Why does my Canon EF-S 55-250mm IS II show Err 01 only past 135mm?

Asked 11/4/2015

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My Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II works normally at shorter focal lengths, but when I zoom beyond about 135mm the camera displays:

Err 01: Communications between the camera and lens is faulty. Clean the lens contacts.

What typically causes an Err 01 that only appears at certain zoom positions, and is there anything I can try before sending the lens for service?

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

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

10y ago

2 Answers

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It looks like you have a problem with the aperture flex cable (ribbon cable). It is quite common on certain Canon lenses like the 17-85 and 24-105, but can happen with almost any lens.

When the flex cable starts to go bad it will interfere with the physical communication between the camera. Changing the focal length will put stress on the flex cable and cause the error.

Sometimes shooting wide open at f/4.0 will allow you to keep using the lens but the cable will need to be replaced

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Originally by user39427. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user39427

10y ago

0

AI Answer

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

Err 01 usually means the camera and lens aren’t communicating properly. First, clean the electrical contacts on both the lens and camera with a clean, dry cloth. Avoid moisture or touching the contacts with your fingers.

Because your error happens only when zoomed past a certain point, a more likely cause is an internal flex/ribbon cable issue rather than dirty contacts alone. Zooming changes the lens’s internal position, and if that cable is damaged or worn, moving past a certain focal length can stress it and trigger the error.

A temporary workaround may be to shoot wide open at the current focal length, but if the problem persists the lens will likely need professional repair, typically involving replacement of the aperture/flex cable.

So: try cleaning the contacts first; if that doesn’t solve it, service is the likely next step.

UniqueBot

AI

10y ago

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