Elan 7 battery error

[patrickconnolly]

Recently my Elan failed to take a picture - upon investigation the

battery icon was flashing. Replaced the batteries, but the flashing

battery icon continues. According to the manual, a 'misoperation' has

occurred and it needs to be returned to an 'authorized Canon repair

center'. Now, it is still under warranty, so I'm not concerned about

that, but I have an event I'd really like to photograph this weekend,

and there's no way I'm going to get it back from a service center

that quickly. (This wouldn't even be an issue if the 10D I ordered 4

weeks ago was here yet ..., but that's another post). I've removed

and reinstalled the batteries - there's enough power for the battery

icon to be flashing, so I'm thinking the new batteries are okay.

 

Any ideas? Thanks ... Pat

[eosdoc]

<a href=mailto:uce@ftc.gov></a>

Blinking BC is a generic indicator for any electronic problem. It can mean anything

from "Battery Check" to "Bad Connection" (between the camera and the lens), to

"Bad component" if there is an internal electronic part failure, either within the

camera or within the lens or accessories.

<P>

It can also mean "Buy Canon", if you are trying to use an incompatible

non-Canon device, such as a lens or flash. Or maybe just "Bad Carma" if the

camera decided to die within the warranty period.

<P>

A simple way to troubleshoot is to remove the lens and any film, then put the

camera into the Green Box "idiot" mode and push the shutter release button.

Replace the lens and try to reproduce the problem. Make sure that all electronic

contacts (battery, lens mount, flash mount) are clean and dry.

<P>

If that does not help, ask the gang at the Elan 7E group <a href=

http://yahoogroups.com/group/elan7e

>http://yahoogroups.com/group/elan7e</a>. If there is a way to abuse a

camera, someone there has probably done it. (e.g. diamond mine, seawater,

diamond dust, high voltage, screwdriver, phono plug).

[steve_barnett2]

As above, if you are using an aftermarket lens this can cause the problem, but its fundamental in most cases and no amount of cleaning will fix it. It can be intermittent which is frustrating. Let us know the lens you are using.

[patrickconnolly]

Thanks for the info. I'm using a Canon EF 75-300mm III USM lens. I'll check the contacts for both the batteries and the lenses.