Canon 1D MK2 - Every other photo is black? HELP

[danrusso]

I recently purchased a Canon 1D Mark II. I had it serviced, picking it up last Monday. Nothing was wrong with the camera. A coworker asked to take photos in the office. He stepped away, returning a few minutes later, asking me if the camera's taking a black frame, every other frame was normal. 

At the time, I didn't think much of it. I thought it was user error. However about a hour later, I tried to take some photos and encountered the same problem. Every other photo is black. The photos which do show up, are clear, well balanced and properly exposed.

So far I reset all custom settings on the camera, and make sure noise reduction was disabled.  So far no luck.

Does anyone know what's going on?

Thanks so much.

[danrusso]

It was the shutter assembly. I brought it back to the company who serviced it; and they initially tried to charge me over $300 to fix it. A manager finally called me back and said he would have them fix it.

Thank you everyone for your help.

[danrusso]

I tested the mirror this morning. I shot in both burst as single modes looking directly at the mirror with the lens off. The mirror didn't fail at all. Even when I pushed it in burst mode. It was flawless.

Any thoughts??

[danrusso]

Thanks for getting back to me.

Here's a link to the JPEGS.  I noticed that it was taking 2 to 3 blanks per image.  I saved 1 image and 4 blacks.  I wasn't able to locate anything out of the ordinary.  Perhaps I loverlooked something?  The below links are files created from Lightroom on my MacPro.  You are going to Box.net to download the files.  I really appreciate your help everyone!

Here's the link to a Zip file of all the files.

https://app.box.com/s/0crg2ee4fazjj6fc9x36

Here are links to each individual file (4 blacks, 1 regular exposure)

BLACKS:

https://app.box.com/s/kdoa9uo2sand8i7thplt

https://app.box.com/s/fs80gh4zyj3p5baeu02s

EXPOSED:

https://app.box.com/s/e4gpjp3xu9t7s192w8qs

BLACKS:

https://app.box.com/s/ungvgp467vaoomwx2t8r

https://app.box.com/s/60byencfhz9f1j6bj92h

LIGHTROOM SCREEN SHOT

https://app.box.com/s/oz1wic453m74em2qafbm

[ebiggs1]

Do you have RAW+jpg selected?  If yes turn it off and just shoot jpg's.

BTW, it is not possibile to reset all personal settings on a 1D Mk II without the original CD form Canon.

[TCampbell]

If you are copying the images off the camera and onto a computer then my guess is that you are telling the camera to save in RAW+JPEG.  When you do this, each "single" shot you take produces two files... one is saved in RAW and the other is saved as a JPEG. 

"RAW" is not technically a standard per se... it's a conecpt which means that the camera should not do anything to the image data which would result in the loss of original information.  As such, a RAW image processor for one camera model would not work on a different camera model.  Consequently, comptuers cannot natively just view RAW files....  they typically need something installed that knows how to deal with the RAW specifically for the camera model that made the RAW file.

That would result in every other photo being viewable (you'd see all the JPEGs but would not be able to view the RAW files.)

If I'm planning to give someone else copies of my images then I make sure I provide them with JPEG images (everyone can view those).  I normally wouldn't provide someone with a RAW unless i knew they happened to have the correct software on their computer (most of my photographer friends would... most of my non-photographer friends not only would not -- they'd have no idea what they need to do to view those files.)

[danrusso]

Thanks for getting back to me.  No sir, I do not work in RAW + JPEG.  I work only in RAW and save only to one card.  A CF.  but I also tried a SD.  Both cards are Lexar Pro cards.

Any other ideas?