HELP! Canon EOS 450D Not working

Feinar wrote:

Hi guys,

I'd like to firstly point out that I am beginner with DSLRs and I may use the wrong terms so forgive me!

Is this a new camera to you, or have you had it a while? Do you have the instruction manual? If not, can download from Canon USA: http://gdlp01.c-wss.com/gds/3/0300000933/01/EOSRXSi-EOS450D_EN.pdf

How old is the battery? If 2+ years old consider replacing.

I need help figuring out whats happening to my camera. It started with the light meter not functioning properly. The meter will be in the center when I change the aperture but the pictures will come out super exposed.

Over exposed? What exposure mode? what lens? using the built-in flash? or a speedlite in the hotshoe (which make/model)?

Can you post sample pics with exposure info?

In Av and P it's normal for the meter to be centered at zero as you change the aperture. The camera compensates by adjusting the shutter speed (and/or ISO if you've set AUTO ISO).

Now my shutter button is 'locked' and I can't take any photos and I noticed that the light meter in the view finder is dead.

Is the entire bottom row of info in the viewfinder blank or unresponsive, or just the meter scale? Is it possible you've inadvertently set Mirror Lock Up (pp. 94, 157 of the XSi/450D instruction manual)? Press of the shutter button flips the mirror up and viewfinder goes dead. 2nd press will activate the shutter to take the pic. If no 2nd press within 30 seconds, then it should self-cancel and drop the mirror back down without taking a shot.

However I am still getting a functioning screen. I can't even open live view.

Don't know, other than Live View has to be Enabled in the Set Up2 menu, and is available only in the "Creative Zone" exposure modes: P, Tv, Av, M, A-DEP.