Lens error Camera purchased 13 June 2006 Lens error

Fixing a Lens Error (Stuck or Jammed Lens) on a Digital Camera

(Last Update: 13 February, 2014)
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This has to be THE most common failure mode for a digital camera, a stuck lens, jammed lens, or a malfunctioning lens. Some common error messages that might show up on the LCD's of cameras with this problem include "E18 lens error" (older Canon Powershot), "ACCESS" error (Sony Cybershot), "Zoom Error" (Fuji Finepix), "Lens Obstructed" (Kodak Easyshare), "lens error, restart camera" or just "lens error" (Nikon Coolpix and some other camera makers lately are using this variation). Some cameras might show nothing at all, but merely make a beeping noise as the lens goes out, then in, then the camera shuts off. Sometimes the lens won't even move.
The problem is actually quite common throughout all camera brands. 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. Believe it or not, one BIG contributor to lens errors is using a camera case. Sand, gunk, case fibers, etc... accumulate at the bottom of the case. These materials love to cling to the camera by electrostatic build-up from the camera rubbing against the side of the case (especially those cases with soft fibrous intreriors). Once these materials work their way into the lens mechanism, that's all she wrote. I have many Canon's, and NEVER use a case for this very reason.

Note that this problem applies to ALL cameras with telescopic lens barrel (optical) zoom. With Samsung's release of the Galaxy S4 Zoom, I'm really curious to see if this will also be a issue/problem with this camera phone (and other phones with optical zoom). I predict (on June 16, 2013) that it will, as most people carry their phones in pockets and purses. If it occurs, Fix 5a would likely be the best technique to correct this problem.

A camera owner that suffers this problem may have no recourse for having the camera repaired. Many camera makers will not honor repairing this problem under warranty as they claim it is due to impact damage to the camera, or sand or debris getting into the lens gearing mechanism (neither of which is covered under warranty). The quoted repair cost is usually close to or more than what the camera is actually worth.

Fortunately, about half the cameras that suffer this failure can easily be fixed by one of the following methods. None of these methods involve opening the camera, although some have potential to cause other damage to the camera if excessively done. If the camera is still under warranty, before trying any of these, please please first contact your camera's maker to see if they'll cover the repair, or to determine how much they'll charge for the repair. Who knows, you might get lucky. But if they quote you a number that's higher than the value of your camera, you may want to consider the following methods.

First here's a video summary of most of these fixes, and following that a detailed text description of the fixes. Recommend reading the text first (along with the reader's comments and tips section) as these provide additional tips for situations that the video does not. For example, the video focuses on repair fixes for a camera that does not have obvious damage to the lens barrel (such as from a fall). Thus it does not cover straightening the lens barrel if it is crooked, which the text does. Use the video primarily for further clarificati


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

This is usually caused by failure of the motor in the SQ unit. These motors are available on Ebay. Since June 13th 2012 parts are no longer available from Nikon.

Hi,

Here is a tip that I wrote about How toget a Digital Camera Lens to work again

Steps toRepair a Digital Camera Lens
heatman101

m425 hp ....lens error m425-13

I'm not 100% sure of what you are saying. I gather you have a 3-year extended warranty? Error 01 is usually associated with failure of the IS system in the lens so it would most likely need to be sent to Canon for repair. I have only had one Canon service issue (nine years since my first EOS) and they provided an RMA for UPS return to them. I suggest you contact CanonUSA repair and request an RMA.

i have the same problem..only it seems mine has been caused by a piece of plastic off my lens somehow falling behind the shutter and impeding its use.I wouldn't recommend you poking around the shutter but you could remove the lens to have a look if the optics is damaged.Bringing it to an authorized dealer might be the best way to go !

This is probably THE most common failure among digital cameras. There's a halfway chance of fixing it yourself, described here: http://camerarepair.blogspot.com/2007/12/fixing-lens-error-on-digital-camera.html

Try jiggling the lens. Use compressed air to blow out any grit around the lens barrel. If that doesn't do it, you'll need to get the camera serviced.

The E18 error is 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.

Here's some things that you can do to try to correct it. They only seem to work for about 50% of lens errors, but they're worth a try:

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

I posted the same problem on the 15th June and in the meantime I have been playing around with the camera. After holding the camera upside down and gently tapping the back of it, the lens decided to work and retract back into the camera. Not the most technical advice I know but it seemed to work.