$30 DSLR has a minor issue...

S

SilverMK3

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Dec 15, 2002
Messages
1,346
I just came back from purchasing a broken Rebel XS from a craigslist seller for $30.

Looking at the test shots on the back of the camera they were either coming out in black & white or had a crazy, pixelated solarization effect going on. Anyway, it turns out any JPG files saved to the memory card is corrupt; including the thumbnails the camera uses for reviewing on the LCD. The RAW files are perfectly fine, however:

XS_Comparison.jpg


Anyone seen this before or have ideas on how to fix it? I shoot in RAW only anyway, but it'd be nice if I could use something other than the histogram on the back of the camera. Once this is out of the way I'm sending it to Lifepixel for an IR conversion! :D
 
I'd reset all settings to the default. If that didn't work, I'd flash the camera with the most current firmware.

Congrats on the cheap camera.
 
Firmware update from 1.03 -> 1.07 fixed the JPG issue :D
Now I'm getting an intermittent Err99... lol
 
Clean lens contacts and body contacts with a q-tip? I get that on my Nikon if the lens isn't registering right.

Otherwise check the manual and it'll tell you other possible reasons for the Err99.
 
Thanks MN Scout, yeah I cleaned the contacts with rubbing alcohol and a microfiber cloth. Unfortunately I'm still fighting with the error though, It'll happen once every 20-30 shots or so; so I may just end up living with it and sending it off to Lifepixel for the IR conversion anyway.
 
That is a bummer. I'm not sure what I'd do if I was in your situation. 20-30 shots isn't too bad, but there is the unknown that it could get worse. Check Ebay and see what broken ones are going for on there, and sell it and come out ahead?

I'm coming at it from the angle that $250(IR conversion cost) is a bunch of money and would want something that would work hassle free and would sell easily if needed.
 
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I had the same thought after finding the original sales receipt in the camera box. It was purchased overseas on 12/24/2010 so there was a slight hope that it was still under warranty; after calling Canon those hopes were dashed, however, though they did say they have a $150+tax+shipping flat rate repair service on all Rebel cameras.

While I was googling around for cheaper conversion prices I found a place that will do the diagnosis/repair and IR conversion for me all at once. I think I'll probably end up going with them; here's their response:
Hello,

Thank you for contacting us. Most often an error 99 is related to a shutter failure. It could be something else but is more commonly a shutter failure. If you would like to send the camera to us we will provide a free full diagnosis. If it needs a shutter replacement the normal charge would be $170.00 total. We always give a $50.00 discount on any repair service when having an IR conversion performed at the same time. This would bring your total to $420.00 including the repair and 665nm IR conversion.

Please let us know if we can be of service or if you have any other questions.

Thank you,

Spencer’s Camera & Photo
696 Grove Drive
Alpine, UT 84004
(801)367-7569
info@spencerscamera.com
www.spencerscamera.com
Click to expand...

That's including the additional $50 for the 665nm filter vs. the standard 720nm. I could have an IR-converted XS with a fresh shutter for $400 or $450 depending on the filter (including the original $30 for the body)... That's about the going rate for an older converted XT or XTi of unknown provenance...

I've got some thinking to do... lol.
 
Gratz on the super cheapo camera, that's the deal of a lifetime.
 
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