Canon issue while on Safari PLEASE HELP

themacdaddy

Hi all.

I'm currently on Safari in Africa and it seems like my shutter may have jammed. I've a Canon 5d mk III. Lens on the camera is the 100-400F4L. It happen while taking photos of a leopard kill. I did not drop it or anything.

I cannot see anything through the viewfinder.
Lens will not come off the camera. Turns half way then won't come off.
Camera works fine on live view mode for some reason but lens won't come off still. Never experienced any issue like this before.

Please help. I've tried resetting factory settings, removing the battery, and even the sd card.

Thanks,
Eddie

CabanSail

It sounds like the reflex mirror may have stuck. Not sure how to confirm or resolve it.

trooney

A quick google brough this back:
http://www.steves-digicams.com/knowledge-center/how-tos/troubleshooting-repair/quick-shutter-repair-how-to-fix-a-stuck-shutter-for-digital-cameras.html

Unfortunately, the only real way to get a long lasting shutter repair is to have your camera professionally repaired. The cost for a shutter repair is often quite high, and may even cost more than your digital camera is even worth. To find out the cost of a professional repair, you can call the manufacturer of your digital camera for further instructions.

However, there is a quick at-home shutter repair that should work. The repair is often temporary, but may lost for a long time, depending upon the make and model of your digital camera and the extent of the damage to the shutter. To prevent the shutter from getting stuck on your digital camera in the future, try to use your digital camera more often.

The symptoms of a stuck shutter typically include the camera taking black pictures, or, if you are taking pictures with your digital camera outside, the pictures may be extremely bright and overexposed. To confirm that the shutter is actually stuck, turn your camera to any mode other than auto, turn the flash off, and look down at the lens and take a picture. If the shutter is functioning properly, you will see a very tiny flicker in the center of the lens as the shutter opens and closes.

Step 1 - Turn the camera on

You will want to turn your camera on and turn off any features that are known to drain the battery of your digital camera. Features like this include the flash and the LCD display. If your camera does not have a viewfinder, however, you will need to keep the LCD display on. If your digital camera is equipped with image stabilization, you will want to turn that off as well.

Step 2 - Camera Mode

To proceed with the shutter repair, you will need to turn the mode dial to any setting except auto. If you are unsure of which mode to switch to, your digital camera should have a manual mode. While in this mode, you will want to take a picture.

Step 3 - Battery Door

After 7 seconds have passed since you took the picture, open the battery door, or cover it for a few seconds and then close it again. Do not turn the digital camera off while you are doing this. The concept behind this idea is to quickly interrupt power during the exposure time. In most cases, the interruption of power will "jog" the shutter open.

Step 4 - Repeat

After completing the above steps, it is possible that the shutter may still be stuck on your digital camera. It is recommended that you continue to repeat the above steps until the shutter is no longer stuck. You may have to repeat this process five times, or even twenty times. It completely depends on the make and model of your digital camera, and how badly the shutter is stuck and/or damaged

CabanSail

The reason I think it's more likely that it's a stuck mirror rather than a shutter is;

themacdaddy wrote: »

I cannot see anything through the viewfinder.

and

themacdaddy wrote: »

Camera works fine on live view mode

That implies that the light is not getting to the viewfinder but the shutter is still working.

Though I may be wrong. Either way it needs specialist care.

I do hope you have packed a spare body.

CabanSail

Ummm.... I was just thinking..... could you have put the camera into "Mirror Lock Up" mode by mistake?

magicbastarder

he mentioned trying resetting to factory settings, which i assume would include that?

CabanSail

Yes probably.

Must be very annoying.

themacdaddy

Sorry guys. Internet is limited here. I hope it doesn't cost too much. Bought the camera second hand from Berminghams only at christmas. They only had 3 month warranty. Will try the mirror reset later and report back. Ive been using it on live mode today and it got me through..anything quick moving was a lost cause though. Thank you for all your replies

AnimalRights

Ya live view is something that I don't bother with at all and only a 3 month warranty ? ffs , I bet they still charged a pretty penny for the Camera.

themacdaddy

@animalRights yes they did. I went to Canons authorised repairer and was quoted over 500 excluding vat for the repair. They have to repair both the lens and the camera. Not sure how it happened. I am disappointed with the price but glad at the same time that my camera can be saved.

magicbastarder

what was the actual damage/malfunction?

themacdaddy

magicbastarder wrote: »

what was the actual damage/malfunction?

I am copying what their invoice says:
On my Lens :
Replace EXTENSION GUIDE,
Replace FOCUS BARREL ASS'Y,
Estimate to replace extension guide and fixed
barrel. General service and check.

On my camera:
Estimate to remove lens from body.
Replace Lens Mount
Recalibrate and general service. Check and
test.

magicbastarder

i wonder if they had to break the lens mount to get the lens off, hence that repair work.