I'm not sure if I have a problem with my camera. Canon Rebel DSLR XSI. I've had it for two years.

While at the zoo on Saturday, I was taking pictures of the grandkids, animials, etc. I turn it off and on along the way. I can't remember the exact sequence, but I went to take a picture and the screen was black, no gray display with camera settings or the display of previous pictures taken. I pressed a few of the display buttons, nothing, I switched it off and on a couple of times, nothing. I think I finally pressed the shutter button and it took a pic. I know the battery had plenty of charge as I had just put it in the camera before we left the house.

I've since used the camera at home, and yesterday at work with no issues taking pictures. Then I was trying to load pictures onto my computer at work. The computer had trouble recognizing the USB connection and it appeared I had a power issue with the camera, but I'm not sure if that was the issue or it was related to the signal from the USB cable.

Maybe I just pushed the wrong buttons? I read about defective shutter releases with Cannon cameras, but it was not the DSLR models. Neither battery appears to have any bent prongs, and the inside connections look OK.

We're going away next month and I'm wondering if I should have the camera checked out. Maybe it was just operator error?

Who has .02 on this topic?

 

That is indeed an unusual problem, Lainey. I usually carry a backup battery anytime I'm out with the camera, and leave it turned on (it is set to 'sleep' if it is inactive for a minute or two) as long as it is hanging around my neck. I have had an occasional problem with the 20D that I've not been able to identify (it could be in the camera, or the battery pack). The camera simply stops working. Only solution I have found is to turn the thing off, remove the battery and leave it out for 5-10 seconds, and then re-insert the same battery back in the camera. So far, it has worked. The problem is a random one, and I cannot make it happen. If your problem occurs again, you might give it a try.

Sending it off for service might not get you much if the problem is intermittent.... they won't know what to fix (how many times has a car been taken to a mechanic and it won't make the noise that concerns you?). You might also check the battery contacts to make sure they are clean.

 

Thanks, Roy.

On Saturday, before we left, I put a fully charged battery into the camera. Didn't bring the spare.

Yesterday, one of the things I did try was removing the battery and replacing with the spare. That might have been the point when it started working again. However, I'm not sure the USB issue didn't mess things ups. Once the camera was working, I put the first battery back in and it had no issue.

I agree, that unless I can isolate the issue, or unless it happens more frequently it's likely not worth spending $ to have it checked out.

I'll check the battery contacts too.

Edit: I'll check the camera's sleep setting. I probably don't need to turn it off and on as frequently as I do.

 

I'd go with canberra's approach as well.
you have to remember that cameras have a processor in them now and that means software.
and yeah sometimes, they simply get stupid. i.e hosed up confused, la-la land.

pull the battery for awhile, a few minutes even.
perhaps even throw battery in a charger and leave it out of the camera.