Five month old R6mk2 died then came back to life, what would you do?

[adam461]

I purchased my R6mk2 back in January and photographed my 8th wedding with it today. As guests were arriving I was shooting in servo mode and the camera died, screen went dead, I switched it off and back on again, same problem. I took out the battery and re inserted it and it came on alive, it worked as normal. I took a few more pictures and then then thirty seconds later, the same thing happened again, it just died. Again, I reinserted the battery and this time I disconnected the lens (RF24-105F4) and gave it good few twists with the contacts grinding (known to help back in the day), the camera came back on alive and worked perfectly all day. Now bearing in mind I photograph weddings and it's always nice to have a fully working camera, what should I do? Send it into Canon and have it looked at or ignore it and pray that it never happens again? Thanks in advance for any help anyone can give. 

[jrhoffman75]

Since it is still under warranty send it to Canon for checkout.

[ebiggs1]

Call Canon 1 (800) 652-2666 and set up a C&C. Tell them exactly what and how the issue happened.

[ebiggs1]

" I photograph weddings and it's always nice to have a fully working camera, ..."

I have done weddings for years, decades matter of fact. If this is truly what you want to do you need two cameras for responsibility and safety. I never took or started a job without backups in everything. Cameras, lenses, CF cards other miscellaneous gear. Even then I always had a force majeure document.

A wedding is a serious life event for the bride and they don't react well if you screw it up. And for sure a bride deserves the best you have to offer and do for her. If you don't have that commitment don't be a wedding photographer.

[JFG]

Hi Adam,

I had the same thing happened to me while in Chicago, IL.  I was shooting  with my R6 Mark II and Sigma 150-600 Contemporary lens and my camera just shut-off.  Did the same as you, took the battery and replaced with newly 100% charged battery, turned it on and it worked fine for a bit,  then it shut-off again.   From past experience, I took a lens cloth and wiped the contacts and the ring on both the camera and the lens, put the lens back on and it worked and has continued working great since.  Now I wipe clean the contacts and connector ring every time I put away my camera and Lenses.  If there is the smallest piece of debris on the contacts either the on the camera and or lens it will prevent it from making good contact and the camera will  automatically shut-off.  From what you stated, "I disconnected the lens (RF24-105F4) and gave it good few twists with the contacts grinding (known to help back in the day), the camera came back on alive and worked perfectly all day."  I would continue using the camera and if it happens again, simply clean the  contacts on both the lens and camera.  If it comes back to life again, then you know to clean the contacts periodically,  as a film dust will accumulate and prevent a good connection between the camera body and lens.  The camera will shut-off automatically to prevent further damage.  It's been 1 year since it happened to me and since I now always clean the contacts, my R6 Mark II has been a work horse for me.  

[LeeP]

Thank you. I've never had this problem, but this solution is so simple that if I had experienced the problem, I would not have thought of a simple wipe. Good to know.

[ebiggs1]

" Fingers crossed it'll never happen again,..."

Or if it does before warranty runs out. Pulling for ya! 😊

[Waddizzle · Accepted solution]

“ One interesting thing I did read online is that somebody had the same fault and put the camera into aeroplane mode and it cured it. To be honest, it sounds unlikely that actually did anything, but he seemed to think the extra drain on the power caused the issue, I already have the camera set to Wifi disconnected but I decided to put it into aeroplane mode as well, I don't use those features so I might as well go the whole hog. “

Users with similar issues with the camera hanging seem to have a handful of things in common.  

Tops on the list is that they seem to be in crowded places.  Disabling Wi-Fi isn’t enough. Bluetooth also needs to be disabled.  Airplane mode disables both wireless settings.  If you are not actively using wireless, then you should keep it disabled. Your camera can be pinged by nearby smartphones.

I would put third party hardware next on the list, particularly inexpensive, imported hardware like mount adapters, flashes, and unauthorized RF mount lenses. 

Number three on list are low performance memory cards.  Be sure to only buy camera accessories from a reputable camera dealer, preferably a Canon authorized dealer.  Avoid the online marketplaces.  There’s a lot of fake and counterfeit products out there.  Some resellers may not even know that their products are counterfeit. 

[LeeP]

Thank you for your insights.

I literally never use wifi or Bluetooth with my Canons--it's never been a "thing" for me--but I now know something to be mindful of if I were to do so.

Your advice on non-Canon equipment is one that I can absolutely affirm. I had a wonderful Sigma EF wide-angle lens, but as soon as I put it on a Canon EF/RF converter, it became sluggish. I replaced it with an RF Canon wide-angle zoom and focusing speed was much faster. I don't do much flash photography but I have an ancient Canon Speedlite . I plan to throw it on my R8 and see what happens. I have assumed that a new flash will work infinitely better with the R8. 

On memory cards you are once again spot on.

Many thanks.

[ebiggs1]

"... imported hardware like mount adapters, flashes, and unauthorized RF mount lenses."

"I had a wonderful Sigma EF wide-angle lens, but as soon as I put it on a Canon EF/RF converter, it became sluggish."

I really don't know what "unauthorized RF mount lenses"  really are but I doubt the Sigma is one. It is to be expected non-RF lenses will not perform like true RF lenses no matter what brand.

Exactly what SIgma lens is it?