Sorry to hear about your problems with the 20D. I've had mine for over a year and have had no problems at all. I am kind of curious as to why you didn't return it to the dealer? Also, did you try it with a different CF card? Sorry if these are dumb questions, but you were pretty specific about everything else you did, so I noticed the omissions......

Thank you for the input. I did try other CF cards like Lexar Professional and SanDisk Extremes without result. I had also filled out and mailed the warranty card on the camera when I first got it. I did not use the camera right away so it went past the return time alotted by the supplier. Once the card was filled out it bacame a service warranty issue with Canon.

It does sound like you 've done everything you can so far, and I understand your frustration. My recommendation would be to go with the flow and send Canon the camera and CF card. What do you have to lose? I can see Canon's perspective on this, also. They're seeing a situation where some time elapsed (months?) between the sale and the malfunction, and they want to make sure that nothing happened to the camera in the interim. I don't think that's unreasonable. Mind you, I'm not suggesting that there was any misuse in your case, but the only way Canon has to verify that is to look at the camera. So go for it. I think in the long term, you'll be a happy 20D user like the rest of us......

The error 99 is a well-known Canon 20D problem. You might want to have a look at
http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2005/04/29/50mm-lens-contact-points/

I am myself planning to get either a 20D or 350D shortly. Sounds like I am going to go for the 350D option.

Best regards,
Pandy

My 20D just started the err99 message 2 days ago. Have had it since April, shooting Canon and Tamron lenses with no problems whatso ever. Now this happens.
Any update on your issue??

I can't imagine why I've escaped the "Error 99" problem so far, but you guys have got me nervous.

Canon says to remove and reinsert the battery to clear the problem.

I've also heard that changing lenses without turning the camera off may generate the error, as well as dirty lens contacts. It's anecdotal, but one such source was allegedly a Canon support tech.

This error message does seem generic and I have encountered it when teaching a workshop last year, where a student had the problem. My usual response to any electronic/computer problem is : "when in doubt, reboot." But rebooting a digital camera can involve many things, as mentioned in this thread. It could be the lens contacts, battery etc. In my case the problem was solved by removing the memory card, using a blower brush on the internal contacts and card pin holes, then reinserting the card, and the problem went away.

George, you may have put your finger on it. Most electronic equipment doesn't take kindly to the kinds of environments we routinely inflict on cameras without thinking. Maybe Canon should put a warning label on their DSLR bodies: DELICATE INSTRUMENT! KIDS WITH PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICHES SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED WITHIN FIVE FEET! Or something like that.....

My 20D has shown err99 several times in the last 10 months. I can't say what sequence of events brought it about. Each time I had the problem I cured it by removing then re-iserting battery. For me it has just been a minor nuisance. I had it happen once with the 300D I had before that.What a great camera!

Caspar,

It seems the the error 99 problems involve some kind of electrical contact difficulty. Just about any electronics supply should have contact cleaning fluid, so use it with Qtips, and a can of dust-off used carefully to dry, applied to contacts to be sure they are clean and making good connections may be the best general method of avoiding the error 99 message.

Just to let you guys know, all of these issues can occur and have happened to me. A few of my friends all have 20D's with various lenses. I will tell you from these issues some of the things you can do...
It could be the CF card, there was a known issue with some Lexar and SanDisk cards. Try formatting the card in camera but in some issues they took the card back and replaced firmware on the card. Another thing is to upgrade the firmware on the camera, did you do this?
I also personally on a studio shoot had this happen to me I did everything i knew like reseat lens, remove batteries from my battery grip and eventually figured out that my camera was confused meaning that i had just reached 10000 shots on my camera. The CF card had _MG_9999 and would take one shot and i am assuming was confused as to the number order and lockup with Err99. So I changed cards and kept shooting. Once I downloaded images and formatted the old card never had a problem since. I think it was the numbering sequence.
My point for saying all this before returning to Canon is check contacts on lens to camera mount, make sure it isnt your CF card, or isnt the numbering issue i had. I have used my 20D and believe I am up to 15k-17k shots and my 20D has only had lock up twice and I cleared it only because my friends all had similar probs and was easily able to resolve it without sending it in for no reason...
my email is rohan@rohanb.com

Hello all, here are my observations of error 99 with my 20D.

When turning the camera ON, if I don

It looks like I may have the same problem with my camera. Very similar situations to what you have encountered. Though I gotta say I 've had my Canon 20D for almost one year since jan 07,2005. I did not start getting the error 99 until maybe around July of 2005. But since then I have been trying every possible simple suggestion online...cleaning the contacts of body and lens, removing the battery ad placing it back...same with flash card...and after using the camera two or three shots it just does not work anymore and what do I get...ERR99...
I have not contacted Canon yet because I had lost my invoice of purchase and during my registration process online their website always gave me an error. So I had to register over the phone. So finally I have everything to get to them and see if they can either fix the camera or replace it....has anyone been successful at resolving this issue??? I'd like to hear suggestions from people who have actually been helped by canon...Rsantil987, sounds like I have the same problem you have. I do have the Canon lens 18-55mm (USM) and I still get a problem when trying to shoot, especially on manual settings...

I have the same problem with the Err 99 one thing I have to mention, when I use the Canon EFS 17-85mm lens I get the Err 99 only if the zoom is all the way out, if I zoom in all the way I do not get Err 99, further more I have a Canon EFS 10-22 mm Wide Angle lens and when I use it I never get the Err 99 whether I Zoom in or out so I think the lens is the problem, let us know if you try it on your camera.

Ive just started experiencing problems with my camera (Error 99) and its not solving itself by cleaning, clearing/formatting cards or removing battery - and the annoying thing is I am in Uganda for 6 months (post is totally unreliable - so I cant get it back to the US). My problem is exactly as you discribed - did you manage to sort it out by yourself or did you have to send it in?
Please email me on: contact@photosbydes.com

I got my first Error 99 today, with the EFS 10-22 at about 12mm. Solved by removing the battery.

Killa,

If your lens is under warranty, send it back to Canon USA for evaluation. I have found Canon to be very responsive and willing to make things work. If your camera is under warranty, but your lenses aren't, call the warranty station and ask to speak to the manager. You may find Canon Willing to check both the camera and the lenses.

I had problems with both the camera (in warranty) and with my out-of warranty lenses. Canon USA didn't fool around. It changed the shutter out and recalibrated my lenses. In addition I sent a long laundry list of my dissatisfactions and got a camera back that worked well. EVEN THE AUTO WHITE BALANCE WORKED LIKE A CHARM FOR ONCE!

Have you updated your firmware???

I purchased the 20D when it first came out in 2004. I had a few of the old 511 batteries from my D60 which i used in the 20d and i got alot of errors. I then replaced all of the old batteries with the new 511b ( i think i have this right) and have had very few errors since the new batteries
i hope that this helps

kman

I experienced the "Err 99" problem yesterday, and couldn't find any way to get rid of it. Then I recharged the batteries and the problem went away immediately. I think the battery indicator was at the middle step the last time I checked, but can't remember for sure.

The problem could also have been caused by lense problems, because just prior to getting the err 99, I removed the 18-55 lens, took a photo without it (trying to see how bad dust situation I have), reattached it and and took another photo.

Hi, yet another person having this problem. I've missed a number of great shots because of this too. Has anyone ever heard of Nikon bodies having this problem?

The more I look online the more I see this problem. I googled "Canon 20D error" and I see page after page of complains but when I googled "Nikon D200 errror" I see no relevant hits.

I'm beginning to seriously consider switching over to Nikon. I've already met 2 other photographers while covering the same event I started having this problem who switched because of this.

When you pay thousands of dollars for lenses and camera bodies, this should not be happening.

I'm going to try cleaning the contacts on the lens and body and if I keep getting the message I'm sending them in for repairs and selling them as soon as I get them back, this is inexcusable.

Using Canon lenses, or third party? Also, if you're using a grip, you should check to see if it's one of those recalled by Canon several months ago. Otherwise, be sure to clean the grip contacts, as well as the battery contacts in the camera. I've had my 20D for over 18 months, with no problems.

Another tip: Don't change lenses with the power on.

I have seen reports of Nikon D200 errors on other forums, sometimes referred to as the BGLOD (Blinking Green Light Of Death), but I don't know how the numbers compare with 20D error reports. I can tell you that a lot of the 20D errors, once you question them a little, turn out to be a result of some kind of misuse. For instance, in once case, "It got a little wet" translated to "It got left out in the rain". Bottom line: Don't place too much credence in things you see on the internet......even here. :)

Here is my "err99" problem... this happened today when I had the camera set as follows - Manual/continuous shots. The camera cracked off about 3 shots and misfired on the 4th. I got the err99 message. I tried other CF cards, other batteries, other lenses - canon, sigma and tamron - tried cleaning the contacts. What is happening is when I power on the camera, the shutter constantly fires. The mirror is constantly flipping as if there is a shot being taken. Other weird stuff... when I insert the battery with the power off, the shutter fires. When I oppen the CF card door, the shutter fires. When I push the button to eject the CF card, the shutter fires. When I insert another CF card, the shutter fires. Now this problem I have not seen anywhere on any thread and have scoured the internet forums today...

I figure I will have to send it to be repaired. So... I am in Wisconsin, any ideas where to send it and the turn around time/cost? And... anyone else experience this one? Since I'm not in these forums often, ideas can aslo be e-mailed to me at marker220a@yahoo

Thanks

Now, that's a weird one. You should be able to find an authorized Canon repair service, either on the web or in the phone book. A quick Google on "Canon Camera Rapair Wisconsin" turned up several on top. Or, you can go to the Canon website and fill out an on-line repair request.

Might be a weird one... but since I posted that, 3 other photographers have experienced the exact same problem. When it happened to me, I scoured the web for answers and eventually wound up sending it into the NJ service center. (it is still there and no explanation of what happened yet) I suppose these other 3 did the same thing and found my post here... they all contacted me to ask what to do, what I did...

As much as I know so far...

Hello,
I have a EOS 20D camera and I have the same problem You encoutered. It is solved any way? If yes, please tell me how do you solved. Many, many, many thanks.

I was searching google when I found this thread. My 20D just did the exact same thing described above. I was holding the camera with my 100-400mm attached and the shutter fired once. When I turned the camera back on the next I got ready to shoot, the body just fired the shutter repeatedly. This continued until I either:
a) took off the lens or
b) took out the batteries

Nothing I tried to do fixed the problem.
I took off the grip, tried 5 total lenses (all Canon), tried to clean the lens contacts, tried umteen variations of turning on the body, and nothing helped. I have since read a couple other threads that suggested taking out the CR (watch) battery that is in the camera and even ensuring the firmware is up to date. I will try those this evening, but wanted to add my 2 cents that this is not an isolated problem.

I called Canon and all they could tell me was to send it in for repair.

I have also this weird

I was out on Sunday and had Err99 show up. I tried turning the camera off and it wouldn't, then removing the batteries. It eventually shut down. When I turned it back on the same error came up. I cleaned the lens contacts and things were fine.
In the Magic Lantern series guide to the 20D it says it may be caused by using a non-compatible lens. I had the Canon 100-400 on(which has been in for repair twice).

Hi,

I was just at an concert to take pictures and when I was doing some testshots with my 20D + 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM I got Error 99. I've gotten this before and usualy turning the camera off, removing the lens and putting it and back on the problem was fixed. But now while I was turning the lens I heard the mirror clap. I put it back on and it clapped again. I then removed the battery and when I opened the battery compartment the mirror clapped again. While I was removing it it did it again. When I put the battery back in the mirror started clapping like it was a 1D2n while the camera was "OFF". Only removing the battery stopped it. I just came back home to try upgrading my firmware from 2.0.2 to 2.0.3 but since the camera does noting besides clapping the mirror I can't even do that.

I read here that there were multiple persons with this problem. But is there anyone who actualy fixed this problem or had it fixed at reasonable price and not the price of a new camera like Hemmo. 700 euro's, add 500 more and get a 30D. not worth fixing the 20D at that price.

This realy suxx, the concert is now coning on and they will not have any pictures for on their website afterwards, this suxx.

I've cleaded lens contacts eventhough I have the problem without a lens mounted. I've cleaned the batery contacts, removed the button battery and all that was already posted above but still the same damn problem.

Any help is welcome.

Thanks,

Michael

A couple of possibilities:

Your battery is defective.

If you're using a earlier model BG-E2 battery grip (serial # 1 - 96000), there has been a recall out for several months. If you're using the older BGM-E2 AA battery adapter with the grip, Canon will replace it with a newer model which has gold battery contacts.

Thanks,

Michael

Hi there, I'm having the same problem, I was on as paying shoot with no back up.......!!!!!! Silly boy

( "I tried cleaning the contacts. What is happening is when I power on the camera, the shutter constantly fires. The mirror is constantly flipping as if there is a shot being taken. Other weird stuff... when I insert the battery with the power off, the shutter fires. When I open the CF card door, the shutter fires. When I push the button to eject the CF card, the shutter fires. When I insert another CF card, the shutter fires'. thanks marker220)

I have taken off grip, cleaned connections lens body, charged batteries, taken out watch battery, (what happens if this is flat?) taken out card formatted on different camera. changed lens (all canon). what can I do now? send it away to be fixed I suppose don't really want to spend

Hi marker220 any news on what happened with you 20d I'm having exactly the same problem, and tried all the tricks.

Did you end up sending it away? if so how much is it to fix and what was wrong with it in the end?

Thanks Simon

I have had the same trouble with my Rebel xt. only when using one lens, My Sigma 135-400 and it only happens when the aperture is smaller then F/5.6 If I'm at F/8 or smaller Err99. I open up to F5.6 or more it's fine!.

In my book it says
err99
> Remove and re-install the battery
> This error may occur if you use a non-canon lens and the camera or lens does not operate as a result

I had my shuttersystem replaced. Cost me