Canon PowerShot A510 Digital Camera - Answered Questions & Fixed issues
Memory card error in a510
Try reformatting the card. If it won't reformat in the camera, use a PC and set it for FAT or FAT32
not NTFS
Date and time won't stay set
Had the same problem. The problem is a small button cell that needs to be replaced. From Canon's support page:http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/support/consumer/digital_cameras/powershot_a_series/powershot_a510?CMD=MIXED_SEARCH&mName=PowerShot+A510&mType=PowerShot+A+Series&pageKeyCode=ekbresults&searchString=date+and+time+wont+stay&BASIC_SEARCH_CURRENT_TOPIC_ID=1236&BASIC_SEARCH_CURRENT_TOPIC_TYPE=0&RESULTS=RELEVANCE&RELEVANCE_START=1&RELEVANCE_COUNT=25&CONFIGURATION=1011&PARTITION_ID=1&TIMEZONE_OFFSET=null&USERTYPE=1&isSecure=false
Canon Powershot A510 - lens covers stuck
A stuck lens cover is a fairly common problem, but it is normally easy to fix. A single grain of sand jamming the cover mechanism is normally the culprit, and you want to try to dislodge it. There are many non-invasive techniques that people have come up with to accomplish this.
Some may be seen on this blog article. You can also open the lens barrel up to fix the covers, but only as a very last resort. The article also gives examples for this type of procedure.
My photo shot button fell out that takes photos
Avoid camera shake. Watch your shutter speed. As a general rule, you should not allow this to fall to a speed slower than the reciprocal of your 35mm equivalent focal length. However, if you're using digital (or are willing to use your film up a bit quicker), you can try taking several shots in succession and hopefully one will have a satisfying level of sharpness. Turn on vibration reduction (also called "image stabilization", depending on the manufacturer), if you have it. When VR/IS is on, the lens element(s) or image sensor move so that the image stays in place when projected onto the sensor. As a result, camera motion is less likely to affect the sharpness of your photographs. Turn it on whenever the lighting conditions makes getting a sharp picture difficult. Keep it off when you're shooting on a tripod; it isn't needed and actually makes your photographs less sharp.Use a shorter lens (or zoom out) and get closer. Remember that, according to the reciprocal rule of photography, reducing your focal length will give you less camera shake at any given shutter speed. Additionally, when you're using a variable-aperture zoom, you can often use a larger aperture with shorter focal lengths. Furthermore, getting closer might force you to be more creative when framing the picture.Use a tripod or a monopod If you're using an SLR and find yourself with so little light that you have no choice but to use long exposures, you might want to invest in a remote release cable. If your camera has a mirror lock-up (also called exposure delay mode), use it; this will stop the vibration from the mirror from affecting your images. Check your camera's manual to see what it's called. Mirror lock-up has two definitions; the other definition refers to when the mirrors and shutters move out of the way after you click the shutter button so that you can clean the image sensor without the sensor being active. If your camera doesn't have mirror lock-up, you can use the self timer.
How to format memory card using PC
If you format the memory using the PC then the memory card may not work in your camera. Format the memory card using the camera, go to the camera's menu and scroll through the settings until you come to Format the memory card, then select it and Format the memory card.
Impossible to connect camera with PC. no driver in
Just figured this one out. Man, they don't make it easy. I'm borrowing my roommate's PowerShot A510 and since it has a USB port going out, I'd assume I could simply connect the camera to my PC and access my images directly. Almost every other camera I've seen will register itself to Windows as a straight USB connection (prompting the Windows screen asking how you want to open the connection - 'open folder' etc). This one just sits dead quiet about things :)
If you've just bought this camera at a garage sale or are borrowing it or for whatever other reason do not have the "bundled" software and driver CD or have the camera's serial number, do not bother trying to find windows drivers or try to obtain any software from Canon. You won't get very far.
FINALLY found the solution in the User's Manual (which was free thank God). You can download the manual here: http://usa.canon.com/cusa/support/consumer/digital_cameras/powershot_a_series/powershot_a510#BrochuresAndManuals
(Select your operating system and download the "PowerShot A520/A510 Camera User Guide". File name is PSA520510CUG-EN.pdf)
In the User Guide, page 107 (I'll paraphrase):
1. Put camera in Play mode (the switch on the back (green arrow in green box)
2. Press Menu button (center one of the three along the bottom of the view screen)
3. In the 1st menu option (Play Menu, again green arrow in box highlighted), use the wheel button to scroll down to highlight "Transfer Order". Press Set (center of wheel).
4. You should now see "Transfer Order (DPOF) at the top of the screen and "Qty. of images 0".
5. Below "Qty of images 0" you'll see "Order", "Mark All", and "Reset". Order lets you select individual images; Mark All marks all current images for transfer; and Reset is reset. Press Set to choose.
Note: pressing the Menu button while selecting images brings you back to this main screen. If you are already at this main screen and you aren't ready to do your transfer yet, DON'T press the Menu button from this screen as it will initiate the transfer to your computer. Not a horrible thing, but might cause a mini freak-out.
7. Once you're selected the images you want to transfer, from the main Transfer Order window (now showing "Qty. of images" with a count of the images you selected), press the Menu button.
8. You'll see a white progress bar at the bottom of the screen. Don't worry! it's not deleting files or something bad.. (my first thoughts :) ..
9. Go to your PC and Voila! the Windows AutoPlay screen is now active!
10. Proceed with normal Windows USB operations (transferring at least, I didn't try any deletion).
I hope this helps somebody else out there who spent the last 3 hours trying to dig through internet hell to get this to work.
Atm, this is as much as I know so I probably don't have any good answers for any questions. Sorry :))
But, hope this helped at least!
The date and time is
Have you set the date and time? If so then your camera's date battery is probably dead and needs to be replaced. First get yourself a CR1220 battery, most often found at your local Radio Shack or online at amazon. Then open the camera's terminal cover (where your USB is) and using your fingernail. Open the battery holder, remove the old battery, and replace with the new one. Reinsert the holder with new battery in your camera and turn on your unit. set the date and time and you should be all set. For further information see your instruction manual or download from Canon at:
http://gdlp01.c-wss.com/gds/7/0900011217/01/PSA520510CUG-EN.pdf'
The instructions for changing the date battery start on page 137.
Hope this helps!
Hiram
Photo Tech Repair Service
110 East 13th Street
New York, NY 10003
212-673-8400
Canon Powershot A510 will not
If you look inside the clock battery slot, you'll see two contact points where the battery makes contact. They should be bright and shiny. If you notice any discoloration or corrosion, consider trying to clean with a nail file or emory board (or whatever you feel might remove that corrosion). Also, consider placing a small piece of cardboard directly under the battery in its holder to raise it up a bit, possibly improving contact with the upper connector. Good luck!
My new computer won't recognize my a510
Consider NOT connecting your camera to your computer.
The best way to download pictures from your camera to your computer involves removing the memory card from the camera and plugging it into a card reader (either built-in to the computer or connected via USB or FireWire). This is likely to be faster than connecting the camera to the computer, and won't run down your camera's batteries.
Once the card is plugged in, it will appear to your computer as a removable drive. You can use the operating system's drag&drop facility to copy pictures from the card to the computer's hard drive, the same way you copy any other files. Or you can use any photo cataloging program, such as Picasa ( http://picasa.google.com ).
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