Did you know that registration to Civilian Aviation is completely free and brings you lots of added features? Find out more....

Canon 70D touch screen locking up and Q button greyed out

A section to help increase your photography and processing knowledge - if there’s something you want help with or if you can provide an answer to a question which has be posted please use the Questions & Answers sub forum
Post Reply
User avatar
andygolfer
Administrator, POTM, SPOTM & FC POTM winner
Posts: 8500
Joined: Sat Apr 30, 2011 11:51 am
Location: Rayne Essex - 12 miles east of Stansted

Canon 70D touch screen locking up and Q button greyed out

Post by andygolfer » Sun Nov 13, 2016 9:03 pm

I've had the above problem twice today and both times it cleared but I don't know how or why.

What happened - I was happily taking photos and suddenly I couldn't review the pics and at the same time all the touch screen functions wouldn't work, the 4 small button son the top (AF, drive, ISO and metering) all stopped working and the Q button stopped activating the screen. At the same time the Q button on the touch screen greyed out and was disabled. The dial button for adjusting speed or aperture kept working though.

Also It kept taking photos although I had no control over the settings because of the above. Live view also wouldn't switch on so it was as if most functions had disabled themselves. I played around with it for a few moments, turned it on and off, took out the battery and the memory card (usual simple fixes) but still wouldn't work and then I think I turned on and off the lock button and it may have cleared at that point, if not it was after I pressed the shutter button for another pic that cleared it. The same happened this evening and i'm pretty sure it was pressing the shutter button that cleared it but I don't know how or why.

It happened in all modes (I could still switch modes via the top dial.

Has anybody else experienced this or similar problems please, it might be a camera issue or otherwise a PICNIC issue (Problem In Chair, not In Camera), any help or suggestions most gratefully accepted thanks. I've trawled the net for ideas but nothing concrete found.

MTIA

Andy
Andygolfer (or at least I was once), now just plane crazy

Image
please support our photo competitions by entering and/or voting!
Proud winner of 2019 Air-Britain photo competition!

co-owner of UK Light Aviation Enthusiasts google group https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/uklae
and Stansted Aviation Enthusiasts google group: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/stnae

my photos on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/125470545@N07/

User avatar
talldan76
POTM & SPOTM winner
Posts: 444
Joined: Tue Jun 17, 2014 12:59 pm

Re: Canon 70D touch screen locking up and Q button greyed ou

Post by talldan76 » Thu Nov 17, 2016 7:56 pm

Hi Andy,

You hadn't inadvertently ht the lock button on the bottom of the back panel?

I think this locks out those functions as you've described.

Dan

User avatar
andygolfer
Administrator, POTM, SPOTM & FC POTM winner
Posts: 8500
Joined: Sat Apr 30, 2011 11:51 am
Location: Rayne Essex - 12 miles east of Stansted

Re: Canon 70D touch screen locking up and Q button greyed ou

Post by andygolfer » Thu Nov 17, 2016 10:46 pm

talldan76 wrote:Hi Andy,

You hadn't inadvertently ht the lock button on the bottom of the back panel?

I think this locks out those functions as you've described.

Dan

no Dan I'm certain I haven't, and it did it again yesterday morning but one photo and it cleared again, I think it was one of two things, just before I took the photo when it locked I had changed the ISO, also like the previous shots that caused the locking I was taking a photo upwards (aircraft flying over my house), those 2 factors have been common each time.
I spoke to the Canon repair centre at colchester and they said keep a record of anything ~I do that possibly causes it to see if there is a pattern, they thought that possibly there could be a loose connection on the swivelling screen. I could see why they said it but as I hadn't moved the screen I think that's unlikely.

Testing will continue for now

andy
Andygolfer (or at least I was once), now just plane crazy

Image
please support our photo competitions by entering and/or voting!
Proud winner of 2019 Air-Britain photo competition!

co-owner of UK Light Aviation Enthusiasts google group https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/uklae
and Stansted Aviation Enthusiasts google group: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/stnae

my photos on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/125470545@N07/

User avatar
talldan76
POTM & SPOTM winner
Posts: 444
Joined: Tue Jun 17, 2014 12:59 pm

Re: Canon 70D touch screen locking up and Q button greyed ou

Post by talldan76 » Sat Nov 26, 2016 2:10 pm

Did you ever get to the bottom of this Andy?

User avatar
andygolfer
Administrator, POTM, SPOTM & FC POTM winner
Posts: 8500
Joined: Sat Apr 30, 2011 11:51 am
Location: Rayne Essex - 12 miles east of Stansted

Re: Canon 70D touch screen locking up and Q button greyed ou

Post by andygolfer » Sat Nov 26, 2016 2:51 pm

talldan76 wrote:Did you ever get to the bottom of this Andy?

no Dan, it hasn't happened any more and I've done quite a few pics in the last week or so.

I'm hoping that if it wasn't user induced then it had cleared itself but not convinced that it was something that I did to cause it. I've deliberately tried changing settings particularly the ISO and aperture adjustment and took a few of contrails to try upward shots but couldn't get it to happen again. fingers crossed that it won't.

andy
Andygolfer (or at least I was once), now just plane crazy

Image
please support our photo competitions by entering and/or voting!
Proud winner of 2019 Air-Britain photo competition!

co-owner of UK Light Aviation Enthusiasts google group https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/uklae
and Stansted Aviation Enthusiasts google group: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/stnae

my photos on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/125470545@N07/

User avatar
andygolfer
Administrator, POTM, SPOTM & FC POTM winner
Posts: 8500
Joined: Sat Apr 30, 2011 11:51 am
Location: Rayne Essex - 12 miles east of Stansted

Re: Canon 70D touch screen locking up and Q button greyed ou

Post by andygolfer » Sat Jan 14, 2017 6:43 pm

.............and now it's happening fairly regularly. I do wonder if it's something to do with the buffering if I take a series of shots but today it was greying out when I wasn't taking shots and I did notice the lens has a very small bit of rotational movement on it and moving it was sometimes greying it out. Could the connectors be a bit dirty?

the lens hasn't been off for months as I avoid changing it as much as possible to prevent dust getting in. Perhaps I'll swap my lenses over between the 2 cameras and see if it still happens.

andy
Andygolfer (or at least I was once), now just plane crazy

Image
please support our photo competitions by entering and/or voting!
Proud winner of 2019 Air-Britain photo competition!

co-owner of UK Light Aviation Enthusiasts google group https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/uklae
and Stansted Aviation Enthusiasts google group: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/stnae

my photos on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/125470545@N07/

User avatar
Mike
Administrator, SPOTM & FC POTM winner
Posts: 10372
Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2009 6:46 pm

Re: Canon 70D touch screen locking up and Q button greyed ou

Post by Mike » Sat Jan 14, 2017 6:52 pm

I'd say it's a lens problem, how about a new lens or getting the existing one serviced?
Image

Please support our monthly photo competitions by entering and/or by voting !

User avatar
PorkScratching
POTM & SPOTM winner
Posts: 1528
Joined: Thu May 15, 2014 8:01 pm
Location: London, UK
Contact:

Re: Canon 70D touch screen locking up and Q button greyed ou

Post by PorkScratching » Sat Jan 14, 2017 9:38 pm

I'd say it's more likely to be a camera issue than a lens issue, but *definitely* worth detaching the lens, cleaning the contacts with a soft cloth and re-attaching the lens. That may clear it. If the problem persists then switch lenses with your other camera and when it re-occurs it will be clear what's at fault (i.e. if the 70D continues to have issues with a different lens then you know the 70D is at fault, and if your other camera has the issue then you know the lens is at fault).

User avatar
andygolfer
Administrator, POTM, SPOTM & FC POTM winner
Posts: 8500
Joined: Sat Apr 30, 2011 11:51 am
Location: Rayne Essex - 12 miles east of Stansted

Re: Canon 70D touch screen locking up and Q button greyed ou

Post by andygolfer » Mon Jan 16, 2017 8:59 pm

PorkScratching wrote:I'd say it's more likely to be a camera issue than a lens issue, but *definitely* worth detaching the lens, cleaning the contacts with a soft cloth and re-attaching the lens. That may clear it. If the problem persists then switch lenses with your other camera and when it re-occurs it will be clear what's at fault (i.e. if the 70D continues to have issues with a different lens then you know the 70D is at fault, and if your other camera has the issue then you know the lens is at fault).

I switched lenses today Nick (to do some pics of the grandchildren who were far too close for a 100-400 lens!) and it greyed out again so I now know it's definitely the camera. I've got to go to Colchester on Thursday so will call the Canon centre to see if they can have a quick look for me to work out what it is. Camera seems fine otherwise and usually clears if I take 2 or 3 more pics.
Andygolfer (or at least I was once), now just plane crazy

Image
please support our photo competitions by entering and/or voting!
Proud winner of 2019 Air-Britain photo competition!

co-owner of UK Light Aviation Enthusiasts google group https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/uklae
and Stansted Aviation Enthusiasts google group: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/stnae

my photos on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/125470545@N07/

User avatar
PorkScratching
POTM & SPOTM winner
Posts: 1528
Joined: Thu May 15, 2014 8:01 pm
Location: London, UK
Contact:

Re: Canon 70D touch screen locking up and Q button greyed ou

Post by PorkScratching » Mon Jan 16, 2017 9:38 pm

andygolfer wrote:I switched lenses today Nick (to do some pics of the grandchildren who were far too close for a 100-400 lens!) and it greyed out again so I now know it's definitely the camera. I've got to go to Colchester on Thursday so will call the Canon centre to see if they can have a quick look for me to work out what it is. Camera seems fine otherwise and usually clears if I take 2 or 3 more pics.
Excellent news that you've isolated the device with the fault. Good timing going to Colchester! Hope all goes well, and handy you have the other body to use until you get the 70D back.

User avatar
andygolfer
Administrator, POTM, SPOTM & FC POTM winner
Posts: 8500
Joined: Sat Apr 30, 2011 11:51 am
Location: Rayne Essex - 12 miles east of Stansted

Re: Canon 70D touch screen locking up and Q button greyed ou

Post by andygolfer » Fri Jan 20, 2017 8:12 am

I left it with them do do some tests, just waiting for an e-mail but as it's intermittent they have to hope it happens soon! Just hope it's not too expensive otherwise I might have to live with it and hope it doesn't fail completely.

So I now have the 100-400 on the 600D and my 18-250 (wait for it!!!)........... on my original 1000D, that hasn't been out for a while.

I hope I don't shock the 1000D into breaking. It still produces good images for general work and is simple to use just a bit obsolete compared to the new equipment.
Andygolfer (or at least I was once), now just plane crazy

Image
please support our photo competitions by entering and/or voting!
Proud winner of 2019 Air-Britain photo competition!

co-owner of UK Light Aviation Enthusiasts google group https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/uklae
and Stansted Aviation Enthusiasts google group: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/stnae

my photos on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/125470545@N07/

User avatar
WingNut
Posts: 48
Joined: Fri Apr 11, 2014 11:23 am

Re: Canon 70D touch screen locking up and Q button greyed ou

Post by WingNut » Fri Jan 27, 2017 7:30 pm

Just a suggestion Andy. I was having a few issues with my 7D MkII whereby I couldn't make any setting changes. Despite trying almost everything I couldn't get it corrected until I thought of removing my battery. I shut the camera off, removed the battery and waited a few minutes, then reinstalled the battery and everything worked again. I haven't had any problems since.
I hide some of my shots HERE

User avatar
andygolfer
Administrator, POTM, SPOTM & FC POTM winner
Posts: 8500
Joined: Sat Apr 30, 2011 11:51 am
Location: Rayne Essex - 12 miles east of Stansted

Re: Canon 70D touch screen locking up and Q button greyed ou

Post by andygolfer » Fri Jan 27, 2017 10:37 pm

thanks wingnut. I tired that when it first happened but it didn't work so not the pronblem in this case, that is normally a sure-fire cure that i use though and this is probably the only time it failed.

The camera is still with Canon and they have tested it and tested it but the reluctant b*gger won't fail for them so I am collecting it on Wednesday to try it and see if it behaves. I asked them to check the sensor for dust between now and Wednesday and clean if necessary (seemed sensible) . They did tell me that the 70D isn't as susceptable to dust as the 600d, apparently the static or whatever it is in the 600D is much stronger and therefore attracts more dust.

I've looked at a few clear sky pics with high F numbers and there are a few spots but most seem to have disappeared later, won't do it any harm it's done 60000+ actuations in about 20 months which when I asked was only average use - that surprised me!
Andygolfer (or at least I was once), now just plane crazy

Image
please support our photo competitions by entering and/or voting!
Proud winner of 2019 Air-Britain photo competition!

co-owner of UK Light Aviation Enthusiasts google group https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/uklae
and Stansted Aviation Enthusiasts google group: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/stnae

my photos on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/125470545@N07/

User avatar
WingNut
Posts: 48
Joined: Fri Apr 11, 2014 11:23 am

Re: Canon 70D touch screen locking up and Q button greyed ou

Post by WingNut » Sat Jan 28, 2017 2:31 pm

andygolfer wrote: I asked them to check the sensor for dust between now and Wednesday and clean if necessary (seemed sensible) .
There's no better time to have it cleaned than when it's in their hands. If you take your gear in and out of different climates such as a warm house to a cooler humid climate and back in again eventually you end up with a very hard to see " humidity film " on the sensor. Kinda like when your eye glasses steam up.
andygolfer wrote: I've looked at a few clear sky pics with high F numbers and there are a few spots but most seem to have disappeared later, won't do it any harm it's done 60000+ actuations in about 20 months which when I asked was only average use - that surprised me!
Of course they are going to say that. There's no way they'd say anything negative.
In normal circumstances a regular consumer type photographer isn't going to snap that many shots. I shoot a lot and have never come close to those numbers.

I hope it doesn't act up when you get it back. Things like that actually make me loose sleep and I usually end up selling the thing and buying a new one.
I hide some of my shots HERE

User avatar
andygolfer
Administrator, POTM, SPOTM & FC POTM winner
Posts: 8500
Joined: Sat Apr 30, 2011 11:51 am
Location: Rayne Essex - 12 miles east of Stansted

Re: Canon 70D touch screen locking up and Q button greyed ou

Post by andygolfer » Sat Jan 28, 2017 2:47 pm

WingNut wrote:
andygolfer wrote: Of course they are going to say that. There's no way they'd say anything negative.
In normal circumstances a regular consumer type photographer isn't going to snap that many shots. I shoot a lot and have never come close to those numbers.

I hope it doesn't act up when you get it back. Things like that actually make me loose sleep and I usually end up selling the thing and buying a new one.
I'm amazed how many shots I take tbh. At an airshow I often take well over 1000 mainly using the fast continuous setting because there are usually quite a few failures and it helps to ensure I do get one at exactly the right moment especially with aerobatic formations, I know there will be a perfect second and I like to maximise my chance of catching it - then I just have to hope it's sharp and that is all down to me.

I bet it will play up :mad: that's the biggest problem with intermittent problems, they always tend to come back at the wrong moment. At least I can get by with this problem but I just hope it won't suddenly escalate and pack up altogether. I would rather they found it and it cost me some money to put right than take it away and it fails on a critical day out at an airshow or similar.

thanks for the response
Andy
Andygolfer (or at least I was once), now just plane crazy

Image
please support our photo competitions by entering and/or voting!
Proud winner of 2019 Air-Britain photo competition!

co-owner of UK Light Aviation Enthusiasts google group https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/uklae
and Stansted Aviation Enthusiasts google group: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/stnae

my photos on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/125470545@N07/

User avatar
Mike
Administrator, SPOTM & FC POTM winner
Posts: 10372
Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2009 6:46 pm

Re: Canon 70D touch screen locking up and Q button greyed ou

Post by Mike » Sat Jan 28, 2017 3:31 pm

I'm sure it will happen again, Canon's workshop will be temperature & humidity controlled - we don't have that luxury when out and about in all weathers.

I really hope it doesn't happen again but I wouldn't put my wages on it. :)
Image

Please support our monthly photo competitions by entering and/or by voting !

Post Reply

Return to “Photography Questions & Answers”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 5 guests