Canon EOS 300D, error 99

[Telegraphist]

My camera is showing Error 99 and I have tried everything on the internet and AI but cannot sort it. Both my expensive lenses work perfectly well when I take a picture but once I have pressed the button the error 99 comes up, and to enable me to take another photograph, I have to switch it off and then turn it back on again. The CF card also records the photographs OK. 

Therefore, should I reset it to factory settings?..

[Telegraphist]

Actually, I bought a second hand Canon EOS 300D complete with its original lense. It cost me £36.00 and £2.60 for delivery to my house in Stafford United Kingdom. I have inserted a 1GB CF card and it works perfectly with both the lenses I showed deebatman316

As for the 300D which has the err 99, I have looked at the internet and I have found details that could cure the error, it does mean unscrewing the back cover. So I will have a go. If it doesn’t work it will go in the bin. But at least I am now back to taken pictures with a remarkable cheap second hand Canon EOS 300D.

[BurnUnit]

The Digital Rebel/300D does have a seperate memory battery for date and time functions. If you can't remember when you last changed it then it's probably due. Something cheap and easy to try.

Also remove the CF card, get a lighted magnifier, and have a good look down into the card slot in the camera body. See if any of the fine contact pins are broken, bent or displaced. If so, you can safely assume the camera is irrepairable, at least as far as the cost and effort involved.

If the card contacts are OK, try using a different CF card and format it in the camera. Maybe try to avoid using a card larger than maybe 8GB or 16GB. The older cameras may have a problem recognizing the really large capacity newer cards.

[ebiggs1]

"I have found details that could cure the error, it does mean unscrewing the back cover."

Well all I can say is, good luck. This, whatever procedure you got from the ole inner web, is not likely to help or fix it or make it work. Have at it.

"See if any of the fine contact pins are broken, bent or displaced."

Also a very low, to none, of a chance of fixing it as this is not the problem if the camera addresses the CF card. Besides the camera will work even if there is no CF card installed at all.

"Error 99 usually means shutter failure in older DSLRs such as yours."

Already affirmed in my first reply. In reality, most of the suggestions offered are just a shot in the dark and usually have no impact. But some can be destructive.

[Telegraphist]

By the way my friend the title of my name Telegraphist means I was one of those Radio Guys in the Royal Navy for 21 years and I am also an amateur radio guy callsign G0GUF so I ain’t no plank when it comes to electronics. I have done all the stuff you and others have suggested, and I afraid it appears you and perhaps others such as deebatman 316 only come up with ideas that are are already out there on AI  and YouTube and some times your bottom line appears to me ‘buy a new camera zip fullstop’  Well I ain’t into that.

My personal opinion is that you should be saying, what part of the world do you live, so that we (Canon) might find somebody who sells their cameras and does repairs. Instead of saying the Canon EOS 300D is unrepairable, hence why I will give it a whirl and see what transpires.

[deebatman316]

@Telegraphist this forum is hosted by Canon USA. It is mainly focused on U.S. & Canadian based users. But people from other countries do comment and use these forums. When it comes to entry level cameras such as the Digital Rebel (NA model name)/ EOS KISS Digital (Japan)/ EOS X00D series. The cost to repair it greatly exceeds the value of a replacement of the same model. Also users in this forum don’t work for Canon. Unless the user’s name has a “Canon” badge attached to their username. Then they work for Canon USA. Canon will always suggest their service centers. Never a 3rd Party company to provide repairs. My grandfather did electronics repair from the mid 60s until his retirement in 2005. When he retired he already saw the electronics industry moving to non repairable items. VCRs, DVD/ CD Players & TVs. You can buy a new TV for cheaper than repairing your current one.

[Telegraphist]

So what’s that got to do with what I said.

Yes I guess the world is changing to throw away items instead of repair, but as experience tells me, I like to have a go at repairing things if I can. And certainly your comment about you can buy a new TV for cheaper than repairing your current one, certainly does not apply to buying an amateur radio transceiver costing thousands of pounds, when most repairs by the owner such as me cost a few pounds.

[Stephen]

Neither ebiggs1 or BurnUnit work for Canon. They are normal users like you. Since they don't know your life history, they're telling you that this camera is 23 years old (it's the first digital SLR we made), and if it's giving you a "generic" error 99 code, if you can't determine almost immediately why, usually the best bet is to recycle it. 

Of course, if you choose to tinker with it, that's your prerogative. We (Canon USA) don't have parts for this camera any longer, and we cannot be held responsible for any damages if you attempt repairs yourself. 

[LeeP]

Well said!!

[LeeP]

I like tinkering. I bought two "for parts only" old Pentaxes and was able to get one working very easily by grabbing a couple of parts from the other. I was 100% resolved that the attempt could fail, but why not try? Give the old camera a tinker and see what happens. Keep us posted. I for one am all ears.

[Telegraphist]

So if they don’t work for Canon where do they get there information from, that it’s unrepairable and trying tell me how I can proceed by saying I should buy a newer one. 
Therefore if I decide to attemp repairs it’s got nothing to do with Canon and should it not work then at least I have tried and it will then go in the bin.