Need digital camera help ASAP

[LilGMom]

Ack! We are leaving for a quick weekend trip in three days and, of course, my Canon PowerShot SX110-IS decided to start acting up last night. The camera has been dropped a few times but not recently, probably from no higher than 3' if that makes a difference, and I've tried Googling this problem but haven't had much luck.

While taking pictures yesterday I zoomed out, almost all the way, would take 3-4 pictures and then the LCD screen would shut off and I couldn't take any more pictures - almost like the camera had shut down with the lens still extended. However, I could press the "View" button to view pictures I had already taken but would have to press the "On/Off" button to get the lens to retract and then press it again in order to take more pictures. This happened over and over and continued even after I put fresh batteries in (the first set of AA batteries had around 90% life). While searching online for this problem I came across a problem others have had that is slightly similiar but their camera would give them an "E18" error and at no time did my camera display any sort of message on the screen.

We are going for the Last Trip to Endor and I will be a Star Wars picture taking fool so I really don't need to have to reset my camera every 3-4 shots. Does anyone have any experience with this sort of problem? Should I just assume that it is on it's last lens life and get a new camera (I honestly wouldn't mind a new one)? If looking at new cameras what would you recommend for a novice photographer that likes to takes lots of pictures and isn't that expensive? Thanks so much.

Did I mention that we are leaving super early Saturday morning so I need to figure something out before Friday evening?

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

Ouch sorry for your pain.

Personally I wouldn't head out to WDW with a wonky camera so if you have the money I'd be looking at a new one.

Time to upgrade to a DSLR?

 

[photo_chick]

Canon took the E18 error message out. I'm not sure if your camera would even give it at all even if that were the problem. But your lens is moving, and that's one up on most of the reports I've read of the error.

As far as what it's doing... You've already changed the batteries. The only other thing I'd do is reset the camera and see if that helps. Unfortunately there's just not a whole lot of user end service you can really do these days.

I'd buy a new camera and worry about it when I got back. I'm in a similar situation with my waterproof camera. I leave Friday morning and it's wonking out so I can totally relate to the panic.

 

[LilGMom]

I'm leaning towards a new camera and like photo_chick said I'd worry about the Canon later. Never hurts to have two cameras in the house, right? DH just bought an iPad so he thinks that I have somehow sabotaged the Canon so that I can get a new camera. I didn't do anything to the Canon because the timing stinks

I'll try resetting the camera this evening and if that doesn't work I'll be heading to Best Buy the night before we leave. I guess figuring out the new camera will be my excuse as to why I can't help in the driving.

Thanks for the input.