Err 01 - 450d + 18-55 IS

My first fault with the camera.  Getting ready for some Xmas photos and the Err 01 happened just after I'd mounted the camera + lens and 430EX II on the tripod and pushed in the Yongnuo wireless remote which if I recall correctly caused a flash trip. I had taken some photos the previous day with no problem.

I've taken the lens off, cleaned the contacts (which were pretty clean anyway) with an eraser, tried a couple of YouTube suggestions and sometimes the lens will work without error but not for long and mostly it won't.

My 55-250 and 10-22 are fine and I ended up using the latter even though it was a bit wide.

So is my 18-55 toast?

Do I have an impending problem with the camera?

What do I replace the lens with? (I wasn't unhappy with the 18-55 IS, it covered a useful range and was light, just needed a bit of extra PP sharpening.)

Is it time to look at replacing the camera anyway?  (Wish I hadn't splashed out on the wife's Xmas present now).

I had a few error codes with my 450D and used it for years afterwards.  It sounds like your issue is strictly the 18-55 lens.  I have no idea what is wrong but my wife burned out both an 18-55 and a 55-250.  In both cases the focusing motors burned out.  These are inexpensive lenses and not of the highest durable quality.

I'm traveling in March so I don't want to invite any surprises but it does seem fairly conclusive that it's the lens' circuitry that is playing up as the camera is fine with the other two lenses.

I'm at around 8,500 actuations on the camera which I don't think is a lot, and I would have expected less than half of those would have had the 18-55 on.

I've taken the lens off, cleaned the contacts (which were pretty clean anyway) with an eraser, tried a couple of YouTube suggestions and sometimes the lens will work without error but not for long and mostly it won't.

I would suggest being careful here.  Many places I've read we should avoid erasers because the contacts are very thinly gold plated and that plating can be rubbed off.  Just an observation and I do hope you get this resolved.

Phill