Shutter Failure
They say nothing lasts forever and so it is for my much loved Canon 40D. It’s with much sadness that I have to report that my trusty war horse has taken it’s last shot. Over the past 4 years my Canon 40D has been in my camera bag for every shoot I’ve been to, it’s been the star in many of my photography videos and is my “go to” body when shooting sports.
So what’s caused the sudden demise on my 40D? The shutter has failed which causes the dreaded error99 every time I press the shutter.
However even with it’s last gasp the 40D didn’t disgrace itself. It could have failed on a pro shoot or whilst I was on holiday, but luckily the failure occurred during a practise session in my studio.
According to Canon the shutter on a 40D is expected to last (on average) for 100 000 photos. Now I knew my 40D has taken a large number of photos but had it exceed 100K? No, not even close.
In fact Canon 40D shutter failed after 61800 actuations… I’m not impressed.
Is your number up?
So how many photos has your Canon taken? To find out you’ll need to grab a free copy of EOSinfo from Astrojargon. Plug your Canon camera into your computer via the USB cable and switch it on.
Paste your shutter count in the comments below. Can anyone beat my count? I really hope so.
UPDATE: Further testing has shown all is not lost as I can still shoot in Live View mode. A repair is also possible but at around £250 with no guarantee that something else won’t fail next week of course.
Hi there, sorry for your camera, but I don’t think this is the end for your 40d. The shutter replacement will make your camera brand new. Don’t be sad 🙂
.. oh yes.. went through the same with my shutter. Had it fixed and had a new camera for probably 2months , and it went again.. had it fixed AGAIN .. and had a camera for a bout 2months.. then it went , again…
So there you go.. lets forget the shutter and get a new camera ..which i did..
was indeed frustrating .. but at the end you’ll probably buy a new camera 🙂
Hi Gavin, Sorry to hear about your shutter failure – unfortunately thats the luck of the draw.
This gives you good excuse to buy another camera.
All the best for Christmas.
Kevin
RIP 40D
Sorry to hear about that Gavin, thanks for the heads up on the program. I will check my 40D
Gary
If the shutter is rated to 100000 shots, surely you have a case for getting it repaired for free – even if it’s out of the warranty period. Products should be fit for purpose and last a reasonable length of time (regardless of warranties) so, if canon rate it at 100,000 actuations, it’d be reasonable to expect it to last to at least 80,000, rather than the 60k you’ve had?
Obviously this involves taking the time to ask/moan/make your point!
I had the same with my 40d, a friend of mine wanted it so he could get it repaired, it ended up only costing £120 in the end and it is still working fine
Hi Gavin,
sorry to hear about that. But when you’re honest, you know thinks will fail the day you’ll buy them.
I know a camera can become an idealistic value, a kind of a comrade. So maybe it’s worth to have the shutter fixed.
Whatever you do, good luck and the best wishes … Lars
Man that bites big time. Shoul have bought a Nikon. Haha. Anyway in what someone else was saying about an argumentative case against a free repair…probably not going to work. Manufacturers base that count on the assumption that you are shooting in perfect conditions all the time. Are you out in the rain, in an abandoned building full of asbestos and mold spores, is there a high percentage of humidity where you use it the majority of the time? See its things like that, that put a little more stress in the camera. They may test it to 100k but they probably did it in an environmentally controlled lab.
It’s a unfortunate one, but you never know what santa may bring you this yeah. All the best.
Gavin,
Here is the obvious fix.
Replace it with a NIKON!!!!!!!!
Yes go nikon….. My d50 was only meant to have a shutter life of 27000 but is still going for it at 56376
Hi Gavin,
Sorry to hear about your 40D. I hope you can repair it or maybe it’s time to move to a newer Canon…
Anyway, I bought my Canon 40D in July 2009 and my shutter count is now 34347. So hopefully I can still use it for awhile.
Greeting from Holland, Peter
HI GAVIN
SORRY THAT YOUR 40D HAS LET YOU DOWN
JUST HOPE MY 40D GOES ON FOR EVER HAVE TO MAKE THAT CHECK ON THE NUMBER OF SHOTS
REX
Hi Gavin,
do you use it with original lense or with an older Sigma? Some of them make problems.
Michael
Hi – I am sorry for your 40D … but i think that Canon should give you new camera for free. Your videos make people buying lots of stuff including Canon cameras, so it should be a nice marketing move 🙂
Canon should replace your camera, or at least your shutter, immediately. I would think, that a Pro photographer as yourself, is a member of CPN Canon Professionals Network. This ensures you guarantee of any problem with your EOS, will get priority over other non-CPN members, and will be fixed within 36 hours, and whilst your own equipment is in for repairs, Canon provide replacement gear, whilst your own is being repaired.
I sincerely hope you get it sorted soon. But I really recommend upgrading to a newer model, with more/better features. I would recommend the EOS 1D mrk III, like the one I have, it’s a sturdy workhorse, that has never failed me, apart from when I firs got mine. It was one of the first ones to arrive in Denmark, from the factory, and I was unlucky to get one of the models that was released with back-focussing-problems. I know the mrk IV has been released since, and also very recently the X model has been released, had my wallet, and bank-manage allowed, I’d be lining up to get hold of one of them. But I’ll have to wait. But I’d absolutely love to see, what a GREAT photograpy-magician, could “pull out of the top-hat” with, Canon’s newest flag-ship.
All the best, and good luck with your repaired/replaced EOS. I will be looking forward to following your work,tips and tutorials in the future.
All the best
Steve Wilden
Denmark
Sorry to hear about that, with this much use, I would say, repair is not the way forward. I believe you already have a Mark II replacement to it and can go for another one if you like 🙂
I would be real surprised if Cannon didn’t give you a new camera. You are such a star for them.
sorry to hear about your Canon 40D. Thank you for the information.
Hi Gavin,
Sorry to read about your 40D. I would agree with some of the posters here – have you tried approaching Canon about it ? I would have thought that in your position – you would have had a goodwill replacement shutter from them. Good luck anyway – let us know what you decide to do.
Richard
It seems to be a common problem with 40D. It happened to me about 11K, outside of canon warranty, but I was lucky that I had extended warranty from the store I bought. It got fixed for free and is still working. As someone mentioned, it is like new camera, since there are not too many (other)moving parts.
Here is the site to check real life shutter durability. 40D average is about 30-40K
http://www.olegkikin.com/shutterlife/canon_eos40d.htm
I got the error twice. The first time, a firmware upgrade fixed the issue.
The second time I was on vacation. Cost me around 200$us for the repair. The have replaced the electronic boards (so what they said).
Now I used it as a backup camera.
I feel your pain my 5d mark II failed in the middle of a shoot at 20,000 shutter activations. It was out of warrenty and cost me $213.00 to repair, and so far it is working just fine at 35,000 activation.
I had the same problem after 40.000 shots. Luckely I found a ‘camera repairman’ to put a new shutter in. Costs : € 150. I think 250 pound is an awfull lot of money, ridiculous ! You can send your camera to me, and I will have it repaired here in Holland, if you like !
But if you will not have repaired your 40d, what camera will be next ?
Bye, Martine
i guess that’s the reason Canon have just stopped mentioning the shutter life rank of their newer cameras… i’ve just bought a Nikon D5100 and it also have a guarantee of at least 100k photos, but who knows… :p
15,285 :((
Wow thats low!
hahaha so funny, I just had the same error 5 years ago with my XTI, I send to check the body and lens (not to canon, by the way they leave it worse) they were supposed to repair it, but a week after I star to use it, the error come back… so sad… But later I realize that it was the lens, because I used to take all the photos with AF… so I end buying a new lens and shot every picture in MF
I hope your going to get it repaired? I use a 350d/1dsmkii &1dmkii, hope there shutters are ok? lets know the outcome
Robbie
16018. Luckily mine is a back up only body while the 7D and 5DIII handle the heavy jobs. None the less, I’m disappointed. Will be sending it to Canon. At 16K, I’m hoping for a break in the price of the repair.