Error Message Error 99 keeps coming up whenever I take a picture - almost seems like it's something to do with the flash. I'm on vacation and do not have the manual - would appreciate some help. SGJ

I have read quite a lot about this infamous Error 99 on the Internet. Rather than try to summarise or duplicate the information here, I'm going to point you to someone who's already done just that, from bitter experience, I think! There's a very comprehensive essay about the various possible causes of Error 99 here (follow link).

Err 99 usually means your lens contacts are dirty either on the lens itself or on the camera.

To isolate the cause of the issue, do the following: -
1. Turn off the camera.
2. Remove the lens, battery, and CF card.
3. Allow the camera to sit without power for approximately 20 minutes.
4. Insert only a fully charged battery, and turn on the camera.
5. Depress the shutter button as you would to take a picture.

Does the “ERR 99" message appear? If so, the camera may be faulty and requires a service. If it does not, then: -
1. Turn off the camera.
2. Insert the CF card.
3. Turn on the camera.
4. Format the CF card in the camera.
5. Depress the shutter button as you would to take a picture.

Does the “ERR 99" message appear? If so, then the CF card is faulty. Try a different card. If the message does not appear: -
1. Turn off the camera.
2. Clean the gold contacts on the lens by GENTLY rubbing them with a pencil eraser or soft cloth. Keeping the camera face pointing down, also clean the gold contacts on the camera, being careful that you do not let any debris fall into the camera body.
3. Reattach your lens.
4. Turn on the camera.
5. Depress the shutter button as you would to take a picture.

If the “ERR 99" message only appears when one particular lens is attached, then that lens should be examined by a service technician.
If you see the “ERR 99" with a different Canon lens attached, then the camera is faulty and should be serviced.

The "error 99" is a general error on Canon cameras meaning "something's gone wrong and I don't know what to do about it". If you get them all the time, the camera is effectively dead and must go back to Canon for a service repair (circa £175 if I remember correctly).

If the error 99 only happens when you try to pop up the flash, but otherwise the camera can take good pictures, then yes, an external flash unit could well solve your problem. With an external flash on the hot-shoe, the internal flash is completely bypassed and the camera will never try to pop it up.

I recommend taking your camera to a shop such as Jessops and ask to try out a flash gun to be sure.

Check this link: www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2005/04/29/50mm-lens-contact-points/

[File Name] Picture Package Menu Updater [PPMenuUpdateUS.exe] [Target Product] Picture Package 1.0 to 1.8 [Update History] Resolved the problem that "Picture Package Menu" cannot be started in the environment that only Macro Media Flash Player Version 8 is installed and Version 7 or previous is not installed. Download the update/fix at http://www.ppackage.com/e/dl_ppk_menu1x.html

err 99 is moisture or dew inside the camera.

According to the user manual an error 91 means that the camera has malfunctioned. You need to reset the camera. Here is how you do that:

Just found this info which should help diagnose the err 99 issues (info direct from Canon apparently)

To isolate the cause of the issue, do the following: -

1. Turn off the camera.
2. Remove the lens, battery, and CF card.
3. Allow the camera to sit without power for approximately 20 minutes.
4. Insert only a fully charged battery, and turn on the camera.
5. Depress the shutter button as you would to take a picture.


Does the “ERR 99′ message appear? If so, the camera may be faulty and requires a service. If it does not, then: -

1. Turn off the camera.
2. Insert the CF card.
3. Turn on the camera.
4. Format the CF card in the camera.
5. Depress the shutter button as you would to take a picture.


Does the “ERR 99′ message appear? If so, then the CF card is faulty. Try a different card. If the message does not appear: -

1. Turn off the camera.
2. Clean the gold contacts on the lens by GENTLY rubbing them with a pencil eraser or soft cloth. Keeping the camera face pointing down, also clean the gold contacts on the camera, being careful that you do not let any debris fall into the camera body.
3. Reattach your lens.
4. Turn on the camera.
5. Depress the shutter button as you would to take a picture.
If the “ERR 99′ message only appears when one particular lens is attached, then that lens should be examined by a service technician.
If you see the “ERR 99′ with a different Canon lens attached, then the camera is faulty and should be serviced.

So as not to spoil your vacation, go buy yourself a new compact flash card locally. They should sell them anywhere electronics are sold, including WalMart, etc. See if you can get this new card to work in your camera. If so, then you can work on trying to get your current CF to work, by trying to format it in the camera. If you can't get a new CF to work in the camera, then you likely damaged either the pins in the CF socket in the camera, or some switch that is pushed when the card is inserted (to tell the camera there is a card in it). It is unlikely you will be able to have this fixed during your vacation, unfortunately.