Hi, tried to use my camera today, but when I turned it on it statred making a really strange loud clicking noise while the zoom lens was automatically expanding/coming out (don't know the correct term for this sorry)...anyway it only got halfway as if something was stuck. I turned camera off, and the lens didn't go back in, but if I moved the camera about the lens would slide back inside, and the lens cover bit would open and close. Turned the camera on again and it made a loud whirring noise, but the lens didn't move, I had to remove the batteries to stop this. Turned it on and off a few times, at one point I could see something on the viewfinder, although it was all blurry. Otherwise nothing comes up on the screen. It seems to be a mechanical problem, maybe whatever part/s are responsible for the function/movement of the lens are broken? This happened out of the blue, I didn't drop the camera, it's 2yrs old, is this normal? Can it be repaired?! Thanks.
Thanks so much for your advice! It looks like repairs could be really expensive, I think I'll buy a new camera. Best Regards, A :)Thanks so much for your advice! It looks like repairs could be really expensive, I think I'll buy a new camera. Best Regards, A :)
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198 Answers
Re: Broken zoom lens...
Hello
This is a pretty usual type of problem. The lens assembly is composed of some lens and some servomotors that will move them around or focus them properly in order to get a sharp picture. This is a delicate part of any camera. Sometimes one of the small parts in the lens assembly get out from their positions and damages or jams other components there. Therefore when you start the camera it produces weird noises as it tries to extend the lens. A camera doesn't know where the lens are at the moment you start it. It will power up the motors for a small amount of time, as it knows that if the motor works for about 1-2 sec the lens should move and extend. If this doesn't happen the camera gets confused and gives you errors or makes strage noises as it powers on the motor but it can't move the lens because they got jamed or are fully extended.
Only a service center can fix this because lens mechanisms are very fragile and require specialised hardware to be realigned or repaired. In your case it would be adviceable to ask them an estimate of the repair, for you to know if it's worth it. It can be a simple job like putting back the piece that got out of place, but also it can be a situation in wich the whole lens assembly must be changed because of extensive damage recieved when the motor forced the lens to extend. It is also a good thing to do, NOT to power on the camera anymore as it can damage itself furthermore.
Sorry as I can't give you more detailed tips, this isn't the do-it-yourself type of repair, even the service centers are having problems with this repairs. Good luck however, maybe it's a simple thing.
Thanks. However consider trying to take the camera to a service center. Just ask them to make an estimate of the costs of the repairs on your specific problem. You will know then for shure if it is worth it.Thanks.
However consider trying to take the camera to a service center. Just ask them to make an estimate of the costs of the repairs on your specific problem. You will know then for shure if it is worth it.
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Not necessarily.
This camera has an auto lens. Which means it will focus automatically every second, which makes this clicking sound. You can turn this option off:
1: Go into the menu
2: Chose option Cam Settings
3: Switch AUTO focus to single lens and click OK.
This camera has an auto lens. Which means it will focus automaticly evey sec. you can turn this option off:
1: Go into the menu
2: Chose option Cam Setiings
3: Swich AUTO focus to single lens and click OK.
You have a bad lens. Unless the camera is in warranty the cost of repairing the lens is higher than the value of your camera. The strange noise you hear is the lens motor trying to move the lens. One solution is to blow compressed air around the lens. Sometimes dust and dirt may jam the lens.
Hi, Actueally the zoom motor start malfunctioning.In this case you have to replace complete lense assymble.And for this you have to contact any SONY SERVICE CENTRE nearby to you where you can find the said lens assy. Thanks for using fixya.
in any case where the lens makes a grinding noise, something is in the channel and causing the lens to not extend all the way... you will need to send to a repair shop
This can be caused by several different situations.
Most commonly the camera has experienced some kind of impact which knocks an element out of alignment, preventing the lens from rotating normally. Symptoms of this include:
*you may hear no mechanical sound at all when the camera is turned on
*you may see visibly mis-aligned components of the lens
*you may hear a loud "snap snap" sound as the camera tries to move the lens when the camera is powered on
The second most common cause is a particle of sand getting stuck in the focus motor drive gears. This prevents the focus element from moving normally and causes the camera to shut off to prevent damage to the lens assembly. Symptoms of this include:
*A loud "buzzing" sound when the camera is turned on, followed by the beeping and shutdown.
Finally the third most common cause of this problem is a broken tooth on the zoom motor drive gears. Symptoms of this include:
*the sound of the running motor with a regular "click click click" sound for several seconds. This will not be a "snap snap" sound, that is a different problem.
*the lens will move in and out easily by hand as if free from any resistance.
All of these problems require disassembly to repair. The charge is around $125 at my shop. Broken drive gears are generally This can be caused by several different situations.
Most commonly the camera has experienced some kind of impact which knocks an element out of alignment, preventing the lens from rotating normally. Symptoms of this include:
*you may hear no mechanical sound at all when the camera is turned on
*you may see visibly mis-aligned components of the lens
*you may hear a loud "snap snap" sound as the camera tries to move the lens when the camera is powered on
The second most common cause is a particle of sand getting stuck in the focus motor drive gears. This prevents the focus element from moving normally and causes the camera to shut off to prevent damage to the lens assembly. Symptoms of this include:
*A loud "buzzing" sound when the camera is turned on, followed by the beeping and shutdown.
Finally the third most common cause of this problem is a broken tooth on the zoom motor drive gears. Symptoms of this include:
*the sound of the running motor with a regular "click click click" sound for several seconds. This will not be a "snap snap" sound, that is a different problem.
*the lens will move in and out easily by hand as if free from any resistance.
All of these problems require disassembly to repair. The charge is around $125 labor at my shop.
The lens assy. has gone bad if it is making noise.
If it is only stuck and not moving the power supply link is broken and supply is not reaching the lens assy motor.
May be the SMD fuse would have blown in power supply circuit.
May be you can seek the service manual from me and this calls for highly skilled workmanship and tools.
My got fixed when I gave it 5 gentle, firm bangs on the carpet with the bottom facing down. Got the advice from somebody online, figured, it's already broken and about 2 years old so what do I have to lose? To me was less risky than trying to open it. The focus problem got fixed and so far no message. Worth trying
Thanks so much for your advice! It looks like repairs could be really expensive, I think I'll buy a new camera. Best Regards, A :)
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