Is it a camera problem or a lens problem?

[Superape]

I'll try & give as much info as possible here as I want to get to the bottom of it!

I have a Canon 450D. It's now about 2.5 years old. It gets used irregularly, but when it does get used it gets hammered (ie holidays, trips, that kind of thing).

I have a 70-300mm Tamron DI lens that came with it (Jessops bundle deal).

Increasingly I am finding Error 01 problems with this lens, with a message about cleaning the contacts. This usually happens after the camera has been taking shots with the lens just fine.

At face value it seems to relate to how charged the battery is. I can take maybe a dozen shots, then it will give me the error. I can usually turn the camera off, leave it a while and get another shot or two out of it - typical of the way that flattened batteries behave - and it will struggle like hell to get focus. Charge the battery up again and it is fine for another few shots until I get the error message.

Problem is that the battery indicator on the camera is usually showing fully charged.

It never used to be like this, so is it a degraded battery that is being dishonest about how much charge is left? Or is there something that is going wrong with the lens that is requiring more power?

If I switch to the standard kit lens, that will work fine, but I have had odd (possibly unerlated) problems with that as well (eg etting stuck on f00, particularly on auto mode, which is very odd). The kit lens is a replacement for my original, and is allegedly an unwanted new one (from a reputable shop). This lens did behave itself very well for our trip to Bruges last weekend. The Tamron didn't, hence this frustrated post.

Would it be worth getting the camera serviced?

Any advice or suggestions gratefully received!

Thanks.

 

[jimmyb]

sounds like a strange one. it might be worth going to a friendly camera shop and asking if you could use the lens on one of their bodies and see if the same fault occurs...might give you more of an indication of whether it's the lens or camera however if you're getting problems with two lenses it sounds like it's the camera.

 

[guybrush]

I experienced this error message for the first time the other day on my 500D with my Sigma lens. I then realised it was probably due to the batteries being nearly flat as it was doing all sorts of weird noises when I turned it on and off. Swapped in new batteries and it's been fine ever since. (I was using AA's in the grip - I normally just use canon batteries).

 

[Quantum Sprite]

Hi Superape.

I would be tempted to get a spare battery before paying for a service - plenty of threads for cheap after-market suppliers here, and it can be useful to have a spare.

Rechargeable batteries are funny things and can play up if not used for a long time. I don't know your camera but you could try using the on-camera flash (if you have one) to see if you run out of power quicker than expected, some cameras are more accurate than others as to what is a full charge as well.

See if any other answers come along before taking my advice on this one though.

QS

 

[Superape]

I like guybrush & Quantum Sprite's answers better than the first one What sort of price should I be paying for a replacement battery?

I do have a friendly camera shop (Bradford Camera Exchange). I may take it down there & ask them, but I'd ike to have the funds handy to be able to back up a repair if that's what is required and that might be a while.

The thing with the Tamron is a consistent one - I know it's going to happen. Issues with the other lens are unpredictable so I'm not sure what it is with that one & it may be a coincidence (not seated correctly maybe?).

I love my camera. I don't want it to be broked

 

[Les Key]

Does give me doubts about the lens. Ive got a 50D & Tamron 18-270 which does intermittent similar, will say silly message such as contacts, wont autofocus, bring the lens back in then out again and it will work. Usualy this happens after a couple ofhours use. Stick a fresh battery in and its ok for another couple of hours. My camera went back as under warranty but they couldnt find anything wrong with the camera-autofocus- battery-terminals etc. They tested it very thoroughly and emailed me for various info & descriptions and have suggested that I get the lens checked out as they agreed it was a strange one. If the Tamron played up and I changed lens that lens was iffy as well sometimes. Dont use the Tamron and start the day with a different lens camera seemed to work fine all day. I havent got round to doing anything about the lens yet this one is cracking sharp and Im dubious about it being replaced as it is also still under warranty.