Lens won't open and retract.

Ginko

• 19396 Answers

SOURCE: Lens Errors

To all new users posting on this thread:

When the lens will not retract and camera is not functional (no picture on display, and does not shoot) , and you already tried replacing batteries with a new fresh set (ensure please) , and then restarting camera with no memory card inside, then camera is faulty.

Try an easy fix by pushing gently the lens (do not force them, just help them) while you turn off camera at same time. Try also switching the mode selector.

If still no luck , then the camera must be disassembled to fix the problem.

Possible reasons are :

• Faulty lens mechanism or jammed lens (camera usually turns off by itself in this case)
• Main board faulty.
• Ribbon cable to main board broken or connector defective.
• If there is no power at all it is the connector from batteries to main board, this is also a ribbon cable.

Posted on Apr 10, 2009

SOURCE: lens will not retract

Just solved this problem on my Dimage G530. An earlier time the lens (inner part) was cocked to one side after a small drop. Pulling it back straight, out of the outer part, fixed it and the lens closed.

Then just this past trip, the lens was not retracting with the MF00C error and the lens looked straight. It had opened in a pocket and gotten bumped. I had even taken the case off but that did not offer any insight into fixing the problem. (They certainly cram a lot into the case). I was about to give up and just buy a new camera or was going to inquire at vistek to see how much it would cost to have it looked at this Saturday because I really like the camera. Anyway, to make a long story short. I decided to pull hard on the inner part to pull it out - basically try to cock it to one side then the other. The lens popped out to it normal position and now everything works fine. So it appears that if bumped the lens goes to a lock position to prevent any damage to the drive mechanism.

Hope this helps someone else with this problem.

Posted on Jan 23, 2008

SOURCE: coolpix lens opens retracts opens then closes again and lens error appears

Hello

When you turn the camera on the lens comes out and has parameters when extending to focus, if the lens does not open fully it sees a problem and then closes.

there are tiny plastic gears inside and may have chipped or a piece of sand got in causing the lens to jamb. "very fragile"

one solution is to ask a camera repair shop how much a lens mechanism would be to replace. (if cost is more than 1/2 of what you paid dont bother)

another solution is to have someone sell your camera on an auction site for parts, to make some money towards another camera purchase

Posted on Sep 02, 2008

SAM JAYANTH CHANDRASEKAR

• 1197 Answers

SOURCE: lens stays open, won't retract when camera turned off

If your camera is still under warranty, the best thing you can do is to take it to the nearest official Canon repair shop and Canon should fix it for free.

If your camera is out of warranty, or if Canon refuses to repair it for free (happens sometimes if for example they suspect the camera has not been treated properly) you can try some of the methods listed here to repair it yourself. These simple methods have helped a lot of people fix their cameras.

Before trying any of the suggestions, make sure your Canon has fresh batteries and it is in recording mode.

1) Remove the batteries from the camera, wait for a couple of minutes, then put them back in and turn the camera on.

2) Try compressed air. With a fine tip blow off gun and dry compressed air (20 lbs) set the tip between the lens turret and the camera body and turn on the air while moving the tip around the lens. It should remove all dust and sand. Turn the camera on and it should function fine.

3) Another method is to tap the padded USB cover part on a hard surface, for example, a desk. It sounds so simple, but very often in works.

4) Try forcing the camera lens:

Turn off the camera. Place it on the back with the lens facing up and take a look at the spacing between the lens and the lens housing. If you notice that the gap is not even all the way around the lens, the problem should be easy to fix. This type of a problem usually occurs if the camera was dropped while the lens was extended.

Simply - VERY GENTLY - press down the lens on the side where the gap is the biggest. You should hear a "click" as it pops back into place. Try powering the camera back on.

If the lens doesn't extend at all or it extends, and then retracts again, do the following. Turn the camera off. Take the camera in one hand and with the other gently take one part of the lens and gently move it round in a circular movement. Do so with both sections of the lens. You will hear a "click" as it pops back in place. Power the camera on.

Another version of this fix would be to pull and twist on the largest ring of the lens while turning the camera on. Listen for a "click". If at first the focus seems to be off, turn the camera on and off and take lots of pictures, close ups and distance. Focus should slowly start improving.

5) If that doesn't work, there is an online guide for dismantling Canon cameras and fixing the E18 error. (NOTE: Try this only if your camera is no longer under warranty!) It is a great guide with pictures and it can be found here.

regards iversh
a very helpful rating is apreciated for answering ur query.....

Posted on Aug 19, 2009

CameraR

• 4738 Answers

SOURCE: nikon coolpix s8100 lens error lens won't

Lens errors are fairly common. Usually it's sand or grit interfering with the lens extension mechanism. Or the camera's been dropped with the lens extended. Or the camera has been powered on, but the lens had been blocked preventing its extension. Or the battery ran down with the lens extended ...
Here are some troubleshooting steps that you can try that may (or may not) correct it. They only seem to work for less than 40% of the lens errors, but if the camera is out of warranty (or repair cost approaches that of the camera), they're worth that try. Some of the later steps do involve some risk to the camera, so carefully weigh your options before deciding to conduct them.

Posted on Sep 17, 2011