Broken 5D Mkiii?

munge · 21 Apr 2013 at 15:53

Before I traipse back to the shop, am I missing something obvious?

I turned my camera on this morning, to find that it seems stuck in manual focus mode. It also won't actually expose when I press the shutter release. On turning on movie mode it tells me to attach a lens, even though one is attached.

I've changed lenses and it makes no difference. (And they are set to autofocus.)

Have I changed a setting without realising it, or is the camera banjaxed? It seems like there is perhaps some sort of connection problem between the lens and the camera perhaps?

Any thoughts welcome.

And missed being able to photograph Columbia Rd flower market because of this

munge · 21 Apr 2013 at 16:06

Camera only about a month old, so shouldn't be that dirty, but will give it a go. I am hoping its just some simple communication problem, but typically it won't be!

munge · 21 Apr 2013 at 19:09

Bizarre. Got home, tried fiddling with every setting, not locked on the back. Took battery out, changed lenses again, cleaned contacts, then camera completely froze having been flashing BUSY for ages. Even turning it off wouldn't get rid of the BUSY, LCD display still active.
Took battery out again, put back in, camera now completely dead. Then all of a sudden it fires up and everything works fine.

Is it worth me giving Canon a bell on Monday? Or just be happy it's working?

munge · 21 Apr 2013 at 19:23

Nexus said:
I'm sure if its really got a problem, it will repeat. So may be worth waiting to see if it does again.

My only worry is if I'm somewhere remote and it happens and doesn't fix itself like now.

munge · 21 Apr 2013 at 22:09

Raymond Lin said:
This is why you have a back up.

If I was doing anything professionally, then I definitely would, but financially, having a second half decent body that I don't ever use, just doesn't make sense for me.

Perhaps renting one if I go somewhere remote abroad might be an idea. I assume you can rent bodies like you can lenses?

munge · 21 Apr 2013 at 22:30

Raymond Lin said:
You can rent bodies but they are not economical.

Just searched t'interweb, if you're renting for a couple of weeks, it looks like it makes sense to buy a second body and then sell it on afterwards, you'd probably lose less, particularly if you never have to use it.

munge · 21 Apr 2013 at 22:47

Schizophonic said:
@munge I would give it more usage before going to Canon, I wouldn't assume they would take on the job and investigate the problem if you cannot replicate it or show one of their technicians what the problem is.

True I suppose. I guess if it's a software glitch, that's preferable to a hardware glitch. And new firmware coming out in next few weeks might help.

munge · 21 Apr 2013 at 22:50

hyperst said:
What memory card do you have in it? I had trouble with an older card. kingston 2gb, I used it in my old compact and I put it in my d3100 and the camera wouldn't switch on and just gave an error, putting it back in my compact and the compact does all weird things, half switches on and all sorts, memory card is completely duff now.

Brand new Lexar CF and Sandisk SD, so not old. Both formatted in camera and never used on anything else.

munge · 22 Apr 2013 at 22:16

Andy90 said:
A few Forum posts about the 5D MK III locking up...

...Appears to be an issue in certain circumstances.

I don't think mine was anything to do with the video, though it may have turned on inadvertently without me noticing in my bag.

But thanks for looking, the problem does otherwise seem similar though.