5D MkIII spontaneously shuts down

[pwp]

This was a new one for me! At a job today my gripped 5DIII was spontaneously shutting down. Not going to sleep, I mean shutting down as if I'd switched the power off or the batteries were dead flat. Switching the power on and of woke it up again but I was missing shots at a fast moving event for a long-term client. Note that the (genuine) batteries had probably 80% charge in them.

Fortunately I had my recently retired 1D MkIV in the bag (funny I chose to take it with me...) so was able to continue un-distracted.

Is this a known bug? It's annoying, I have a huge week coming up ???

-pw

 

[Mickat]

I had the same issue once, turned out that the battery grip was not tightened properly. Every time I went to take a photo it turned off....
I doubt that this is your issue though.

 

[pwp]

I had the same issue once, turned out that the battery grip was not tightened properly. Every time I went to take a photo it turned off....
I doubt that this is your issue though.

Thanks, I just checked the grip. It's nice and tight. That would have been a simple fix!

-pw

 

[niels123]

After the shut down, did it woke up again just by prussing the shutter button or did you need to switch the power off and on again? I would keep it on for some time on my desk to see if it does it again: if yes, send it to canon for a checkup.

 

[brad-man]

You'll have to determine whether it's the grip or your camera. See if you can replicate the problem without using the grip. You need to learn whether it's a hardware problem (maybe the pins in the battery compartment?) or software (bug).

 

[fentiger]

reinstate the 1D and retire the 5D, problem solved

 

[pwp]

reinstate the 1D and retire the 5D, problem solved

Hah! Yes that did cross my mind. They're both extremely high mileage. The 5DIII is on it's third shutter. To be honest I completely prefer 1-Series bodies but the sort of commissioned work I do benefits enormously from the Silent-Shutter on the 5DIII & 7DII. I test drove the 1DX, loved it for all the obvious reasons, but boy is that shutter noisy!

-pw

 

[YuengLinger]

reinstate the 1D and retire the 5D, problem solved

Hah! Yes that did cross my mind. They're both extremely high mileage. The 5DIII is on it's third shutter. To be honest I completely prefer 1-Series bodies but the sort of commissioned work I do benefits enormously from the Silent-Shutter on the 5DIII & 7DII. I test drove the 1DX, loved it for all the obvious reasons, but boy is that shutter noisy!

-pw

That is some serious mileage on your 5DIII! Hope it works out and you let us know whether body or grip, and what the fix was.

 

[Loswr]

Are you still using 3rd party batteries in your 5DIII (after they gave you trouble in your 7DII)?

I wonder if there's a way they could cause 'hidden' long term damage?

 

[Maximilian]

No probs here with the 5D3.
But mine has seen way less action than yours.

I had the same issue once, turned out that the battery grip was not tightened properly. Every time I went to take a photo it turned off....
I doubt that this is your issue though.

Thanks, I just checked the grip. It's nice and tight. That would have been a simple fix!

-pw

If Mickat had a grip issue and yours, pwp, was tight, did you check and clean the contacts on both body and grip? maybe some dirt or oxidation on the contacts?

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

The grips occasionally cause issues, if reliability is important, don't use a grip. Even Genuine Canon Grips cause power problems occasionally, and it can be hard to track down.

Since you presumably had two batteries in the grip, one could have a problem, the camera does not track each battery, does it?

 

[RustyTheGeek]

IMHO - with the amount of use you describe, your camera is possibly approaching end-of-life. I think Maxmillion's idea is the best possible scenario. But if the problem can't be isolated to the grip, the batteries or the power contacts, you may never find the problem. It could be a hairline crack in an internal PCB which is probably not worth fixing.

If this is a crucial tool for your livelihood, I wouldn't waste much time (and esp not waste the loss of a job or images) trying to fix it. You can buy brand new 5D3 bodies now for around $2K. Buy a new or solid used 5D3 immediately and use this 5D3 as a backup assuming you find the problem. If it was me, I wouldn't stress or risk a job on a camera this worn. Heck, I have an extra 5D3 I'd sell you if you couldn't afford a new one right now.

Good luck! I hope you get it sorted out and it turns out to be a minor issue that is easy to fix for sure at little/no expense. Keep us posted!

 

[Pookie]

IMHO - with the amount of use you describe, your camera is possibly approaching end-of-life. I think Maxmillion's idea is the best possible scenario. But if the problem can't be isolated to the grip, the batteries or the power contacts, you may never find the problem. It could be a hairline crack in an internal PCB which is probably not worth fixing.

If this is a crucial tool for your livelihood, I wouldn't waste much time (and esp not waste the loss of a job or images) trying to fix it. You can buy brand new 5D3 bodies now for around $2K. Buy a new or solid used 5D3 immediately and use this 5D3 as a backup assuming you find the problem. If it was me, I wouldn't stress or risk a job on a camera this worn. Heck, I have an extra 5D3 I'd sell you if you couldn't afford a new one right now.

Good luck! I hope you get it sorted out and it turns out to be a minor issue that is easy to fix for sure at little/no expense. Keep us posted!

Yea, was just going to say almost the same. I've never heard of a pro keeping a camera body so long and after that many shutter replacements. Especially for paying clients (this would never fly in my business). Everyone I know considers cameras consumables. Unless that shutter fell out during the first year I wouldn't replace a box either, that would be deemed a lemon for sure and I wouldn't throw good money after bad.

I just donated 3 of the first 4 5D3's bought in 2012 to the local HS. The beauty of owning your own studio/business is writing these things off for tax purposes. It's a pretty big head scratcher as to why you would hang on to it for so long. I can understand loving the model as a possible reason, almost. I love the 5D3 model and actually just bought probably my last new one due to them being so cheap. It will most likely stay in a box for sentimental purposes. And I'm sure that old 1 series is great... but for paid work, NEVER. Not when money is on the line. Those types of cameras stay at home for chasing kids not for clients.

I read the selling old camera post. Maybe you should too... Never had one problem getting rid of old gear, especially if you're doing this a business. Nothing looks worse than turning to a client and saying, "hang on a sec, my camera just took a dump..." and the joy of handing over a box of used gear (tax writeoffs) to the local school photojournalism group is priceless.

 

[StudentOfLight]

Are you still using 3rd party batteries in your 5DIII (after they gave you trouble in your 7DII)?

I wonder if there's a way they could cause 'hidden' long term damage?

I only use genuine Canon batteries and have once had errors with the 5D-III rejecting a battery. I swapped batteries with my 60D and then everything was fine again... i.e. the "problem battery" work fine in the 60D, and the 60D battery worked fine in the 5D-III.

 

[RustyTheGeek]

Are you still using 3rd party batteries in your 5DIII (after they gave you trouble in your 7DII)?

I wonder if there's a way they could cause 'hidden' long term damage?

I only use genuine Canon batteries and have once had errors with the 5D-III rejecting a battery. I swapped batteries with my 60D and then everything was fine again... i.e. the "problem battery" work fine in the 60D, and the 60D battery worked fine in the 5D-III.

I've used multiple bodies since 2009. (30D, 40D, 60D, 70D, 80D, 5D, 5D-III, 6D, 7D-II, 3D, 90D, whatever...)

I've used all kinds of electronics, laptops, camcorders, etc over my lifetime. To be honest, I've experienced problems with genuine OEM batteries just as much (if not more) as I have with 3rd party knock-offs. Sure, I've had 3rd party batteries that didn't work or had less capacity. But I've had OEM batteries that were disappointments as well.

I still PREFER OEM, esp for laptops, but I don't condemn 3rd party batteries as long as they are good quality and favorably reviewed. I'll be damned if I'm going to pay 5x the price for OEM if it gains me nothing over a similar and proven 3rd party battery. And when it comes to the LP-E6 compatible battery from Wasabi... I'll buy two of those every time over the more expensive Canon battery. I still have yet to have a LP-E6 fail on me from Wasabi. In fact, I have one Canon OEM LP-E6N - you know, the more expensive one that came with my 7D-2 - that has barely been used, never charges past about 70% and has the red dot on the "recharge performance" battery menu data. The Wasabis charge fully and usually last me the same as the Canon batteries.

For me, it's not about the money, it's just about what works and what I would rather do with the money other than get one Canon battery for the price of 4-6 Wasabis that work just as well. And this is coming from someone who will buy the $8 - $15 Tamron lens caps because they are tough, center pinch and are more reliable than the thin/cheap and hard to grip Canon lens caps. Yeah, Canon finally got a clue and started providing better center pinch lens caps but now I'm set in my ways and I like to sell the lens later with a pristine lens cap that I typically leave in the box after purchase.

Bottom Line: If it works for me, I do it. If I experience a problem, I change or adapt. So as long as the Wasabi batteries work, I'll use them. (In fact, I started leaving the Canon battery and charger in the box with all the other camera accessories I don't use after I got the crappy LP-E6N with my 7D-2.)

 

[pwp]

Are you still using 3rd party batteries in your 5DIII (after they gave you trouble in your 7DII)?

I wonder if there's a way they could cause 'hidden' long term damage?

I only use genuine Canon batteries and have once had errors with the 5D-III rejecting a battery. I swapped batteries with my 60D and then everything was fine again... i.e. the "problem battery" work fine in the 60D, and the 60D battery worked fine in the 5D-III.

Neuro, yes they were genuine batteries. After the issue with the 7DII and the pair of Wasabis, I've been strictly 100% genuine.

I'll run a variety of tests that may isolate a hardware issue. If the problem can't be easily resolved and it happens just one more time, then this 5DIII has reached it's use-by date. It's a primary work tool and has to be 100% dependable. It would have been nice to have lasted until the 5D-IV was ready but as someone pointed out, 5DIII's are in run-out pricing right now. It may be a better move to go straight to a 1DX-II. How's the Silent Shutter on the 1DX-II? As quiet as the 5DIII?

Thanks for the responses.

-pw

 

[Maximilian]

[snip]

It may be a better move to go straight to a 1DX-II. How's the Silent Shutter on the 1DX-II? As quiet as the 5DIII?

Thanks for the responses.

-pw

Hi!
As far as I've heard it is much better than the one on the 1DX but still louder than the one of the 5D3.
So maybe you'll have to go for a 5D3 at run-out pricing or maybe for a refurbished/used one. :-\

 

[StudentOfLight]

Here is the thread of my 5D-III power issue which was sorted out towards September last year. The technician replaced the motherboard

http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=27410.msg541899#msg541899

 

[pwp]

Here is the thread of my 5D-III power issue which was sorted out towards September last year. The technician replaced the motherboard

http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=27410.msg541899#msg541899

StudentOfLight, thanks very much for the link. It could prove useful 8)
Has the camera been stable since then?

-pw

 

[kaihp]

[snip]

It may be a better move to go straight to a 1DX-II. How's the Silent Shutter on the 1DX-II? As quiet as the 5DIII?

As far as I've heard it is much better than the one on the 1DX but still louder than the one of the 5D3.

It's like this for the shutter sounds: 1Dx > 1Dx2 > 5D3

I'd say that the 1Dx2 silent shutter is closer to the 1Dx shutter than the 5D3 shutter sound.