BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: New Answers

Robyn Gwilt

Can a Digital Camera 'Jam' ?

Is this possible, that a digital SLR would jam? I took many pix at a dance competition recently, and about 2 or 3x, I had a kind of 'shutter jam' - when I checked the pic on the screen it look strange and the camera 'jammed' I had to switch off and then on again for it to 're-set' itself. This is what the image looked like - almost like a film slipping! Anyone else had this - Canon EOS350D. Thanks

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May 26, 2006

Jagadeesh Andrew Owens

I think that the biggest problem is that it's not a Nikon... (borrowed that one from Brady Boy) Have no idea, but I hope someone can help you....

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May 26, 2006

Robyn Gwilt

Hehehehe Sipho - I think the Nikon blew up, the action was just tooooo hot! THanks anyway :)

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May 26, 2006

robert G. Fately

Robyn, this looks like the kind of thing that can happen if the CF card is corrupted - in other words, it may be a memory storage problem.

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May 26, 2006

Mark Feldstein

Interesting Bob. I wonder if one could have that same problem with... you know, that stuff that comes on rolls or in sheets that most people send out to a place to get it, well....developed and processed. I think it's called something like flim...no wait...it's coming back to me now. FILM !!!!! CF Card corruption. Probably rare...but happens. At least THIS is something film shooters don't need to be concerned about any more than a plutonium leak. LOL !!!

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May 26, 2006

robert G. Fately

True, Mark, but there's risk to everything. There's another thread here from someone who sent in a few rolls and had the lab lose them (she was lucky, they were later found - I was not so lucky with Fuji's Arizona processing lab some years ago).

Like everything else, there are compromises when one shooses film or digital - who hasn't lost a roll of shots when they discovered the roll wasn't actually threaded properly and thus didn't get exposed at all? Who hasn't had film ruined by airport security? WHile digital file corruption is always a potential problem, with digital one can make multiple identical backups (and store them offsite) to prevent loss in a catastrophe - can't do that with film either.

I still shoot film; 35MM (Xpan panoramics) and 4x5 for that matter, but I recognize the advantagees and disadvantages of both media. As should we all.

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May 26, 2006

Justin G.

Haha Sipho that's too funny. Isn't it your thread where you're complaining about your Nikon banding. If I were to pick between a CF card corruption or a sensor problem, I'd stick with my Canon and get a new card! lol.

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May 26, 2006

Robyn Gwilt

Eish Sipho, you set yourself up hey!!! I hear what you say on the card corruption, but then I switched off and on again, and shot another 150 or so (I was using a 1gig - I can't remember, but I think it might have been a Sandisk Ekstreme III). Hasn't happened again - but then I haven't shot so many consecutive shots - all day like at the dance comp.

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May 27, 2006

anonymous A.

Yeah, Sipho, this is a memory storage issue. Usually happens when a photo hasn't been properly erased, or is the camera is interrupted before it's finished writing a file to the card (turning off the camera, flicking from shoot to view, opening the card cover etc.) Slow cards are a prticular hazard; cards rated less than 80 are probably too slow for your Nikon SLR, but any card can develop a fault, and the bigger the capacity, the more vulnerable to developing faulty "sectors" and damage.

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May 27, 2006

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