Error 99 on my Canon EOS Rebel XS

[mycalah]

Whenever I take a picture I get the following error message "Shooting is not possible. Turn the power switch to <off> and <on> again or reinstall the battery." I did this and I bought a new battery but I still get the same error message. Has this happened to anyone and if so what was wrong and what did you have to do in order to correct this issue?

[auddii]

I was reading reviews of off brand flashes this morning, and one particular brand induced this error on their camera (although I'm sure it happens for reasons besides that one flash). They mentioned that they had to send it off to Canon. However, I don't know if they sent it off because you have to or because they had no idea what else to do.

Personally I've never had the problem, so I have no first hand knowledge. Sorry I can't be more helpful.

[mycalah]

Thank you ..... I am afraid I will have to send it off because I took it to a camera store and they could not figure it out.

[rab3rd]

I was under the impression that "error 99" was a lack of communication with the lens. It use to happen to me on my XT when using the 50mm 1.8. All I had to do to correct it was turn the lens in the mount, sometimes a couple of times and it would work for a while again. Only happened with that lens, so you might look into that...

[shnitz]

Rob, you are partly correct, but my understanding of Error 99 is that it just means that something is wrong; not necessarily lens. Best case scenario: your contacts are just dirty. Try doing this, at your own risk:
Richard's Notes » Blog Archive » Canon DSLR Error 99 fix
You can try wiping with a microfiber cloth and some rubbing alcohol as well. Also, try cleaning the contacts on the lens, and try using a different lens to verify that the problem is your body and not the lens. Try using a different memory card as well, and make sure to format the card in the camera to see if the problem goes away. Depending on what camera store you went to, I wouldn't necessarily count their verdict as being of much value. By far, my favorite camera repair shop in Houston is Professional Camera Repair on 4410 Richmond, just east of the Galleria. Try checking them out, and they may be able to figure out the issue better.

If none of this works, then it could be time to upgrade. You have nothing to lose by sending the camera in to Canon, but this error could be caused by a number of things: moisture causing a short on the circuit board that interfaces with the card, dirt on the contacts to the lens, etc. Canon's techs will take a cursory look at your camera and determine the cost to fix it, based on a tiered repair system. It could be worth more than the value of your camera. If so, then you can do a loyalty trade-up program. The current prices are:
Rebel XS - (only with 18-55mm lens) $320 (updated 6/4/2011)
Rebel XSI - (with or without 18-55mm lens) $400/$335 (updated 6/4/2011)
T1I - (with or without 18-55mm lens), $480/$416 (with 18-55mm Lens) (updated 6/4/2011)
T2I - (with or without 18-55mm lens), $512/$448 (with 18-55mm Lens) (updated 6/4/2011)
50D - (with or without 28-135 lens), $665/$563 (with Lens) (updated 6/4/2011)
7D - (only without lens), $1087 (updated 6/4/2011)
Taken from this thread:
Canon Loyalty Program - return old camera, get better camera

For excellent shape cameras, the Canon 40D is currently $600 at KEH, and the 50D is $820-$850. You can read the comments in the "40D for IR Photos?" thread to see a quick discussion of which camera people like, but from my experience shooting Canon, from the old Rebel XT all the way to the 40D, I think you'll be very happy with the improvements of a 30D, 40D, or 50D over what you're currently shooting. However, I still hope that Professional Camera Repair or Canon can fix your current camera cheaply enough that all of this will be moot.

[picman]

My error 99 on a 20d was the fault of a well known defect in a 17-85 is zoom.

[BRosePhoto]

A couple of other ideas: you may want to check the firmware version since there have been several updates over the last 2-3 years for that camera.

Also, you didn't mention which lens you were using, but I know I ran into similar issues a few of years ago using an older non-Canon lens. It worked fine on my film cameras but would only shoot with the aperture wide open on an XS. If you stopped it down it would lock up.

[mycalah]

Everyone thank you so very much.

@BrosePhoto, I have been using the lens 18 - 55 mm (Canon). I put in my other lens the 75-300 mm and got the same error 99. I will try all of the other things that was suggested and if it does not work I will take it to Professional Camera Repair.

Again, thanks everyone.

[spanchez]

17-85mm lens on my 7D started giving me error "03" i think it was (bascially bad contact with lens if i recall msg). intermitten. i then put lens on Rebel XTi and got the E99 "battery" msg as noted above. put another lens on 7D and it worked fine. so sounds like 17-85 lens problem. called professional camera repair and he said that lens is known to have problems and to send to canon to get fixed. approx $100 (he couldn't do it). seems "common" Error 99 when using 17-85 - Canon Digital Photography Forums