Is it true that Canon no longer offers technical support on the Canon 40D?

[ScottS]

Is it true that Canon will no longer repair issues on a Canon 40D? 

I am truly surprised! I've heard of so many wedding photographers and others who have the 5D Mark III, and a back-up 40D. My Canon posted the "ERR 99" yesterday. It was working great just before that. Suddenly it all went south.

I surfed web sites, forums, including this one, and tried the protocol below my message. Nothing.

So I sent Tech support a message, and he replied that my camera is "out of date for service" and Canon Tech Support could do no repairs any more on my camera.

Is this common knowledge? 

Thanks for your input!

Sincerely,

Scott S

Canon DSLR Error 99 Fix To isolate the cause of the issue, do the following: 1. Turn off the camera. 2. Remove the lens, battery, and CF card. 3. Allow the camera to sit without power for approximately 20 minutes. 4. Insert a fully charged battery, and turn on the camera. 5. Depress the shutter button as you would to take a picture. Does the “ERR 99″ message appear? If it does, then the camera should be serviced. If it does not, then please proceed to the next set of steps: 1. Turn off the camera. 2. Insert the CF card. 3. Turn on the camera. 4. Format the CF card in the camera. 5. Depress the shutter button as you would to take a picture. Does the “ERR 99″ message appear? If so, then the CF card is the most likely source of the issue. Try using a different card. If the message does not appear, please complete the following steps: 1. Turn off the camera. 2. Clean the lens contacts by gently rubbing them with a pencil eraser or soft cloth. Be careful that you do not let any debris fall into the camera body. Detach the lens from the camera, hold it so that the lens’ gold contacts are pointing down and lightly erase their exposed surface, cleaning them of any hand oil that might have gotten on them. You can use a regular old pencil with a red rubber eraser. Do the same thing with the gold contacts inside the camera body. This is a bit harder but it’s doable: just hold camera so lens opening points down so no gunk falls in. Erase lightly inside the camera. 3. Reattach your lens. 4. Turn on the camera. 5. Depress the shutter button as you would to take a picture. If the “ERR 99″ message only appears when one particular lens is attached, then that lens should be examined by a service technician. If you see the “ERR 99″ with a different Canon lens attached, then the camera should be serviced.

[ebiggs1]

As long as parts are available Midwest Camera Repair will fix it.  Google it.

[ScottS]

Thanks, Ernie :)!

[diverhank]

Another option is to buy another one rather repairing.  The going price for the 40D is around $200...I've seen some sold for much less than that - cheapest $100  (I recently sold my 50D for $200).

I have not repaired anything luckily (knock on wood) but I can't imagine it can be cheaper than $100...

[TTMartin]

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@diverhank wrote:

Another option is to buy another one rather repairing.  The going price for the 40D is around $200...I've seen some sold for much less than that - cheapest $100  (I recently sold my 50D for $200).

I have not repaired anything luckily (knock on wood) but I can't imagine it can be cheaper than $100...

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My wife picked up a 40D with 300 clicks on the shutter at FM for $239 about 2 years ago. 

It did need the sensor cleaned, other than that she had no trouble with it. 

[ScottS]

Diverhank,

It's funny that you mentioned this WHEN you did. Because I've been doing some searches on KEH, and just came to that same conclusion. Maybe buying used IS cheapter than repair.

I'm now certainly considering that option!

Thanks!

[ScottS]

TT Martin,

Thanks for that!

Really inspires me to give the used market a look :)!

[ebiggs1]

If used is the way you are headed now, you might want to look at a newer camera than a 40D which was really just a warmed up 30D.  Just a thought.

Although, I was talking with a Star photographer just a couple days ago and he was still using a 40D.

[TTMartin]

I think the post that said the 40D was a warmed over 30D was confused. 

The 30D was a warmed over 20D.

The 40D was a big jump over both of those.

The 40D went to 14 bit CR2 files from the previously used 12 bits.

The 40D went to 10 megapixel from the previous 8 megapixels of the 20D and 30D.

The 40D uses a Digic III processor.

The 40D had 9 cross type AF points the 20D and 30D only had a single center cross point AF sensor and 8 non-cross type.

The 40D has a center AF point sensative to f/2.8

The 40D added Auto Sensor Cleaning

The 40D offered interchangeable view screen the 30D did not.

The 40D offered 6.3 fps to the 30D's 5 fps

The 40D added the AF-ON button for BBF or reprogrammable to AF-OFF.

The 40D was a revolutionary camera that held its own for years against many newer cameras.

[ScottS]

Hi Ernie,

Yeah I'm looking at 60D's as well.

My next big purchase in December is the Canon 6D.

But I really, REALLY wanted my trusty 40D with me as a "back-up" APS-C sensor camera.

The Midwest site you recommended already got back to me on a quote. $240.

They suggested that I might consider used for less money than repair. KEH has a 60D for $438, and a 40D for much less than that.

So I might go used.