the reply to the OP. I am having the same problem. I own an XT but the camera they gave me at work is an XTI. The XTI is doing exactly what you described. I will check out your fix. Hopefully, you fixed my problem. Thanks Again.

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