I have a bc error on my camera. Everything is locked up. Don't tell me it's broke because it I had just taken a picture and then it got locked up. Batteries are fine. What else can it be?

-- Nicole Banes (nbanes@yahoo.com), August 30, 2001

Answers

You don't mention what camera you are using. It could make a difference. For instance EOS 50/Elan II has a problem with some brands of batteries that are just a bit shorter than normal. So, what model are you using? Is the camera still locked up?

Any time a Canon EOS locks up there are several things to check.

1) Are you using a non-Canon made lens? Older Sigma's are notorious for this & others do it too. In any case, try removing the lens and see if it still locks up.

2) Clean the lens to camera contacts on both the camera and the lens. Use a pencil eraser to do this, but don't get any eraser dust in the camera or lens.

3) Clean the battery contacts on both the battery and the camera.

4) Try another battery of a different brand. I don't know why, just try it. Sometimes it works.

5) Shim the battery with a small piece of card stock between the battery door and the bottom of the battery. This will force the battery into firmer electrical contact.

6) Send it in to get fixed.

-- Jim Strutz (j.strutz@gci.net), August 31, 2001.

"...Batteries [plural] are fine..." Don't bet on it. Are you using a camera that accepts a SINGLE lithium battery (such as a lithium 2CR5), but you're instead using two AA batteries? Some brands of AA batteries may occasionally be a tad too short (i.e., not quite long enough) to make good contact inside of the battery compartment, so you might try using the appropriately sized lithium battery (if your camera accepts these), since they may fit better.

-- kurt heintzelman (heintzelman.1@osu.edu), September 01, 2001.