So frustrated

[Carlyb]

Hi everyone, I’m hoping someone can help—I’m pretty new to photography and I’m stuck.

I recently bought a Canon EOS R50 for my birthday and I’ve been loving it… until this weekend. Out of nowhere, my camera stopped working properly and I can’t figure out what’s going on.

Here’s what’s happening:

• The aperture (F value) is stuck at 0, and I can’t change it no matter what I try
• The camera won’t take photos at all
• I tried doing a factory reset, thinking it would fix things, but it made things worse
• Now I also can’t connect to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth (it says “connection target not found”)
• I usually shoot in RAW, but right now I can’t even get the camera to function

I’m in a photography class and really need to get this working ASAP. Unfortunately, I work during the day so I haven’t been able to contact Canon support yet.

At this point I’m wondering:

• Did I accidentally change a setting that’s locking everything up?
• Is there some kind of hard reset I should try?
• Could this be a lens issue or something hardware-related?

This camera is basically brand new, so I’m super frustrated. If anyone has experienced this or has any ideas, I would really appreciate the help!

I’ll also attach a photo of the screen so you can see exactly what I’m seeing.

Thank you in advance 🙏

[TomRamsey]

Take the battery out a couple of minutes and put it back in.  Remove the lens and re-mount it.  (what lens are you using?). These are a couple of basic thing and you may already have done them.  The F value at 0 tells me the lens is not communicating with the camera.  If you have more than one lens is it happening with all of them?  If only one lens look it over when you remove it, do all of the electrical contacts seem good, and also clean, it's always possible something has got on one and can stop the lens from communicating.  I don't see your picture of the screen, but take on of the lens mount and camera mount also.

[LeeP]

I will echo the battery removal suggestion. My R8 went nutzoid when the battery got to near dead on a shoot. A fully charged battery solved the problem, but the camera and lens weren't communicating...then they were but autofocus was not working...then...and then. 

[Waddizzle]

What brand and model lens are you using? 
Are you using a mount adapter?

[Stephen]

Hi Carlyb,

Welcome to the Canon Community! I'm so sorry to hear you’re running into these hurdles with your new R50, especially right in the middle of a photography class. Don't worry, based on what you've described, there are a few things that could be causing this "locked" feeling, and we’ll help you get to the bottom of it.

Because your aperture is showing "F0" and your wireless connections are also acting up, here is a quick rundown of what I'm thinking:

1. The Lens "Lock" (Most Common)

The RF-S 18-45mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM that comes with your kit is a retractable lens. If the lens is fully retracted (for storage), the camera cannot communicate with it, which causes the "F0" error and prevents the shutter from firing.

• The Fix: Firmly rotate the zoom ring toward the 18mm mark until you feel a slight click and the lens physically extends. The camera should instantly recognize the aperture once it's in a shooting position.

2. Firmware Sync Issue

Since you mentioned a factory reset didn't help and your Wi-Fi/Bluetooth are now "missing," there may have been a glitch during a recent background update.

• The Fix: Check your firmware version in the yellow "wrench" menu. The current version is 1.5.0. If yours is lower or if the wireless menus are greyed out, it may need a manual update via an SD card.

3. Known Service Notice

There is a specific Service Notice for certain EOS R50 (Black) units regarding internal communication issues that can affect lens and wireless functions simultaneously on certain units.

Next Steps:

If the lens extension (Step 1) doesn't immediately bring your aperture back to life, you'll want to check the firmware. Those two things are super easy to do. If you need one-on-one help call support at 1-800-OK-CANON (1-800-652-2666) weekdays from 9am to 6pm (ET), or you can chat with support via your Canon Account at https://canon.us/account. 

We'll get you back to your photography class as fast as possible!