Canon memory card reading error - help

[terrtwins]

Has anyone ever had problems with reading a memory card in a Canon body (specifically the 50D in this case)? I receive an error when trying to capture a photo. Error states card cannot be formatted, insert another card. After further investigation, it appears one of the prongs inside the memory card slot that would fit into the card itself has come off/broken.

Id really like to know if this has happened to anyone else? And if so, how much should I expect to pay to repair/replace this part?

[kenw]

By prong do you mean one of the small round pins? If so, yes common issue. Fixing runs ~200.

[terrtwins]

yes, the pins attached to the camera that go into the card itself.

[MT Stringer]

OUCH! Sorry 'bout your luck.

[brewercm]

I had a couple get bent in a Canon G4 I owned way back. I wish I could remember how much it cost to fix but I don't think they charged very much on the G4, but the difference in camera cost alone I'm sure made a difference.

[kenw]

yep, been there, done that. Professional Camera Repair in Houston is where mine got repaired: excellent job, fast, friendly, and yes ~$200

[terrtwins]

Thanks so much for the information.

I had gotten by on one of the pins being bent. It worked great as long as I didnt remove the card. After removing the card this weekend, the pin fell out.

[picman]

All it takes is a grain of sand or pocket lint to jam up the works and bend a pin.
Wouldn't hurt to take a magnifying glass to the pin edge of the cards once and a while.

[kenw]

venturing slightly OT here, from a technical perspective, this is another nail in the coffin of CF. having done electronics packaging for eons, pin and socket connectors are about the least durable out there. as connections, they are great. but for maximum insertion situations, they're awful. The SD card is much better from a packaging perspective.

[terrtwins]

Agree with this. I dislike the pin approach.