My 5d is acting crazy and I am thinking I'll probably have to take it in for service, but I'm hoping that won't be necessary. Does anyone know if there's some kind of a "reset" for the camera's computer chip I can do?

Here's what's going on... first thing I noticed was when I pushed the af/wb button that the af options were just not there, not in the little box on the screen on the top of the camera. I thought it was weird, and then noticed that the little box was always empty, even when shooting. Turning the camera off and on again didn't help. Taking the battery out and replacing DID help, it went back to normal.

So I'm shooting and I don't chimp all that often, so I didn't notice this until a while after it started but I realized that there is a serious issue between my settings and my shutter.... I'll have a shot set up, take 3 or so with the same setting sequentially and the first is perfect, right as metered, the second with the EXACT SAME lighting and camera settings is a little dim, third is super underexposed and if I take 4 or more, the last few are completely black. This is all with the same settings, it's like the shutter just starts going faster or something, but I don't know if it's a problem with the computer or with the actual shutter. I am pretty sure the shutter is going faster because I noticed that in a couple of flash shots I ended up with the half black thing that happens when you try to shoot flash above your sync speed, even though the camera was set lower than the sync speed.

Has this happened to anyone else? Anyone have ideas about how to fix it? Am I delusional to assume that reseting the computer might help?

Any input would be greatly appreciated, thanks!!

I'm going to say that it sounds like a mechanical or electrical failure. The closest you can get is to pull out batter un attach and re-attach the lens, and then flip her back on. Maybe try a different battery? I would definately send it in for service.

And this folks, is why backup gear is an absolute must! Things just break in funny ways sometimes... damn thee murphy... damn theee

What mode is the camera set in?

Sounds kind of like what my second shooters 5D was doing. There was a AF board that had to be replaced (even though AF was working fine?) Sent it in to CPS, back in 3 days...

CPS is a life saver.. and the free cleanings for the 5D are well worth the effort to get accepted.

manual. That's the weird thing, sequential photos in identical light with identical settings should have exactly the same exposure, but they're coming out progressively darker until completely black.

Like I said though, it doesn't happen all the time and taking the battery out and replacing it makes it stop happening for quite a while, so it seems more like a whacked computer than a mechanical problem (although that's just a total guess on my part)

I think I'll take it to Irvine on Monday.