EOS R3 Freeze-up Issue - The likely cause!

[sbunting]

My friends,

I believe I found the issue causing freeze-ups in the Canon R3!!!

Recall the following:

1) I experienced freeze-ups with my Canon R3 the first week I received it.

2) Canon CPS took the camera in for repair, replicated the issue, reinstalled the firmware, reset it to factory settings, tested it, found no more freeze-ups, declared it fixed and returned it to me.

3) I restored my settings manually and the freeze-ups still occurred.

4) Canon replaced my original R3 with a brand new R3

5) I updated my firmware to V1.1.1 and restored my settings from a CSD file this time, and the freeze-ups still occurred.

6) In all cases my freeze-ups were such that the buttons and dials would not respond (including power switch), yet touch functions still functioned including the smart controller. It would also freeze-up, at times, while asleep and could not be awakened. Of course, since the screen was black (asleep), no touch function could work. The only way to restore the camera was to pull the battery and then reboot the camera.

I have since, of course, contacted Canon and am awaiting a response, as Canon's engineering department seems to be in a denial mode, despite a Canon repair technician in Virginia having replicated the freeze-up issue when it first went in for repair.

I advised Canon that while I await their response, I was going to, one by one, change my settings to default and see if any particular setting eliminated the freeze-ups.

My first setting change was to restore the aperture and speed change dial settings to default, as I had them reversed. No change. I still had freeze-ups, so I restored my setting.

Next, I reasoned that, since the freeze-up even occurred while the camera was asleep, the only function I had changed that would involve activity during the sleep mode would be the GPS setting, which I had set to Mode 2. I disabled the GPS altogether. Since I have done so, I have left the camera on 24x7. Not once has it failed to awaken from sleep mode nor has it frozen at all while awake and being used. I have been testing for a solid week now (on 24x7) and I'm optimistic that this is the cause of the freeze-ups, as before I could rarely go a day without a freeze-up.  

I'm asking that some of you who are experiencing freeze-ups with the R3 such as I have been experiencing to check this setting and 1) verify it is enabled on your camera and 2) verify that by disabling it that the freeze-ups no longer occur.

Similarly, those of you who have an R3 and have experienced no freeze-ups, can you verify that your GPS is disabled.

Again, I'm optimistic that this is the issue, but I'd like to get feedback from others to verify what I'm experiencing before I approach Canon.

Steve

[Waddizzle]

My 6D would get a little sluggish when it was hunting for satellites, even when it was outdoors.  This would only happen after losing the signal locks after it had initially been established.  This would happen most often indoors, where signal reception might be poor or blocked.

I know that they have also changed the way GPS satellites communicate.  I had to update the Garmin devices in my vehicles because of it.

GPS receivers moving at relatively high speeds for ground based transportation would now experience difficulty switching from one GPS satellite to another as the GPS device traveled across land.

This was done to protect against missiles and rockets from using off-the-shelf GPS receivers in their internal, automated guidance systems.

[EDIT]. Note that the OP reported a solution was to disable Mode 2.  In this mode the GPS is disabled when the camera is switched off.  But the camera will still periodically try to maintain or reestablish satellite locks when the camera goes to sleep.

[pavee99]

Hi, my R3 have the same freeze up problem like yours. I use my camera everyday and it freeze around 4 times per week. I also update my R3 to the latest firmware and it doesn't solve the issue. After using the camera for 1 years and 3 months, I believe I found the setting that cause this issue. Starting from Aug 2022, I leave my GPS on (Either Mode 1 or 2) then I disable "GPS Auto time setting" and It's seems to work for me. My R3 is working as it should with GPS information update with reliable GEO Tag to most of my image. And this is 3 months and counting from last time of freeze up.

Hope this info help. Cheers!

[Waddizzle]

Leaving wireless communications enabled, particularly Bluetooth, can cause the camera to seemingly lockup.  The camera may try to establish a connection if it comes within range of another enabled device, which could include the smart phone in your own pocket.

If you are not actively using wireless communication, then leave them disabled.

[pavee99]

Correct! I always turn off Wifi and Bluetooth when not in use. It will drain the battery also.

[shadowsports]

There hasn't been any activity on this thread since firmware v1.6.0 was released.  

Can any R3 owners provide feedback?  

[Wyimaginowany]

yes, no benefits for me, I sold it and tried r6ii, it works better for me, I have better AF, newer algorithms

[HighOctanePhoto]

I have installed 1.60, which mentions "slow to wake up" issues. I have shot a couple of events since, and would normally have had a couple freezes in the process, instead, I've had one "slow to wake up" and have gotten past it without pulling the battery.

Its not 100% fixed, but it's a lot better than it was 12 month's ago.

[shadowsports]

---

@HighOctanePhoto wrote:

I have installed 1.60, which mentions "slow to wake up" issues. I have shot a couple of events since, and would normally have had a couple freezes in the process, instead, I've had one "slow to wake up" and have gotten past it without pulling the battery.

Its not 100% fixed, but it's a lot better than it was 12 month's ago.

---

Thanks for the answer and confirming you installed v1.6.0 

[dariaomeravilha]

Hi, i'm from italy.

I have the same problem, but i never used the gps. I'm using Canon R3 from April, and i taked about 215.000 pics, only with overheating problem.

Last week, for 5 times the camera freezed. I'm very afraid. I go to work always with a DSRL because a 5k dollars camera is not affidable 

[Waddizzle]

---

@dariaomeravilha wrote:

Hi, i'm from italy.

I have the same problem, but i never used the gps. I'm using Canon R3 from April, and i taked about 215.000 pics, only with overheating problem.

Last week, for 5 times the camera freezed. I'm very afraid. I go to work always with a DSRL because a 5k dollars camera is not affidable 

---

Every user has a different set of circumstances that can manifest as similar, if not identical issues.  If you wish to discuss your issue than please start a new thread so that your description of your issue is at the top of the thread.  It becomes very confusing discussing similar issues with multiple members in the same thread.  Thanks, ahead of time.

For the record, if you do not use GPS, then verify that GPS is disabled.  Similarly, if you do not use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, check to see that wireless communications are actually disabled, not just set to “Airplane Mode.”

Finally, make sure to format your memory cards in the camera prior to first use.