Canon XSi: It takes multiple clicks to take a photo

Dave503 wrote:

I have a Canon XSi and recently it started giving issues. I tried with multiple lenses, both in AF and MF modes, but it won't go away.

When I try to take a photo by pressing the shutter button nothing would happen. Even after multiple attempts of pressing the shutter button nothing happens. Sometimes this gets fixed if I zoom the lens back and forth. When that doesn't work, changing the mode in the Camera helps.

Any thoughts on what I should be looking into to fix this issue?

Thanks in advance.

Have you recently acquired this camera, or have you had it for a long time and it only now is misbehaving?

The shutter button  has two stages, half-press for metering and AF, and full press to release the shutter.  It could be the contacts in this switch are worn or broken and not functioning.

or

With autofocus active and the AF mode in OneShot or AI Focus, the shutter will not release unless the AF system can confirm focus on something.  In manual focus or AI Servo AF mode the shutter should release when fully pressed without regard to confirming focus.  This might be the reason you get it to work after switching modes.

or

Is the camera freezing with and ERR 01 or other code?  It could be the lens is faulty.  The aperture and af motor inside communicate with the camera via a flexible ribbon cable that folds/extends with zoom.  If the thin wires break or short, it'll keep the camera from shooting.  Could be why zooming the lens in/out can sometimes restore order temporarily.  Try another lens to determine if the lens or the camera has the problem.