"error 99"

[jethro]

hi there. i have problems on a canon 400d. all too frequently, i get an err99 display telling me to turn off/on or remove battery. after returning camera to shop and them to canon, twice, i have been told it is an incompatibility problem, even though i have used sigma and canon lenses.my camera is out of warranty and i'm still getting the error. not too often but it's annoying because i can miss that all important one-off shot.can anyone out there help me solve this error problem ? cheers...jethro

[george.monaghan]

Hi,

Error 99 messages are a catch all error that the system does not have a built in answer for.

Would take a technician to work out the exact problem.

A few pointers though - type of card and size. What lens, and is it only one lens the problem is with. Clean the contacts with a pencil eraser to ensure they are clean.

Try differing combinations to replicate the problem on demand.

Give us a clue - bascially? Not easy to track down an unspecified problem.

[jethro]

thanks for that, you've instantly given me more info than canon and my local shop. i have had the problem with four different lenses:
kit 17-55, sigma 70-300 ( not mine )
sigma 17-70 2.8-4.5 and a canon 75-300 4-5.6 is ( mine )
i haven't taken notice of memory cards or tried the rubber yet !
i will go now and play with different combinations of lens and card and try the rubber then post the results. cheers

[David Worthington]

I had the error message once on a S2... turned out to be the battery lid not making correct / full contact with the batteries.......nowadays i always wipe them on my jeans before putting into camera

[chaz]

Another thing to try, is taking out the battery that works the date and time, switch on the camera for 5 mins with this battery removed, the memory will be cleared, you will then have to reset the date and time and all your parameters, this came from a canon employee in the USA.

[george.monaghan]

Hi,

Think I can say it is not the lenses. Not with that many anyway!

Format the card in camera before taking a picture.

Reset any configurations you may have set.

Update the firmware to the latest version.

[PaulG]

I've been told that a third party battery grip will cause an error 99 problem due to bad contacts.

Paul

[olivia]

Hi,
Am not as experienced as above members, but I had this problem with my 350D and one lens..
Reasons for Err 99 are multiple and can very from the banal to the serious as I found out when I found this article with (very long) umpteen experiences recounted in the 'responses section' underneath it .. various possible remedies.. or not..
http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2005/04/29/50mm-lens-contact-points/
..hope it is some help..

[strobejunkie]

I also had err99 on a new 40D that I have returned.
This is what I have read on the net in search for answers:

Some useful info on how to isolate the culprit:

TIP: CANON EOS Error 99

This catch all error message can have many reasons, but an old lens can be the culprit if your body seems to be working fine. This is likely to be an issue if you're trying to use a lens that more than 5 years old with a new camera. To determine if it's your "old" lens or the camera, follow these instructions (from Canon) ...

To isolate the cause of the issue, we [Canon] suggest that you 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.
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.

[GlenJDiamond]

I kept getting ERR99 with an old lens on an EOS5D - The stumbled across the answer - put the camera into the "bulb" or "B" setting, take one picture, then I found I could switch to any of the auto modes and the lens would work properly without errors.

[jethro]

thanks for all your suggestions. going away this weekend with time to play with camera. tried rubber and date battery with no avail. looking at the links, it looks like thousands of canon owners are suffering too. big question is....why don't canon do anything about it....probably money related.
seriously thinking of selling up, changing brand and collecting a new set of kit and putting up with making a loss. ouch !