Canon 5D mark iii "busy" each time after switch on and missing shots...

[brightwolg]

Hi all, I am new on the forums but not new to photography and not new to Canon: shooting Canon for 30 years now, from back in the film times. Last year I sold my 5D mark ii and acquired a second-hand 5D mark iii. I acquired it from a photo store, it was in good condition, cleaned and checked.  Ever since I bought it, it shows "busy" to me after about 2 or 3 seconds after switch on. When showing "busy", it refuses to shoot anything - I simply have to wait. The "busy" time is usually some seconds but can sometimes last up to 10 seconds, or at least it feels like that: an eternity when I want to shoot that shot and my camera is refusing to do it for me. I am missing shots because of this.

Does anyone know how to fix it or what I can do?

Please note that I did search this forum for this problem, and came across this post. It seems related and there are some similarities, however there are also some differences. What is similar is that I am using an SD card (Sandisk Extreme Pro 170 MB/s 64 GB (UHS class 3, speed class 10). What is different is that I am not using burst mode.

Also note that my issue does not seem related to the speed of the card. I am an amateur with a good camera; almost never using the burst modes. And the problem occurs regardless of the fact if I have taken a photo (or not) before the "busy" message shows up. 

I have reformatted the card and resetted the camera: to no avail. Some other info: mostly shooting JPG (second best quality), enabled lens abberation correction, did not enable (white balance) auto bracketing. Lens used: any of my lenses (which are: EF 28-105 F/3.5-4.5 II USM, EF 16-35 F2.8 L USM mark ii, EF 70-200 F/4, EF 50 F/1.8, EF 100 F/2.0 USM) 

Any help or hints appreciated! 

-Hans

[Anonymous]

"Copied all photos back, 3153 files, 14,88 GB. Now the same behaviour is back, and on top of that, that red light on the back of the camera (bottom right) starts flashing the moment I switch it on or wake it up."

When you copy files to a memory card as you did, the camera knows that it didn't write those files, and it will take quite a while for the camera to index those files, so that is normal when you do that.

[Waddizzle]

“  I will now copy those same images back to the (now low level formatted) card and see if I get the 2 to 3 seconds delay again before the "busy" message appears.  “

Copying image files back onto the memory card and then inserting said card into the camera is bad idea.  It is a recipe for apparent card failures and possibly lost images.

[brightwolg]

Backed everything up and is not my common practise. Was just for testing, formatted the card already again. 

[deebatman316]

How did you format the card. Did you format it in the computer or in the camera. ALWAYS format it in the CAMERA.

[brightwolg]

Hi Demetrius, Yes that is what I did: low format it in the camera. 

[deebatman316]

Have you tried a NEW memory card yet.

[brightwolg]

No, but ordered one. Waiting for it, should be delivered tomorrow or the day after. Will report here once I have tried it (will low level format in-camera, then try). 

[deebatman316]

I don't recommend storing pictures on a memory card after a shoot. I would copy ALL of your images to a computer, HDD or SSD to save your pictures. You never know when the card could fail. I highly suggest that you use BOTH card slots and set the camera to record to BOTH card slots. 

[Waddizzle]

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@brightwolg wrote:

Backed everything up and is not my common practise. Was just for testing, formatted the card already again. 

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Copying mage files to the SD card will almost always create errors.  Do not copy image files to the SD card, and then place it in the camera.

[brightwolg]

Hi all, thanks for all the valuable feedback so far. Last weekend I ordered a new card (SanDisk SDXC Extreme Pro - 64GB 200/90 mb/s - V30) and it arrived today. I low level formatted it in-camera and tested it. Guess what? Same problem. So definitely camera related? Should I ditch it?