5D III error 80 and failure to release shutter

[scott35]

I would suggest that everyone who is seeing this problem contact Canon about it (regardless of any plans of returning their camera to B&H, etc).  At least one person on here mentioned returning a 5D3 that had the Error 80 problem, only to get a replacement that also had the problem...

Canon USA: 1-800-828-4040  1-866-261-9362
Canon Professional Services (CPS members):  1-888-CPS-4540   cpsmember@cusa.canon.com

Online form to fill out for 5Diii support:  http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/support/consumer/eos_slr_camera_systems/eos_digital_slr_cameras/eos_5d_mark_iii/form_display/support_by_email

I have called and emailed so far.  They don't seem to be very knowledgeable about this problem, so if you're seeing this problem, I would encourage you to contact Canon directly to address the problem.  (Simply returning your camera without contacting Canon doesn't "solve" the problem, because Canon won't be made aware of the problem or have a chance to "fix" the problem.)

Thanks.

[TexPhoto]

Received this response from Canon.  Good to get a quick response, but it seems kind of canned.

Thank you for contacting Canon product support.  We value you as a Canon customer and appreciate the opportunity to assist you.  I am sorry to hear that you are receiving an error 80 on your EOS 5D Mark III.

Lets try resetting your camera using the following steps to try and resolve this issue.

1.  Turn the camera OFF and remove the memory card and battery first. Then detach the lens and place it out of the way. Use the camera body cap to prevent dust from getting inside and let the camera sit for 20 minutes.

2.  In the interim please clean the lens contacts with a soft, lint free cloth.  Use this to gently wipe the lens contacts.  Sometimes the lens can lose contact with the camera if the contacts are dirty, so we want to be sure these are free from anything that could possible cause disruption.

3.  Put these items back in the camera and turn the power switch to <OFF> and <ON> again.

4.  Using the Mode Dial, change from Auto to Creative Zone modes and back testing each, to shoot and note if the issue persists.

5.  Try a different Canon EF Series lens on the camera of any focal length.

Here are some other things to try:

- Use a totally different memory card.

- Are you in an area that has high humidly or cold temperatures?  If so, move to a more suitable location.

If completing the above steps fail to resolve the issue then we recommend sending the camera into the Factory as we would be able to take a look at this product for you and see where the real issue lay.  We very much apologize for any inconvenience this causes you at this time.

For factory service, please forward your digital camera to the Factory Service Center shown below.  When shipping your camera, please be sure to remove the memory card and batteries.  You are not required to send any accessories or manuals when shipping the camera.  Be sure to include your name, street address (no P.O. boxes, please), telephone number, and a letter describing the issue with the product.  If it has been less than one year since the camera was purchased, we ask that you also include proof of warranty in the form of a copy of your sales receipt.

As we do not provide RMA numbers for service, we suggest using a trackable and insurable service (i.e. UPS, Federal Express, Priority Mail) to ship your camera.  Please package the camera very securely in a sturdy shipping box to prevent damage during shipment.

Please send your camera to the following Factory Service Center:

Canon Factory Service Center
100 Ridge Road
Jamesburg, NJ  08831

Upon arrival at the Factory Service Center, your camera will be logged in to our repair database and assigned a repair number.  Next, the camera will be examined and you will be advised of the findings.  If the required repairs are covered by the warranty, the repairs will begin immediately, and you will not be contacted.  When the repairs are complete, the camera will be shipped back to you via Federal Express.  The length of time for the repair will be dependent upon the nature of the repair and availability of parts, if needed.  Usually, warranted repairs are completed within approximately ten to fourteen business days of the camera's arrival at the Factory Service Center.

All decisions regarding warranty coverage are made by the Factory Service Center at the time of repair.  If the repair entails something that is not covered in warranty, a written estimate will be sent to you at the address that you have provided.  The repairs to your camera will not begin until you approve this estimate and make payment arrangements.  If, after receiving the estimate, you do not wish to have the camera repaired, please inform the Factory Service Center of your decision as soon as possible.  If you decline the estimate, the camera will be shipped back to you unrepaired.

Once you have confirmed with your shipper that the camera has been delivered, you are more than welcome to contact us for repair updates. Please include your name, address, and telephone number, as well as the serial number of the camera, in all repair status inquiries.

Please note that our U.S. Factory Service Centers are unable to accept packages from or return equipment to addresses outside the United States.   A signature will be required for the return delivery of your repaired product.  For return shipping please provide a shipping address where an adult will be available to sign for the package. 

I hope this information is helpful to you. Please let us know if we can be of any further assistance with your EOS 5D Mark III.

Thank you for choosing Canon.

Sincerely,

Timothy
Technical Support Representative

Special Note: Certain issues are very difficult to resolve via email. If your question remains unanswered after you have received this email, you may call our special toll-free number for email customers with unresolved issues and speak to a technician by dialing 1-866-261-9362, Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 midnight ET, and Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. ET (excluding holidays).

If you prefer to continue to communicate via email, reply to this message and we will respond as quickly as possible.

[jlev23]

sounds like the eyefi card is causing problems, as well as after market batteries.
i have had no such issues but I'm using all canon batteries, brand new, and all brand new sandisk extreme pro cards.
I've shot 3 jobs on it sa s well utilizing every function of the camera, stills, HDR, video.
oh, but i have used a sigma fish eye and old nikon primes, with no issues.
no errors.

[scott35]

I got a very similar email response to TexPhoto as well.  They seemed to be somewhat more helpful over the phone.  Basically every email I receive from Canon seems like a canned response from a computer and leaves me wondering if a human actually read my email.  (For example, asking me to "clean" a brand new camera's battery, mentioning "if the camera was purchased within the past year" - well you just released it about a month ago so yes it's under warranty, etc.)

Anyway, I'm not sure what I'm going to do.  I purchased from a local retailer with a 14-day return window, which I have already missed.  I tried a different CF card today (Duracell UDMA card) along with the 8GB Eye-Fi Pro X2 today, and I didn't have any errors today.  I'd really like to avoid sending the camera off to Canon to "fix" when they don't seem to know what the problem is.

[JR]

I wonder if this error 80 stuff is responsible for some of the rumored recalls we are seeing ( see CR post)

[Moosemilk]

Received an Err 80 testing the Eye-Fi X2 Pro 8GB that I bought tonight.

The conditions:

-Wrote to two cards simultaneously
     -The CF card was a SanDisk Extreme Pro 16GB
     -Wrote RAW format to CF card, S2 jpg to Eye-Fi card
-Eye Fi option was enabled in 5D Mark iii menu
-No errors prior to this incident using 5D Mark iii
-Only using Canon batteries
-Shot with the 24-105 lens

Cheers,

MM

[scott35]

Just an update...

I had been having "Error 80" problems when using a 16GB Sandisk Extreme III CF card and an Eye-Fi 8GB Pro X2 SD card (RAW on the CF card, small jpg to the Eye-Fi SD card).  For my workflow, the Eye-Fi is very important to me, so I've kept using the Eye-Fi card.  I decided to stop using the 16GB Sandisk card.  I switched to a different CF card (Duracell 32GB 600X UDMA CF card) along with the Eye-Fi SD card.  I continue to get "Error 80" messages when using this CF card.  I'm pretty sure I also got Error 80 messages with a 3rd CF card (I wasn't paying close attention to which CF card it was at the time).

I have exclusively used the Canon battery that came with the 5Diii.  I have exclusively used Canon brand lenses.  I have exclusively shot in moderate weather conditions (and certainly no rain, high humidity, or dusty environments).

It's a small sample size, but earlier today I got an Error 80 message 3 times over the course of about 30 shots. 

I get Error 80 messages both within range and our of range of my wifi network.  I get them with various Canon lenses and various CF cards.  The only constants so far are the 5Diii body itself and the Eye-Fi card. 

Basically, I have (rather unscientifically) narrowed it down to a problem with my 5Diii itself or a problem related to the Eye-Fi card. 

Is there anyone who has the "Error 80" problem who has never used an Eye-Fi card?

Thanks!

[unkbob]

Is there anyone who has the "Error 80" problem who has never used an Eye-Fi card?

Me. Once. With a 3rd party battery.

[xstntl]

I had the Err 80 for the first time today, and I'm also using an Eye-Fi Pro X2 for jpgs. I've had the Eye-Fi in the camera since I received the camera a few weeks ago and today was the first time seeing the error.

OEM battery + 70-200 IS II

Eye-Fi setting to transfer in the camera was set to Enable

Camera was not asleep at the time, however, I have been trying to reproduce the error by letting it go to sleep/waking etc. but hasn't happened again.

[swrightgfx]

Error 80 is a rather ambiguous error that relates to "electronic control or image malfunction."

This may explain why some 5D Mark III users are experiencing the error despite using factory batteries and various, confirmed working SD/CF cards.

Thus, I would not say the response from Canon listed earlier is necessarily something that should be ignored for all users reporting this error, as your problem may indeed be related to the items the instructions refer to.

That said, there is clearly an issue with the 5D Mark III and Eye-Fi cards.  Or a couple of them, at least.

[tsourbier]

Let me jump in the boat Got the error 80 as well, I use an Eye Fi card and various CF cards... Canon batteries only.

In addition of the Error 80, I've encountered the following:

- Camera turns off and won't wake up... it happened to me a couple of times. The solution was to remove/reinsert the batterie

- Images corruption: During an event I was covering, I got at half a dozen corrupted JPGs out of 2000+ shots (shooting high res on CF and low res on Eye Fi, both were corrupted that therefore eliminate a card issue).

Let's wait until the next firmware, to see if the camera becomes more reliable...

T.

[scott35]

Just another update on my Error 80 experiences with the 5D mark III.  I'm still getting "Error 80" messages, approximately once per day on average (although yesterday I got 3-4 errors over the course of maybe 30 shots).  I've had this error 25+ times or so over the course of maybe 1,500-2,000 pictures. 

I'm still using the Eye-Fi Pro X2 (8GB) SD card along with a CF card.  (The Eye-Fi capability is VERY important to me, and I don't really want to work without it.)  I've used numerous CF cards and Canon lenses (and always a genuine Canon battery), and the problem seems to happen without regard to lens or CF card being used.  I'm pretty sure it's related to the Eye-Fi card. 

Also, I have noticed that the error 80 definitely happens (at least sometimes) when I press the shutter button. (I use "silent continuous" mode.  I might be imagining things, but the shutter seems to sound slightly different when I get the Error 80 message, and the picture definitely does NOT get recorded.)  I think (but am not 100% positive) that the Error 80 also happens sometimes when the camera is just sitting "idle" (powered "on" but not being used), because I have picked the camera up to take a picture on several occasions only to see ERR 80 on the top LCD...

I'm hoping this can be fixed via some sort of firmware update.  I have checked my battery (and CF and SD cards) and battery compartment for any signs of dust/dirt/residue, and they all look clean and brand new.  I have never used my 5Diii in a dusty/dirty/sandy/wet/humid location, so I am very skeptical that it has anything to do with the contacts on the battery or anything like that. 

Does anyone have insight as to whether these Error 80 problems are limited to Eye-Fi Pro X2 cards, or are they also occurring with other versions of the Eye-Fi cards?  I think I saw something about Canon admitting a problem with the 60D (?) and Eye-Fi X2 cards - maybe the 5Diii has a similar problem....?

Just a note/disclaimer - while I am unhappy and annoyed with this Error 80 problem, I am thrilled with the 5Diii otherwise.  I have used the 5D "classic" and 5Dii since they came out, and this camera is a major improvement IMO.  My 5Diii can nail focus with the 85L wide open using the outer focus points -- something I couldn't do consistently when using the 85L for more than 5 years with the previous versions of the 5D series.  Also, my camera is in the serial number range affected by the "light leak problem," but I have not noticed any sort of problem at all (and I generally use the camera in low-light - ISO 3200 and 6400 with apertures in the f/1.2 - f/2.8 range and shutter speeds around 1/100 - 1/250). 

Thanks!

[TexPhoto]

I have not had the Error with since I formatted my Eye-Fi in my 5DIII.  I have shot maybe 300 photos since i did that.

[Wilmark]

Today while shooting endangered birds in the rainforest of Trinidad (off South America) i got the same problem with my 1 month old Mk3/ 70-200 II canon lens. Dont remember if I had the 2X extender iii on as i was taking it on and off many times during the trek. A canon battery was in the camera. However the Eye-Fi Card was in but not being written to. I was writing to a Transcend 400X 64 Gb CF card. I have shot probably 3000 pics and have only experienced this problem once. The humidity would have been high and there would have been droplets of water hitting the camera occasionally as there was a light intermittent rain as we trekked through the heavily canopied rainforest floor. After reading all the posts here i would suspect the biggest culprit seems to be the Eye-Fi card - although many like me was not actually writing to the card when the problem was experienced. We should poll users and see how many persons use Eye-Fi. I quite like using Eye Fi and that the 5D3 actually support it, and one of the factors i considered in justifying the expensive (some say overpriced) list of the 5D3. I have started a poll at :

http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=6180.0

[Moosemilk]

I'm getting the Error 80 message using the Eye-Fi Pro X2 and SanDisk Extreme Pro 16GB, writing RAW to the CF and S2 to the SD.

I'm wondering if anyone has sent their 5D Mk iii in to Canon to fix this, though I realize that it may be the Eye-Fi card that may be the culprit.

MM