1st Shot Black issue Official Anouncement

Since two (and maybe the only two) occurrences occurred on specifc shoots, I can tie the dates/clicks down fairly closely. First (that I recall) was early/mid January 2006 at about 7500 shots. With a number restart (at 10,000) mid year or so, then next one was at about 700, so roughly 3200 shots later, in late December 2006.

It doesn't strike me that "wearing in" is a factor in reducing frequency. Which leads to mention that if certain things wear so much as to wear "in." I'd wonder what else was wearing "out."

...

I've been eagerly waiting for this, my 7D has the problem for over 7 months now. I hope Sony will issue a formal "Recall" like the one they did for defective CCD on the A1. That's the only way I will be able to get my 7D fixed for free here in Brazil.

... Lucas

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Always having fun with photography ...

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Gene

I live in Minoltaville, just inside Sony City (but I may have to go with the flow) Awaiting 7D upgrade.
'The only thing easier than being wrong .. is denying it!' -me
MaxxuM 7 Digital

I never knew that my camera displayed an Err message in the viewfinder until just now. I looked at the picture on the webpage, turned on my camera and snapped a shot. Sure enough, looking thru the viewfinder and pressing the shutter buttom produced an Err message.

And this isn't the first time I've had my camera on today. I live in MS and it snowed, so, that is picture time. So my camera was off for probably 5 hours before I tried it just now.

Anyway, I am sending my camera in as soon as I can. I hope it doesn't take too long, I just scored a beercan of ebay for

Thanks for posting this awesome news!

The link didn't work for me, this one does.

http://ca.konicaminolta.com/information/20070202/01_en.html

Rob

The English text is:

Konica Minolta Digital Camera Product Information

Thank you very much for your continued interest in Konica Minolta products.

Konica Minolta has recently discovered that some of its digital cameras may show the following symptom after not being used for a long time. When you take the initial photo, “Err” is displayed in the finder and the image turns black or dark blue. In most cases, “Err” can be cancelled by turning the main switch again and then photos can be taken normally.
The following products may be affected:

• MAXXUM/DYNAX 7D
• MAXXUM/DYNAX 5D

Please see an example of the possible effect below.

Konica Minolta will repair free of charge for the products exhibiting the above-mentioned symptom.

(Repairs of products which feature other defects shall be carried out as specified in our warranty.)

Please contact your regional service facility for further assistance.

For more information on contact details visit:
http://ca.konicaminolta.com/support/contact/sonylist/index.html

To all:

The information I got was that WORLDWIDE there will be a repair action (and refund of already made repairs), but only if one can demonstrate to have the problem and sends in the camera. There will be no kind of recall.
This is fair and OK to me.

I have tried the link as provided by Japanese customer support management, but it did not yet work, I will check again later this week and if needed get back to my source to find where it goes wrong.

I encourage everyone to post information from the various language versions of the website, so we can track how things are running, and keep all our colleague Minolta users on par.

I share with an earlier post in this thread that it is as yet unclear whether there will be spare parts soon, but as the drawings have been adapted (see the relevant pages on Dyxum) I expect that it is only a matter of time before the parts will have been manufactured. If we en masse now send in our camera's it could be a while before repairs are actually effectively executed.

I will keep you posted, I have a serious interest, as my two 7D's exhibit this problem as well.

Finally, an earlier post in this thread suggested that "wear" might reduce the problem., My experience is not so, I have seen both my camera's go from OK, to a bit problematic, to 1st frame black every shooting session.

regards,

Peter

I ve only had the problem twice , how the h#ll can I demonstrate that ?

You don't need to, the camera logs the error in its internal data, they get that info with the correct tools.
If anything you can tell them that you know that it exists.
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Shoot To Thrill, I got my gun at the ready, gonna fire at will.
Photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/vitorfonseca/

bossie said:

I ve only had the problem twice , how the h#ll can I demonstrate
that ?

Click to expand...

A code corresponding to Error58 should be recorded in the camera's error log. The service provider should know how to read it to confirm that you have experienced the "right" error to be covered.

If you have a 7D it seems you have little choice but to trust the service provider.

If you have a 5D you can obtain the service program from Dyxum (for now, at least) and use it to read the log. DO NOT DO ANYTHING ELSE WITH IT!!



It appears to read out the last 4 recorded errors.

Even without the program the instructions with the asterisk should show whether you have Error58 or not but have, I think, to be followed while "err" is showing in the viewfinder and before switching off the camera.

I have the magic key combination written on a card in my camera bag, just in case ;-~

Now I'm annoyed. I sent my 5D back to Jessops (UK) because of an intermittant fault with the first black frame problem. They had it for six weeks and gave it back with no fault found. The very first shot I took after getting it back was (you guessed it) the dreaded black frame.

So they should be able to substantiate the problem because it is logged as an error on my camera?

George Evans
http://www.slender.smugmug.com

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George
5D
Gear is listed under my Profile.

to that error and or based on that error alone, that last time I sent mine in.

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Thanks,

Digitalshooter!

Member of the 7D and Beercan Cult! Looking for a muffler for my 7D!

The light at the end of the tunnel is becoming clearer and its calling me to the darkside!

But now is an "official" problem, maybe next time you send it in they will do the correct repair.
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Shoot To Thrill, I got my gun at the ready, gonna fire at will.
Photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/vitorfonseca/

George Evans said:

So they should be able to substantiate the problem because it is
logged as an error on my camera?

Click to expand...

Absolutely yes. I know that I have had just one solitary occurrence of a black first shot and lock up, in April 2006. 10 months and 3000 frames later I can find the evidence:
No 1 Error 58 - clear as day.



There seems no excuse for a camera repairer equipped for KM cameras to miss it, if information on the procedure has been passed to them.

Has the program been removed?
I cannot find it on the site
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Just keep clicking!

After reading the thread I tried my 7D before a shoot and NOTHING! One frame then shut down, changed battery (twice), lens and the card but still the same, one shot then shuts down, but NO err messages. I hadn't used the 7D for several weeks.

Then all by itself it springs into life and 200 perfect shots later its still going strong, so should I return it for repair?

When I viewed the lost shots, yup - black frames!

Rob

But a bit too late for me...

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1035&message=16743630

As i don't have my (otherwise excellent) 5D anymore.

Glad to hear they're going to provide a fix you all.

Best wishes

John

I read this thread yesterday and, of course, picked up my 7D.

I hadn't used it in a couple of weeks.

I pointed it towards the window and fired off one shot, then nothing.

Dead Battery.

I pulled the battery, put in a fresh one and it came up fine.

I shot 4-5 images then looked at all of them.

The shot just before the dead battery was black. All those shot with a fresh battery were fine.

Something about this camera doesn't like to just sit.