Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Camera Issues and Simple Solutions (Maybe)

 
This past Saturday morning I headed out to our backyard - cup of coffee in one hand, camera in the other. I popped the lens cover off, checked my settings, pointed the camera at my subject, pressed the shutter release button...and nothing happened. What the...? Pressed it again. Nothing.
 
 
I said, "Noooooo!!!" out loud {plus maybe a few other words that are not blog worthy...for this blog anyway...}. I was sure that my camera was still suffering the effects of having been dropped a couple of months ago. Dang it.
 
I tried switching out the lens, thinking maybe something was wrong with the 50mm I had on there, but the problem remained. The shutter just would not release. Argh!!! So I sat down at the patio table and sipped on my coffee, all the while pouting about my camera and being attacked by mosquitos. Not a happy Saturday morning.
 

I spent the entire weekend without my dear friend, my Canon Rebel. Funny how I don't realize how attached I am to that gismo until it's not in working order. At one point on Sunday afternoon I pulled it out and tried again - still in disbelief that it wouldn't work. Nothing.


So on my lunch hour yesterday I drove over to Tempe Camera to leave it for repair. I handed my camera across the counter to the camera repair lady and before I could finish explaining what the issue was, she was looking through the view finder and snapping photos. Seriously?

"Hmmm," she mused. "Seems fine to me."

 
She asked me a few questions and gave me some pointers on the proper way to erase images from my camera, and also about using the appropriate sized SD card. She recommended reformatting the SD card after I've uploaded photos rather than using the "erase images" feature. She said that doing it that way syncs the camera and the card back to original settings each time. She also told me that the 16GB card I was using was way too big for my camera - they didn't make 16GB cards when my camera was built (four years ago) and that could be the problem. (Even though I've been shooting with that card since March?)

I'm still not 100% convinced that this is the issue, although I came home and shot these photos last night and it seemed to work just fine. Have any of my camera wielding friends ever had that particular issue with your own camera? And if so, how did you resolve it? Do you reformat your disc often?

I'm curious to hear, and appreciate your feedback.

17 comments:

Jo said...

I'm glad that the camera fixed itself so to speak. x

helena said...

I always delete the photos of the sd card via my computer as I read somewhere that was good practice. Good to hear it is working again - I know that sinking feeling when the shutter doesn't do tis thing

Abi said...

That is so odd. I have never reformatted my card. I just delete the photos if it when I plug it into the computer. I do use a smaller memory card though? Glad it is fixed!

traci said...

I always reformat instead of erasing. I think I just read somewhere it was the thing to do.

Susi said...

Happy for you that its working again. I can't help you but I am interested to hear what others have to say. I love the photo with the (not really sure if its a) charm hanging on the fence.

Beverly said...

I have had that happen but it ended up being the lens. I just erase my images but find it weird out of the blue some will reappear months later. Actually this weekend I had ones of Stephen dressed as a pirate for work last year show up @@ Guess I need to look at my manual to learn how to reformat.

scrappyjacky said...

I haven't had that issue....but I do reformat fairly regularly....the camera shop advised me to do that as well.

DianeSchuller.com said...

glad all is well now. Yes, I do reformat my memory card every single time I download the photos to my computer. I agree with the tech that simply deleting isn't sufficient. I really don't think it matters what size the memory card is, however.

Amy said...

I have had this happen too - a couple of times and the worst was during my sister's wedding about 18 months ago, it was then that I realised my camera really is a bit too old! Prior to the wedding incident it was a simple case of the lens points being a bit 'off' and I could fix it myself by taking the lens on and off, I had to use my brother's camera for the rest of the wedding though.

I use a 8gb card and always delete on the computer not in the camera, never formatted it though.

I know my answer is a new camera body, it's barely hanging in there - not sure on your dilemma???

Karen said...

I've never had that problem, Deb. But I always reformat my card when it becomes filled and then reuse it. I was told years ago to never erase an image with the camera. I also use 8 gb cards after reading that if something goes wrong with the card you won't lose as many photos. I filled four cards on our trip to Europe and decided to put them in our safe as a back up.

Sian said...

I'm glad that your camera sorted itself out. I use smaller camera cards just because I find it easier to manage. I actually like to fill a card up and then keep it, as a kind of back up

Maria Ontiveros said...

Wow! I feel a little stupid now. . . I just erase in my camera. I've never reformatted and never erased in my computer. I guess I should figure things out. Like Beverly, things do occasionally reappear that I think I have deleted.
I really have to look at my whole photo managing, storage system because I'm just not that good at it!
Rinda

Stephanie @ La Dolce Vita said...

It did happen with my rebel, but I found that it was the battery. If I shut off, pulled the battery and that usually worked, or if not, I recharged, it worked fine. Poor old thing was just worn out though. I always reformat though. Always.

Audrey said...

Hmmmm, I just erase images. I'm definitely looking into this. Thanks, Deb. Glad yours is back in working order!!! Believe me, I know the stress and heartache of being without your camera!!!

Margaret said...

I have no thoughts. I'm clueless when it comes to technology. Good luck

Cheri said...

We were also told (when we bought the new camera) to reformat the SD disc in the camera - but it has more to do with what it does to the disc rather than to the camera. Reformatting the disc actually cleans it off, whereas erasing does not as completely remove it from the disc, but just allows the space that image took up to be overwritten... so that over time, as you overwrite, eventually you can have bleed through with some of the pixels of the "erased" images showing through on new images. Reformatting the disc is supposed to eliminate that problem. Your issue with the camera simply not taking pictures does sound more like "shutter death" which can be an intermittent problem while the shutter is starting to fail, until it actually "dies" and then the shutter just won't open at all. Had that happen with one of our daugher's point & shoot cameras. On a newer DSLR replacement of the sensor can be an option. With a p&s - cheaper to just buy a new one!

Anonymous said...

We've always been told to erase the disk and then format it and that's been working great for us (knock on wood). Glad to hear the camera is ok now.

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