Need help with camera problem...

[hayanyujah847]

Hi guys! We're on our first week of our two week trip to Disney World and our camera just stopped working today. We have a Canon PowerShot S3IS, which is only 1 year old. The lens is stuck in the extended position and every time we turn it on, we just get a lens error and the camera shuts off. There is no way to retract the lens. So now we are stuck with a non-functional camera and still have a week and half of our trip left.

Can anyone recommend how to fix this error?

If not, does anybody know any cheap digital camera options around the Disney resort area?

Thanks in advance!

 

[ukcatfan]

That problem typically needs you to send it in to Canon. My S2 had the same thing happen. There is a Walmart on Apopka-Vineland Rd only about five minutes south of WDW. If you are not familiar with that road, it is the one where you enter hotel row to DTD. If you come out of hotel row from DTD, make a right, go under the I-4 overpass, then it will be on the right about five minutes later(depending on traffic). If you prefer Target, stay on the same road for about five more minutes until you run into 192 (Irlo Bronson) and make a left. It is a couple blocks down on the left.

Be aware that the warranty is exactly one year, so if you are past that, Canon is going to want about $150 for the repair.

P.S. do NOT go to ANY of the camera/electronics tourist traps around WDW. They will rob you blind.

 

[MICKEY88]

if you've resolved yourself to the fact that the camera is toast and plan on replacing it, you could try desperate measures, A friend of mine had a similar problem, I googled the problem and found the following info,

while powering the camera up, gently twist the lens while pushing it in,

you might further damage an already broken camera, or you might free up the lens, fixing the camera..

I did this to my friends camera and actually fixed it, 2 years later he's still using it with no further problems

 

[hayanyujah847]

Thanks so much for your tips everyone! After an hour and a half of banging and cleaning...we somehow got it to function! hopefully it will keep on working through our trip. Thanks again!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MICKEY88]

Thanks so much for your tips everyone! After an hour and a half of banging and cleaning...we somehow got it to function! hopefully it will keep on working through our trip. Thanks again!!!!!!!!!!!!

that's great, sometimes the problem is a piece of dirt, hopefully that was the case and you'll be good to go for much longer than just your trip,


good luck

 

[sherry7]

When you get back home, google "Canon loyalty program". They probably won't fix your camera for free, but you'll probably be able to upgrade to a new camera for less than the price it would cost to fix it.

I had a really old broken Canon camera, and was able to upgrade to a new Elph for $100.