Canon Error 5

Error 5, Error 05, and error 5 are commonly used to describe what appears in a CANON EOS camera, and it is related with a pop-up flash malfunction.

The user manual suggests: EOS Canon “Something obstructed the built-in flash’s pop-up operation. Turn off the switch and turn it on again."

In most cases however it is a mechanical issue.

This will happen in the following situations:

The flash does not rise automatically and you need force it (this is not recommended). If this occurs, the built-in flash pop-up could be dirty with candy or something sticky or even accumulated dust that worked its way into the camera. In this case the camera needs maintenance, to be disassembled and thoroughly cleaned.

Flash is completely stuck, you are unable to pull it up with your hand, the latch gets stuck and needs to be disassembled and re-assembled in order to repair the disarrangement.

The flash is rising automatically, nothing is obstructing it but the error 05 appears. In this case the sensor flash needs to be adjusted.

Especially if the camera was dropped this sensor can be loose (the switch referred to previously). In all cases you can hear the motor sound and when it stops the error appears. If you are using auto mode you will be unable to take pictures due to the camera will try to flash in low-light and backlit conditions automatically.

In manual mode you are able to take pictures provided that you do not use the flash.

Do not force these parts up or down, while they are light in weight, forcing them might cause further damage if there are any objects or dust inside the camera. Your best option is to have the camera repair done by a professional in possession of all the right precise tools for this delicate repair.