Faulty Eos 400D

Discussion in 'Canon EOS Digital SLRs' started by Marcus Rowland, Feb 16, 2021.

  1. Marcus Rowland

    Marcus Rowland Member Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2017
    Messages:
    410
    Location:
    London, United Kingdom
    Equipment:
    Eos 40D, Canon 18-55mm, lots of adapters for other lenses
    Nikon D7000, Sigma 18-200mm DC, Tamron XR 28-300mm, Nikon AF 50mm 1.4, Samyang 8mm f3.8, Sigma EX 50 2.8D macro, Sigma APO 170-500 5-6.3D, etc.
    Panasonic Lumix G1, 14-42 3.5-5.6, lots of adapters
    Pentax K200, Pentax 18-55mm
    Sony A230, Sony 18-70 3.5-5.6
    Sony A3500 18-55 several adapters
    Fuji FinePix S5700.
    Sony DSC-V1 with infrared kit.
    FLIR One thermal imaging camera for iPhone
    My 400D has gone wrong - it was working fine this morning, this evening the flash has started firing spontaneously as I press to focus, while not firing properly when I take a picture. When I manage to take a picture the lighting is way too dim, and the flash then starts to fire spontaneously and repeatedly. I've tried resetting by removing both batteries, cleaning the lens contacts, and so forth. I don't even know if the problem is being caused by the camera body, the lens, or something else.

    I really need it, since I take most of my sales pictures with it, and if I can't figure out the problem in the next day or two I will have to buy another and worry about sorting out this one later. Since most of the test photos are taken with the M setting and no flash I can probably get by after a fashion, by using another camera for the product shots, but it makes things more complicated and I really don't need the hassle.

    Any suggestions?
     

  2. Marcus Rowland

    Marcus Rowland Member Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2017
    Messages:
    410
    Location:
    London, United Kingdom
    Equipment:
    Eos 40D, Canon 18-55mm, lots of adapters for other lenses
    Nikon D7000, Sigma 18-200mm DC, Tamron XR 28-300mm, Nikon AF 50mm 1.4, Samyang 8mm f3.8, Sigma EX 50 2.8D macro, Sigma APO 170-500 5-6.3D, etc.
    Panasonic Lumix G1, 14-42 3.5-5.6, lots of adapters
    Pentax K200, Pentax 18-55mm
    Sony A230, Sony 18-70 3.5-5.6
    Sony A3500 18-55 several adapters
    Fuji FinePix S5700.
    Sony DSC-V1 with infrared kit.
    FLIR One thermal imaging camera for iPhone
    Found a cheap interim solution - Oxfam's online shop had a 400D for £35 in not very nice condition but working, with a slightly damaged 50mm lens, not sure if their definition of slight is the same as mine but we'll see. With a bit of luck I'll be able to recover most of the cost if the lens is usable, that can tide me over until something better comes along. We'll see what happens.
     
  3. Marcus Rowland

    Marcus Rowland Member Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2017
    Messages:
    410
    Location:
    London, United Kingdom
    Equipment:
    Eos 40D, Canon 18-55mm, lots of adapters for other lenses
    Nikon D7000, Sigma 18-200mm DC, Tamron XR 28-300mm, Nikon AF 50mm 1.4, Samyang 8mm f3.8, Sigma EX 50 2.8D macro, Sigma APO 170-500 5-6.3D, etc.
    Panasonic Lumix G1, 14-42 3.5-5.6, lots of adapters
    Pentax K200, Pentax 18-55mm
    Sony A230, Sony 18-70 3.5-5.6
    Sony A3500 18-55 several adapters
    Fuji FinePix S5700.
    Sony DSC-V1 with infrared kit.
    FLIR One thermal imaging camera for iPhone
    Received this today and VERY pleased - I can't find anything wrong with the lens, and there is nothing wrong with the camera apart from a crack in the glass over the rear LCD (not damage to the panel, just the protective cover) which isn't very noticeable, and a lot of cosmetic wear. Fingers crossed this will keep me going until I can find something better at an affordable price. Selling the 50mm lens and my old body for spares / repairs ought to pay for it. I hope.
     
  4. Marcus Rowland

    Marcus Rowland Member Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2017
    Messages:
    410
    Location:
    London, United Kingdom
    Equipment:
    Eos 40D, Canon 18-55mm, lots of adapters for other lenses
    Nikon D7000, Sigma 18-200mm DC, Tamron XR 28-300mm, Nikon AF 50mm 1.4, Samyang 8mm f3.8, Sigma EX 50 2.8D macro, Sigma APO 170-500 5-6.3D, etc.
    Panasonic Lumix G1, 14-42 3.5-5.6, lots of adapters
    Pentax K200, Pentax 18-55mm
    Sony A230, Sony 18-70 3.5-5.6
    Sony A3500 18-55 several adapters
    Fuji FinePix S5700.
    Sony DSC-V1 with infrared kit.
    FLIR One thermal imaging camera for iPhone
    A little research tells me that replacing the rear glass is pretty easy - I can get the replacement for a few pounds, I'll just need a suction cup and heat gun (which I have) or hairdryer to melt the sticky on the tape that holds it on the camera. I've asked the guy selling the glass for some technical info and will probably get it next week, I'll update when and if I try it.
     
  5. Marcus Rowland

    Marcus Rowland Member Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2017
    Messages:
    410
    Location:
    London, United Kingdom
    Equipment:
    Eos 40D, Canon 18-55mm, lots of adapters for other lenses
    Nikon D7000, Sigma 18-200mm DC, Tamron XR 28-300mm, Nikon AF 50mm 1.4, Samyang 8mm f3.8, Sigma EX 50 2.8D macro, Sigma APO 170-500 5-6.3D, etc.
    Panasonic Lumix G1, 14-42 3.5-5.6, lots of adapters
    Pentax K200, Pentax 18-55mm
    Sony A230, Sony 18-70 3.5-5.6
    Sony A3500 18-55 several adapters
    Fuji FinePix S5700.
    Sony DSC-V1 with infrared kit.
    FLIR One thermal imaging camera for iPhone
    Spoke too soon - while I was trying it out today the front lens assembly (including the motor underneath) came loose - appears to be a variation on the usual sort of fault with these lenses. Not sure why it took so long to happen, must have been slightly wedged in. Not something I want to try to fix myself, so although it works fairly well when it's put together I'll be selling it as a spares/repair item.
     
  6. Marcus Rowland

    Marcus Rowland Member Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2017
    Messages:
    410
    Location:
    London, United Kingdom
    Equipment:
    Eos 40D, Canon 18-55mm, lots of adapters for other lenses
    Nikon D7000, Sigma 18-200mm DC, Tamron XR 28-300mm, Nikon AF 50mm 1.4, Samyang 8mm f3.8, Sigma EX 50 2.8D macro, Sigma APO 170-500 5-6.3D, etc.
    Panasonic Lumix G1, 14-42 3.5-5.6, lots of adapters
    Pentax K200, Pentax 18-55mm
    Sony A230, Sony 18-70 3.5-5.6
    Sony A3500 18-55 several adapters
    Fuji FinePix S5700.
    Sony DSC-V1 with infrared kit.
    FLIR One thermal imaging camera for iPhone
    Received the replacement glass today - it's slightly tricky since you need a heat gun to melt the glue holding the old one in, and I was scared of damaging the camera, but I got there in the end. The only other problem is removing all of the layers of protective foil without leaving sticky marks or dust under the glass. Minimum gear for all this is a heat gun, a suction cup smaller than the glass, fine-tipped forceps or similar for removing the foil, and an air blower for getting any dust or glass splinters off the LCD etc., all of which I had. Some instructions here:

    https://www.instructables.com/Canon-DSLR-LCD-Glass-Fix/

    Meanwhile my old Eos and the faulty 50mm lens are currently on £15.80 and £12.50 respectively on eBay UK with five days to go, so I may come out a little ahead even including the cost of the glass.
     
  7. Marcus Rowland

    Marcus Rowland Member Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2017
    Messages:
    410
    Location:
    London, United Kingdom
    Equipment:
    Eos 40D, Canon 18-55mm, lots of adapters for other lenses
    Nikon D7000, Sigma 18-200mm DC, Tamron XR 28-300mm, Nikon AF 50mm 1.4, Samyang 8mm f3.8, Sigma EX 50 2.8D macro, Sigma APO 170-500 5-6.3D, etc.
    Panasonic Lumix G1, 14-42 3.5-5.6, lots of adapters
    Pentax K200, Pentax 18-55mm
    Sony A230, Sony 18-70 3.5-5.6
    Sony A3500 18-55 several adapters
    Fuji FinePix S5700.
    Sony DSC-V1 with infrared kit.
    FLIR One thermal imaging camera for iPhone
    Came out very slightly ahead but only by a whisker - paid £35 for the replacement camera and lens, sold the old camera and the dodgy lens for a combined total of just over £50, but I also had to pay for the replacement glass cover for the screen, and I threw in a body cap, a charger and a USB cable that were surplus to my needs but must have cost me money at some point. So by the time I've paid eBay and Paypal charges my profit is probably below £5 - can't be bothered to work it out, it's so small.
     

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