EOS 1Ds Mk II rear control dial doesn't seem to work

[Wolfeye]

Hello. My EOS 1Ds Mk II has a problem. The rear control dial doesn't seem to work, in that it never changes any setting in shooting mode. In all other respects it works fine, but in M mode for instance, the front control dial changes shutter speed but the rear does zilch. Likewise, flash exposure comp., regular comp. both don't work with the rear dial. Am I missing something? The on/off switch is on, but the camera behaves like it's off. The dial DOES work for menu selection and moving around the menus.

Am I missing something? I've reset all custom and personal setting, reset the date/time clock, and the firmware is current.

[ebiggs1 · Accepted solution]

I agree.  Send it to Canon service.  I think they still work on the 1Ds Mk II but not the 1D Mk II.

[ebiggs1]

The switch to the upper left of the dial must be set to 'ON'.  Otherwise the dial wil not work.

[Wolfeye]

Yep, as I said, it's on. I'm thinking the switch is defective. Makes sense.

[ebiggs1 · Accepted solution]

I agree.  Send it to Canon service.  I think they still work on the 1Ds Mk II but not the 1D Mk II.

[Wolfeye]

Say, I never checked this, but if you have your 1Ds handy, can you navigate the menu system using the rear control dial with the switch off?

[ebiggs1]

Just a minute. I'll get it.

[ebiggs1]

Yes I can.  You know you have to keep the Menu button pressed?

[Wolfeye · Accepted solution]

Yep, mine works that way too. It's definitely the switch.

[ebiggs1]

These are wonderful cameras!  The pixel pitch is big and the prints are fabulous.  They capture stuff the mega MP cameras can't and are not even close.  I mostly shoot with the 1Ds Mk III now but the 1Ds Mk II is a very fine camera.

[RobertTheFat]

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@ebiggs1 wrote:

These are wonderful cameras!  The pixel pitch is big and the prints are fabulous.  They capture stuff the mega MP cameras can't and are not even close.  I mostly shoot with the 1Ds Mk III now but the 1Ds Mk II is a very fine camera.

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Yeah, but as some wag once put it, all of the 1D series are about the size and weight of a paving stone. I'm sure they're great on a tripod, and I do see people carrying them around. But at a fast-paced event where you generally need two cameras and at least one big lens, anything heavier than a 5D seems pretty much unthinkable to me. Just sayin'.