topic 5D IV Shutter Release Locking Up? in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

5D IV Shutter Release Locking Up?

Choreo — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 18:51:51 GMT

I have had my 5D Mk IV just over a year, but have still been using my older 7D most work last year. I started back practicing with my 5D4 last month in the house and noticed that from time to time the shutter button would just stop working? I tried the following things and ALL of them seemed to work at different times:

Turning camera off then back on

Remove - reinsert memory card

Remove -reinsert battery tray

Switch lenses

Since then I bought new Canon batteries and new memory card to eliminate those vaiables.

Yesterday I had my first commercial shoot with th 5D4 and it failed me. I was shooting a commercial interior and after 5 shots, the shutter button did nothing - no AF activation or shutter release. I could still access the menu on the back of screen, just the shutter button would do nothing.

Did I just get a lemon (that is now out of warranty)?

Re: 5D IV Shutter Release Locking Up?

kvbarkley — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 19:22:12 GMT

Is it focusing?

Did you try another lens?

Have you tried in manual focus mode?

Re: 5D IV Shutter Release Locking Up?

Choreo — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 19:29:32 GMT

No, the shutter button does nothing when pressed - no focus, no beep, no shutter realeae - nothing.

Yes tried several L-Lenses.

Swithing lens to manual does nothing.

Re: 5D IV Shutter Release Locking Up?

kvbarkley — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 20:53:46 GMT

Do you have an N3-type remote shutter release you can try?

Re: 5D IV Shutter Release Locking Up?

Choreo — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 20:56:23 GMT

Yes. I will try that when it locks up again.

Re: 5D IV Shutter Release Locking Up?

RobertTheFat — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 22:42:17 GMT

@kvbarkley wrote:
Is it focusing?

Did you try another lens?
Have you tried in manual focus mode?

That was my first thought too. The symptom reflects the behavior you get if you're positioned at less than the MFD.

At least that was true with earlier Canon DSLRs. I don't think I've ever been in that situation with my 5D4.

Re: 5D IV Shutter Release Locking Up?

Choreo — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 22:53:33 GMT

Well, when it locked up yesterday, I was using my 16-35 L lens trying to photograph the exterior of a building about 40 yards away. Switched to my old 7D with a 10-22 EF-S - worked fine.

Re: 5D IV Shutter Release Locking Up?

tmc784 — Tue, 29 Jan 2019 01:42:59 GMT

Did you try to disable mirror lock up and clear all camera settings back to default ?

Re: 5D IV Shutter Release Locking Up?

Choreo — Tue, 29 Jan 2019 01:52:20 GMT

Mirror Lock-up is off, but I have not reset to defaults. As few changes as I have made to the defaults, if that causes a problem then I am not sure if I could ever rely on customizing settings?

Looks like I will probably be sending the camera in to Canon tomorrow, but it will probably be like every car I have owned that screwed up where the problem would disappear within 100 yarrds of a Dealership!

Re: 5D IV Shutter Release Locking Up?

Choreo — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 16:56:57 GMT

Shipped the camera to Canon a couple days ago; hopefully, they will find something? Unfortunately, the camera was working fine again before I packed it up (typical). Even with the Canon UPS discount, UPS wanted $147 to ship it back with insurance! Amazing how B&H could ship it to me brand new and insured for "free" - it's good to be B&H!

Re: 5D IV Shutter Release Locking Up?

jrhoffman75 — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 17:08:39 GMT

Look into joining Canon CPS.

Re: 5D IV Shutter Release Locking Up?

Choreo — Sat, 09 Feb 2019 02:41:40 GMT

Just received the camera back from Canon Service in California.

They were not able to reproduce the issue I was having, but they did go ahead and replace:

Cover Ass'y Top Part #CG2-5251-000

Pentaprism Ass'y Part #CY3-1795-000

There was clear plastic protective tape over the shutter button and the top LCD screen - so I am guessing those items were part of what they replaced?

I have only had the camera for an hour, but eveything seems to be working perfectly (so far) and it may be my imagination, but the AF seems to be more responsive than it was before. I will report back if the issue reappears.

NOTE: I also paid to have them install Canon LOG as long as it was there anyway.

Re: 5D IV Shutter Release Locking Up?

tmc784 — Sat, 09 Feb 2019 02:53:55 GMT

How much did the Canon repair center totally charged ?

Re: 5D IV Shutter Release Locking Up?

Choreo — Sat, 09 Feb 2019 03:09:28 GMT

They took mercy on me since I was just a few weeks out of warranty, had such a low shutter count and had reported the same issue previous to the warranty expiring (I just did not send it in prior to expiration date). Becase of that they did not charge anything for the service - just $14 for return shipping.

This was my first experience with Canon Service even though I have owned several Canon cameras since 1973 (only Canons in fact). I have to say I was totally impressed with every aspect if the interaction - timely updates, great phone support from the gal who contacted me via phone to clarify the issue upon receipt of the camera and quick turnaround (2-days in-house).

Because of they way this was handled (they could have been inflexible about it), this pretty well seals my decision to buy one of their high-end EOS R's after they release them as my next camera (assuming the 5D4 does not fail me again).

Re: 5D IV Shutter Release Locking Up?

tmc784 — Sat, 09 Feb 2019 04:43:56 GMT

Canon provides the best services.