Canon Digital Rebel 300D, 350D, and 400D Repairs at MCVR

MCVR-Morgantown Camera & Video Repair 
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Digital Rebel Repairs

Canon Digital Rebel 300D, 350D, and 400D repairs

The Canon EOS Digital Rebel series is one of the most popular digital SLR series of cameras.  The first three models are the original Digital Rebel 300D, the Digital Rebel XT 350D, and the Digital Rebel XTi  400D.  All three of this Digital Rebels use CF, or Compact Flash cards for memory storage, wheras the most recent Digital Rebel model, the XTsi 450D, uses an SD card.  The pins in the CF unit are easily bent by inserting the card in the wrong direction or not seating the card before pushing it into place.  The specificatins for this connection type require four of the CF connector pins to be longer than the others, two in the center and one on each end.  These pins are the ones that are usually bent.  Sometimes they are pushed back out of the CF connector unit or pushed out of it completely.  Of course, loose CF pins inside the camera body can cause short circuit and damatge electronic parts.  The CF pins used in these cameras are fairly brittle and break easily.  If a CF pin is bent more than a small amount, it will probably break or be greatly weakened if bent back.  It is necessary to replace these CF pins.  The CF pin unit is soldered directly to the main circuit board an all Digital Rebel models.  Canon does sell the CF pin connectors separately from the main circuit board, but  CF connectors have 50 pins, which are separated by less than 1 mm.  Special equipment and a high level of skill are required to replace the CF connector.  This is a job for an experienced CAMERA technician.  Even those with experience in other types of of electronic repairs should not attempt it.  It is very easy to damage the main circuit board, which costs almost $200 for the part alone.  We DO NOT sell the CF connectors.

Another somewhat common repair on the Digital Rebel 300D is replacing a broken pivot pin for the autofocus submirror.  This problem occurs occasionally on the Digital Rebel XT 350D and XTi 400D, but is more common on the 300D.  The post has to be replaced from the outside of the mirror box, so extensive disassembly of the camera is required.  We replace the plastic post with a brass screw, so it will never break again.

ERR99 (error 99) is an indication that there is a communication problem in the camera.  It is most often an indication that the shutter needs to be replaced, but it can be the result of other problems.   All digital cameras occasionally need to have the shutters replaced.  In the days of film cameras, it was rare to wear out a shutter because the cost of film and developing limited the number of times the shutter was cycled.  With all those ones and zeros being considered "free" in digital cameras, it is not uncommon to take several hundred or more photos in a day.   Even with a live-expectancy of 50.000 to 100,000 cycles, the shutters in digital cameras do reach the end of their life and need to be replaced.  

Common Digital Rebel Repairs:

Replacing the CF pin unit (CF pins are bent, broken, or missing

  • If the camera still powers on: $128 on all EOS Digital Rebel models.  If some CF pins are missing, we recommend removing the battery before sending the camera.  The pins occasionally get pushed out of the connector and break loose.  Loose metallic parts inside the camera can cause shorts and lead to other problems.
  • If the camera will no longer power on:  $188 on all EOS Digital Rebel models.  Either the pins have shorted together or there is a loose pin inside the camera which has damaged the power unit (the DC/DC converter).  The power unit will also need to repaired or replaced.

Replacing post for the AF sub-mirror (if the autofocus does not work and/or there is a black area on the bottom of the image).  See autofocus repairs below for an explanation of the cause:

  • $120 on all EOS Digital Rebel models

No power at all (camera is totally dead):

  • If there are no bent or broken pins in the CF socket: $128 on all EOS Digital Rebel models.
  • If there are bent or broken pins in the CF socket: $148 on all EOS Digital Rebel Models
  • This problem is often (but not always) caused by shorted pins in the CF socket

Flash repairs:

  • $148 on all EOS Digital Rebel models.  Most flash repairs require replacing either the shutter or the flash unit.

Autofocus repairs:

  • Most autofocus repairs are related to problems with the small mirror under the main mirror (known as the sub-mirror).  There is a plastic post that operated this mirror which sometimes breaks.  We replace this post with a brass pin so that the problem will not recur.  This problem is often associated with part of the image being cut off by the mirror because it does not move out of the way properly during exposure.  The estimate replace the broken pin with a brass pin is $120 on all EOS Digital Rebel models. 

  • Other autofocus problems are rare and will probably require an estimate.

Shutter replacement (usually associated with error code "99"):

  • Replacing the shutter on the Digital Rebel series requires more disassembly than most other repairs.

  • The estimate for shutter replacement is $180 on all EOS Digital Rebel models (depending upon the overall condition of the camera).

  • ERR99 error codes are related to shutter or mirror operation and are usually associated with a defective shutter.  Cameras that have had heavy use may have shutters that have reached life expectancy and need to be replaced.
These estimates are pre-approved prices. They are usually accurate, as long as the listed repair is the only service needed.  Please attach a note to the camera describing the problem and approving the listed estimate.  We will NOT exceed that amount without notifying you first. This will reduce the repair time.  If we find other problems with the camera or need to change the estimate, we will notify you.  The prices listed do not include the return shipping charge.

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We recommend contacting us before sending your camera for repair, especially if it is more than eight years old.