topic Menu auto opening on rear LCD screen - EOS 7D Mark II in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

Menu auto opening on rear LCD screen - EOS 7D Mark II

Lorne — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 14:49:19 GMT

EOS 7dII, Firmware 1.1.3

Without me touching anything the software is repeatedly executing a menu item relating to flash control. The message on the screen is "Menu not available. Flash is off or unsupported, or an accessary is attached.

If I attach a flash and turn it on the menu item is still repeatedly executed but with a different screen offering 3 flash settings.

The camera still works (both with and without a flash attached) but the message is annoying and probably wasting battery life. Any ideas how to get rid of it ?

Re: Menu auto opening on rear LCD screen - EOS 7D Mark II

jrhoffman75 — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 16:17:15 GMT

General recommendation when camera starts acting strangely is to reset all camera settings.

Re: Menu auto opening on rear LCD screen - EOS 7D Mark II

Lorne — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 20:46:19 GMT

Thanks for that. Will try that in a bit if no other ideas come up. Also I was going to see if it is possible to reinstall the firmware - do you know if that is possible when the latest version is already installed ?

Re: Menu auto opening on rear LCD screen - EOS 7D Mark II

deebatman316 — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 21:41:26 GMT

What brand of external speedlite are you using. Is it Canon or a 3rd Party speedlite unit. Not ALL of Canon's speedlites support the External Speedlite Control Menu. If your using a Canon speedlite provide the model that you're using. If 3rd Party some speedlites support Canon's External Speedlite Control Menu and some don't.

Re: Menu auto opening on rear LCD screen - EOS 7D Mark II

Lorne — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 21:51:32 GMT

It is not a problem with the flash. The error message only appears when no flash is connected and the correct menu is displayed when either of my flashes are connected. The problem is that the camera is activating the menu item every 30 seconds or so without me touching it regardless of whether a flash is connected.

Re: Menu auto opening on rear LCD screen - EOS 7D Mark II

deebatman316 — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 21:54:47 GMT

I would suggest resetting the camera back to factory default including the custom functions & custom control back to factory default.

Re: Menu auto opening on rear LCD screen - EOS 7D Mark II

Anonymous — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 21:56:13 GMT

Is the menu button stuck in with dirt or sticky substance?

Re: Menu auto opening on rear LCD screen - EOS 7D Mark II

Lorne — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 21:59:12 GMT

No. The same menu item is activated even if the highlight is on a completely different menu page, and all menu items seem to be working if I select them myself.

Re: Menu auto opening on rear LCD screen - EOS 7D Mark II

amfoto1 — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 00:05:12 GMT

It sounds like the camera is thinking there's a flash mounted, even when there isn't.

When holding the camera normally, in the hotshoe, under the right hand rail, under the spring is a tiny black button. That's a switch that's pressed whenever a flash is in the hot shoe, to let the camera "know" a flash is mounted and prevent the pop-up flash from opening.

That little black button is spring-loaded and supposed to pop back up whenever a flash isn't in the hot shoe. But there are several things that can cause the button to stay pressed down and the switch activated. Look closely at that little black button to see if something is obstructing it, if the "leaf" spring above it is bent so it's constantly pressing on the button, or if the button is stuck in the pressed-down position This might explain what's happening.

***********

Alan Myers
San Jose, Calif., USA
"Walk softly and carry a big lens."
GEAR: 5DII, 7DII (x2), 7D(x2), EOS M5, some other cameras, various lenses & accessories
FLICKR

Re: Menu auto opening on rear LCD screen - EOS 7D Mark II

Lorne — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 10:36:33 GMT

I do not think that can be the issue - if it was the menu would open whenever any accessory is attached to the shoe and also the menu is auto opening every 30 seconds when a working flash is attached which should not happen.

Separately I reset the camera to initial defaults but it made no difference. Next step I am going to see if it will let me reinstall the firmware.

Re: Menu auto opening on rear LCD screen - EOS 7D Mark II

Waddizzle — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 11:08:38 GMT

@Lorne wrote:
I do not think that can be the issue - if it was the menu would open whenever any accessory is attached to the shoe and also the menu is auto opening every 30 seconds when a working flash is attached which should not happen.
Separately I reset the camera to initial defaults but it made no difference. Next step I am going to see if it will let me reinstall the firmware.

Don’t try to re-install the firmware. When a camera is malfunctioning, attempting to install firmware is one of the worst things you can do. The risk of turning your camera into a brick paperweight are HIGH.

I suggest that you at least take a LOOK at the hot shoe for damage, dirt, or foreign debris as has been suggested to you.

Re: Menu auto opening on rear LCD screen - EOS 7D Mark II

amfoto1 — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 18:31:06 GMT

@Lorne wrote:
I do not think that can be the issue - if it was the menu would open whenever any accessory is attached to the shoe and also the menu is auto opening every 30 seconds when a working flash is attached which should not happen.
Separately I reset the camera to initial defaults but it made no difference. Next step I am going to see if it will let me reinstall the firmware.

The message you reported when nothing is in the hot shoe "Menu not available. Flash is off or unsupported, or an accessory is attached." is exactly what I would expect to see if that tiny button switch is stuck in the "on" position for any reason. Because the microswitch is activated, the camera thinks something is in the hot shoe and is warning you because it can't detect what's there.

Previously you stated that when a flash is installed in the hot shoe a menu of flash setting options would display... Once again, this is what I'd expect to happen. In this case both the micro switch is activated and the flash itself has been detected by the camera.

Besides, it's super easy to look under the right hand rail of the hot shoe to see if there might be some reason that micro switch is activated... maybe some obstruction, or a bent leaf spring, or it's just the button is stuck in the depressed position. I've seen all three of these things happen with other cameras. I've fixed more than one in a few seconds with a toothpick!

I mean, why not just take a look at it?

***********

Alan Myers
San Jose, Calif., USA
"Walk softly and carry a big lens."
GEAR: 5DII, 7DII (x2), 7D(x2), EOS M5, some other cameras, various lenses & accessories
FLICKR

Re: Menu auto opening on rear LCD screen - EOS 7D Mark II

Lorne — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 21:02:19 GMT

The flash sensor has been stuck down for 2yrs - ever since I spent time in a very humid Borneo Jungle but the auto showing of the menu only started 2 weeks ago. I took the camera for repair 2yrs ago but they could not release the pin and were unable to take the camera apart to get at the pin due to screws that appear to be rusted in. However before this the menu never activated without me doing it when a flash was attached and I do not see why canon would set it up to auto execute a menu page and it certainly does not happen on my other EOS camera.

Reinstalling the Firmware did not solve it and I found that deleting the camera settings does not do what it should - many setting were retained after the reset. I think I am going to have to live with it.

Re: Menu auto opening on rear LCD screen - EOS 7D Mark II

deebatman316 — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 21:04:19 GMT

Resetting the camera to factory default. DOES NOT clear Custom Functions. Custom Functions must be cleared via Clear Custom Functions.

Re: Menu auto opening on rear LCD screen - EOS 7D Mark II

jrhoffman75 — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 23:27:14 GMT

It would have been good to know this from the outset. Perhaps there is internal corrosion that has finally resulted in a problem.