Sony A7R II Stuck Shutter: Replacement Service
A Sony A7R II showing "Camera Error. Turn power off then on." with a shutter that won't fire has usually reached the end of its shutter life. We replace the unit at a fixed price.
Symptoms
- Sony A7R II shutter stuck
- "Camera Error. Turn power off then on." message on the display
- Camera responds to controls but will not take a picture
- Strange mechanical noises when trying to shoot
- Error persists after removing the battery and factory reset
If your Sony A7R II shutter is stuck and the display shows "Camera Error. Turn power off then on.", the shutter unit has most likely reached the end of its mechanical life. It is a common failure on high-mileage bodies — and a fully repairable one, at a fixed price of €300 including sensor cleaning.
The symptoms
- The display shows the error message "Camera Error. Turn power off then on." (on Italian-market bodies: "Errore fotocamera. Spegnere e riaccendere").
- The camera reads all commands normally, but the shutter will not open and no picture is taken.
- Strange mechanical noises come from the shutter area when you try to shoot.
- The error survives a power cycle, battery removal, a lens swap and even a factory reset.
One of our customers hit exactly this in the middle of an event shoot. To his credit, he stayed calm and worked through the standard checks first: he switched the camera off, pulled the battery, waited a few minutes and reinserted it — nothing. He verified the error wasn't caused by the lens — it wasn't. He even reset the camera to factory settings, without success. Then he shipped it to us.
What causes it
The shutter is one of the few genuinely mechanical parts left in a mirrorless body, and it has a finite life. This is a common problem on all cameras with a high shot count: the sheer number of actuations — amplified in this case by heavy burst shooting at events — eventually wears the unit out until it fails outright. On this A7R II the diagnosis was quick: the camera processed every command but simply could not open the shutter, and it emitted unusual noises trying.
Can you fix it yourself?
The checks our customer did are exactly the right ones: power cycle, battery out and back in, try another lens, factory reset. If the error persists after all of that, the shutter has failed mechanically and no menu setting will bring it back. Replacing a shutter unit means major disassembly next to the sensor — not something to attempt outside a lab.
How we repair it
Our technicians replaced the complete shutter unit with a new one, then ran the full test routine to make sure the shutter was the only component affected — it was. The sensor was cleaned before reassembly, as it is included with every shutter replacement in our Sony repair service.
The camera went straight back to work: our customer tested the new shutter hard at his next events and confirmed the A7R II still has plenty to offer.
Price and turnaround
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Shutter unit replacement | €300 (fixed) |
| Sensor cleaning | Included |
| Final test & calibration | Included |
Typical turnaround is 7 working days. Return shipping within the EU is a flat €20.
Ship your camera from anywhere in the EU — diagnosis is free and the new shutter is covered by our 6-month warranty. See how it works.
Frequently asked questions
What does "Camera Error. Turn power off then on." mean on a Sony A7R II?
It is the generic error the camera shows when an internal component fails. When the camera still reads all commands but cannot open the shutter, the shutter unit itself is the usual cause.
Why does the shutter get stuck on a Sony A7R II?
The shutter is a mechanical part with a finite life. On bodies with a high shot count — especially ones used heavily in burst mode — it eventually wears out and fails.
How much does a Sony A7R II shutter replacement cost?
Our fixed price is €300, including a sensor cleaning and a full functional check before the camera is returned.
Is it worth replacing the shutter on a Sony A7R II?
In most cases yes. With a new shutter unit the camera has a lot of life left, and the repair costs a fraction of a replacement body.
