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Canon issues allergy warning for EOS 650D/Rebel T4i

Jul 10, 2012 at 02:21:36 GMT

CAMERA NEWS CANON

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Canon has issued a warning to owners of the EOS 650D/Rebel T4i that the rubber hand-grips of some models may turn white, and produce a chemical that can cause an allergic reaction. According to Canon, the chemical, zinc bis (N,N’-dimethyldithiocarbamate), is not used in the production of the camera but is a potential by-product of a chemical reaction between other substances found in the hand-grip. Canon has identified a certain number of cameras where a larger than normal amount of 'rubber accelerator' was used in the production of this component, which could potentially cause this chemical reaction.

Canon has set up a website where you can check whether your model is affected. Click on this link and enter the serial number of your camera, and the site will let you know whether your camera is from the affected batch.

The hand-grips of some EOS 650D/Rebel T4i cameras may become discolored due to a
chemical reaction caused by substances used in their manufacture (image: Canon Inc.)

According to Canon USA, 'some EOS 650D/Rebel T4i cameras' manufactured between May 31st and June 15th 'may be affected' by this chemical reaction, which causes the hand-grips of the cameras to turn white. Zinc bis, the substance produced by the chemical reaction, may cause an allergic reaction in some people, and 'as a precautionary measure' Canon advises owners of affected cameras to 'thoroughly wash your hands with water if they have come in contact with the rubber grip'.

Read the Canon USA statement, including details of affected cameras and service options

Canon EOS 650D (EOS Rebel T4i / EOS Kiss X6i)

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Comments

Total comments: 177

I'm allergic to all Canon cameras.

20 upvotes

When I went to pick up this model from a local store, the first unit they took out of the box had white stains on the rubber grip. They had no idea what's wrong with it, but put it back into storage nonetheless and brought me a second one and it looked fine so I took it home. But after checking the serial number of the unit against Canon's database, my unit is indicated as affected by this "defect". It's been 10 days and I haven't seen any whitening on the grip yet nor have I experienced any allergic reactions to it, but since we do not have the same kind of exchange policies as Canon USA over here, I can only hope the grip stays black for as long as I own this new body...

The serial number on my Canon 650D body is 048031004102, so if your 650D is anywhere near this number (assuming the product S/N runs sequentially), you might want to check and see if your 650D is affected.

Comment edited 4 times, last edit 10 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

I tried your number 048031004102 just for fun And Canon's response was like from a zombie screening test."Your camera is affected." (:0)

0 upvotes

I think it is easier to trust a company which publishes errors than a company that doesnt.

Think how many plastic object you use. Do you really think that everything is save? All the nitty gritty things which are made somewhere in the world by some companies without a well known name aren't well controlled.

Let's see such a procedure as a side effect of our modern lifestyle with vast amounts of things made of plastic (rubber, etc.).

9 upvotes

Actually, Apple does track you wherever you go. ;-)

2 upvotes

And the CIA does watch everyone from light bulbs...
ONLY USE CANDLES !

0 upvotes

The main issue here is the fact that every company has hundreds of experts who are involved in the process of developing a new product. Since Canon is no newbie to camera production and the given model has a decent predecessor there really is no excuse for such production error.

3 upvotes

Plenty of excuses for production errors. Some worker put 100 grams of catalyst in the rubber batch instead of 10, or whatever the real numbers are. Sometimes things like this show up really fast, i.e. the rubber does not cure at all or cures to fast to mold parts, sometimes things are going to look normal when produced and the issue is only seen many days, weeks, months later. Canon identified the issue and will take care of the problem. They can have inspectors at each step of production verifying that each step is done correctly, but that adds a huge amount to production costs and as far as I know that level of oversight is only done for aerospace related products. Even with inspectors things can be done wrong.

2 upvotes

Firstly great that canon came out with this problem. Its a outsourcing problem which they have got to own. I wonder how may ambulance chasers are reading this.

The other thing is your wife is really going to believe you when you tell here you got a rash from the camera. :)

4 upvotes

Ha Ha, great comment.

0 upvotes

However she may ask you why you were rubbing that part of your anatomy against it.

1 upvote

but my nose gets rubbed against my camera every time I use it.

0 upvotes

Some sticky tape should fix that.

3 upvotes

Sticky tape over your nose and eyes should do it.

2 upvotes

No they were made properly the 1st time :-)

3 upvotes

$949, and I get an allergy?

Better use a fast shutter speed, you'll be twitching so much.

1 upvote

lol. I actually thought this was an April fool, until I realised it was the middle of July. This is not even a bad joke, this is unbelievable. Who would literally touch a Canon product these days?

9 upvotes

That's one reason why i like live view with side-hinging monitors - you don't have to press these toxic heaps of allergenous plastic to your sensitive facial skin, to your precious eyes and mouth. And see - the 650D has live view with a fold-out monitor, just so to keep the danger away from your face.

2 upvotes

Whats happening to Canon.....fault after fault.......

14 upvotes

i suppose its name should be changed from rebel to repel

27 upvotes

Hilarious!!!!!

2 upvotes

the Illuminati are behind this, funded by the Bilderbergers.....they want to rid most of Canon users because they are Nikon users.

6 upvotes

What a bad born camera !!...
Instead of launching new rebel models every year with minor improvements from one model to the other, Canon would better concentrate on real improvements and launch fewer models...
I'm happy with my T2i and will wait to replace it at least until the T5i arrives if there is no bug...
Cheers !

2 upvotes

650D is not the first "bad born" camera made by Canon this year. Their nearly-flagship 5D Mark III came out with the light leak issue that was spotted about one month after official retail release. But the light leak couldn't harm yout health at least ;-)

2 upvotes

It was also a complete non-issue for 99.9% of usage scenarios.

4 upvotes

The so-called "light leak" couldn't harm your photos either. Which is why many users are not even bothering to get it "fixed" until or unless we need something else done.

1 upvote

I know. But nevertheless, it was a fault.
I had 400D, 40D, now 7D & 5D Mk II.... no issues so far. And this year? 5D Mk III - light leak, 650D - allergic grip.
Something's wrong.

0 upvotes

@Barney
A light leak would not be an issue for a 100$ compact but NOT for a semi-pro DSLR for 2000$+.

5 upvotes

@rhnrt - you're correct, but the 5D III didn't suffer from a 'light leak' in the conventional sense of there being stray light entering the mirrorbox and ruining exposures.

0 upvotes

"In guinea-pigs, sodium N,N-dimethyldithiocarbamate was a skin irritant and has given some evidence of a weak sensitizing potential. It was of moderate acute oral toxicity in rodents and produced testes damage and nerve degeneration in chickens given repeated oral doses. There was evidence of mutagenicity in bacterial assays including the Ames test."

Source: http://www.bibra-information.co.uk/profile-312.html

Terrific... Another endocrine-disrupting chemical which is easily absorbed by the skin.

4 upvotes

Crikey, thanks for the warning - I'll stop rubbing my guinea pigs against my camera now.

14 upvotes

This clearly defines how useless and harmful, other than ethically questionable, animal testing is.

0 upvotes

>> This clearly defines how useless and harmful, other than ethically questionable, animal testing is. <<
So you're a volunteer for testing new medications under development in preclinical research stage?
Please contact me! You'll be a rich man. Ehhm, at least for some time...

2 upvotes

Canon advises owners of affected cameras to "thoroughly submerge your camera in water if you have come in contact with the rubber grip"...

Ooh wow! The Canon 650D (T4i) MARK II has suddenly become an Underwater Camera!

In a related incident, Kodak (remember that brand?) advises that some of their film negatives may smell of formalyn and sulphur dioxide... while inside film cameras.

I just love the smell of a freshly loaded Kodak film in the morning...

Comment edited 42 seconds after posting

5 upvotes

Nikon´s new camera batteries exploding, Canon has poissones grip. Looks likes this days you don´t need to go shoot in to Ciudad Juarez or Siria to put your life in danger as a photographer.

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 11 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

What exploding batteries? Where on earth are you getting your information? Point to ONE story anywhere of an exploding battery in a Nikon camera?

0 upvotes

Just google "Nikon exploding" - over 400 000 results. And stop behaving like a provoking child.

3 upvotes

Counting Google results is hardly a good exercise. "Plastek lying" returns 52,300 results. I guess after I click Post that will read 52,301. Doesn't make it true, it just means that lots of pages have lots of words. Besides, if you drop the quotes, there are 5 million results for nikon exploding. All I think of when I hear about exploding electronics is to keep using third party batteries, just not $8 third party batteries.

0 upvotes

Wow. The clueless really do occupy these pages. I guess you don't know how to actually use Google - perhaps it's even a first like the non-existent Nikon exploding battery phenomena. What a crock of crap. Some people really are dumb asses......

0 upvotes

Just to prove the point and show the BS people are prepared to peddle on here:

https://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&gs_nf=1&cp=25&gs_id=2w&xhr=t&q=%22nikon+exploding+battery%22&pf=p&sclient=psy-ab&oq=%22nikon+exploding+battery%22&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=c72d84806ae8a6&biw=2560&bih=1355

0 upvotes

"Canon advises owners of affected cameras to thoroughly wash your hands with water if they have come in contact with the rubber grip"

What are the odds your hands would come into contact with the hand grips?

I'd guess.... 100%. There really isn't much "if" about it.

What a bizarre remedy for a poorly manufactured camera part.
The affected cameras should be recalled and the defective parts replaced.

Comment edited 2 minutes after posting

15 upvotes

You mean like the part where they say:

"Preparations are underway to provide free repair service for affected cameras by replacement of the rubber grips. Once this repair service is available (ETA of mid July 2012), we will post an update on our web site and also notify registered users via email. Please register your EOS Rebel T4i, so that we can inform you via email when the free repair service will commence. "

5 upvotes

And the part where they say "thoroughly wash your hands with water if they have come in contact with the rubber grips that have turned white.", which means there is no reason to worry if they haven't turned white.

From the statement, it seems like an impeccable reaction on Canon's part, pro-actively correcting a defect before anyone even noticed it. And it also seems you should read articles fully and try to understand them before spewing idiocy.

2 upvotes

If they posted it then it may be worse then expected.
There may people having reactions. I sent two T4i's back
because hot pixel in video mode and then the second one
picture quality was not better then my T2i. I would hold off
on this one.........

1 upvote

Why would picture quality be much better when it uses the same sensor as all post T1i rebels?

0 upvotes

Are you sure they use the same sensor ? Actually they do not . Please read , from DP review : " The EOS 650D has a new 'Hybrid CMOS' sensor that now includes pixels dedicated to phase detection autofocus (in a similar fashion to Nikon's 1 J1 and 1 V1 mirrorless cameras).". Why people post false information ? Its beyond me. http://www.dpreview.com/previews/canon-eos-650d-rebel-t4i

Comment edited 32 seconds after posting

0 upvotes

I guess he meant that it's the same sensor technologically, just with added PDAF pixels.
Nishi Drew - he was talking about T2i, not T1i.

1 upvote

should recall affected cameras.

0 upvotes

They did, read the press release.

3 upvotes

Canon would do better if it explain the chemical reaction that produce this by product from the rubber accelerator. Humidity and high temperature all affect the life span of any rubber but we were not told from what kind of substances that rubber accelerator is made. Hands are (but its nature) very resistant to allergies and I suppose that the out of the range pH of the substance (acid or alkaline) is the cause of the injuries, chiefly in the eyes, and not a true "allergic" reaction.

1 upvote

They did announce the allergic compound formed was zinc bis (N,N’-dimethyldithiocarbamate)

See below for the Material Safety Data Sheet, I think this is the right one.

http://www.rtvanderbilt.com/documents/MSDS/US/46603.pdf

0 upvotes

EOS Kiss of death!

4 upvotes

Just shows that putting on rubber is not 100% effective. ;)

Comment edited 45 seconds after posting

4 upvotes

Or even fatal ;-)

http://www.livestrong.com/article/95319-symptoms-latex-condom-allergy/

1 upvote

Be safe, be a late adopter. (grin) Other camera companies have had problems/defects too.

1 upvote

I always wait about a year. All the kinks are worked out AND it's about 20% cheaper.

0 upvotes

Yet without first adopters you wouldn't have anything to buy to begin with ...

0 upvotes

How many ways can one camera fail?

5 upvotes

Well I'll be jiggered! Canon made a poisonous camera!

10 upvotes

Some people told me they are allergic to stainless steel because of the nickle. I have also heard of being allergic to sunlight and alcohol (on skin, not ingest).

Don't know how any of these are possible but they have doctors' note.

1 upvote

I'm allergic to shark bites

1 upvote

I doubt most people will have any kind of reaction, but for the few who do, it will be an unpleasant case of hives, probably not on their hands. Wherever, no fun.

0 upvotes

Trust me, sharks don't give you hives, they give you "chunks missing".

2 upvotes

That's a first. Rubber camera grips causing allergies? Maybe they need to make a peanut-free or low gluten version too? :-)

5 upvotes

No it isn't actually. Some have reported allergies to camera grips in the past.

2 upvotes

Too bad they don't make Condoms.. Most women are allergic to sperm these days so it would be a tough choice... ..for them ;-)

Comment edited 2 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

July Fool's Day?

1 upvote

Ha ha, I thought exactly the same!

1 upvote

Hahahaha... This can't be serious. What's next, Canon?

5 upvotes

They'll probably buy one of these exploding Nikon batteries.

4 upvotes

Great job Canon. You've made your final Rebel DSLR and now you're killing off your customers so that they don't switch over to Sony and Nikon once you've closed up shot on Rebels for good.

Comment edited 14 seconds after posting

2 upvotes

Go back to leather

0 upvotes

Not so fast:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1039&message=18876362

And some differing opinions here:

http://www.lasg-forum.co.uk/post/YaBB.pl?num=1238877673

Comment edited 5 minutes after posting

2 upvotes

If this was made in "Japan" this would not have happened.
this reminds me of the news report a while ago that warned
of child toys and baby formula coming from china very dangerous to kids.
thank god i am a nikion, or i would SUE!

1 upvote

@ ImageInstyle: If it was made in Japan, it would be radioactive :)

4 upvotes

If it was made in Japan, you would get smoke on the water as you rinse your hands...
;-)

Comment edited 27 seconds after posting

1 upvote

Canon has a new motto:

If it doesn't kill ya then shoot it.. . with a Canon

or even..

We Leave The Lead In So You'll Wear The Brain Damage Grin

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 13 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

Total comments: 177


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