Camera stopped working in middle of Disney Vacation. Will not close and has black screen with E18 at bottom left. Also lens keeps moving just a little in/out very fast.

Canon Powershot's error E18 has to do with the lens:
If it appears on a black LCD with E18 written on the corner, it is mostly due to the lens getting stuck while trying to extend. The camera will beep a few times and the LCD will display a little E18 in the lower-left corner. The lens gets stuck in the extended position, and refuses to move either to focus the lens or to retract when powered off.
I am giving below a link which will help you with E18 problem.

http://www.e18error.com/repair.html

Hope this helps, let me know if you have a proble.
Please do rate and thanks for using FixYa and Best fo luck to get you camera out of E18!

Try lightly tapping lens on a hard surface. This sometimes reseats the lens. If this does not work take to bits and reassemble.

I won't say this is a solution but to prevent the lens retraction E18 message which seems to be common with Canon zoom lenses, I put the extension tube on mine. Sometimes I put a polarizer lens on it but usually I just leave it on to protect the lens when it is on. I have dropped it (on the carpeting at home) and never had a problem. If you have a Canon with a zoom lens, get a lens hood for it ASAP!! My wife's A520 has one on hers too. No problems.
There are lots of other places on the web with suggested fixes. Keep looking and keep enjoying this camera. Merry Christmas all.

E18 is the canon fault number for lens error. Is the lens stuck out? does it click when the camera is switched on? Try lightly tapping the lens on a hard surface. This sometimes resets the lens. If all this fails take it to bits! (but watch the flash module as this can give a nasty shock.Big black capacitor) You will see the lens module take the it to bits carefully and re seat the components. I have done a few over the years. It takes about an hour. If you have any more issues contact me.

The following blog outlines some repair options for a lens error. They won't work for all cases, but they're worth a try:

http://camerarepair.blogspot.com/2007/12/fixing-lens-error-on-digital-camera.html

The following blog outlines some simple repair options for a lens error. But please first try the listed Fix #2. I heard that fix particularly works well for a camera who's battery had run down with the lens open. Please post back here with a follow up comment if any of the fixes work:

http://camerarepair.blogspot.com/2007/12/fixing-lens-error-on-digital-camera.html

the E18 means the lens system has a problem. I had it with my S2 and sometimes it worked, sometimes not. Eventually it stopped working. The only solution was sending it to repair, they changed the lens system.

Best Regards

The E18 error message relates to a problem with the zooming mechanism (lens would not retract or extended) Press the power button on and hold it down while extending and twisting the telescopic zoom lens. It might fix you problem. In any case it could not make it worse Good luck!

E18 indicates a lens or "optical unit" problem. In other words your zoom lens won't function correctly. Canon will be more than willing to look after you.

This comes up when the lens sticks. Try removing the colar around the lens, then turn the camera on/off and give it a "little help" to open or close, it's probably just a little stuck