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?..

[deebatman316]

Hi @Telegraphist which lenses are you using and which one is causing the problem. Please provide the FULL and COMPLETE NAMES of ALL lenses. It sounds like you have a problem with that lens if every other lens works correctly. A complete name of a lens would be EF-S 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens or EF 24-105mm F/4L IS II USM lens. Are you using any 3rd Party lenses or other items on your camera such as a flash or batteries. I have example lenses below to help you identify your lenses. Please be clear which lenses DO WORK and lenses which DO NOT WORK.

[Telegraphist]

I shall come back to you soon with photographs of the 2 lenses I use. Though I have to say, I can take photographs with these lenses and they download to the 1GB CF card OK. However, once the photograph is taken the error 99 comes up on the screen.
But of course to be able to take another photograph I have to switch the camera off and then back on to take another photograph. Which is very frustrating.

[Telegraphist]

I shall come back to you soon with photographs of the 2 lenses I use. Though I have to say, I can take photographs with these lenses and they download to the 1GB CF card OK. However, once the photograph is taken the error 99 comes up on the screen.
But of course to be able to take another photograph I have to switch the camera off and then back on to take another photograph. Which is very frustrating.

[rs-eos]

Error 99 is a general error and thus it could be due to different things.

If you haven't already, try cleaning the lens contacts (on both the lenses and camera). See: https://support.usa.canon.com/kb/s/article/ART177686

You could also try a factory reset, but try cleaning contacts first.

[ebiggs1]

"If you haven't already, try cleaning the lens contacts ..."

To the OP, you can try cleaning the contacts but I can almost 100% guarantee it won't help. The next "remedy" that will be offered but also will not help is a FW update. The easiest and most likely, hopefully, are the memory card or bad battery. Next a bad lens. The next not so easy is a shutter malfunction and after all your camera is getting on in years.

A full reset might help but certainly won't hurt. Speaking of hurting if you must clean the lens and camera contacts do it carefully as you can do unrepairable damage if done incorrectly. A qtip and a little denatured alcohol. Do not use a pencil eraser as some suggest. Try your lenses on somebody else's camera just to make sure they work properly. Buy a new Canon brand or at least a top quality battery. Buy a new top quality CF card. BTW, I can't remember but your camera may have a keep alive battery if it does make sure you replace it, too.

I am sorry to say but the likely problem is the shutter.

[Telegraphist]

Thanks for your reply Ricky.

I have already done the cleaning process, and if you read the above the 2 lenses work and take photographs and download them to the 1GB CF card. But once the photograph has been taken the err 99 comes up on the LCD monitor. If I want to take another photograph I have to turn the camera off and then back on again to enable me to take another photograph.  This is a pain in the backside and not the right way to use the Canon EOS 300D. 
I did send a message to Deebatman316 along with pictures of my lenses, which he asked for, so will see what he has to say, before I look for my next move, in particular the factory reset, or whether I look at getting it repaired.

[deebatman316]

@Telegraphist Error 99 usually means shutter failure in older DSLRs such as yours. Your camera is no longer repairable by Canon any longer. It’s not worth repairing it. It’s best to look into a new EOS R Series Mirrorless camera now. As Canon has discontinued DSLRs and EF/ EF-S lenses. Support is ending for that platform and everything associated with it.

[Telegraphist]

Actually, I bought a second hand Canon EOS 300D complete with its original lense. It cost me £36.00 and £2.60. I have inserted a 1GB CF card and it works perfectly with both the lenses I showed you.

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.

[Telegraphist]

By the way the £2.60 was for delivery to my house in Stafford United Kingdom