MY EOS 30D works just fine until I put it on a tripod, then it won't take pictures. Any ideas?

[jimocarroll]

I have had my 30D for some time now, and it has worked flawlessly.  Today, I tried mounting it to a tripod to take some pictures.  It will not release the shutter.  If I press the shutter release button, the indicators in the viewfinder all light up as usual, but the shutter will not release.  If I activate the built in flash, pressing and holding the shutter release eventually causes the flash to blink as though in red-eye prevention mode, but the shutter will not release at all.  Pressing the * button results in the flash firing.

The tripod is a Manfrotto model, which I have also had for some time and am using for the first time.  The lens is a zoom tnat came with the camera.  The camera is mounted mechanically to the tripod using a quick-release adaptor, also a Manfrotto product.  The quick release adaptor has been on the cemera for some time, and it has operated flawlessly until I mounted it on the tripod today.

There are no electrical connections that I am aware of between the tripod and the camera, unless there's some hidden feature of which I am unaware.  I have no remote shutter release, but planned to use the timed shutter release setting.  Both the timed and normal modes work flawlessly when the camera is hand-held, both modes work flawlessly, but when the camera is on the tripod, it won't take a picture.  I am flummoxed by this.  Neither the camera manual nor the Manfrotto tripod manual are any help.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

Jim Carroll

[ebiggs1]

It probably is not focusing.  Make sure you have it on the green square and the lens switch set to AF.  Try again.

[jrhoffman75]

If flash is blinking like that it sounds like it is too dark for camera to focus; thats the focus assist. Are you in a dark shooting situation?

[Waddizzle]

Yeah, alll of the above, and be sure to observe the MFD, minimum focusing distance, of your lens.

[kvbarkley]

What happens when you take the camera off the tripod, hold it just above and try to shoot?

[jimocarroll]

Taken off the tripod, in exactly the same lighting situation and pointed at exactly the same subject the camera functions flawlessly.

[jimocarroll]

Green square, lens set to AF, bright room lighting.  Off tripod, functions normally.  On tripod, will not release shutter and take a photo.  I'm still stumped.  

[jimocarroll]

The ambient iight is bright enough to take a picture without flash.  Again, when hand-held, functions exactly as it always has. On the tripod, it won't take a photo.

[kvbarkley]

Long shot, do you have your eye on the viewfinder on the tripod? Try putting on the viewfinder cover.

[Boogieman0]

could the weight of the lense when not being held make it loose contact maybe?