ERR99 on EOS30D ? Shutter ?

[dalorian]

I have a Canon EOS30D DSLR and it just keeps giving me ERR99 . I tried to clean the shutter and when I put it in shutter cleaning mode it doesn't open at all but the mirror goes up. Does this mean that the shutter is defective or is there another reason that the shutter is not opening for cleaning ? Thanks for any help at all.

[IzzieK]

What lens are you using? Is it a fixed lens or a zoom? Just curious...

[William W]

I have a Canon EOS30D DSLR and it just keeps giving me ERR99

Error 99 indicates an error which is a result of one or more causes.

The first step is to test and isolate the most common causes. One common cause is dirty/moist lens and or camera contacts. Initially, I suggest the following procedure:

Turn the camera OFF
Remove the lens
Clean contacts on lens and camera body with soft micro fibre cloth
Reattach the lens
Turn the camera ON
Does error still exist?

If error 99 still exists:
Turn the camera OFF
Remove the lens
Replace with another lens (if you have one) after you have cleaned he contacts on that lens
Turn the camera ON
Does error still exist?
If not the there is a likely a problem with the other lens

If error 99 still exists:
Turn the camera OFF
Remove the battery
Remove the CF card
Remove the lens
Allow the camera to sit without power for at least 2 hours or, preferably overnight
Clean the battery contact on the battery AND inside the camera's battery port
Recharge all your batteries
Save ALL the images from the CF card on computer or other device
Insert a fully charged battery preferably a DIFFERENT battery if you have a second one
Clean all lenses and camera contacts
Reattach lens, preferably a DIFFERENT lens if you have one
Insert CF Card, preferably a DIFFERENT CF card if you have one
Turn the camera ON
Format the CF card in the camera

If the Error 99 does not exist and you used a different lens, battery and CF Card, then the error was likely one of those and you can work through each to note if an when the error re-occurs - for example if you use a second battery and that isolates the error then the first battery is probably un-serviceable.

If you cannot replicate the error then it was likely an internal hiccup and the camera corrected whilst being powered down overnight - or it could have been a combination of reasons which were cleared by the procedure.

Report results here.

WW

[Tronhard]

Bill's suggestion is absolutely the right track. I note that he recommends replacing the battery, which relates to an experience I had...

I got a similar error and figured out it was probably the battery. I would suggest (if your model supports it) looking in the menu for the battery status reading. If you battery is no longer delivering the energy that it should you will get malfunctions on an electro-mechanical function first, such as the shutter, as it generates the greatest loads.

I replaced the battery and it worked fine.

[William W]

. . . I tried to clean the shutter and when I put it in shutter cleaning mode it doesn't open at all but the mirror goes up. Does this mean that the shutter is defective or is there another reason that the shutter is not openingg for cleaning . . .

This is probably a typo or other grammatical/syntax mistake: there is no "Shutter Cleaning Mode"

There is a "Sensor Cleaning Procedure" - that is probably what is meant.

In any case do NOT attempt to clean the SHUTTER.

***

To clean the SENSOR the battery MUST be fully charged before initiating the Sensor Cleaning Mode.

You might be experiencing the difficulty of the shutter not opening when initiating the Sensor Cleaning Mode if the battery was not fully charged.

If you have a Mains Outlet Power Adapter, it is better to use that as the power source during the Sensor Cleaning Procedure.

It is also possible that initiating the Sensor Cleaning Mode without a fully Charged Battery has caused the Camera to repetitively report Error 99.

***

Reiterate:

Do NOT attempt to clean the SHUTTER.

WW