Second opinion needed - eBay purchase!

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driver_wedge

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Name
Shane
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Hi guys

I bought a Canon 1Ds II off ebay. It arrived today, but within a few shots started giving err 99. Camera was described as 'good condition' with shutter replaced earlier this year and not been used since due to it being a backup. A photo of of the shutter replacement receipt paperwork was provided as a photo in the listing.

The serial code shown on the document is same as that on the base of the camera - does that count for anything?

The camera takes a photo just fine and exposes as you'd expect. However, it locks just after the shot is taken, but it sounds like a shortened actuation time. The mirror goes up and down fine. Then you need to press the shutter button again to get the camera to unlock - it is accompanied with a noise from within, that for me is the shutter mechanism resetting.

I've obviously raised the issue with the seller and we are in early negotiations. Ideally, I'd like the case to be that something simple is causing the issue and I am simply overlooking it - but I think it's worse than this.

Therefore, what do you guys think, based on how I described the problem. I haven't experienced shutter mechanism issues before so can't say for sure what's going on. The understanding I do have of how the camera operates leads me to assume the above is taking place. Assuming this is correct, is it a likely shutter replacement or just a minor adjustment?

P.S. I didn't just buy the camera on a whim and did what digging I could on the seller - all seemed ok to me, so I had no reason to believe anything underhand would take place. Hindsight is a different matter though.
 
Does that model have ''Mirror Up'' mode, mine does and does very similar to what you describe, I press the shutter and the mirror comes up, I then have to press the shutter button to take the picture and then the mirror will drop, is your taking the picture on the first press or the second?
 
Sounds like the Cam is in Mirror lock up mode

Select Custom function C.Fn-12 and set to 0 to disable lock up
 
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Thanks guys but no use. The mirror is performing as you'd expect, but the camera seems to lock just after the mirror comes back down and err 99 is displayed in the top window. I have to press the shutter button again to unlock it.

When I enable lock up, it take a press for mirror up, then a press for mirror down. Then the err 99 is there...so another press is required and what I think is the shutter mechanism reset noise is also heard at this point.

The guy is willing to accept it back anyway and is adamant that its had a new shutter, but he hasn't used it since. I'm quite gutted as I could do without the hassle and just want to use the camera as it's a nice piece of kit otherwise.

Is there a way within the menu system to tell the camera serial number?
 
Is the serial # shown in the EXIF?
 
Isn't ERR99 a lens communication error? If so try cleaning the gold contacts on the lens and the body, and/or try a different lens.

Edit: I should have googled before posting - I'm thinking of ERR01. ERR99 is a generic error that could mean any number of things including a faulty shutter :( Doesn't sound promising.
 
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I'm convinced it's a shutter issue, given the chain of events that take place after pressing the shutter button. The odd thing is that the shutter hasn't long been replaced and the camera has rarely been used since, if at all. The information I have leads me to believe the seller in correct in his description. He's accepting it back in any case. Just my luck that this should happen and I really wanted to get out and use it.
 
You could try a hard reset, take the main battery out and the little flat battery out which is found in the front of the battery compartment. Leave them out for about an hour, put them back in a see what happens then.
 
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