Can Anybod Help Please? Gosport, Hants Area

[snakeman4968]

Hi all,

Just wondered if anyone could help me out here. I'll do my best to keep this post short, but want to give as much info as possible, so please bare with me.

I basically have a problem with my EOS 30D that i am trying to diagnose. It's coming up with the infamous 'error 99' and having trawled the internet for info, i feel i've now tried all the usual 'fixes' and am down to either a faulty lens or body.

I suspect the lens but need to try another one to prove/disprove this, but unfortunately i don't have a second lens.

Is there anybody local who would be prepared to meet up with me, so that i can attach their lens to my camera and take a few shots, or conversely, try my lens on somenoe elses camera?

As for the 'fixes' ive tried so far:

Lens & camera terminals rubbed & cleaned
Date battery replaced
Main battery replaced
3 different memory cards tried
Batteries, card and lens removed, camera switched to 'on' for 30 minutes to reset camera memory etc.

The syptoms i have is that when i go to focus the lens stutters in and out and won't hold focus, go to take a shot, 'click' but error 99 showing.
With the lens off it will fire ok and save what it thinks is an image but with no errors.
It is the same in AF or MF and also with the image stabilizer on or off. It also does it in most modes, although i've not tried them all, but have tried auto, Av, Tv etc.

So i can only assume that either the lens, or communication between lens and camera are faulty.

Obviously, up to now i've swapped and changed all the cheap bits....but it's going to be an expensive hobby if i gamble on buying a new lens or body before at least trying one or the other out first.

Please let me know if you can help,
Thanks,
Dave

[Trevoreast]

Re: Can Anybod Help Please? Gosport, Hants Area

I'd like to help but I'm too far away.

What about going into a camera shop with your lens and trying it on an EOS body.
Or going in with your body and trying a lens.

Trev

[snakeman4968]

Re: Can Anybod Help Please? Gosport, Hants Area

Hi Trev,

I did think of taking the body into a shop and trying one of their lenses, but i'm not sure where the nearest camera shop is.
Couldn't find one in Gosport having gone through Thompson local and Yellow Pages, so i thought i'd see if there was somebody local with any type of EF lens that i could try.

Dave

[Trevoreast]

Re: Can Anybod Help Please? Gosport, Hants Area

Dave, just trying to suggest a plan B

To be honest, I'd rather find someone local in your position.

Good luck,
Trev

[Nathaniel]

Re: Can Anybod Help Please? Gosport, Hants Area

I know the Hampshire area fairly well, having worked there for years. Also Gosport. Your best bet is to go into Portsmouth or Southampton. Both have large camera shops- Jessops for instance.

Nathaniel

[Petros]

Re: Can Anybod Help Please? Gosport, Hants Area

The standard issue lens with the 30D was the 17 - 85 IS USM and the fault you describe is similar to what I had with mine. It appears to a known problem with these lenses after 4 - 5 years - there is a diaphragm assembly which gives out - the symptoms with mine started out that the lens would not focus at shorter than around 24mm, but eventually just gave the error 99 message every time.

I opted to have my lens repaired at a cost of £115.00 - not cheap, but I was assured that Canon had issued a modified part and the problem should not reoccur in the future. They also replaced zoom guides to stop lens creep - cleaned and adjusted, I reckon it performs better than it ever did.

Peter

ps - nowhere near Gosport, but my father was a civilian instructor at HMS Sultan for a number of years in the 90’s, so we were regular visitors then!

[snakeman4968]

Re: Can Anybod Help Please? Gosport, Hants Area

Hi Peter,

You've got it...spot on in fact, the suspect lens is an EF-S 17-85mm IS USM approx. 4-5 years old (bought the kit in 2007)

Worked fine all this time, problem started out now and again about a month ago but now the problem is there all the time.
Think i might just gamble and buy another lens now.

Where did you get the lens repaired just out of interest?

Thanks,
Dave

[Petros]

Re: Can Anybod Help Please? Gosport, Hants Area

Hi Dave, I used AJ Johnstone in Glasgow because they were local to me. I bought mine in 2007 as well, so the time scales are identical.

[snakeman4968]

Re: Can Anybod Help Please? Gosport, Hants Area

Hi Peter,

Yes it does seem that way with regard to timescale.

Dave

[Trevoreast]

Re: Can Anybod Help Please? Gosport, Hants Area

Dave, another thing to bear in mind, those lenses a widely available for £299 brand new from reputable outlets, much less used.

If they quote you a silly price, you might be better with a different lens, unless you like that one.

Trev

[snakeman4968]

Re: Can Anybod Help Please? Gosport, Hants Area

HI Trev,

I'd rather avoid another lens of the same type incase i'm in the same position in 4-5 years time.
The lens is ok but didn't set the world alight for me. To be honest i just really want a basic walkabout lens for now.

May just opt for a 28-105mm or 28-135mm IS for now...would really like a 24-105 L but the price still puts me off.

Dave

[colin C]

Re: Can Anybod Help Please? Gosport, Hants Area

May just opt for a 28-105mm or 28-135mm IS for now...would really like a 24-105 L but the price still puts me off.

It is a little steep, but for good reason and you will appreciate it once you use one. It may be worth considering a second hand one. At a guess I would suggest that the following are the most used lenses in member's camera bags:

17 - 40mm f4 L

24 - 105mm f4 L IS

70 - 200mm f4 L IS


Colin

[Muscat]

Re: Can Anybod Help Please? Gosport, Hants Area

Colin,

100% agree but I would also suggest that the 70-300 f4-5.5 L is getting popular as well

[Nathaniel]

Re: Can Anybod Help Please? Gosport, Hants Area

From Colin's list of lenses given above I'd choose the 24-105 f4L for starters. You will be smitten with it, as I am. Also remember that the L series lenses hold their value very well and also be use on a full frame body if you decide to take that route!

Nathaniel.

[snakeman4968]

Re: Can Anybod Help Please? Gosport, Hants Area

It is a little steep, but for good reason and you will appreciate it once you use one. It may be worth considering a second hand one. At a guess I would suggest that the following are the most used lenses in member's camera bags:

17 - 40mm f4 L

24 - 105mm f4 L IS

70 - 200mm f4 L IS


Colin

Hi Colin,

I fully agree but i just need to keep it simple/cheap(ish) for now due to prices and cashflow etc.
Up until fairly recently i had the EF 70-200mm f2.8 L IS - which is without doubt the best lens i've ever owned, but sadly had to sell it due to money issues (could have done with it now, just to confirm it's my lens and not the camera that's faulty).

Not sure whether or not they are any good, but i'm currently looking at the EF-S 18-135mm IS as a general purpose lens for now...no doubt nothing spectacular, but for around £240.00 (ish) i'm very tempted. Would love an EF 24-105 L IS but just can't justify the £600 or so at the moment.

Also, i've seen some faulty EF-S 17-85mm IS lenses selling for £50+....i'd be more than happy with £50.00 for my current lens 'as is' so it's maybe not all bad news....better than binning it!!

Anyone got any advice, positives/negatives on the EF-S 18-135mm whilst we're here?

Thanks again for all the input,
Dave