Cannon EOS Rebel XS won't focus

SOURCE: Camera auto focuses, shoots but the view screen is black

Check the playback menu that the review time has not been set to OFF. This will stop any pictures displaying on the back of the camera when taking them!

I leave mine at 2 secs which is long enough to quickly review and keeps the battery life up. If I need to review for longer, just use playback.

The flash won't come on if you have the camera in any of the creative modes (i.e. A-DEP, M, AV, TV or P). You can manually use it by pressing the flash button just above the lens release button on the front of the camera.

SOURCE: My Canon EOS Rebel XS digital camera has suddenly

Try cleaning the contacts on the camera body and the lens where they meet with a cotton swab lightly dampened with rubbing alcohol.

SOURCE: New Camera, no picture on screen

you can use live view, to preview the picture before its taken.... check the manual to turn on live view then press the center ok button to turn on live view
this is for cannon 1000d....hope this works

SOURCE: Cannon EOS Rebel XS shows busy display stopped working

Just got a brand new camera. Played around with it a few nights to learn all the parts and buttons. Went to a concert tonite. While waiting for the show I took many test shots to see how the camera would work under these contiditions. Used a 75 to 300 Cannon lens. I had just got the settings about right when the show started. All of a sudden the display went dark and "busy" flashed in the view finder. But it would not take any more pictures. Taking the battery out and removing the sd card did not help. The auto focus and flash still worked but nothing else.
This camera is going back to the store if I can't get some help. PLEASE............. vj

Ginko

• 19396 Answers
• Posted on Sep 07, 2010

SOURCE: When the the Cannon EOS

Hi.

It is a common problem on digital rebel. The problem is a factory defect caused by a factory defective autofocus sub mirror. The problem is known to most repairers ( and sadly to users ). Although the defect due to the camera design, Canon never acknowledge that this is a factory defect, and never issued a recall and free repair notice for DR defective autofocus.

THe repair is done replacing the mirror. The cost ranges between $120 and $180.

As first line of action, check any of the links below, and call Canon. Complain, and see if you can get discounted repair.

If that does not work, the alternatives are using the camera with no AF, or having the camera repaired at own expenses. Often the sub mirror may get even more stuck, and pictures start showing the black shadow from mirror on lower part of the picture.

This is the cause of your troubles:




Here one of several repair websites dealing with the problem. I quote:

"Most autofocus repairs are related to problems with the small mirror under the main mirror (known as the sub-mirror). There is a plastic post that operated this mirror which sometimes breaks. We replace this post with a brass pin so that the problem will not recur. "

Here one of the many forums on the problem. Please read the testimonial from other users, it is quite instructive.

Other forum.

Here replacement pin.

Here how to do the repair.

Here Canon contact:Canon technical support phone number.

After reading the solution, if you think that my comment had been helpful, then please do not forget to Accept.

Many thanks.

Ginko.