temporary inability to change exp. comp. setting on EOS 1N...

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I live in Columbus, OH., and over the past several days, I've been out enjoying winter photography with my EOS 1V HS (AA alkalines) and 1n cameras. (My 1N doesn't have a power drive booster, so I use lithium 2CR5 batteries to power it). Despite 4-6 hour stretches in which both cameras were subjected to daytime temperatures of between 15-25 degrees F. (and considerable wind-chill factors), the batteries of both cameras have thus far shown no indications (either in performance or according to the "BC" indicator) of power loss due to the cold. Between locations, both cameras were returned to my LowePro Pro Trekker pack, and after concluding a day's cold weather shooting, the batteries were re-checked (full charge indications), and the gear was allowed to slowly warm back up at home.

Today, however, I went back out, and when I went to use the *1N*, I noticed that its exposure comp. was pegged at the +3 stops setting (no idea how it got there...), and damned if I could not get it to change for some time... Before finally hitting upon a maneuver that miraculously solved the problem, I either checked or did the following on my 1N: 1) checked the "BC" indicator (full indication) and verified that there was indeed power, as indicated by the fact that all other sytems (including IS) were up and working fine; 2) made sure the on/off switch for the quick control dial (QCD) was set to the "on" position, and then verified that the QCD was working by switching to manual shooting mode and observing that it changed the shutter speed like it should. I also toggled this switch several times, and verified it was indeed controlling the QCD in manual shooting mode; 3) I switched the camera's power switch off/on several times, to no avail; 4) I fired the shutter--no change; 5) I stepped through each automated shooting mode (Av, Tv, P, etc.) and found that the exposure comp. setting was still pegged at +3 stops in each of these modes, and still could not be changed or moved; 6) I first discovered this problem with my 300/4L IS plus EOS 1.4x TC attached, so I re-mounted these lenses and jiggled the connections, to no avail. I then mounted two other lenses (70-200/2.8L and 28-70/2.8L), but the problem still remained; 7) I removed any lens and still found that the exp. comp. setting was stuck at +3 stops and still could not be changed with the QCD.

At this point, I considered pushing the camera's reset button, but hoped to avoid this, as I would then lose all of my custom fxn settings. So, I did what some of you have undoubtedly been thinking here--I dug into my pocket, found a coin, shut the camera off, opened the battery compartment, and then simply extracted and re-seated the 2CR5 battery. Voila--problem gone. My 1N then performed fine, and the problem has not (yet) recurred. This is the first time I've encountered any such glitch from an EOS camera.

Anyone else experienced this problem with the EOS 1N? Any ideas as to what might have happened here?

Today I went out shooting again, and when

-- kurt heintzelman (heintzelman.1@osu.edu), December 25, 2000

Answers

Sorry for the error--that last line ("Today I went out...) is extraneous and should have been caught and deleted on my part.

-- kurt heintzelman (heintzelman.1@osu.edu), December 25, 2000.

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