Panasonic Lumix FZ7 - problem with the zoom

[blessedby3]

I have a Panosonic Lumix FZ7 camera that I bought in 12/06. It has been fine up until a couple of months ago and the zoom just quit working. The camera still takes pictures, you just cant zoom in or out. I called Panasonic and they want $111.50 up front to look at the camera and fix it. I think that is too much to send in for them to look at it. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what would be wrong with the camera and the zoom? I would appreciate any suggestions as to what I can do.

 

[bob100]

I have a Panosonic Lumix FZ7 camera that I bought in 12/06. It has been fine up until a couple of months ago and the zoom just quit working. The camera still takes pictures, you just cant zoom in or out. I called Panasonic and they want $111.50 up front to look at the camera and fix it. I think that is too much to send in for them to look at it. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what would be wrong with the camera and the zoom? I would appreciate any suggestions as to what I can do.

I've heard about those type problems with the zoom cameras, my suggestion is to ask in a Panasonic forum such as www.dpreview.com/forums ,

 

[jennwndrlnd]

I've read about this problem also, most people have been saying that they just press the lens with the cap on to dislodge it. It sounds like once you start having this problem it can be a repetitive thing. The price of the FZ8 just dropped to $135 at Wal-Mart.