40D, Taking a chance ? Again ?

<p>In the past I had purchased two 40D bodies and both bodies had the dreaded Err99 issues and one even had a failed shutter after minimal use. <br>

I eventually got rid of them.<br>

Sooooooooo, two weeks ago I purchased a BRAND NEW 40D from Cameta camera to replace my 30D backups to my 5D's. <br>

Shot one wedding and one engagement with the 40D, loved the images. A couple of days later, the 40D was dead in the water. Would not turn on, even after trying several different fully charged batteries.<br>

I returned it and received a full refund.<br>

I still really like the 40D and it's features, but am so afraid of receiving another bad one. Yes I have read so many bad reviews on the 40D's and all of their issues.<br>

Is there any way to ensure of getting a "good one" ? I still would like to get one as a backup body.<br>

Would a refurbished body be better ?</p>

<p>Well, lemme say this: I have over 45 000 shutter actuations on a 40D and so far so good... The only time it did display Err 99 was when, after a 2 hour flight in a small and shaky turboprop, the CF card came lose and had to be reinserted/reseated. So, are you sure that this is not you or the lens(es), flash(es), memory card(s), etc. that you use..? To have three bodies fail is incredible. On the other hand, if you are unlucky you'll get hit by a falling brick in a wooden church...</p>

<p>I've seen many times bad batteries being the reason for Err99 on 40D</p>

<p>hmmmmmm, bad luck with 40D...... i had one, shortly, for 2 weeks and 8,000 pictures about..... mounted on a rented 500mm f/4 for 2 days, and 300mm f/2.8 for a week...... i liked it a lot, especially for the price...... which has since dropped<br>

I wasn't impressed with ISO, i use Nikon D300 on daily basis for everyday things, but for telephoto zoo shots I needed a Canon. The 40D was fine for me, i didn't hear story like yours that i would fail... twice<br>

I would think buying from B&H would be a good start for another 40D, their source and turnaround should ensure latest release/firmware of the 40D<br>

<img src="http://www.robertbody.com/animals08/images/2008-07-24-zoo-puma-40d_7848.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="500" /><br>

Canon 40D, 500mm f/4L IS, 1/180s f/4, ISO-400.... 42% crop</p>

<p>Michael, I use only L lenses, 58o flashes, all of the same accessories that I use with my 5D's which work flawlessly. Why would the 40D's NOT work the same ? <br>

Diana, same scenario. I use the same batteries that I use in my 5D's in the 40D. The 5D's work flawlessly. Why not the 40D's ?<br>

Cameta camera was great in issuing the refund. Immediately.<br>

There are tons of threads on the internet about 40D issues.</p>

 

<p>I did get some erratic behaviour with my 40D with two Optek brand batteries. Never a problem with the Canon batteries installed.</p>

<p>My 40D is a fine camera and a joy to use.</p>

<p>Cheers! Jay</p>

<p>Seems you and the 40D just don;t seem to get along. Three times ain't the charme in your case. I would instead look at a 50D - just to get away from the bad charma:-)<br>

I own a 40D (and 5D) and love it for birding.</p>

<p>Maybe I'll switch to Nikon.</p>

<p>That is one very unlucky run. My 40D is as solid as a brick. No problems with it at all. I've not heard of any consistent problems with the model except perhaps with third party batteries but if your not using Canon's batteries then it isn't Canon's fault. If they are fine in the 5D but not the 40D it could just be that the 5D is more tolerant of variations, has simpler electronics etc than the 40D.<br>

More out of curiosity than anything else, what are these bad reviews and issues you refer to? I know the 40D looks a little plain compared to newer models but I don't see anyone saying it is a bad camera. I'd say it was a great camera for it's price point.</p>

<p>Be wary of any used camera, and be wary of any 'new' one from a not so reputable retailer. Oddly cameras don’t come in shrink wrap. My retailer used that fact to take the kit lens out of mine, and sold the new body only. Hopefully they don't resell stuff.<br>

I would trust B&H or Adorama. <br>

I got mine cheap from USA1 Camera after reading about it at reseller ratings where Cameta was rated well too.</p>

<p>I say go for it. I've had mine for 14 months without a single hiccup of any kind so here is statistically valid internet proof that Canon is (was) able to produce good ones.</p>

<p>NO, don't take another chance. It didn't work out for you 3 times already, try something else. Mine's been working flawlessly for the pass 14 months btw and I use it every day.</p>

<p>"Maybe I'll switch to Nikon".</p>

<p>Yeah, they never break - says an ex Nikon user who had nothing but trouble with his D200s and has never had a moment's problem with his 14 month old 40D.</p>

 

<p>Keith, sell me your 40D ! I actually had two Nikon D200's and they performed flawlessly. Sold them and switched to Canon's for the low light capabilities.<br>

As I mentioned, my 5D's work flawlessly as well as my 30D's.<br>

Guess I just have had some bad luck with the 40D.</p>

<p>

<p>No. You obviously have some kind of jinx. Get what you want but do not get another 40D.</p>

<p>Happy shooting,<br>

Yakim.</p>

<p> </p>

</p>

<p><em>Why would the 40D's NOT work the same ?</em><br>

Bad luck..? Pilot error..?<br>

<em>There are tons of threads on the internet about 40D issues.</em><br>

Yeah, way more threads about "issues" then the number of actual cameras sold :-)</p>

<p>Must be pilot error, guess I'll stick to flying high with my 5D's !</p>

<p>"Would a refurbished body be better ?"</p>

<p>Well, I just bought a refurb body from Prodigital2000 on Ebay. (He's got quite a few more at some really nice prices. Caution: It's refurbished by Canon Canada Inc., and the warranty is Canadian. I presume I can ship to a Canadian repair facility if there is a problem, but I don't know.) I haven't had it long enough to see if it stands the test of time, but so far it's working great. I agree it's a very nice camera!</p>

<p>I think a refurb unit would have the benefit of a proper burn-in by the prior owner/user. That might be the issue with some of these cameras. Canon might just be shipping them out without doing proper burn-ins to weed out the "SIDS" units. (Of course the bad-luck streak you describe is extraordinary!) The refurb units also might have more attention to details like getting the AF sensors properly aligned, since they will have been gone over by a skilled technician, rather than a semi-skilled population of assembly line workers. Anyway, my refurb camera appears and operates like a brand new camera. The only difference was that it came packed in a rather boring, white cardboard box with foam rubber inserts, instead of the pretty one with styrofoam inserts that the new ones come in. (From a shipping perspective, I think the refurb packing is probably better.)</p>

<p>I have had to send my first 40D body back to Canon twice within the first year to have the shutter mechanism replaced. If it has to return a third time, I hope Canon will just send me a new body. When it comes to electronics, you can just get a lemon sometimes. My second 40D has had no problems over the last eight months. In my opinion, as long as Canon takes care of the problem in a reasonable manner, I feel there is no need to switch and I am planning to eventually move to the 1D mark IV when it comes out.</p>

<p>Sarah, I lean towards your thinking. A refurb has been gone over by the Canon techs, and any bugs have been weeded out.<br>

I have seen those deals also from the Canadian seller and am currently attempting to purchase one.<br>

Wish me luck ! I still think the 40D is a darn pretty good body for the price and features. I love the fast focusing with my 70-200 2.8.</p>

<p>I too have a 40D, with 20,000+ shutter actuations & no problems with it (apart from sensor dust!).</p>

<p>I was always under the impression "Err99" was to do with the lens:body connection?</p>

<p>Do you use third party lenses? Have you tried cleaning the lens contacts?</p>

<p>L lenses only. Why would the contacts need cleaning when the camera was one day old ?</p>

<p>If you need a backup have you considered a 5d mkII and make your current 5D's the backups?</p>

<p>"<em>There are tons of threads on the internet about 40D issues."</em><br>

There are also a ton of threads about the err99 being a lens issue, most commonly a lens that works just fine on an older camera but produces that error on a newer one. I'm just saying.<br>

Dan</p>

<p>I would love to get the Mark II but am not in a financial position to do that. The 40D is currently very attractive in pricing and produces outstanding images. I loved mine when I had them. Too bad they all took a dump. After going through three of them, I'm just afraid of getting another lemon.<br>

In all my years of shooting film with Nikon and Hasselblad, I never had the problems that digital has produced. Maybe replace a synch terminal now and then from a Hassy, can't remember ever having any issues with my Nikons.<br>

The issues with Digital are always software related. Never mechanical. Newer technology is not necessarily better.</p>

<p>George, you have to go with what your heart tells you, but I'll add a bit of a reality check...</p>

<p>My personal take is that your experience has been so improbable as to be bizarre. It might be that there is something about you or what you do that kills 40Ds. For instance, you might pound the camera on a rock before each frame. Or perhaps there is something about your supplier, for instance that they sell only cameras that have been returned as defective. Only you can figure that one out. However, if there is nothing unusual about your camera and if you use it normally, then I would say your chances with the 4th 40D would be about as good as anyone else's chances with a 40D -- excellent. It's easy to get wrapped up in superstition (e.g. "not meant to be") but that isn't necessarily the best course.</p>

<p>I especially think you would be making a big mistake to label all digital cameras as troublesome, based on your experiences. I've been shooting digital for a decade now without so much as a hiccup. That's more than I can say for my experience with film. Remember that the issues you've had with your 40D could have just as easily occured with a modern film camera, including a broken shutter, failure to turn on, etc. You've not mentioned a bad sensor or digital image processor, and that would be the primary difference between digital and film.</p>