My Fuji F50 has developed a fault whereby it's

Works on any camera like this
OK you are probably going to think I am loony giving you this advise But No I am completely sane!

Get a can of compressed air OR acces to a compressor at your local garage Get them to fit the triggered air blower tool to it.

Blow around the lens in all the extension joins the firmly slap it in the palm of you hand with the side of the camera making contact with you palm. Do the procedure two or 3 times and inbetween the slaps turn it on to activate the lens mechanism. I have now fixed about 80 of these cameras with this method. I obtained the fix from Sony who charge $90 to do exactly the same. Keep at it as it will eventually work. One tip, make sure the battery is charged before you do this.

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I can't solve this problem, but I can offer this warning about the advice nettiser gave.... do NOT try to use a standard air compressor. Most tend to spit out condensate (water + oil) along with the stream of air. You'd make the problem worse by spraying more water inside your lens!

Canned air can give similar problems if the can is tilted and the liquid propellent flys out... a problem all too familiar to pro photographers and darkrom techs.