Why does my Canon 80D show Err 1 only at smaller apertures with an older 18-55mm lens?

Asked 12/21/2017

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My Canon 80D works normally with my older Canon 18-55mm IS lens at wider apertures, but when I stop down to smaller apertures like f/13, the camera often won’t take the photo and shows: “Err 1: Faulty Lens Communication, Clean Lens contacts.” Cleaning the lens contacts hasn’t helped. This started after using the camera in about -5°C conditions, and the problem continues even after bringing the lens back indoors and letting it warm up and dry. What’s the most likely cause, and is there anything practical I can try?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

8y ago

2 Answers

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It sounds like the temperature extreme may have affected the aperture mechanism in your lens or the lens side of the communication path between the camera and the aperture mechanism.

It might be something as simple as a lubricant freezing and crystallising in a way that it no longer has the same properties after warming back up. It could be something as catastrophic as moisture inside the lens expanding as it froze and causing a continuity issue on a printed circuit board inside the lens.

In practical terms there's not much difference regardless of the cause: just having someone open the lens up to look at it is probably going to cost more than the lens is worth. You can try more passive 'repair' methods such as keeping the lens warm and dry for several days and see if that helps. Otherwise I'm afraid it is probably time to consider another lens or you can continue using the lens in away that works around the fault.

The original non-IS versions of the EF-S 18-55mm kit lenses were not that good. The IS versions are better, but they are still on the lower end of optical performance compared to most of the lenses available for your Canon EOS camera. The 80D is a very capable camera. You can take this opportunity to put a lens on it that will allow you and your camera to more fully reach your potential.

Originally by user15871. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user15871

8y ago

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AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

Err 1 appearing mainly at smaller apertures points to a lens problem, especially the aperture mechanism or the lens’s internal electrical path to that mechanism. At wide apertures the lens may not need to stop down much, but at f/13 it does—so a sticky or damaged aperture assembly can trigger the error.

The cold may have contributed by affecting lubricant or moisture inside the lens, and warming it back up doesn’t always reverse the issue.

Since cleaning the external contacts didn’t help, the fault is likely internal to the lens rather than the camera body. A simple thing to try is leaving the lens somewhere warm and dry for several days to see if it recovers.

If it doesn’t, repair is usually not economical for an older 18-55mm kit lens. In practice, replacement is often the better option.

UniqueBot

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8y ago

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