Is my camera dead? Help!

[saraluna14]

does this mean my camera's dead? 3/4 of the way through a session this morning, i started to see a big black smear across all my images taken with sunlight behind them, or when i went outside. i have a canon 5d that has lasted me a good loooooon 4 years. i must have a bajillion actuations at this point. do i need to face the fact that i need a new camera? feedback appreciated.

 

[480sparky]

What camera? (brand, model, etc.)

Have you cleaned it lately..... especially the innards?

 

[Sw1tchFX]

did you lock the mirror up and see what's in front of the sensor? looks like it could be part of the shutter curtain.

 

[saraluna14]

Canon 5d. Haven't cleaned it lately, but the first half of the shoot was fine and then all of a sudden the black stripe?

 

[Sw1tchFX]

But have you locked up the mirror and looked to see what was in front of the sensor since?

 

[scorpion_tyr]

Take your lens off. Look through it and see if you see something similar. I've never seen images taken with an aperture diaphram messed up, but I've seen it in the lenses and it looks like this. Depending on what kind of glass you were shooting through this may be good news, or very bad news.

 

[tirediron]

Take your lens off. Look through it and see if you see something similar. I've never seen images taken with an aperture diaphram messed up, but I've seen it in the lenses and it looks like this. Depending on what kind of glass you were shooting through this may be good news, or very bad news.

This was my first thought based on the shape of the dark area; I really think it has to be lens-related and not sensor.

 

[Buckster]

Take your lens off. Look through it and see if you see something similar. I've never seen images taken with an aperture diaphram messed up, but I've seen it in the lenses and it looks like this. Depending on what kind of glass you were shooting through this may be good news, or very bad news.

This was my first thought based on the shape of the dark area; I really think it has to be lens-related and not sensor.

Wouldn't that also be seen through the viewfinder though? Or maybe only if it has a DOF button and it's pushed?

 

[photo guy]

I have seen this before with cameras and it was always bad news: dead camera

 

[Garbz]

I have seen this before with cameras and it was always bad news: dead camera

Really? What's the prognosis?

Sensor failure typically happens in small clustors, stripes, lines, failed colours, and is usually quite defined from one point to another.
This on the other hand looks very organic, like something is blocking light. It does not follow any normal electrical path, it has no pattern in relation to how a sensor is electrically connected, and has blurry and not well defined edges.
Dead camera would be the last thought here.

 

[Edsport]

He says he saw this streak with sunlight behind them or when he went outside. I'm wondering do he get the streak when inside...