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canon 20D shutter button problems?
Moderator edit: Sep 10, 2012, Hopefully this is the correct link to the Canon 20D Shutter Button replacement procedure.
*** update as of 7-6-2011 *** Here is the current location of the pdf file.
This is just an fyi for those out there using Canon 20D's. I just bought one as a backup to my 5d off ebay and it had a shutter button issue.
I researched it on the net, and didn't find much on it here, but it seemed like a common enough problem that I should mention it here.
The button wasn't as sensitive as it should be. It would sometimes require a firm push and sometimes fire normally, but most of the time, the button would bottom out before it would fire. For someone, like myself, who shoots a lot of low-light stuff (concerts and weddings) the button not performing with "hair trigger" sensitivity causes an otherwise steady hand to blur an image. There have also been malfunctions reported that cause the AF lock to flutter which will screw up those who shoot by focusing and recomposing.
Anyhow, there is a fix and it is fairly easy if you have basic soldering skills and a reasonably steady hand. There is a tutorial available with pictures and full, idiot proof, instructions here: http://dougkerr.net/Pumpkin/articles...er_Release.pdf
I spent less than an hour doing this, and I spent $3 + shipping for the part from Canon. Now it is like new!!!!
It is my understanding that this problem is consistant with 10D, and 30D's as well and the fix is nearly the same.
In my case, I bought a "mint" 20D (unknown actuations) from an ebay seller for $371 shipped. He misplaced the included AC adaptor for it and I told him I would rather have a credit. He offered $30. I then noticed the shutter button issue and he wanted me to send it to his repair shop to fix. After a week he called and told me he just wanted to give me back my money and that his guy didn't think it was worth fixing. I told him if he gave me back $100 I would take the chance and he agreed.
After all was said and done I got the camera for under $250 including all the shipping and the part from canon!
So moral is, don't feel like you have to live with a problematic shutter button and don't junk a body or sell it for parts if this is all that is wrong with it. Worse case, sell it to me cheap and I'll resell it on ebay :wink
Ohhh... also, don't blame me if you try this and trash your camera! YMMV
Matt
*** update as of 7-6-2011 *** Here is the current location of the pdf file.
This is just an fyi for those out there using Canon 20D's. I just bought one as a backup to my 5d off ebay and it had a shutter button issue.
I researched it on the net, and didn't find much on it here, but it seemed like a common enough problem that I should mention it here.
The button wasn't as sensitive as it should be. It would sometimes require a firm push and sometimes fire normally, but most of the time, the button would bottom out before it would fire. For someone, like myself, who shoots a lot of low-light stuff (concerts and weddings) the button not performing with "hair trigger" sensitivity causes an otherwise steady hand to blur an image. There have also been malfunctions reported that cause the AF lock to flutter which will screw up those who shoot by focusing and recomposing.
Anyhow, there is a fix and it is fairly easy if you have basic soldering skills and a reasonably steady hand. There is a tutorial available with pictures and full, idiot proof, instructions here: http://dougkerr.net/Pumpkin/articles...er_Release.pdf
I spent less than an hour doing this, and I spent $3 + shipping for the part from Canon. Now it is like new!!!!
It is my understanding that this problem is consistant with 10D, and 30D's as well and the fix is nearly the same.
In my case, I bought a "mint" 20D (unknown actuations) from an ebay seller for $371 shipped. He misplaced the included AC adaptor for it and I told him I would rather have a credit. He offered $30. I then noticed the shutter button issue and he wanted me to send it to his repair shop to fix. After a week he called and told me he just wanted to give me back my money and that his guy didn't think it was worth fixing. I told him if he gave me back $100 I would take the chance and he agreed.
After all was said and done I got the camera for under $250 including all the shipping and the part from canon!
So moral is, don't feel like you have to live with a problematic shutter button and don't junk a body or sell it for parts if this is all that is wrong with it. Worse case, sell it to me cheap and I'll resell it on ebay :wink
Ohhh... also, don't blame me if you try this and trash your camera! YMMV
Matt
My Smugmug site
Bodies: Canon 5d mkII, 5d, 40d
Lenses: 24-70 f2.8L, 70-200 f4.0L, 135 f2L, 85 f1.8, 50 1.8, 100 f2.8 macro, Tamron 28-105 f2.8
Flash: 2x 580 exII, Canon ST-E2, 2x Pocket Wizard flexTT5, and some lower end studio strobes
Bodies: Canon 5d mkII, 5d, 40d
Lenses: 24-70 f2.8L, 70-200 f4.0L, 135 f2L, 85 f1.8, 50 1.8, 100 f2.8 macro, Tamron 28-105 f2.8
Flash: 2x 580 exII, Canon ST-E2, 2x Pocket Wizard flexTT5, and some lower end studio strobes
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Thanks for the information and helpful suggestions. Congratulations on your 20D.
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
I also fixed the hotshoe mount on my st-e2 last night after I did the 20d. That was even easier. No soldering, but the insides were like a Chinese puzzle... Yesterday was quite the DIY day for me!
Matt
Bodies: Canon 5d mkII, 5d, 40d
Lenses: 24-70 f2.8L, 70-200 f4.0L, 135 f2L, 85 f1.8, 50 1.8, 100 f2.8 macro, Tamron 28-105 f2.8
Flash: 2x 580 exII, Canon ST-E2, 2x Pocket Wizard flexTT5, and some lower end studio strobes
Bodies: Canon 5d mkII, 5d, 40d
Lenses: 24-70 f2.8L, 70-200 f4.0L, 135 f2L, 85 f1.8, 50 1.8, 100 f2.8 macro, Tamron 28-105 f2.8
Flash: 2x 580 exII, Canon ST-E2, 2x Pocket Wizard flexTT5, and some lower end studio strobes
Matt
Bodies: Canon 5d mkII, 5d, 40d
Lenses: 24-70 f2.8L, 70-200 f4.0L, 135 f2L, 85 f1.8, 50 1.8, 100 f2.8 macro, Tamron 28-105 f2.8
Flash: 2x 580 exII, Canon ST-E2, 2x Pocket Wizard flexTT5, and some lower end studio strobes
Bodies: Canon 5d mkII, 5d, 40d
Lenses: 24-70 f2.8L, 70-200 f4.0L, 135 f2L, 85 f1.8, 50 1.8, 100 f2.8 macro, Tamron 28-105 f2.8
Flash: 2x 580 exII, Canon ST-E2, 2x Pocket Wizard flexTT5, and some lower end studio strobes
Hello
I just checked your link for the shutter button fix pdf file & it isn't good.
Do you have another link?
The shutter button on my 20D doesn't work & local, Canon authorized repair shop wants over $200- to fix it.
What do non-working 20Ds go for?
Thanx for info, Judy
Hopefully you'll find the PDF file here:
http://dougkerr.net/Pumpkin/articles/20D_Shutter_Release.pdf
As for the value of a "non-working 20D", I'm afraid that those are not in demand. You might try selling on EBay, but advertise it as a "parts only, broken shutter button", in order to properly identify the body.
Depending upon what is wrong with your shutter button, if it simply does not work and otherwise does not interfere with the camera operations, you might consider a third-party "Remote Shutter Release Cable" as a work-around and low cost solution. You would have to rig some sort of suitable physical attachment to the body in order to make a satisfactory solution, but it would be cheaper than a repair bill.
I have never used it but something like this might work:
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
Bodies: Canon 5d mkII, 5d, 40d
Lenses: 24-70 f2.8L, 70-200 f4.0L, 135 f2L, 85 f1.8, 50 1.8, 100 f2.8 macro, Tamron 28-105 f2.8
Flash: 2x 580 exII, Canon ST-E2, 2x Pocket Wizard flexTT5, and some lower end studio strobes