Camera won't turn on... how can I tell what happened to it?

The best setting depends on what you're taking a picture of and, more importantly, what YOU want that picture to say to the viewer. The best setting for a portrait most likely won't be the best setting for a landscape, for example. You probably won't want a picture of a grandfather to convey the same impression and mood as a picture of his granddaughter, and you probably want something different for a picture of the two of them together.
That's why the camera offers so many different settings. It just takes pictures. You MAKE pictures by deciding what to include and exclude, whether you have a deep or narrow depth of field, and all the other little things.
The camera manual tells you what the various controls do. There should be plenty of introductory photography books at your local library that will explain the effects of those controls. I suggest taking one (or more) of those books, your camera manual, and the camera itself, and experimenting to see what happens with changing the various settings. Take a lot of pictures and look at them on your computer. You can always delete these pictures when you're done.

It uses two CR2 or equivalent batteries. You can tell your sister she may download the manual here.

This seems to be a software problem with your camera. Your camera should, if on AUTO mode, automatically expose your photo accurately. Try half pressing the shutter button (used to take pictures) while outside to adjust focus and exposure, then press the button fully to take picture. If your camera cannot adjust to take a properly exposed picture (not bright white), then it is possible that the shutter speed is stuck on a too high speed, outside daytime shutter speed should be fast (1/1000 sec). Or if your shutter speed adjust accurately, it could be the aperture if the aperture is not small enough for daylight shooting. This is likely a software problem. Try adjusting your settings manually and see if the picture turns out!

Sounds like a mechanical problem, you should take it to a service center to have it diagnosted.

The real problem is your boyfriend if he didn't convince you to purchase the camera that problem will not happen, BREAK-UP WITH YOUR BOYFRIEND to prevent more problems to come. I'm available .

Preformat : By Fix-shad0w

#1
Insert your memory card into your computer's reader if you have one. If not, you can purchase a multi-format USB Memory Card reader from Amazon.com or Buy.com
#2
Open up 'My Computer'. You should see it under the list of available drives.
#3
Check its contents first to make sure that you have the right drive.
#4
In 'My Computer', right-click on the drive and choose 'Format'.
#5
Leave all the options as they are and click on 'Start'. This is a non-reversible process so make sure this is what you truly wanted to do in the first place.
#6
Once the process is completed, take the memory card out and insert it into your Digital Camera or any other device. Try to browse to it to make sure it works fine now.

With A USB , CELLPHONE , Camera The SameThing

A stuck shutter is another common failure mode for digital cameras. The symptoms of a stuck or "sticky" shutter are very similar to CCD image sensor failure. The camera may take black pictures (for shutter stuck closed), or the pictures may be very bright and overexposed, especially when taken outdoors (for shutter stuck open).

To confirm a stuck shutter, put the camera in any mode other than "Auto", and turn the flash OFF (you don't want to blind yourself for the next step). Next look down the lens and take a picture. You should see a tiny flicker in the center of the lens as the shutter opens and closes. If no movement is seen, then you likely have a stuck shutter. If so, please see the following for further info and a simple fix that may help:

http://camerarepair.blogspot.com/2009/05/simple-fix-for-stuck-shutter.html

Try Blow cleaning the Memory card slot ... sometimes dust does that

hi dustin

this camera isn't particullairy fast the only thing your sister inlaw needs is a fast sd card, like sandisc ultra II and even then i gues it still won't win the race.

important with this camera and many others is that she eiter takes pictures in the sport mode and firts perss the shuuter half way aim the camera at the subject and press the shutter..

Oh sisters! Give her this camera and buy another. The screen has failed for a any number of reasons If you cannot record an image[point the camera at something press the ****-did you get a picture? Yes then it is a circuit board failure. No then it is a CCD failure. If it is fairly young a year or less - contact Canon for a replacement[or the place you got it from] If it is moer than a year Contact Canon - it may be a failure they know about and will replace the camera free or offer a huge discount on another.