I've been struggling with camera woes, namely a 'Cannot communicate with battery' message on my 7D. If I ignore it (click 'OK') the camera works, but I only discovered that after not taking some gorgeously cute images of the cubs tonight. From what I can find on the web, the batteries will also drain much more quickly so I need to brace myself to take it in for a repair. The camera is over two years old (ie out of warranty) and has in the region of 100,000 clicks on it, so it's 'done good', but I want it to hang on in there just a little longer until the MkII version appears later in the year.
Anyway, before the camera decided to play tricky, it did allow me to get some shots of three (of the four) cubs together. So here's 'three of three'.
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 24-105 F4L IS USM lens.
derWandersmann
20 May 2013Nice shots, Words.
Good luck with the cam. If it was a Nikon, I could tell you the place to take it in London … but it's not.
A couple of rough and ready ideas:
1) Take the battery out and wait a bit; make sure it's fully charged, then put it in again. It's almost like a "Restart".
2) Make sure your firmware is up to date … even if it is, try downloading the same firmware into it, right over the top of what's already there. It can work with a computer, maybe with a camera, too.
Words
20 May 2013dW, I've got a local place I can take it for repair. I've switched batteries, re-charged them etc, but it is probably an internal fault somewhere. It's a popular search term, so I'm not alone. It is probably a physical problem with a connection somewhere. The camera works fine, but I just don't have battery information. Firmware is also the latest, but I won't reload that with a battery 'issue' as if something failed midpoint I'd be scuppered. I'll see how it goes for a while. Too many good things to photograph to be without a camera if I can avoid it.
derWandersmann
21 May 2013Probably just needs a drop of solder, or something simple like that … be of good cheer.
And be sure your extra battery is charged!
gdare
22 May 2013Great to see them all together 😀
Words
24 May 2013dW, oddly it seems to be working ok today. I'm not I'd risk a soldering iron near the inside of the camera. :yikes:
Words
24 May 2013Darko, three of them seem to come out together, but there is a fourth lurking somewhere but I never get to see it.
derWandersmann
24 May 2013I agree … I was not even remotely suggesting that; I wouldn't do it either, and I've been doing electronics work (on occasion) for 50 years. There's too bloody much plastic in these things, and it's all very close quarters. Shops know how to do that sort of thing.
SittingFox
26 May 2013I've never had that error on the 50D, although I've always got half an eye on my Tamron lens given it's stopped working at remarkably inconvenient moments twice before. Hope it behaves itself until the new model comes out.
derWandersmann
26 May 2013Originally posted by Words:
"The evil quadruplet"?
Words
27 May 2013Originally posted by derWandersmann:
It worked fine for a couple of days, but has gone again. It seems quite a common problem. The camera works fine so I'll leave it, and I always have a freshly charged spare battery on me so I'm unlikely to get any real problems by just leaving it. I'm promising myself an upgrade later in the year (7D Mk2 is due, though I am still tempted by the 1DX).
Words
27 May 2013Originally posted by derWandersmann:
Somewhere, somewhere…. it must be very shy.
Words
27 May 2013Adele, searching on the web suggests that it's not uncommon on the 7D once they are past the 2 year mark. Given the general thrashing and lack of care mine gets, it's not doing too badly and who am I to argue if it chooses not to talk to its battery!