Error 70 often caused by Canon RF to EF Adapter

[Insight32]

Ever since owning the EOS R5 I have had consistent error 70 freeze-ups while shooting timelapses.  I didn't own any RF lenses, but was using Canon and other 3rd party brand lenses with Canon's RF to EF adapter ($99).    Regardless of which lens I shot with (Canon EF 50mm F/1.4, Sigma 20mm F/1.8, Rokinon 14mm AF F/2.8, Sigma 150-600mm) the camera would eventually give me the ERR 70 message at some point during my timelapses.  Sometimes it happened after 160 frames, sometimes after 230, but almost always before I got reach 300 frames.    I was able to figure out that it ONLY happens when my lens was stopped down to any aperture other than wide open.  If I shot at the widest aperture I would never get the error.

Canon twice replaced the Main PCB assembly, but each time the error still occurred.  So after getting nowhere with their support department I decided to prove my theory.

I went out and purchased a Canon RF 24-105mm F/4-7.1 lens and also the RF version of the Rokinon 14mm F/2.8 AF lens.   When shooting with either of these native RF lenses I have yet to get the ERR 70 even with 1000+ frame timelapses.    Yet, when I go back to their adapter and connect one of my "EF-Mount" lenses I get the error.

After all the testing I have done with different memory cards, different Canon batteries, and different lenses. I can now say with 100% confidence that the EF adapter is causing many of the ERR 70 issues.  

I will be letting Canon know, but I have no idea how they plan to correct it - if they plan to at all.

Ron

[Insight32]

I’ve already mentioned this to Canon, because to me it seems like a buffer issue, yet the didn’t seem to listen and just replaced the main PCB assembly for the second time is as many weeks.     Ive duplicated the error with various brand and types of cards, duplicated it with cards that were freshly formatted in the camera, fully charged battery vs partially discharged battery, etc.   The only variable I haven’t been able to test is with a second R5 - that would help me rule out buffer or writing issues with my current R5

[Tronhard]

As an addendum to my last post, I just stumbled upon a post you wrote in February entitled: "Dear Canon - The EOS R5 “ERR 70” has nothing to do with memory cards"  so please have patience while I read this - there is a lot to digest in this interchange!

[Insight32]

what fixed the issue for me was to use RF native lenses.  Shooting time lapse was a gamble using EF (Canon and 3rd party) lenses and the Canon adapter.

[Insight32]

This is the video that I shared with Canon support - who by the way never bothered to watch it.    https://vimeo.com/597322614

[Tronhard]

Well, I have now read your post of February and it only adds to the mystery...  I can now see you have flogged the card issue to death very effectively and in a scientific way.  Two things really come to mind:
1/   You have certainly applied good process to try to isolate the issue, and at no small expense!   I appreciate the effort and expense you went to in order to make sure it happened with a Canon lens, because then Canon should take responsibility for that! At the very least it is important that Canon recognize the issue as existing and indicate if and when they can address it.  I can see how frustrating it is not to have either and you have my sympathies.
2/    A startling lack of response from canon to that February thread, which is disappointing...

If it is not a mechanical issue, then it is likely to be something in the firmware algorithms and that is way outside the purview of this space.  I'm sorry that I cannot help you more, but this is outside of my scope.   I hope that this is resolved for you and will eventually lead to a firmware upgrade for the issue.ds

[Tronhard]

In response to: This is the video that I shared with Canon support - who by the way never bothered to watch it.  

That is indeed frustrating and disappointing.

[Tronhard]

In response to: what fixed the issue for me was to use RF native lenses.  Shooting time lapse was a gamble using EF (Canon and 3rd party) lenses and the Canon adapter.

The issue of lens compatibility is a vexed one.   The painful fact is that pretty well all makers make no guarantee with regard to using legacy or third-party lenses for reasons I have beaten to death in other posts.  I suspect that someone in Canon has shrugged and said something like "they should buy RF glass": but of course they won't say that in public - that's for wicked, rude people like me to have to deal with apparently...

I suspect that your situation is so very specific that Canon have parked it in the pending pile, but it's disappointing that you did not get a response that it was too specific or whatever - still, I am not privy to a the other exchanges between you and Canon.

So, just to be clear - now that you are using native RF lenses the issue has ceased to occur?  If so, I hope you can get back to your work without further disruption.  I would love to see some of the results of your labours - do you post them on line?

[Insight32]

Hi Trevor,

The issue shows up frequently with timelapse, but since there are a LOT of R5 users that do get random ERR 70 errors (Just google search "canon EOS R5 ERR 70") I would think Canon would want to get to the bottom of it.   

I have never received the ERR 70 when using an RF Lens, yet I have read where others have.  I can also use manual lenses without issue, so I find it interesting that it's the aperture that causes the issue.   I can use an EF lens + the adapter and as long as I shoot wide open I can shoot and shoot and shoot without ERR 70's.    If Canon paid attention to the work I did to troubleshoot and find the issue they would be a lot closer to updating the firmware to fix this issue or at least offer a warranty fix if it's hardware related.  It's surely a waste of time and money for Canon to replace the Main PCB for everyone that has this issue- when that is clearly not the fix.

You can view my work on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/risman
I have been teaching advanced night-sky and motion control timelapse for 10 years. My workshops can be found at TimelapseWorkshops.com

Thanks,

Ron

[Tronhard]

Thank you for that reply.  I truly wish I could do something to help but it's outside my experience and mandate.  I agree that a more structured approach is required.   I think the linking of 3rd party lenses to the issue is something that likely causes Canon to dismiss this out of hand - whether that is valid or not is another issue!

Thank you for sharing the link to your work - it is very impressive.  Although not my genre, I can truly appreciate  your artistry and technical skill and applaud it and your work.

I hope you can continue to do your work with the R5 and the RF lenses without challenges in the future. 

[Ouks]

Hello all

i'h having the same issue using my Canon R6 with a canon adapter and a Sigma 150-600 contemporary lens. I do wildlife photography and i use Burst mode H+. Recently I've had a block screen and my buffer was freezing( loosing all pictures after that). After that inhad Err 70 popping up and also lost all pictures in the buffer

its frustrating because this is an expensive camera. I wont be able to trust it anymore