topic Re: 5D Mk3 issues on writing to memory card in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

5D Mk3 issues on writing to memory card

TX72BC — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 22:11:31 GMT

Hi!

I recently got into some problems with my 5D Mk3 - when I take a photo, it DOES NOT STOP writing to the memory cards. These memory cards are Lexar SDXC1 / 10, and they were working before. I even tried other memory cards that work in my other cameras and they work fine there, but not on my 5D. Now my red light at the back is just on after a shot, and my status in the viewer is "busy" and the photo remaining counter is left blinking. And it doesnt stop, so I can't take another photo.

I thought it was a firmware issue, so I upgraded to the latest firmware but still not working.

Anyone encounter the same issue? Any ways you have resolved these?

Thanks.

Re: 5D Mk3 issues on writing to memory card

jrhoffman75 — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 22:14:10 GMT

If you shut the camera off and turn back on was the image captured and on the card?

Re: 5D Mk3 issues on writing to memory card

diverhank — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 22:28:35 GMT

Sorry, I haven't run across this issue with my 5D Mk 3.

The obvious thing, which you didn't mention, was to format the memory card in the camera first. Try low level formatting for good measure. You should try that. Memory cards do fail and since they are so cheap, I'd get new ones.

Another thing is that you should not use the SD card in the 5D Mk 3 because it's really slow. Even if you are using very fast SD cards, the camera doesn't use it...the best you will get is 133x and no more. Use a fast CF card instead...there is no such restriction for the CF card.

Re: 5D Mk3 issues on writing to memory card

TX72BC — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 03:47:19 GMT

@jrhoffman75 wrote:
If you shut the camera off and turn back on was the image captured and on the card?

hi John - the image doesnt get captured.

Re: 5D Mk3 issues on writing to memory card

TX72BC — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 03:49:08 GMT

@diverhank wrote:
Sorry, I haven't run across this issue with my 5D Mk 3.

The obvious thing, which you didn't mention, was to format the memory card in the camera first. Try low level formatting for good measure. You should try that. Memory cards do fail and since they are so cheap, I'd get new ones.

Another thing is that you should not use the SD card in the 5D Mk 3 because it's really slow. Even if you are using very fast SD cards, the camera doesn't use it...the best you will get is 133x and no more. Use a fast CF card instead...there is no such restriction for the CF card.

Hi Hank -

I have both the sd and CF cards and it happens to both of them. Really having a hard time.

I called Canon and the person i talked to said I should just send it in.

Re: 5D Mk3 issues on writing to memory card

diverhank — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 20:39:33 GMT

@TX72BC wrote:
Hi Hank -

I have both the sd and CF cards and it happens to both of them. Really having a hard time.

I called Canon and the person i talked to said I should just send it in.

Bummer...it looks like a problem...but the chance of both the SD and CF card slots are simultaneously broken the same way is astronomically small, imho. It might be something else...

Before you send it in, make sure you go through the menu and disable the long exposure noise filtering...this option will just sit there and crank for ages with the annoying red light...if you are not patient enough like me, chance is you'll think the camera is broken. As a matter of fact, reset everything back to default and try again.

Re: 5D Mk3 issues on writing to memory card

Waddizzle — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 21:00:52 GMT

@TX72BC wrote:
Hi!

I recently got into some problems with my 5D Mk3 - when I take a photo, it DOES NOT STOP writing to the memory cards. These memory cards are Lexar SDXC1 / 10, and they were working before. I even tried other memory cards that work in my other cameras and they work fine there, but not on my 5D. Now my red light at the back is just on after a shot, and my status in the viewer is "busy" and the photo remaining counter is left blinking. And it doesnt stop, so I can't take another photo.

I thought it was a firmware issue, so I upgraded to the latest firmware but still not working.

Anyone encounter the same issue? Any ways you have resolved these?

Thanks.

What shooting mode are you using? As Hank noted, some settings may cause the camera to sit and cogitate, "BUSY."

1- Auto Lighting Optimizer

2- Long Exposure Noise Reduction

3- High ISO Speed Noise Reduction

If you are using "A", then you will automatically get #1 and #3 of the troublemakers, as I call them. If you switch to any of the other modes, ( P, Tv, Av, M, B ) , then you have the option to disable the settings I listed.. I disable them in the camera, because you can also adjust RAW files in post processing to remove the noise.

Re: 5D Mk3 issues on writing to memory card

TX72BC — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 20:07:28 GMT

@diverhank wrote:
@TX72BC wrote:
Hi Hank -

I have both the sd and CF cards and it happens to both of them. Really having a hard time.

I called Canon and the person i talked to said I should just send it in.
Bummer...it looks like a problem...but the chance of both the SD and CF card slots are simultaneously broken the same way is astronomically small, imho. It might be something else...

Before you send it in, make sure you go through the menu and disable the long exposure noise filtering...this option will just sit there and crank for ages with the annoying red light...if you are not patient enough like me, chance is you'll think the camera is broken. As a matter of fact, reset everything back to default and try again.

tried all of it but to no avail... i guess thats it?

Re: 5D Mk3 issues on writing to memory card

Waddizzle — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 20:26:55 GMT

" tried all of it but to no avail... i guess thats it? "

If you have reset the camera [which needs to be done in at least 3 places], swtiched to [P] mode and disabled all of the settings I mentioned, then the last thing I can think of would be the clock battery.

Re: 5D Mk3 issues on writing to memory card

alexkoo — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 14:06:18 GMT

Got similar happening to my 7D II indicating "busy" whilst writing to card. Switched off manually and then turned on, could only take a few photos and then hanged. Basically processor problem due to overheating and the board was replaced. Fortunately, it was within warranty period.

Re: 5D Mk3 issues on writing to memory card

TX72BC — Sat, 10 Dec 2016 22:50:23 GMT

Well, things are turning for the worse..

After resetting everything, including the auto lighitng optimizer, it works for a couple of shots and video... a couple...

and now, it hangs, like AlexKoo's above... and now when I press the menu it wouldn't show, then I press the quick menu button (Q), sometime nothing shows up.... it has become even more problematic...

so is this the processor then? I've had mine for sometime (got it immediately when the Mk3 was released) so I guess I am passed the warranty... how much will this work be? It might be just better selling this off for parts and expanding my mirrorless equipment....

Re: 5D Mk3 issues on writing to memory card

RobertTheFat — Sat, 10 Dec 2016 23:08:04 GMT

@TX72BC wrote:
Well, things are turning for the worse..

After resetting everything, including the auto lighitng optimizer, it works for a couple of shots and video... a couple...

and now, it hangs, like AlexKoo's above... and now when I press the menu it wouldn't show, then I press the quick menu button (Q), sometime nothing shows up.... it has become even more problematic...

so is this the processor then? I've had mine for sometime (got it immediately when the Mk3 was released) so I guess I am passed the warranty... how much will this work be? It might be just better selling this off for parts and expanding my mirrorless equipment....

A 5D3 is hardly a DIY device, so I wouldn't expect it to be worth much as a parts donor. But I'd certainly think it would be worth more on the used market than its repair cost. So I think I'd be inclined to go that route if I didn't want to have it repaired and keep using it.

Some original 5D3's had a problem with a light leak, and I think there may have even been a recall. If that recall is still in effect and your camera qualifies, it could conceivably be beneficial costwise to combine that with the currently needed repair. Worth looking into anyway.