Menu auto opening on rear LCD screen - EOS 7D Mark II

[Lorne]

EOS 7dII, Firmware 1.1.3

Without me touching anything the software is repeatedly executing a menu item relating to flash control. The message on the screen is "Menu not available. Flash is off or unsupported, or an accessary is attached.

If I attach a flash and turn it on the menu item is still repeatedly executed but with a different screen offering 3 flash settings. 

The camera still works (both with and without a flash attached) but the message is annoying and probably wasting battery life.  Any ideas how to get rid of it ?

[jrhoffman75]

General recommendation when camera starts acting strangely is to reset all camera settings.

[Lorne]

Thanks for that. Will try that in a bit if no other ideas come up.  Also I was going to see if it is possible to reinstall the firmware - do you know if that is possible when the latest version is already installed ?

[deebatman316]

What brand of external speedlite are you using. Is it Canon or a 3rd Party speedlite unit. Not ALL of Canon's speedlites support the External Speedlite Control Menu. If your using a Canon speedlite provide the model that you're using. If 3rd Party some speedlites support Canon's External Speedlite Control Menu and some don't.

[Lorne]

It is not a problem with the flash.  The error message only appears when no flash is connected and the correct menu is displayed when either of my flashes are connected.  The problem is that the camera is activating the menu item every 30 seconds or so without me touching it regardless of whether a flash is connected.

[deebatman316]

I would suggest resetting the camera back to factory default including the custom functions & custom control back to factory default.

[Anonymous]

Is the menu button stuck in with dirt or sticky substance?

[Lorne]

No.  The same menu item is activated even if the highlight is on a completely different menu page, and all menu items seem to be working if I select them myself.

[amfoto1]

It sounds like the camera is thinking there's a flash mounted, even when there isn't.

When holding the camera normally, in the hotshoe, under the right hand rail, under the spring is a tiny black button. That's a switch that's pressed whenever a flash is in the hot shoe, to let the camera "know" a flash is mounted and prevent the pop-up flash from opening.

That little black button is spring-loaded and supposed to pop back up whenever a flash isn't in the hot shoe. But there are several things that can cause the button to stay pressed down and the switch activated. Look closely at that little black button to see if something is obstructing it, if the "leaf" spring above it is bent so it's constantly pressing on the button, or if the button is stuck in the pressed-down position This might explain what's happening.

***********

Alan Myers
San Jose, Calif., USA
"Walk softly and carry a big lens."
GEAR: 5DII, 7DII (x2), 7D(x2), EOS M5, some other cameras, various lenses & accessories
FLICKR

[Lorne]

I do not think that can be the issue - if it was the menu would open whenever any accessory is attached to the shoe and also the menu is auto opening every 30 seconds when a working flash is attached which should not happen.

Separately I reset the camera to initial defaults but it made no difference.  Next step I am going to see if it will let me reinstall the firmware.