Digital Canon Rebel EOS SLR Camera Problem

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My Grandson Ethan My Granddaughter Sami Sure would have been nice photos... if hey weren't half black. I'd say something is wrong with this POPULAR camera... and can not recommend anyone to invest in this camera. In asking salepeople and reading information on the internet it is my understanding that the Rebel XP does the very same thing. ... I purchased my first Canon Rebel EOS a few years ago from Comp USA. I loved that it handled a lot like a 35mm camera. It was my choice after years working with the Sony Mavica cameras. Wow... what a difference in picture quality. Using the memory cards was pretty good too... and being able to use my choice of lenses was super! I could now really get in close to see the animals at the zoo... or dolphins out in the ocean. In an 8 hour day out... I would only have to use 1 battery and less than 1/2 another charged battery... wonderful! I was able to take classes from a guy in Saline, Michigan who also owned this camera... that was a great help to show how to handle that was... I thought at that time... a fine camera. While on vacation... my camera stopped working. When I returned, I took it back to Comp USA. There under warranty... they gave me a new camera (camera #2) I had to purchase a new warranty card under this new camera. While in New York... again... camera stopped working. This time Comp USA had changed their warranty policy... they took the camera in and sent it back to Canon for repair. Soon to head south, we decided to purchase another camera I could use being the last one could be at Canon shop for up to 6 weeks. This camera (camera #3) was purchased from The Camera Shop in Saline. Why continue to use a camera that keeps breaking down? The price of all the lenses I have that fit the canon cameras. And... I do like the digital photo quality of this camera. Basically... know how to use this camera inside and out. Before going to Florida I did receive my camera from the repair shop... this now gave me 2 cameras to use. I was in camera heaven... now with 2 cameras... one to use... and one for back up. How grand is that? NOT... both cameras... went down. Once again, when taking a photo... only part of the photo showed up... half photo... half black. By now, this had happened with all three cameras (and 1 of my husband’s cameras he is now on his SECOND Digital Canon Rebel)... with reading from others on the internet... I figured out what was going wrong. There is a flap inside the camera that falls over the mirror. Take off your lens and look inside your camera... you can see the mirror. If you too are only able to take half a photo... you will see this flap that has fallen over the mirror. If you flip this flap up... you might still be able to use your camera... but in manual only. The automatic no longer works. Now on my 4TH Canon Digital Rebel... after only 3 months use ... the same thing happens. I now am the owner of FOUR Canon Digital Rebel cameras that I can only use on MANUAL. I'd say something is wrong with this camera... and can not recommend anyone to invest in this camera. In talking to salespeople and reading information on the internet it is my understanding that the Rebel XP does the very same thing.   Email Response from Canon... Date: Thu, 10 Nov 2005 16:46:13 -0500 To: "Loraine Wauer" Subject: Re: Email Tech Support (KMM5136134V59165L0KM) From: "Canon Support" Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert Dear Loraine: Thank you for contacting Canon product support. We value you as a Canon customer and appreciate the opportunity to assist you. I am very sorry to hear of the difficulties that you have experienced with your EOS Digital Rebel. We have not discovered any issues with the mirror of the EOS Digital Rebel sticking. Unfortunately, we need to recommend that your camera be sent to the service center to be examined. I apologize for the inconvenience that this causes you. For factory service, please forward your digital camera to one of the Factory Service Centers shown below. When shipping your camera, please be sure to remove the memory card and batteries. You are not required to send any accessories or manuals when shipping the camera. Be sure to include your name, street address (no P.O. boxes, please), telephone number, and a letter describing the issue with the product. If it has been less than one year since the camera was purchased, we ask that you also include proof of warranty in the form of a copy of your sales receipt. As we do not provide RMA numbers for service, we suggest using a trackable and insurable service (i.e. UPS, Federal Express, Priority Mail) to ship your camera. Please package the camera very securely in a sturdy shipping box to prevent damage during shipment. Please send your camera to one of the following Factory Service Centers: Canon Factory Service Center 100 Jamesburg Road Jamesburg, NJ 08831 Tel.# (732)521-7007 or Canon Factory Service Center 15955 Alton Parkway Irvine, CA 92618 Tel.# (949) 753-4200 Upon arrival at the Factory Service Center, your camera will be logged in to our repair database and assigned a repair number. Next, the camera will be examined and you will be advised of the findings. If the required repairs are covered by the warranty, the repairs will begin immediately, and you will not be contacted. When the repairs are complete, the camera will be shipped back to you via Federal Express. The length of time for the repair will be dependent upon the nature of the repair and availability of parts, if needed. Usually, warranted repairs are completed within approximately ten to fourteen business days of the camera's arrival at the Factory Service Center. All decisions regarding warranty coverage are made by the Factory Service Center at the time of repair. If the repair entails something that is not covered in warranty, a written estimate will be sent to you at the address that you have provided. The repairs to your camera will not begin until you approve this estimate and make payment arrangements. If, after receiving the estimate, you do not wish to have the camera repaired, please inform the Factory Service Center of your decision as soon as possible. If you decline the estimate, the camera will be shipped back to you unrepaired. Once you have confirmed with your shipper that the camera has been delivered, you are more than welcome to contact us for repair updates. Please include your name, address, and telephone number, as well as the serial number of the camera, in all repair status inquiries. If you prefer to check the repair status by phone, please call the Canon Customer Care Center at 1(800)828-4040. Agents are available Monday through Friday, from 8 AM to Midnight ET, and on Saturdays from 10 AM to 8 PM ET. Again, please have the serial number of the camera available when you call. Please note that our U.S. Factory Service Centers are unable to accept packages from or return equipment to addresses outside the United States. We hope this information is helpful to you. Please feel free to contact us again if you have any other questions or concerns. Thank you for choosing Canon. Sincerely, Erik Technical Support Representative Special Note: Certain issues are very difficult to resolve via email. If your question remains unanswered after you have received this email, you may call our special toll-free number for email customers with unresolved issues and speak to a technician by dialing 1-866-261-9362, Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 midnight ET, and Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. ET (excluding holidays). If you prefer to continue to communicate via email, reply to this message and we will respond as quickly as possible.   Original Message Follows: ------------------------- Email Support Form Message Product Type: EOS Digital Rebel Product Model: IslandData Session: Product Serial Number: Date of Purchase: First Name: Loraine Last Name: Wauer Address: City: State: Zip: 49287 Phone Number: Email Address: rainiew @ email address cass.net EMAIL_ADDRESS_CONFIRM: rainiew @ email address cass.net INQUIRY: Hello... I am not holding my THIRD EOS Rebel. I have/own 3... but had turned in one for an exchange... so actually have had 4 new cameras of this model. Each have done the same thing... the mirror inside freezes up. Now that it has happend, the same thing with all 4 cameras, I know that if I flip the cover/mirror which I can get to when I take off my lense... I am still able to use the camera... but have to set it on manual. This gets expensive having to either have them fixed, or to purchase a new camera. I do take a lot of photos, but feel that this should not happen as it has. My husband, now on his second EOS Rebel, has had the exact same thing happen to his. I love the pictue quality, and have the lenses for this model... that is why I have not yet changed over to a different camera. But I can not continue to do this, it is just too expensive to waste my money like this. I noticed that Comp USA now has a next up EOS, about $1600.... but I am afraid to put my money towards making this purchase. Does this camera ... wlll it do the same thing as the rebel has? Reading on the internet, and talking to others I've met at zoos, and theme parks across the USA... this problem is known by Canon, but nothing seems to be done to fix the problem. I have suggested to those who ask about the camera while I am out... I tell them not to purchase the camera until Canon does something to see that this does not happen to them with their larger purchase. I've heard that the EOS Rebel XT does the same thing. Please help... I love my Canon... but not a rich person. Loraine ======================================= Do I really want to upgrade to a camera that may do the same thing? EOS Digital SLR 20D? Interesting... they never answered my questions about the other camera. Makes one wonder if they even READ this email. Interesing... they've fixed my camera... and ALL 4 of my cameras... AND my husband's camera ALL stopped working the same way.... and they claim they've never heard of this problem??? Other owners on the internet have even mentioned that their camera has done the very same thing... I find this rather odd that their response was they dont' know of this problem. For this price... this is just too expensive to be considered a disposable camera. Use it for so many shots... then it stops working correctly. I can't afford it... can you? At this pint I am ready to try another brand camera... anyone out there with information on the Nikon Digital Camera? Two of my friends own the Nikon... both take as many photos as I have... on has owned her since my first Canon purchase... he Nikon is still working perfectly. The other friend has owned her Nikon for 1 1/2 years with no problems. After asking those at the parks who use the cameras... for the park use, and personal users... if you have Nikon lenses... get a Nikon. If you have Canon lenses... get a Conon. If you have not invested in a 35mm camera, or digital... WAIT til Canon corrects this problem. Buy one of their cheaper cameras... that way if it stops working, you won't have a lot of money invested. As it is now.. you purchase the camera for about $900... then ecxpect to pay another $200 each time it stops working. Canon doesn't have to do anything to keep making money off you. My Sony Cybershot is at least 7 years old and still works perfectly! Anyone know how the newer cybershots are doing? If you are having problems with your Digal Canon Camera... please let us know so we can post it here. Maybe through this site, Canon will realize there is a problem with their camera... and we can not afford it.   --------------------------------------- links to other sites http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00MP5J http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=73567 http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=73420 Fixing cost... http://www.neowin.net/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t538634.html   May help until you are able to have canon fix the problem.... Flip up the bottom mirror connecting it to the larger one and the camera is almost fine. However, the autofocus feature no longer works. Detailed with Photos   ----------- I have a Canon 20D now, but use it very little. I have so many canon lenses that would go to waste... I believe that canon counts on that with it's users. So why should they bother to fix a KNOWN defect??? I use my Sony Cybershot for most of my photos now! It is a great little pocket camera. Tell me... who USED to have faith in Canon? Am I stupid or what... enough is enough! I am NOT a rich person... and I really am not a stupid person. How does that go... fool me once shame on you... fool be twice... shame of me. I've fallen in to Canon's trap of sending too much money their way! Yes... you are seeing FOUR rebels... MY four rebels! All broken. And... remember... one was under warrenty when it went out, and it was exchanged for a new one. Another one was sent in under warrenty to be fixed. Now what do I have??? A pile of no good canons! And they still say... there is no known problems with the rebels.   =========================== > > > > Hey Canon... it CAN be fixed! ... read this to find out how! Funny that all of us here have this problem... and you... Canon are not aware of the problem? I find that hard to believe. MCVR http://www.mcvr.com/canon_digital_rebel.htm Sept 13, 2007 - My daughter just sent one of my broken rebels in to this company... I'll let you know how it goes. Sonja got the camera back... works perfect! Autofocus works! Took less than two weeks total. Yes, it did cost, but way less than what canon wants to fix a problem they seem not to be aware of??? Autofocus repairs: * Most autofocus repairs are related to problems with the small mirror under the main mirror (known as the sub-mirror). There is a plastic post that operated this mirror which sometimes breaks. We replace this post with a brass pin so that the problem will not recur. This problem is often associated with part of the image being cut off by the mirror because it does not move out of the way properly during exposure. The estimate replace the broken pin with a brass pin is $128 on all EOS Digital Rebel models. =========================== -----------     Your emails....   Date: Tue, 25 Dec 2007 From: H. Katz Any ultimate resolution from Canon regarding the half black picture club? I woke up today (Christmas morning with the family coming over for our yearly photo--my responsibility) a new member of the club. I've always loved Canon, but it's been a bad month. First bought a Canon MP960 printer with high hopes and have been very disappointed--now this. H. Katz My Note: On CHRISTMAS! Family photos! Come on Canon!   Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2007 From: Daryl All, I have the same problem as described before. The autofocus mirror sticks. I can either shoot in manual mode or autofocus with no picture. Too bad it has been a good camera. -- Daryl W. Mincey Chair and Professor Department of Chemistry My Note: I wish Canon cared! ...and cared enough to do something about it.   Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2007 From: Lucy I had my camera for 1 year. I bought it from a friend who used it for about 3 months but upgraded to Digital Rebel XT shortly afterwards. While taking pictures of my Mom & Dad 50th year anniversary, the auto-focus went bad. A couple weeks later, the half-black (3/4 black) images problem started happening. I got the quote from Canon Factory Repair Center (New Jersey), and it is $195 ($180 for repair, plus $15 for shipping it back). Needless to say, I was very disappointed to find out this is a common problem that is expensive to fix!. Lucy My Note: Isn't is amazing so many with the same problem... and still canon says they know of no problems??? Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2007 From: Wendy Rush Hello! It just happened to me!! I have a 3 year old Digital Rebel G, and while taking pictures at the Humane Society I shoot for, my pictures started to have most of the picture blacked out! I called Canon and they wanted me to send it to their repair facility and told me they are unaware of any known issues with this camera. I am not under warranty and cannot afford a costly repair. I am so upset. I decided to do a search on the internet and found your site stating this has happened to you all of those times! I am really upset now. They should do a recall or offer to repair this for free. This is a defect. Have you had any luck with Canon? Best Wishes, Loraine's Comment... Canon is STILL saying it... at OUR cost. I've not heard anything from canon. Actually... I am having a blast with my little Sony Cybershot! Takes nice photos. Nope, I've not heard anything from canon... and I will not pay them to fix their own error in their digital cameras. I used to have so much faith in canon, that is why I got my first rebel. At that time they were over $1000. Because Comp USA helped out so much with the first break downs... I continued with that camera. First one they exchanged... next one they sent to canon with no cost to me. I fell in love with the photos I took with the cameras. You were limited only to your knowledge of the camera. It was such a nice outlet for me to go out for a nice day of photo taking. To come home and see the results on my computer screen. To make photos for the grandkids to send home as postcards when I traveled. Only to be let down over and over again. And they are STILL saying there are no know problems with their cameras. It is very sad!   Date: 2 Sep 2007 From: Howard McFarland Hi, My Rebel has the same problem. 9700 actuations. It’s been gone more than a week and I still don’t even have the repair quote back yet. I was told by the shop I bought it from to expect it to be gone 6-8 weeks. I use this camera for my virtual tour business. I spoke with a guy at the Canon service depot in Toronto and his statement was, “There are no known issues with the Rebel”….Total BS. Loraine's Comment... they are STILL saying it! “There are no known issues with the Rebel”   Date: Tue, 29 May 2007 From: Rick Alfaro My Canon Digital Rebel Is a Lemon! I purchased a Digital Rebel three years ago. I like it very much and it takes outstanding photographs. I have purchased three high-quality Canon-brand lenses and the top-of-the-line Canon flash. My home and office are lined with excellent photos, and I get many compliments from friends and co-workers. In fact, these photos and my glowing recommendations of this camera have encouraged five other people to buy it, and several of those folks have, like me, gone hog-wild and bought several lenses, flashes, etc. Unfortunately, the story gets very grim from here. This camera's reliability is non-existent. It has caused me a lot of grief and cost me a lot of wasted money and effort. After several hours of conversations with technical and customer support, I have patiently and dutifully sent this camera in for four and now five repairs. The result is that I have had the camera in my hands for ten out of the last twelve months and it has actually worked for nine out of the last twelve months. This is an unacceptable track record for a camera that cost me nearly $1000. I find it had to accept that a camera in this price range will only last for three years. The story so far: In April of 2006, when it was two years old, the camera's shutter stopped working. I sent it in to the Canon repair center (Repair number LG703765), the shutter was repaired, and sent back to me. Repair costs were $200, not including the thirty or so dollars to ship it to the repair center. I lost use of the camera for two weeks. A mere six months later, in October of 2006, the camera's focus lock failed. I was told to send it in again, and after expressing my disbelief and annoyance that the camera was failing again so soon, the repair (Repair number LH124454) was done without charge, except for the thirty or so dollars to ship it to the repair center. I lost use of the camera for two weeks, including Halloween, during which I was unable to take advantage of any photo opportunities with my children. It only took two months for the camera to fail again. Again, some kind of shutter problem rendered the camera unusable during my children's first trip to Disneyland. Again after expressing my disbelief and annoyance that the camera was failing again so soon, the repair (Repair number WA864336) was done without charge, except for the thirty or so dollars to ship it to the repair center. I lost the camera for three weeks because of the Christmas holiday, during which I hardly need add, that I was unable to take any photos during the holiday. This was a major disappointment. Less than a month later, I began to experience an intermittent shutter failure, during which the shutter would stay locked down (looking through the lens, it would be black), and then it would release after being set aside for several hours. I called the Canon technical support, and they told me that I would have to send it in again. I was reluctant to do so, because the shutter was sticking intermittently and returning to normal several hours later, which is a difficult problem to reproduce. However, after several episodes of this in late March of this year, the technical support person recommended – based on the number of incidents with the camera -- I contact Canon Customer Support. My case with this department was handled by a man named Mike (866-886-1901 extension 2191), who listened to my saga and told me that I would need to send the camera to the repair center for "evaluation". I explained that I feared they would not be able to find much as the shutter was sticking intermittently and returning to normal several hours later, which is a difficult problem to reproduce Mike explained that the evaluation would be complete and extensive, and that it might take longer than an average repair. It did not help that the free shipping was three-day, and the total time I was without my camera was three weeks. I thought that "Customer Service" would include, at the very least, some follow-up about the results of the evaluation. Not so! I got home from work one day, the camera was returned, and the note inside said that the camera and lens was evaluated and nothing was wrong. Did I get a phone call from Mike? No. Did I get an e-mail from Mike? No. I waited a couple of days and heard nothing. I finally called him, left a message, but he did not return my call for over a week. By this time I was so disgusted, I didn't bother calling back. I guess Canon's idea of Customer Service is different than mine. At least this time, Canon ponied up the shipping costs (although I had to purchase fifteen dollars worth of packing materials). Which brings us to today, two months later. While shooting some photos for a client, the camera failed mid-job. (Bye-bye, freelance job!) But this was a newer, different shutter problem. The shutter engages (softly) takes a black image, gives the dreaded, meaningless "Error 99", and refuses to take another shot. This time the camera did not return to normal; it is dead in the water. I am now at wit's end. I just got off the phone with Mike, whose capacity for sympathy is somewhat limited. He gave the usual response – send it to the service center. I asked if there was any way to expedite the situation, and he said he could ask them to look at it "as soon as possible". Give that it is Tuesday, and that they will be sending me another lame three-day label, I figure it will be back in my hands in what, three weeks? Let's recap: · Camera down time out of the last twelve months: Almost three months. · Events missed: Kid's first trip to Disneyland and Legoland; Halloween, Christmas, and New Years 2006. · Money spent on repairs/shipping: $300 · Estimated sales from my own purchases and recommendations to friends: over $5000 After all of this expense and misery, I'd like to know: What is Canon going to do to make this right?   Date: Sat, June 2007 http://photography-on-the.net/forum/archive/index.php/t-62680.html another link with Rebel Problems   Date: Sat, 28 Apr 2007 Elaine Hartley Yes, I am currently having the same problem with my EOS digital canon. First (on vacation, of course) the picture only showed a partial view. Now that the little flap inside the camera on the mirror was put back in place I no longer have use of automatic. I am very discouraged after reading the experiences of others with this same problem. And I thought Canon was so great! They need to admit this problem. I will tell everyone about this and discourage others from buying Canon.   Date: Sat, 20 Jan 2007 Johnna Same problem as listed numerous times on the web site – little did I know there was a maximum number of shots available.   Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2007 Daniel Toner again, I have a post on your site already about this camera and wanted to add to it. You can just copy and paste this whole email if you like. Contact me at Daniel@DanielToner.com for help. I fixed my camera in less than 5 minutes. The local camera store wanted $350 to fix it, told me it needed new parts and wouldn’t be finished for about 8 weeks! I demanded it back and told them, it doesn’t need any damn parts! I thought the spring made the tension on the mirror less so it could pop up quicker. It seems to ADD tension. It's a useless part so pull it out. My autofocus doesn't work anymore but I never used it anyway. The mirror pops up and down quick and smooth now. Just grab the spring, pop it off and pull it out. Lastly, never forget: NEVER BUY CANON PRODUCTS AGAIN!   Date: Thu, 21 Dec 2006 I am the owner of a canon digital eos camara that also has a problem with the mirror plastic cover sticking which takes partial pictures....I purchased my camara three years ago....love it!!!! miss it!!!!! aparently this is a defect......I have heard from various sources and read on the net that this is a problem with these camaras....please research..I love this camara...but can't afford to be sending out for repairs etc..... Thank you!!! Dora Villanueva My Comment: I hope that Canon does fix this defect, at thier cost... not ours. I have no doubt they are aware of this problem... I've told them... and from the emails I have received many others have told them also. Loraine   Original Message Follows: ------------------------- Email Support Form Message Product Type: Digital Rebel XT Product Model: IslandData Session: Product Serial Number: 0820521969 Date of Purchase: Less than a year First Name: Daniel Last Name: Toner Email Address: drtoner123@yahoo.com EMAIL_ADDRESS_CONFIRM: drtoner123@yahoo.com INQUIRY: http://www.shockingbird.com/index.php?action=justone&id=371 http://www.billybear4kids.com/CanonRebel/Digital.shtml http://photography-on-the.net/forum/archive/index.php/t-73567.html I just read the above links. This is far from an uncommon problem. The camera is simply defective and mine is definately still under warranty. I'll send it to a service center but I don't know where my paperwork is off hand, I'm sure I can find it but the whole benefit of the product registration was so I wouldn't have to. So I need you to look up my registration and asure me that this repair will be done free of charge. Canon's Response Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2006 21:15:45 -0500 To: "Daniel Toner" Subject: Re: Response from Canon - Technical Support (KMM6531552V29710L0KM) From: "Canon Support" Dear Mr. Toner: Thank you for your reply. Canon USA does not monitor, confirm, endorse, or attest to the accuracy any information posted on third party websites. It seems many customers are overwhelmed by the barrage of information (or misinformation) being posted on unregulated, non-Canon websites. We are able only to confirm the performance of the camera based on our own testing. The only issues that we have found with the EOS Digital Rebel XT is that the serial number rubs off of some of the first cameras that were manufactured and an incompatibility with certain Lexar cards. Lexar released a firmware update to resolve the memory card problem. Registration is only used to alert you of software and firmware updates. The service center will need a copy of the receipt to ensure the camera is under warranty. Some stores keep records of purchases. I recommend that you contact the dealer that the camera was purchased at to check if they can print you a copy of the receipt. If you are unable to locate a copy of the receipt please explain your situation on the letter to the service center. Please write to us again if you have any questions. Sincerely, Erik Technical Support Representative Special Note: Certain issues are very difficult to resolve via email. If your question remains unanswered after you have received this email, you may call our special toll-free number for email customers with unresolved issues and speak to a technician by dialing 1-866-261-9362, Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 midnight ET, and Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. ET (excluding holidays). If you prefer to continue to communicate via email, reply to this message and we will respond as quickly as possible.   Thu, 19 Oct 2006 10:49:41 EDT canon rebel xt after about 200 shots the camera takeing a higher frameline on the bottom right side which makes the frame line crooked on the bottom and this does not happen on every shot canon tech support says the camera is working properly but i sent it in to the jamesburg nj repair center and they think the sensor is tilted or its the viewfinder   Mon, 18 Sep 2006 11:41:06 -0300 Hi! Misery loves company, so here I am. My husband and I are artists and depend on our equipment. We were also thrilled with the Digital Rebel when we bought it in December, 2004. Paid lots of money for it. Now it is kaput. One minute fine, the next minute dead in the water. And we live in the hinterlands of rural Canada (Nova Scotia), so getting this thing replaced will be time consuming. And expensive. Thank goodness we found your website--we were about to send it off to a company in New Jersey that fixes digital cameras. FORGET IT. I am not going through what others have suffered, we will learn from them. I am now sitting down to start research on a decent digital SLR--if such a thing exists. I will also call Canon (just to waste some of their time, too) to register a complaint. What is the best way to email a complaint to them? Their website is a tangle of dead ends. P.S. We did not get anywhere near 10,000 shots out of ours.   Tue, 25 Jul 2006 17:23:42 -0500 I just love my canon digital EOS rebel, but all of the sudden it won't auto focus. What am I to do?? I received it as a gift a year ago and I don't have a receipt. Help   Sat, 15 Jul 2006 22:24:02 -0400 Hi, I was reading all the posts looking for some encouraging news about my Canon Rebel, looks like I'm SOL. I've had my Rebel for 2 yrs and today it decided to just not work, I had taken pics earlier in the day and it worked fine. Pulled it out of the bag and turn it on and NOTHING! Not looking forward to sending it in and being without a camera for weeks, not to mention shelling out $$$$. I had a Canon AE-1 for 15 years and it never once failed me wish I could say the same for this camera1   Sat, 24 Jun 2006 17:55:55 -0700 I was ready to buy the digital rebel XT version from Canon until I read the comments on this website. Consumer Reports recommends the Canon Digital Rebel XT, and I sent a query to Consumer Reports as follows: Please See this website- in regards to the Canon Digital Rebel, and Canon's response to the customers experiencing the problems. http://www.billybear4kids.com/CanonRebel/Digital.shtml Consumer Reports should get more information before recommending these expensive cameras. I was very close to spending ALOT of money on the Canon Digital Rebel XT, but did not see even a footnote from Canon addressing the original Digial Rebel camera problems. According to the complaints, the mirror problem is apparently a design flaw, and to add insult to injury, Canon is charging the customers to repair it. I would like to hear your comments. Please email me back. If they respond, I will let you know. As for me, I think I will check out Nikon. Best of luck   email from Tiffany Tue, 11 Apr 2006 I recently experienced the same exact problem with my Canon rebel. All of a sudden all the pictures started coming out half black, I soon realized that the auto focus features was not working and the camera would only manual focus. After reading all of these complaints and judging by their denial of even knowing about this problem, it is obvious that Canon does not to care that they have sold the public a defective problem even if it means tarnishing their brand. I do not know what I am going to do. I am a poor college kid who my mom saved up to buy me this camera of my graduation. I can not afford $200 to fix this. Two of my friends have a Nikon D70 and have had absolutely no problems with it. I will NEVER buy Canon products again and will defiantly be telling all of my friends to spend the extra money and get a Nikon instead. Its worth it in the long run.   email from Jerry April 6, 2006 Thanks for sharing your story about your Canon. Here's mine: I purchased my Digital Rebel in December 2004. It was basically my Christmas present to myself. I planned to invest a lot of meony into this camera and started with a reasonably nice entry level lens (not the kit) for $350. I then added a better IS lens. In March, 2006, the camera just died. And it was during one of those "only happens once a year" events when you really don't want a camera to die at all. It wasn't the lens/shutter/mirror problem you and everyone else seems to have, however. It was just dead. One minute in the padded camera bag and 10 steps later out of the camera bag and dead. After going through the motions with Canon about batteries (um, OK, I'm an idiot... help me confirm that my battery has juice Canon), they told me to send it in. A quick reply and a $195 repair bill (reduced 20% with free shipping after I whined a bit) and I should get my camera back with a 6 month Canon Factory warranty. Yippee. At this point I will probably use the camera for 4-5 months and see how things go. At that point I will likely sell it on eBay for a loss and put the proceeds into a nice Nikon camera. There is just NO way a $750 camera body should break this soon or frequently. Canon's refusal to recognize the problems and to charge customers $200 to fix a bad design is unacceptable. 15 months of light, occasional use and my camera was dead. I couldn't speak with my voice or my email to Canon but I can surely speak with my wallet.   Sat, 18 Mar 2006 I was reading your comments on the Canon camera because we were considering buying one. We purchased a Nikon D70s Nov 2005 and we have had nothing but trouble. After less than one month, the flash on top popped up and would not go back down. We purchased it at Campus Camera in Clemson,SC. We carried it in and they suggested we scotch tape the flash down and use the $400.00 separate flash we had purchased at the time-----we spent $1800.00 and were told to tape the flash down!!! A short while later, some of the pictures started to be very distorted or not to take at all. Some of them are all black and some are half black and half pink and purple stripes. The others are neon pink and look like a negative not a picture. Sometimes, the camera just refuese to do anything at all. Also, there is a recall on the rechargable batteries for this camera. There have been 6 to catch on fire during the charge process. I wanted to share this because I certainly don't think a Nikon will be any better!! We have had this one for 4 1/2 months and we are sick of it.   Syndi - Tue, 28 Feb 2006 I had the exact same thing happen with my digital rebel. I bought it 2.5 years ago and it died while i was on vacation. 2 plus months to repair it and supposedly about 200$. I dont know.... I need to figure out what to do.   Fri, 24 Feb 2006 Hey! I have the exact same problem you've had. I can put the mirror back into place and the image is fine but the autofocus feature doesn't work. I guess I'm going to have to justify buying a new camera. Ugh. Thanks for the help. Much appreciated. Thought you might want to link to my site. I have some images of what the broken piece looks like: http://shockingbird.com/index.php?action=justone&id=371 tate   email from Steve 24 Dec 2005 I just ran into the mirror problem today. The mirror came off the mount. I too have had my Canon Rebel for a year and a half and take a lot of pictures. I definitely will not buy another Canon product again. Does anyone know a quick fix to attaching the mirror back into its place? I refuse to pay $200 to have it fixed just so that it can break again in another year. Luckily I only have invested in one lens for it, but I do have $400 invested in a flash for it. I think my next camera will be a Nikon. I haven't heard any complaints yet about them. Canon is going to hear from me about this whether I fix it or not.   email from Dawn 20 Dec 2005 Yup, I am experiencing the same thing. The autofocus has stopped working on my Canon Digital Rebel. It happened in the middle of a portrait session, a little embarrassing. It’s funny, cause in my initial email to them, I included copies of the same complaints that I found on the web concerning the same problem so they can see that it’s a real problem and maybe they can address it. However, I never got a response back, I had to call. And when I spoke to the technicians, they said they’d never heard of this complaint. I am not going to sit back. I paid a lot of money for this camera and the lenses, built my entire studio on Canon products, that for them to blow us off is really rude and not appreciative of their customer base. At this point, investing in another camera system would be too expensive. I am getting by with a borrowed 20D from a friend until I can figure out if I am really going to buy another Canon. If you can, [ask everyone to] call Canon if they are having this problem. When I called them yesterday, citing the many complaints about this same problem that I see all over the web, they told me that they have NEVER had to deal with this problem before and have NEVER heard of it. That is that many people have been complaining about it, they've NEVER been complained to. Also, have them NOTE THE COMPLAINT. I think one of the main problems with the Rebel, is it was designed to work exactly for the same purpose of just your regular point and shoot, occasional use and not heavy usage. I am a photographer part time, and bought it to use in my business. It is only good for say 10,000 shots or so. The XT slightly more. The 20D more than that and then you get into the 100,000 shots starting with the 5D on up. While I have not used 10,000 shots on my camera yet, I do use it almost daily. On the other hand, it could just be a defect. I have owned Canon 35mm SLRs forever and have taken more shots than with my digital and they still work after 10 years. Either way, it's a huge recall and a possible loss for Canon if they have to replace or repair the problem. I'm guessing that with the release of the XT, they fixed the problem, but released it saying it was newer and better with more features.....but there's really not much difference except in the megapixels. Currently I am using a year old 20D that a friend of mine is letting me borrow or buy if I choose to. But I am shopping around to see if there are similar problems with Nikon and maybe starting over with a new system. I can't afford to replace cameras every year or so. NOTE from Loraine: I too cannot afford to replace my camera over and over again... or continue to be expected to pay for a repair... a repair, we now know others HAVE reported to Canon.   email from avellino 14 Dec 2005 I was in the middle of photo shoot today and my rebel 300 did that very problem you are discussing. I am getting my fixed but I am seriously thinking of going to Nikon or back to my film camera. It is very frustrating. NOTE from Loraine: I've noticed the major parks (Disney, Seaworld) take photos using Nikon digital cameras.   email from Laura Dec 04, 2005 I too have a Canon Digital Rebel that I purchased about a year and a half ago. Out of the blue, my pictures were half black just like you described in your letter. I purchased the camera from RitzCamera.com and they wouldn't help me but to tell me to call Canon. I called the local RitzCamera store and they told me it was going to cost $699.00 to repair the camera. Basically I'm getting the run around. I don't even know where to get the camera fixed at this point and I really need it for the holidays. I've e-mailed canon tech support the last two days but have not heard back from them. I don't know what to do, I really need a camera, but should I really risk getting the same camera even though I really like it and have all the assessories for it? Well thanks for letting me know I didn't do anything wrong, I will keep on top of Canon to fix this problem. Received two lengthy canon tech support replies with more questions for me to answer. But I'm going to try a local camera shop that has shipped things to Canon before and seems to get things back quicker. When the local guy looked at my camera the spring actually came off. I hope I am not looking at big bucks because I can't afford it. Did you purchase the digital rebel xt in any of your four purchases? I was wondering if that camera has the same problem? Let me know when you get a chance. NOTE from Loraine: I was told by a salesperson that the XP did not correct this problem. Does anyone... including Canon have an answer for this?   new rebel owners beware (Digital Camera HQ user review) I bought my rebel a year ago and I loved the camera. I had recommended the camera to all my customers. yet I have come to find out there is a defect in the camera that doesn't show up until after you have used the camera. the pin in the secondary auto focus mirror, wears down after a year's worth of use. that is poor workmanship on canon's part. since I have always owned canon cameras I didn't hesitate to buy the rebel as a step into their digital slr's. and now that I am about to be with out my camera for 5 weeks for a $200 repair I am very unhappy with canon. I will probably still buy canon but I hope they correct this problem. and after reading message boards online I am not the only one with this problem. I would advise people to spend the extra money and buy into the higher end models. since they put no thought into semi-pro use of the rebel..shame on you canon. for a $1000 price tag you think you would have designed a camera that would get more than a year's use before it needs repair. Peter Goleta , oct 18, 2005; 03:39 p.m. Problem with Canon Digital Rebel - mirror Has anyone experirenced a problem with the mirror coming off the mount in the camera and not being able to view through the lens? I sent my body to Canon repair service center and they want to charge me $195 to repair. Unfortunately, the camera is out of the warranty period. Is this reasonable?