Problem with my 5d mark III

bucz · 23 Mar 2016

I have a job this afternoon and I was preparing my gear this morning to find out that my camera is not acting properly. When I set the control wheel to M it shows me Bulb, when I set it to Av it shows me Tv. Basically P is on Auto and P, Tv is on Av and Tv, Bulb is on M and Bulb. I mainly use Av and M when I shoot. I had Av set on custom control C1 and C2 so it works luckily, but I have no Manual. I have updated the firmware to 1.3.3 but it's still the same. Anyone had something like that? Help please!

Carlh · 23 Mar 2016

Just in case its a dodgy battery, take it out and put it back in after 30 seconds just to see if thats gone on a wobble? Try anything. Also, if you have a job on - you really should have a back-up camera

bucz · 23 Mar 2016

Carlh said:
Just in case its a dodgy battery, take it out and put it back in after 30 seconds just to see if thats gone on a wobble? Try anything. Also, if you have a job on - you really should have a back-up camera

Thanks Carl, changing battery was the first thing I did.
I do have a spare camera but it's 6D and I would rather use my 5d3 if possible. Cheers

Norkie · 23 Mar 2016

Never heard of that before but a guess, restore the camera to it's default settings via the menu? You will need to clear the custom function settings manually though.

Having reread your post, sounds daft but the mode dial hasn't jumped a notch or something has it? All your modes are one click out?

J Veitch · 23 Mar 2016

I know this sounds really silly, but its not the label on the control wheel slipped around by one (not that I have a 5d, so not sure if its even possible)?

Norkie · 23 Mar 2016

Good shout, can you get the dial to C3?

bucz · 23 Mar 2016

J Veitch said:
I know this sounds really silly, but its not the label on the control wheel slipped around by one (not that I have a 5d, so not sure if its even possible)?

Thanks James, no it's not the dial. It looks perfectly fine.

bucz · 23 Mar 2016

Norkie said:
Never heard of that before but a guess, restore the camera to it's default settings via the menu? You will need to clear the custom function settings manually though.

Having reread your post, sounds daft but the mode dial hasn't jumped a notch or something has it? All your modes are one click out?

Thanks Norkie, me neither. Can it have something to do with the camera being in a sleep mode for couple of days? Sometimes I forget to switch it off after I shoot. I didn't use it for a few days and today this happened. I don't want to restore the factory settings before the shoot as it's too late now and I can still use it in Av which is set to C1 and C2. It will be ok if I don't need to use flash.
The dial looks perfectly fine.

Norkie · 23 Mar 2016

So can you select C3?

bucz · 23 Mar 2016

Norkie said:
So can you select C3?

Yes.

arthurbikemad · 23 Mar 2016

Given the mode dial is a position based switch and not just a toggle I'd say the issue could be the cable or contacts, I doubt in that case resetting would change the issue, but I'd still try it, it would look much like this, each mode has its own set of contacts hence it knows M, Tv etc etc

SLR-digital-camera-repair-replacement-parts-EOS-font-b-7D-b-font-top-cover-function-mode.jpg

Mode switch ribbon on the lower left.

bucz · 24 Mar 2016

arthurbikemad said:
Given the mode dial is a position based switch and not just a toggle I'd say the issue could be the cable or contacts, I doubt in that case resetting would change the issue, but I'd still try it, it would look much like this, each mode has its own set of contacts hence it knows M, Tv etc etc

Mode switch ribbon on the lower left.

Thanks Arthur, is my only solution to send it to repair? Where do you repair your grey import cameras? It's out of warranty so is it worth to make a claim on my insurance over that?