400D 'crashed' today....

[Adey]

I've had my 400d for a couple of months now, which i bought off this website along with a canon 18-55 IS and Tamron 55-200.

When it arrived i noticed an issue with the Tamron. Whenever i have it a 55mm it loses connection with the body i.e no F-stop reading, metering or autofocus, it just like if i didnt have a lens attached. At the time i though ohwell, its not too big an issue, and i was so pleased to get my first camera i just accepted it.
I just had to make sure i didnt zoom all the way out.:crowded:

But today it took a more sinister turn. I was shooting a football match and the players i was shooting came towards where i was at the side of the pitch, so i zoom out and end up firing off a shot at 55mm. Instead of the usual overexposed, blurry picture, my camera just freezed up. Black screen, no buttons work, shutter wont work, power switch wont turn off (WTF?). So i end up having to pull out the battery

Luckily i didnt lose any pictures and carried on as normal, until 20 mins later it happened again

Im really worried now, i cant afford any more gear until next spring.

Im pretty sure its to do with the lens, because it happend at 55mm on the tamron. My 18-55 never does this.

Weird day all round really, got the time wrong and ended up ALMOST being late. Then as we leave i forget to take the mug of tea i had on the car roof off before we left, didnt realize untill we heard it roll down the back of the car and smash on the road. We stopped and picked up the broken china and noone was hurt, but what a bloody day

Got some nice shots though

 

[odd jim]

Sounds like a separate issue to the lens, I think this could be battery related? Was it low on charge?

Have you tried replacing the battery or charging the battery and trying again? The 400D is notorious for its battery displaying being rather inaccurate - mine would display half full then suddenly die, and it can do this without the battery level warning even coming up on the screen... Just before the battery was about to die on mine it would lock up half way through the shot meaning I had to take the battery out to release the shutter with all your symptoms as described above! The battery held a normal charge, it was just the level reader not giving me an accurate level read, reading half full when it was in fact almost dead.

Mine still wont read the battery level properly even with 2 batteries in the grip... You'd have thought they would have updated the firmware to solve this...

If its not the battery I'm not sure what it is!

 

[Deckard]

Just to confirm, this has only happened with the Tamron lens?

Have you tried cleaning the lens' contacts? Use a small eraser to rub the electrical contacts, being careful not to get loose bits of rubber in your lens. Might be worth a try.

 

[Adey]

Thanks guys, yeah this has only happened with the Tamron, no issues with body or lens with the 18-55.

Jim its interesting hearing what you said becuase the night before the game i had the battery on charge and ask my GF to turn it off , as she was going up to bed. 2 hours later i go up and the thing is still on. Could this of caused this issue? I had a full charge.

This happened twice at 55mm so im hoping it is a lens issue, as im planning on getting a new in the spring anyway.

I've go three batteries, so if its a battery issue then im happy.

Adey

 

[eos1]

As its a used 400d the battery might be getting on a bit. You could try getting a new one and see it this helps. I would also recommend cleaning the lens contacts.

 

[Adey]

As its a used 400d the battery might be getting on a bit. You could try getting a new one and see it this helps. I would also recommend cleaning the lens contacts.

Thanks EOS1 and Deckard, i'll will try this!

Im gonna have a play and see if i can repeat the breakdown, then see if i can do it will a different battery.

Adey

 

[Adey]

Update:

Its definatley the lens. I can take a single shot at 55mm but if i hold and take a continued shot it freezes, does this with all batteries but only with Tampon not the Canon. All other focal lenghts is absolutley fine, no probs whatsoever.

Looks like i should be able to carry on as normal, but be extra careful when at the wide end.

I'll get the Sigma 70-300 APO and Nifty fifty in the spring, cant wait.

Cheers for your help guys, i'll give the contacts a clean all the same, you never know!

Adey