I had a pretty nice digital camera and after about a year, managed to break it. Received an even nicer one as a gift and it lasted an even shorter time. Both cameras broke due to my well known clumsiness. Well I broke down and bought a third last summer and you guessed it....having issues again. I'm wondering I this one is repairable though, maybe somebody here can answer. It's just a mid grade digital camera I bought at target, and I. Can't even think of the brand or model at the moment. But when I turn it on and the lenses comes out, it gets stuck and gives an error message and shuts itself off. Sometimes I can wiggle it a tad and get it to come out before it shut off. But usually not. Does this sounds like any problem that any of you have encountered or can explain?
We definitely need the make and model.... Is this a pocket camera or one that looks like a 35mm camera????
Most P&S cameras are not worth the cost of repair - my guess is that you have some grit in the lens mechanism that is causing it to jam - currently using a Fuji Finepix F600 EXR, and very pleased with the results it gives
Have you tried a drop of oil on the body of the lens? It appears that the camera is telling the lens to extend but doesn't get the signal that it had done it. I get the same thing if I turn my camera on and forget to take off the lens cap. :oops:, It tries to extend the lens, then when it can't, it shuts down to keep from damaging anything
If you do use oil, I'd use it very sparingly, I don't think you would want any to get inside your camera. Maybe extend the lens, then wipe a thin coating on the lens body and try again. No guarantees, but you don't have much to lose either.
There is new generation of small quite simple digital cameras intended for outdoor sports, snorkeling, use at the beach etc.. They are basically not different from the other ones but in a more robust enclosure and have little to none extra elements that can be broken off. As an add on they are usually quite water proof. Not for diving but a depth up to 3 ft is usually no problem. The surcharge for the robustness is usually very low.
I had a similar problem with one of my earlier digital canon cameras. I don't think I ever totally resolved it. I'm at least on my 3rd digital camera as they become outdated so quickly or, if they do get damaged, you might as well buy a new one. I'm not a fan of this approach but it's the way the industry is set up. Why spend lots of money fixing up an old camera when you can buy a current, more updated one for not much more?
I realize yours is not that old but maybe you should buy a new one but then keep the older one as a second/backup camera. That's what I've done. Sometimes my wife and I (or my sons and I) are each going to different places and want to take a camera. My wife & I both have iPhones now and the iPhone camera is actually very good -- you almost don't need an actual camera!
Yeah, I recommend either the Nikon Cool Pix AW100 / AW110, or one of the Olympus Tough cameras. These are armored and water proof, and don't have lenses that get jammed. For a point and shoot camera, these are fine.
I am also highly abusive on my cameras, I often carry mine in my pocket while climbing on equipment, and working long mud flats and such that would destroy any other kind of camera or electronics.
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I've had one now for 9 years. Sometimes the lens cover is a bit sloppy, and there is some kind of sensor or contact that tells the camera the cover has been opened and the lens should be extended. On occasion, I have to jiggle the cover a bit in order to get the lens to extend.
I had a work camera that didn't have a sliding cover like that, but had clamshell like doors that opened in front of the lens. When I pushed the on button, the lens would extend but the doors would not open all the way, because they were jammed with dirt and sand. I cleaned it out with one of those keyboard duster sprays, and it was better, but still a little touchy.
Those cameras were probably both $200 when brand new, but I can go to the store and buy a camera with 3x higher resolution and more features for between 50 an 100. So when I finally get tired of the lens not opening properly, I'll just buy a new one.
Small point and shoot cameras aren't usually worth the cost of repair, as stated above. However, if it is just a bit of grit, you might have luck taking to a camera store and asking for an opinion. They might even be able to blow it out with some compressed air.
I support the opinion of a Tough or armoured camera for you, give your history
. Or you might be able to add armour depending on the model.
Andrew
It's a cannon powershot a3400. I tried using it again now tonight, and it seems to be working better now knock on wood.. But when I use the zoom it gives me an error message abd shuts down again. I'll try spraying it with some compressed air. Maybe while it's open try oiling it too like mentioned. What would I want to use for oil?
KevinKrey Wrote:It's a cannon powershot a3400. I tried using it again now tonight, and it seems to be working better now knock on wood.. But when I use the zoom it gives me an error message abd shuts down again. I'll try spraying it with some compressed air. Maybe while it's open try oiling it too like mentioned. What would I want to use for oil?
If you have Wahl electric razor oil, I'd go with that, otherwise some WD-40 could work. I'd put some on a cloth and run the cloth around the lens body while it's extended. Not too much, just a light coat should free up something that may be sticking.