Everything is Permuted

Tales of a South Downs fox... and other ramblings

Shutter Failure (but only after some shots)

Monday, January 31, 2011 10:59:01 PM

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I suffered technical difficulties today. The shutter on my 40D finally packed up midway through taking photos in Regent's Park (typically, it happened on a beautifully sunny day). It hasn't entirely stopped, but it crawls across and masks most of the sensor leaving an image like this.


Fortunately I had managed a few shots before that happened, including this back-lit squirrel near the entrance to the park.


I also snapped a sleeping swan.


But the main subjects were a pair of passionate pigeons, still in courtship phase I think!








As for the camera, I've resurrected my old 400D for the time-being so I won't be entirely without a means of taking pictures (perish the thought!), and it was probably time for an upgrade anyway wink
Nature Blog Network
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 40D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.

A Brief Walk in RottingdeanGrey Day

Comments

RobinRobinL Tuesday, February 1, 2011 12:15:22 AM

Words, That definitely seems to be a Canon problem. I replaced my shutter last summer. Keep your fingers crossed but haven't had any problems since!
I just read an article in Popular Photography Magazine, and they definitely gave a great review on the 60D. It beat out the comparable Nikon in all areas of test.
Love the pigeon shots. Definitely inamoured!
love

Chthoniidchthoniid Tuesday, February 1, 2011 12:21:14 AM

Love the squirrel shot.
Hmm, how many clicks has the shutter had on the 40D? I think most 'advanced amateur' DSLR's are rated for about 100,000.

derspecht Tuesday, February 1, 2011 5:31:20 AM

This is bad luck! It happened to my Minolta X500 at my friends wedding for almost 20 years and I recognized it a few days later. bomb
But if you take the upgrade option as I did years ago, there comes something good within the bad (ok whistle you will lost a lot of money...). I am not that into Canon but I think there a some really beautiful options waiting. up

Steffiwellisteffi Tuesday, February 1, 2011 6:09:46 AM

The pigeons are funny pictures.
It looks like a pigeon would be at the dentist. eek
So far it is seen by the other pigeon in its beak. lol

Andy WilsonDudley Tuesday, February 1, 2011 6:17:15 PM

Canon rip
Snuggling pigeons flirt
Nikon now there's a camera! p lol

Loiscakkleberrylane Tuesday, February 1, 2011 7:03:52 PM

How awful! I hope you can get it repaired or replaced soon. When I took my Minolta 9000 to the camera hospital, I felt as if I were leaving one o my children!
Great pictures! Nice to see the pigeon behaviour!

Adele BrandSittingFox Tuesday, February 1, 2011 7:06:50 PM

Hmm. It would be an interesting challenge photographing wildlife through what is visible of the sensor! Looking forward to seeing what you buy next smile

Originally posted by Dudley:

Nikon now there's a camera!



I suspect Words will be staying with Canon unless he really wants to replace all his lenses whistle Though I must say that I was admiring the 300-800mm Nikon lens that I saw for renting in Montana last year!

Words Tuesday, February 1, 2011 8:51:35 PM

Robin, the pigeons were cute! As for the camera, I have thrashed this one so I'm not surprised. I'm not actually that keen on the 60D spec. The burst speed is way too slow, and it lacks multiple custom modes on the dial (the 40D has three custom modes) and that's something I use a lot, especially at night (saves fiddling with settings in the dark). It's going to be the 7D.

Words Tuesday, February 1, 2011 8:53:47 PM

Brendan, at a minimum it's taken well over 100,000 clicks, probably nearer 180,000 so not too bad really. The number mounts up in burst mode.

Words Tuesday, February 1, 2011 9:09:29 PM

Swen, yes it's upgrade time. I got the 40D just before they withdrew it so I'm a couple of models out of synch. The 7D has a cracking reputation and is a significant upgrade from what I'm used to. At least the 40D didn't go when I had something utterly rare to photograph. That would have been annoying.

Words Tuesday, February 1, 2011 9:10:32 PM

Steffi, they really are getting close those pigeons. Very sweet. I wonder if that's where our expression 'billing and cooing' comes from.

Words Tuesday, February 1, 2011 9:12:20 PM

Andy, yeah, yeah Nikons never break whistle It's actually been a great camera... one repair when I soaked it in sea water photographing seals, but other than that totally reliable.

Words Tuesday, February 1, 2011 9:13:55 PM

Lois, I should be able to replace it at the weekend and I have my 400D as a spare in the meantime wink I'm more attached to lenses than the camera. Leaving those for repair is always a wrench.

Words Tuesday, February 1, 2011 9:17:48 PM

Adele, I actually did get one or two gulls in focus through that gap (entirely by chance and not to be recommended!). I'm getting the 7D. Not keen on the 60D which seems a downgrade from the 50D in many respects. And you're right, the prospect of changing brand is a non-starter given the lens collection I've built up over the years. Those I will always get repaired. A camera is for Christmas, but is lens is for life (or something).

Uncle MickMickeyjoe-Irl Tuesday, February 1, 2011 11:46:16 PM

Sounds like you have your camera problems sorted, or at least a plan in place. Looking forward to seeing the first shots with the new camera. http://files.myopera.com/Tamil/Smilies/Wait.gif -

Words Tuesday, February 1, 2011 11:52:39 PM

Mick, I hear that there's a bit of a learning curve with the 7D. Oh well, I'll need to take lots of shots then bigsmile

Uncle MickMickeyjoe-Irl Wednesday, February 2, 2011 12:07:45 AM

We all have our crosses to bear. lol

RobinRobinL Wednesday, February 2, 2011 2:31:22 AM

Words, I've also read some pretty good reviews on the 7D as well. When the time comes that my 40D dies, I will be in a quandary as to whether the 7D or 60D!
Adele, what's the price on that big Nikon. Probably 10 grand, the way Nikon prices things lol Only guys that live on the east coast of America can afford them!

Steffiwellisteffi Wednesday, February 2, 2011 5:12:48 AM

Because you could be right,Words. up

Adele BrandSittingFox Wednesday, February 2, 2011 12:06:03 PM

Er, yes, over $10,000 faint It turns out that it's actually a Sigma anyway. And I went off Sigma big time when I rented that 150-500mm lens in Montana. The autofocus was a never-ending nightmare, even when I had a grizzly at 40 feet in bright midday sunshine!

Chthoniidchthoniid Wednesday, February 2, 2011 8:46:50 PM

Aah, the 7D is a good option.
It's funny how lenses keep us within systems- and that good photographers manage to get good wildlife photos whatever brand of camera they use. I wonder why that is wink

I'm nowhere near 100,000 clicks on my cameras- but picked up another a700 at the end of last year as backup.

Words Wednesday, February 2, 2011 9:15:27 PM

Brendan, there's always a bit of catch-up between brands (Nikon took the edge on better noise control for a while, though I think the gap is closing again) but yes, all the major makes are capable of good shots in the right hands. And there's the rub. Where do you find the right hands?

Unregistered user Saturday, February 5, 2011 6:11:34 PM

Gaina writes: Oh, that must be so frustrating!! Very fortunate that the shots you did get came out so beautifully, I particularly like the pigeons :)

Words Saturday, February 5, 2011 6:31:58 PM

Gaina, as well as a few shots to salvage the day it's 'forced' me to upgrade the camera wink

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