Canon 400d err99 message when trying to take a picture. how do I resolve problem?

Did you overtighten the tripod screw?

Go to the www.canon.com website and find out what Error 99 means. ted10

ERR99 means the camera is not communicating with the lens - probably just dirty contacts.

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.

ERR99 means the camera is not communicating with the lens - probably just dirty contacts.

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.

Ifd the camera is only 3 months old - return it for replacement

Contact Canon - some makes of lens which are not Canon are not electronically compatible for various reasons, and can actually damage the camera. So, get using the phone and check if it is compatible before doing anything else - but personally, I would not use the lens until I find out

Try resetting the camera to factory defaults - Here's how:

• Firstly press the 'menu' button, then the up button above the 'OK' as many times as needed, until you see the top folders are highlighted.
  
  
• Press the right button near the 'OK' until you see the last folder highlighted. You will know this is highlighted when you see the first menu option that says 'Language'. The 3rd one down from that says 'Clear Settings'.
  
  
• Press the down button under the 'OK' until 'Clear Settings' is highlighted, then press the 'OK' button.
  
  
• Scroll up to your choice and press 'OK' to reset your Canon 400D back to default factory settings.

Hope this helps

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

My canon xti had the same reading cf card error 99.
Since my camera is out of warranty. I had to find a way to fix it. After reading all possible solutions in this site, I looked at the pins (that used to connect to the CF card) and found out that one pin in the middle bent. That caused the problem. I used the tiny screw driver to bend that pin back to the original position. Inserted the card back and it worked. I felt so happy!!!! (Please make sure to have the battery removed while fixing...to be saved.)

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.