7D internal flash turns off camera

[petewirth]

I have been working with my Canon 7D, which is ten years old for me this year, trying to troubleshoot the problem I am encountering.

When using my camera, if there is any reason for the internal flash to be needed, the flash pops up and then the camera turns off.  I cannot use the power switch and turn the camera back on.  I must remove the battery and reinstall it.  Only then will the camera turn on.

I've watched a number of videos and I've looked for loose connections or loose screws.  Nothing.

As I've been troubleshooting, I found a webpage that guided me to turn off the internal flash, but I cannot disable the internal flash for the fully automatic modes. (Page 214 of the instruction manual.)

Has anyone else experienced this problem?  I have been unsuccessful in developing search terms that brought me results showing that others have also experienced this.

I'm probably going to be in the market for a new camera but keeping this one limping along is fine in the near-term.

Has anyone else found a permanent solution?  Now that Canon is no longer servicing the 7D, I'm not confident in other repair facilities knowing how to correct this issue.

[shadowsports]

Greetings,

Do you have a second battery to test with by chance?   What lens are you using the camera with?  

Try resetting the camera's setting to default as well.  

[petewirth]

I do have an extra battery.  Same deal.  I have EF 70-300m, EFS 18-135mm, and EF 50mm.  All same reaction to internal flash.  I've not reset the camera's settings.  I don't see anything out there that would affect the internal flash beyond what Ive already stated.  Canon Tech Support did not suggest default settings, so I'm assuming there is a good reason why they didn't (ie, doesn't fix my problem.)  Have you had this issue?  I'm looking to see if anyone else has and what they did to troubleshoot.

[rs-eos]

Only thing I can think of is perhaps there is some electrical short or other electrical fault when the flash pops up.   Unfortunately, I think the only thing you could do is either disable the flash as you've done (though also would need to avoid full auto mode).  Or, find a repair shop.