Err 99

[KeithB]

I was using my XS and 17-85 the other day, and after working fine for a few dozen photos I kept getting ERR 99 errors.  When it would get the error the focus motor would make a funny noise and it would usually stick the lens at a particular aperture.  Turning the camera off and on would clear the error, and switching to my 70-300 worked fine, so it seemed to be a lens issue.  I tried wiping the contacts with my relatively clean shirt, but that did not help and turned out to be a mistake.

Yesterday, I used a microscope at work to clean the contacts with a pencil eraser, lint free swabs and propanol.  I initially saw some blue fibers on the contacts and thought that I had found the problem, but then realized that I had been wearing a blue shirt the day before.  Doh!  Anyway, I have cleaned things really good and will look to see if it comes back. 

Anybody else have experience with this?

[oldtool]

If I remember right that error is caused because the flash was not able to "pop" up and work.  You may have had your fingers over it preventing it from working.  Yes, shutting the camera off and turning it on clears the error.  Watch how you are holding the camera and you should not have any more problems.

[Bob Atkins]

I believe Error 99 means "something is wrong but I don't quite know what it is". It can crop up from a number of sources related to the lens, the flash, the communication between the body and the lens, the shutter and possibly other camera systems. It basically means that there is some sort of system error which the camera detects during its (otherwise) normal operation.

Cleaning the lens contacts often helps. Removing and replacing the battery often clears it if the camera gets "stuck". A sticking diaphram in a lens can also certainly cause an error 99 condition.

I've seen it crop up at various times with various bodies and lenses, but so far it's only been an occasional "one time" glitch and not something that happens on a regular basis or with only one body or lens. I don't think I've had and "Err 99" any time in the last year, so maybe my luck is changing!

One thing to check is that you are running the latest firmware update for your camera. I know that there was a firmware update for the 50D that corrected an error 99 related problem. I don't know if any XS updates addressed any error 99 issues.

[KeithB]

Error 5 is the flash not able to pop up error.

Thanks, one thing that bothers me is this was the first shooting session after updating the firmware!

[sshegde@aol.com]

Hi all,

I believe error message is not related to lens contact issue. When I mounted Tamron 28-75 lens after a long time storage, I recieved a message on 40D LCD that read something like "improper Lens contact, clean the lens contact points and remount". I did the same and it worked perfectly fine and still working fine. I don't know about XS, but 40D clearly identified the problem and suggested the fix!

Thanks

SS

[KeithB]

Hi all,

I don't know about XS, but 40D clearly identified the problem and suggested the fix!

Thanks

SS

The XS suggested that I clean the contacts.  Much like the standard Mac advice is "repair permissions and delete the preferences" and the standard Windows advice is "re-install", the standard error advice, except for "don't let your hat interfere with the flash, stupid!" is "clean the lens contacts."

[oldtool]

Doing some research I found this info on another web site.  It had been sent to one of the members from a Canon tech.  It appears that the ERR 99 is NORMALLY lens related.  Bob, I hope you do not mind me postingg this info here, hopefully it will help.

To isolate the cause of the issue, we suggest that you do the following:

1. Turn off the camera.
2. Remove the lens, battery, and CF card.
3. Allow the camera to sit without power for approximately 20 minutes.
4. Insert a fully charged battery, and turn on the camera.
5. Depress the shutter button as you would to take a picture.

Does the “ERR 99? message appear? If it does, then the camera should be
serviced. If it does not, then please proceed to the next set of steps:

1. Turn off the camera.
2. Insert the CF card.
3. Turn on the camera.
4. Format the CF card in the camera.
5. Depress the shutter button as you would to take a picture.

Does the “ERR 99? message appear? If so, then the CF card is the most
likely source of the issue. Try using a different card.

If the message does not appear, please complete the following steps:

1. Turn off the camera.
2. Clean the lens contacts by gently rubbing them with a pencil eraser
or soft cloth. Be careful that you do not let any debris fall into the
camera body.
3. Reattach your lens.
4. Turn on the camera.
5. Depress the shutter button as you would to take a picture.

If the “ERR 99? message only appears when one particular lens is
attached, then that lens should be examined by a service technician.

If you see the “ERR 99? with a different Canon lens attached, then the
camera should be serviced.

[jamisan]

Keith
http://www.bobatkins.com/smf/index.php/topic,416.0.html

[KeithB]

Thanks everyone.  I think I erred 8^), it looks to be an err01.  As soon as I use my kit lens instead of the 17-85 it goes away, looks to be the lens, and I suspect it is a sticky aperture.  I just had it reparied a few months ago, hopefully I can get it back in to Canon during the warranty.

[KeithB]

Thanks everyone.  I think I erred 8^), it looks to be an err01.  As soon as I use my kit lens instead of the 17-85 it goes away, looks to be the lens, and I suspect it is a sticky aperture.  I just had it reparied a few months ago, hopefully I can get it back in to Canon during the warranty.

Got it back from Canon and they replaced the aperture assembly.