Ok, about a week ago I was on vacation and I got an error on my new Digital Rebel XT...Whenever my flash would pop up, I would get an error that would say error 99...I wouldn't be able to take any pictures after that, so I would turn the camera on and off to fix the problem...I haven't gone to the store where I bought it from yet, but I plan to. I also plan on calling canon techinical support..

Does anyone know what this error is or how to fix it?

Thanks,
Nigel

error 99 is an issue with the contacts between the lens and the camera body. it may be a case of dirt or grease on the lens contact points or faulty contacts on the lens - this tends to be more common on non canon lenses such as Sigmas or Tamrons.

I tried cleaning them and I still get the same error...Any suggestions on how to clean them?

i'd look at canned air, 99% pure alcohol, and foam tipped swabs and micro fiber wipes

just be careful not to use that anywhere near the camera sensor.

oops, should've explained i meant the wipes and swaps should be dampened ( and not soaked) in the alcohol

You say the camera is new. I don’t think you should try to fix it. Just take it back and ask for a replacement.

or try a different lens on it to see if its the contacts on the lens that are at fault.

I told you that you should have let me borrow it .. then it would be my fault

Hi Nigel! That is actually NOT a problem with the camera. It is just the incorrect lighting or setting, etc for the particular shot you are attempting. It happens and you even hear a weird static kinda sound...right?{ I have the same camera}....and you just need to adjust the setting...maybe check to see if the lighting is really ok for the shot. I'm no expert...but I am 99% sure it's just a wrong setting for that particular shot....and I get that when I shoot INDOORS.
PS: it comes with a lens sensor cleaning mode....and it is recommended NEVER to use the canned air....NOR turn it OFF while mirror is in "lock up" mode. I doubt you need to clean it so soon, unless you were around heavy salt water/air? But really---the error message is common when an incorrect setting is used...

That's weird, because whenever the flash pops up it ALWAYS says error 99, so I don't know..

Did you try shaking the camera around and listening if theres something jingling inside? Oh btw, do you have more than one lens?

"I'm no expert but I have seen this mentioned somewhere. When using some older lenses this error ocurs, apparently you can send the lenses back to the manufactuer and they will rechip them. So I think you can stop worrying as its nothing you are doing wrong, it is a lens problem that can be cured. I have no idea of how to go about this or indeed the likely cost. Hop this helps a little." They also said something about using a lens that isnt cannon...uh 3rd party lens or something, like a copy i guess...they dont work so well.

"dont forget to turn the camera off when changing the lens - that also results in the error 99 message if you don't." <-- You did that right?

Or another guy..."I just got a reply from the tech at canon. The shutter unit needs to replaced. It seems it was defective. The camera's still new since I bought it this past january. Go figure."

"Yup, it seems that most of the Err99 messeges are lens issues, usually meaning the lens is defective or not communicating to the camera body.
It will also show up if you have dirty contacts on the lens or moisture on a contact surface."

Hey! Im trying to help. -.- lol, or was that a waste of your reading time?

Nigel. Canon tech says to clean your lens contacts with a pencil eraser and don’t forget to clean the contacts in the camera too. I suggest you hold it with the lens mount down so the rubbery bits fall out not in.

I've tried doing that with the pencil eraser, but nothing...I hope to take to the store soon..