350D shutter button/power fault

I was recently taking photos are a charity ball (offering my services free but not promising professional results) and half way through the night, my trusty 350D starting playing up.

The shutter button failed to operate. The mode dial worked, the menu's worked. I could not popup the flash. When I turned the power switch off, the LCD remained on. I had to remove the battery to power down the camera.

I suspected dirt may have got into the power/shutter switch section. The shutter button didn't feel stuck, it has very little movement anyway but I didn't notice any difference to normal.

Luckily I had a remote shutter release and that worked fine. I managed to take more shots throughout the night but it was a bit clumsy. The results were ok, so no optical problems, purely electrical/mechanical.

Towards the end of the night I tried the shutter button again and it started working ... for a while, then stopped again. During this time, I did not change the mode setting, it was always in aperture priority - so I don't think dirt under the mode dial was a contributing factor.

The following day, after checking the photos, I checked the camera and I cannot make it fail in any way. I still suspect a dirty contact somewhere.

I know it's old (8.5yrs and c55K shots) and should be replaced by now but finances won't stretch to a new camera just yet so I would like to try a repair.

I tried this http://martybugs.net/blog/blog.cgi/gear/bodies/Canon-350D-Lockup.html but the camera is working now anyway so not sure if it helped.

So, I'm looking for some tips please to find/confirm the fault and then repair it.

GreenPig wrote:

I tried this http://martybugs.net/blog/blog.cgi/gear/bodies/Canon-350D-Lockup.html but the camera is working now anyway so not sure if it helped.

Did you replace that button battery with a new one? That little battery is the prime suspect any time an XT/350D starts behaving weirdly. Those batteries are only supposed to be good for a few years, and the old one is probably about dead.

I didn't replace the battery - but I will do. Mine is well beyond the 5 years life I have seen posted on a few sites.

Right now, the camera is working (with the old battery) perfectly but the old battery may be a problem.

The only way I'll know for sure is if the fault returns. Just keeping my fingers crossed for now.

Rob Bernhard wrote:

or to see what Canon offers for trading in the 350D using their Customer Loyalty program.

It looks like that program is only in the US.

I asked Canon UK anyway and got the reply ...

"Unfortunately we have to inform you that we do not have any such program in place that would allow you to return your EOS 350D in exchange for a rebate."

Battery replaced - can't fault the camera (yet).

Best 55 pence I have ever spent !!

I finally found the cause of my problems.

On xmas day I prepared the camera with 18-55 kit lens ready to capture the kids opening present. First press and 'nothing'. So it wasn’t the clock battery. I switched to a P&S for the rest of xmas day and later had time to check out the camera.

It’s the kit lens. More specifically, the aperture blades are sticking.

If the lens remains fully open (and @18mm) then I can get a shot. If the blades need to close down at all, then they can stick. Using the preview button on the body, I can close the lens down and it does not return to fully open when I release the button.

I have found that attempting to closing it to f/22 and then adjusting the zoom fully in and then fully out will sometimes unstick the blades. Usually takes 2 or 3 attempts.

With the lens in this state, it probably can’t respond to the camera’s focus command and the camera becomes locked up.

This explains all of my problems a few months ago. And I suspect the problem cleared when I switched lenses. I originally posted that a remote shutter worked – I don’t know if this was with a different lens or with the 18-55 … so much going on at the time that I didn’t have a detailed log of everything I tried.

When I bought the camera in Feb 2006, the cost of the body+kit lens was only £30 more than body alone so the lens only cost me £30 …. It is now beyond economical repair.

Time to look for another 18-xxx lens!

Or maybe attempt to dismantle it and do my own repair ….eeeek!!

I have now got the 18-55 IS STM ... from ebay. eBay Can be a risk but it looks ok and everything works.