Nathan Buchman , Aug 29, 2007; 01:22 a.m.
I shoot thousands of pictures each month for our website using a light tent etc.
I noticed today, that after taking each picture, the photo no longer showed up
in the instant viewer on the back of the camera... no big deal, I thought that I
had accidentally hit a button to turn it off.
700 photos later after filling my flash card, I transfered the photos to my
computer, and noticed that starting at a specific photo, every picture was
black. Over 600 totally black pictures, as if the lens cap was left on.
The lens cap was off, my battery was recently charged, there are no issues with
either of my flash cards. I've reset all of the camera settings, and that did
not work either. Basically, the camera no longer takes any photos at all. The
same result using any shutter settings. Flash still works, AF still works, but
every shot is black. I've had the camera for about 20 months, and never had a
problem before this one.
Does anyone know what could cause this? I want to ensure there is no easy fix
before contacting Canon. I assume that my warrenty is probably expired, but if
there is nothing I can do, I will need to determine what step to take to get the
camera fixed or replaced. Thanks so much.
Denis Germain 
, Aug 29, 2007; 01:29 a.m.
what mode? if it is not a "user interface error" - it could be that the shutter is busted.
How many shots did you take with this camera? more than 50 000?
Colin Southern 
, Aug 29, 2007; 02:03 a.m.
From what you've said it sounds terminal to me - sorry :(
Denis Germain , Aug 29, 2007; 02:04 a.m.
remove the lens... and you may even see the curtains hanging in there...
Chris JB 
, Aug 29, 2007; 02:07 a.m.
This is not a commercial grade camera designed for this sort of turn over, 25~30K could see it out. I`d put in in a very slow shutter speed like 5secs or bulb without the lens then, Can you see the sensor if so shutter is working and start lookin elsewhere.
Bob Atkins 
, Aug 29, 2007; 02:44 a.m.
Probably a dead shutter. If you're shooting thousand of images/month and you've had the camera for a few years, that's very likely to happen.
John MacPherson 
, Aug 29, 2007; 08:16 a.m.
If its not the shutter check that the card is not corrupted.
Steve Torelli , Aug 29, 2007; 11:18 a.m.
As Bob has said, if you're shooting that many pics every month for several years with a Rebel, you're shutter has probably far outlived its normal life span, no more than 50,000 actuations. If that's the case, you're lucky. Time for an upgrade. Good luck.
Alan Myers , Aug 29, 2007; 11:47 a.m.
Hi Nathan,
While I agree with the others that it sounds like the camera might simply be worn out, I'd suggest double and triple checking all the exposure settings before looking any farther.
It occurred to me too, but I doubt it's a problem with the CF card because you said the image isn't showing up on the LCD screen, either. Most cameras alert you to a CF card problem with an error message, anyway.
If it is the shutter, only you can decide whether to fix it or not. I haven't had to have any of my cameras repaired by them yet, but I think I read here that a typical shutter replacement for a Canon D-SLR runs around $250.
Bob O'Sullivan 
, Aug 29, 2007; 05:43 p.m.
BTW, I wouldn't use this as an exuse to upgrade. If the Rebel gets the job done for you, why not just spend the $250 for the shutter reapir it that's all it is. There now that's 4 cents.
Chris JB , Aug 29, 2007; 07:32 p.m.
`I've had the camera for about 20 months, and never had a problem before this one. `
Hi, I`m not saying you should not use this model for your purpose, just calculate if only 2000 shots/mthx20=40000+. if you want a longer life a different model may be ok but at the price of repair it may be cheep. Mostly I`ve read when a shutter goes the body just keeps on uncontrollably flipping the mirror, but each type of shutter may act differently.
Good luck
Nathan Buchman , Sep 03, 2007; 11:50 p.m.
Thank you for all of the responses. It was the shutter, and I will be having it fixed.
