A Simple Fix for "Memory Card Locked" Error

For those with Compact Flash (CF) cards, please see this article instead. For those with SD cards, continue reading below.

First I know you that you probably already have checked the card's slide switch, but I just want to first present this for others with the same problem who may not know of this switch. Other options besides the slide switch are presented further in the article.
　
Check to make sure that you didn't accidentally place the tiny locking slide switch on the side of your SD card in the "locked" downward position. The correct "unlocked" position should be slid up toward the direction of the connectors.

Card Switch in Downward "Locked" Position

(note the arrow by the word "Lock")

Card Switch in Up "Unlocked" Position

　
If you've tried this, and it's still showing locked, it's likely that the locking switch inside the camera's card slot is stuck. If you look inside the slot on the side of the slot where the SD card slide switch would be, you'll see a glint of gold color on the side. This is the camera's lock/unlock switch. The other glint's of gold that you may see at the far end of the slot are the reader's connectors (ignore those).

Camera's SD Card Lock/Unlock Switch

　
Somehow, the locking switch is making contact and has become stuck in the locked position (a single grain of sand can jam it there). With a plastic toothpick, or other skinny NON-METALLIC item, tap and gently push against this switch to see if you can jar open the contact to its normal unlocked position. Also try blowing compressed air at it, to clear out any gunk that may have worked its way in there, jamming it closed. Occasionally, reinsert the SD card to see if the issue has been corrected.
　
If repeated tries fail, it may be time to consider opening the camera to force open this switch (not recommended unless you have some familiarity with electronics). In this case please see this blog article instead (xscrewdriver, hope you don't mind me referencing your blog).
　

Fixing a Compact Flash Memory Card Error

Note: owners of Canon PowerShot S400 cameras, please see this first (you just might get this problem fixed for free!).

For all others, Oh No! Your favorite compact flash camera all of a sudden has started giving you CF memory card errors. You've tried several different memory cards, and it's still the same thing. Your camera is inoperative due to this error. Don't fret, you just might be able to fix this problem yourself.

Take a look inside your camera's CF card slot. It's very likely that you may have a bent pin in there. If so, remove batteries and card. Use a small/skinny jeweler's flat screwdriver to bend the pin back as close as possible. The jeweler's screwdrivers that you see at the dollar store will work fine. Another tool that I sometimes use is a stiff wire with a bent hook on the end to get very flattened pins started. Take your time and use as much patience as you can muster (take a breather in between if needed). Just keep nudging it upward/straighter a "tiny bit at a time". Whatever you do, don't try to unbend it with one push/nudge, you won't be able to do it.

It doesn't have to be perfect, just as close as you can get it. When it's the best that you can get it, take your flash card and "SLOWLY" insert it. The card itself should fine-align the pin. Remove the card, and verify that the pin is still straightened. If so, reinsert the card and try it out.

A Simple Fix for a Stuck Shutter

A stuck shutter is another common failure mode for digital cameras. Unfortunately some model cameras experience this more than others. I won't say which but you'll likely notice in the comments section which cameras these are. 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 you did see movement, then you are possibly experiencing CCD image sensor failure. As mentioned, the symptoms of a stuck shutter are very similar to CCD failure. If you own a Canon or Sony camera, please see the following two articles instead as your camera might possibly be eligible for free repair:

Canon CCD advisory article

Sony CCD advisory article

Unfortunately, actual mechanical repair of a stuck shutter is labor intensive as the mechanism is buried deep inside your camera. If the camera is out of warranty the cost of this repair is usually very high, and may be more than the value of the camera. Would not recommend trying to open your cameras to repair this yourself, as it's very unlikely that you'll succeed. However, there is something simple that you can try that might unstick it, albeit it may be only a temporary fix. Also would not recommend that you do this on a perfectly working camera, as I'm not sure what the power interuptions may do to the camera. As usual, only think of doing this procedure as a last resort for a camera that repair cost is out of the question, and as such the camera would otherwise be set for disposal:

1. Turn the camera on.

2. Move the camera to any mode that will give you the longest exposure time without flash. For many Canon cameras this will be shutter priority (Tv) mode (for many Canon A models the wheel with AUTO,M,Tv,...). For some of the Canon SD models this is also known as "Long Shutter Mode" (select the Moon/Stars icon). For cameras other than Canon, set the camera so that it will take the longest possible exposure, usually 15 seconds (15").

3. Take a picture.

4. After 7 seconds open the battery door for a few seconds and then close it again. The intent is to momentarily interupt power during the exposure time.

5. Repeat the procedure until the shutter becomes unstuck. One person reported on Fixya doing this 15 times before his shutter became unstuck.

5a. Alternative Fix (use caution!). If the above five steps don't work after many repeated tries, one reader has reported success in jogging the shutter open by tapping the camera against a wooden surface. This is newly reported, and only by one reader, so please use care if you decide to try this one.

Supposedly the power interuption while the shutter is trying to open can "jog" the shutter open. Some people have reported success with this method, and they noted that it required many tries. This may also be only a temporary fix, and you may be required to do it again. Try to use your camera more often as a preventative measure from reoccurrence. Also, I am not sure how effective Steps 1 through 5 are for cameras with the shutter stuck open. But I do know that Step 5a can work for both stuck open and stuck closed shutters. Hopefully you'll be lucky too. But if not, it may be time to consider retiring the camera.

Finally, please comment below whether you succeeded or not with this technique along with your camera model. Also note how many tries you gave it. If you know of another method, please also report that here.

How Do I Download or Upload Pictures or Videos from my Camera?

This question comes up a lot. A new or used camera owner may run into camera software issues. They'll plug in their camera, but for some reason their computer fails to see or recognize the camera. Another problem is they may lose or may never have had the USB cable or needed software that came with the camera. Is there any other way to get the photos or videos off the camera and onto their computer?

First of all keep in mind IMO the only reason that the camera companies include a capability for cable download is to get you accustomed to using their bundled software that came with the camera. In most cases this software is rather pitiful, again IMO. If you absolutely must use photo organizing or editing software, there are much better freeware options available than what came with your camera (a future blog post is brewing).

But as a solution to downloading your photos, I highly recommend that you instead consider using a card reader to move the photos or videos to your computer. Card reader's do not require software (although Windows 98 and earlier may require drivers), are very inexpensive, are much faster downloading files from the camera, do not use the camera's batteries during the download, and are much less prone to file corruption of the photos during the download. Really, it would be better for the camera user if one of these was included with the camera instead of the cable and bundled software.

Portable SD Card Reader/Writer

"All in One" Multi-Card Reader/Writer

You place the camera's card in the reader, plug the reader into the USB port, and your computer sees it as a hard drive. You simply copy/paste or drag/drop your photos onto your hard drive. For this simplicity, most professional photographers utilize card readers exclusively. You'll save yourself a lot of heartache if you convert to using one of these.

Here are examples from Amazon. Don't be fooled by the cost. Some of the most inexpensive ones work just fine. Go by the reviews. Also make sure that you get a reader that is clearly stated capable of reading your card, particularly if you use SDHC, XD, CF, or MS cards.

For international readers of this blog, and even those in the US, here's another source for card readers (free international shipping too :-). I use the $1.95 portable SD/SDHC card model (SKU7230), and it works great. Note that the free shipping can take up to three weeks though as they're located in Hong Kong.

Now go throw away that cable and go download your photos.

Simple Fixes for Cameras that Won't Take a Picture When the Shutter Button is Pressed

Everything seems fine with your camera, except that when you press the shutter button nothing happens! On Canon cameras you may also notice flashing yellow/orange lights by your viewfinder. Try switching to any mode other than automatic, turn off the flash, and press the shutter button. Did the camera take a picture? If so, continue reading.

Many cameras have a safety feature that prevents the flash capacitor from charging if the case is opened. This is to lessen the chance of electric shock. They usually use one or two of the screws along the perimeter of the camera to complete a circuit that lets the processor know that the case is closed. Verify that all the screws are in place along the perimeter of your camera, and that there are no gaps along the perimeter seams. If you're missing a screw, try using one of the others to replace it.

If they're all there, next thing to check is the batteries. The brand that you're using may have reached its shelf life, or just may not have sufficient power to charge the flash capacitor. Try a better brand, or better yet rechargeable NiMH batteries.

If the above didn't help, then the flash tube or its circuit is probably at fault. In this case, would then recommend professional repair. This repair is somewhat difficult, requires some soldering, has some danger of electrical shock, and goes beyond what I'd like to describe here.

A Simple Fix for Digital Cameras Experiencing Short Battery Life

First off, for those owners of Canon Powershot A530/A540 cameras, please see this post first, then return here if your camera is not on the advisory list.

For all other cameras that use AA batteries, are you still using alkaline batteries? If so, alkaline batteries (or worse yet "super heavy duty" batteries) just don't have the power for more than a few pics in today's digital camera. Some may even have problems just powering startup of the camera. This may be true in some cameras, even if they're brand new and straight out of the package!

Digital cameras for the most part should only be used with rechargeable NiMH batteries. These days many retailers sell these for around $7 for a package of four (about $15-19 for the batteries with charger). Keep in mind they'll save you big bucks in the long run over alkalines, AND they'll last for at least 100 pictures per charge (and probably many, many more). You'll be very pleased with their performance, and may slap yourself for not buying them sooner. When at the store, look on the package for a power rating of at least 2500 mah.

Finally, if you're still having problems even with rechargeable batteries, you may have not set the camera's menu setting to recognize NiMH rechargeable batteries. Some camera brands (Samsung in particular) have a setting in the camera's menus to differentiate between Alkaline and NiMH batteries. If the menu is set to alkaline, the camera may in error report a low battery status with NiMH batteries. To correct the problem, merely find the page in the camera's menu to set the battery type, and reset it to rechargeable batteries.

Fuji Digital Cameras Showing Black Images or Distorted Images

Similar to Canon and Sony, Fuji has also promised to REPAIR FOR FREE its cameras experiencing symptoms of a defective CCD under their recall advisory. You may have to pay for shipping to the repair facility (I would strongly argue reimbursement with them). Some symptoms of a defective CCD include distorted images or abnormal colors, scratchy purple lines, blank or black pictures, and/or black videos with good sound being recorded on the camera's flash card. You may suspect that the camera's shutter is not opening, but this is not the case. Fuji digital still camera models that are affected include:

Advisory Camera Models and Serial Numbers

FinePix A303

Serial Numbers 3JA4**** through 3JA5****

FinePix F410

Serial Numbers 32A1****, 32A6**** through 32A7****, 32A9****

FinePix F700

Serial Numbers 33A0****, 34A1****

Had a little difficulty finding this advisory (makes it seem like they're hiding it hmmmmm? If so, shame on them!), but use the following instructions at the Fuji website: (UPDATE September 6, 2008: It seems that FUJI has abandoned their repair of these defective camera as the following link no longer works. DOUBLE shame on them!!!)

http://www.fujifilmusa.com/JSP/fuji/epartners/ServiceSupportProductContent.jsp?dbid=839010&prodcat=2147483647&sscucatid=664262&quicklink=true

Fixing a Lens Error on a Digital Camera

This has to be THE most common failure mode for a digital camera. Some common error messages that might show up on the LCD's of cameras with this problem include “E18 lens error”, or “lens error, restart camera”. 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.

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.

The methods are listed in the order of risk of damaging your camera. Thus make sure you try them in the listed order. And remember, these fixes (especially #6 and 7) should only be considered for a camera that's out of warranty, who's cost of repair would be excessive, and would otherwise be considered for disposal if unrepaired:

Fix #1: Remove the batteries from the camera, wait a few minutes. Put a fresh set of batteries back in (preferably rechargeable NiMH 2500mah or better) and turn the camera on.

Fix #2: Remove the batteries, then remove the memory card. Then install the new batteries, when you turn it on it should come back to life. Error E30 means you don't have a memory card installed, so turn it off, slip in the memory card and turn it on one last time.

Fix #3: Insert the cameras Audio/Video (AV) cable, and turn the camera on. Inserting this cable ensures that the camera's LCD screen remains off during the start process. Thus extra battery power is available to the camera's lens motor during startup. This extra power can be useful in overcoming grit or sand particals that may be jamming the lens. If the AV cable doesn't fix the lens error by itself, consider keeping this cable installed while trying fixes 4, 5, and 7 as a means to provide extra help to these fixes. But note that I DON'T recommend keeping the cable installed during Fix 6 as you may damage the AV port while tapping the camera. Reinsert the cable only AFTER tapping the camera.

Fix #4: Place the camera flat on its back on a table, pointed at the ceiling. Press and hold the shutter button down, and at the same time press the power-on button. The idea is that the camera will try to autofocus while the lens is extending, hopefully seating the lens barrel guide pins in their slots.

Fix #5: Blow compressed air in the gaps around the lens barrels with the idea of blowing out any sand or grit that may be in there jamming the lens. Other variations include blowing with a hair dryer in “no heat” setting, or sucking the gaps with a vacuum (careful with this one).

Now we're entering into the realm of potentially damaging your camera in conducting the fix. There is definitely some risk here, so take care when conducting the following two fixes.

Fix #6: Repeatedly tap the padded/rubber usb cover on a hard surface with the intent of dislodging any particles that may be jamming the lens. Other variations include hitting a side of the camera against the palm of your hand. A lot of people have reported success with this method. HOWEVER, there is also some potential for damaging or dislodging internal components with this method, such as unseating ribbon cables, or cracking LCD screens.

Fix #7: Try forcing the lens. More people have reported success with this method than with any of the other methods. HOWEVER, there's obviously some potential for damaging your camera by using this method. Variations include gently pulling, rotating, and/or twisting the lens barrel while hitting the power button. Attempt to gently straighten or align the barrel if it's crooked or twisted. Another variation includes looking for uneven gaps around the lens barrel, and then pushing on the side of the lens barrel that has the largest gap (note pushing the lens barrel all the way in is NOT recommended as it may become stuck there). While doing any of the above, listen for a click that indicates that the lens barrel guide pins may have reseated in their guide slots. If you hear this click, immediately stop and try the camera. The following photo illustrates unseated guide pins that would cause a lens error.

Melonhead Demonstrates Fix #6 (for some reason this fix always seems to work best after a few beers)

If you try these fixes, please vote or post a comment on how the fixes worked for you. Your experience may help others. If the above fixes didn't work for you, then please read through the comments. There are other techniques listed from readers there that just might work for your situation. If posting a comment, please specify your camera model, and the particular fix that worked. Please also comment if none of the fixes were successful.

References:

Canon E18 Lens Error – This is the big kahuna of all E18 error camera repair sites:

Make sure you also read their post section to hear of other peoples successes and failure in fixing this problem:

More Canon E18 experiences and fixes at The Juggle Zone.

The E18 Error Experience Log. Even more Canon E18 experiences, plus a good listing of E18 errors by Canon model:

Nikon Coolpix L3 Lens Error - This site has a few other fixes not listed here that are applicable to the Nikon Coolpix cameras:

Jancology.com Nikon 5700 Lens Error - More people's experiences with lens errors on Nikon cameras:

Canon A530 / A540 with Short Battery Life or Hot Bottom

For camera owners other than A530/A540 experiencing short battery life, or for A530/A540 owners that are not on the below described advisory list, please see this post instead.

Some Canon Powershot A530 and A540 cameras are subject to an advisory recall. It seems that a little hinge spring in the door of the battery compartment can stick out and short the batteries. The end result is very poor battery life, with only a few shots taken before the batteries die. Also the battery door becomes hot.

The good news is that Canon will fix this for free, with free shipping, regardless of the camera's warranty status. Please see the following link:

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=PgComSmModDisplayAct&fcategoryid=218&modelid=13390&keycode=2111&id=28799

When contacting Canon, recommend that you print out the above linked advisory and have it in hand. Also, please review the following article concerning a similar Canon advisory for a faulty CCD image sensor.

http://camerarepair.blogspot.com/2007/11/canon-digital-cameras-showing-black.html

This should be handled in the exact same way. As stated in the above article, be on guard and respond immediately should you get any feeling that you will be responsible for ANY charges. Repair of your camera should be free and painless.

CR

Recovering those accidentally lost, deleted, or formatted photos

(UPDATE April 2008: Since originally posting this article, I did a little experiment and ran the four listed programs head-to-head in comparing their performance in recovering photos. In short, highly recommend trying PC Inspector Smart Recovery first. Was very impressed on how thorough that program is in its capability to recover lost photos. Also, none of these programs were able to recover photos from a card that had undergone a Low Level format. If you don't know what a "Low Level" format is, chances are your card has not undergone one, so continue reading:)

Most people think that if you erase your memory card (accidentally or intentionally) that the pictures are gone forever. Most people couldn't be more wrong. Your erased pics are still there until you take more pics and overwrite them. You just can't see them, for now. Just remember not to take any more pics on that card just yet.

It's no problem at all to get them back. As an example, try either of the four below linked freeware programs. There's no catch in any of the four (no spyware/adware). They are honest to goodness free. They're also tiny to download, and are very easy to use. Two of them are single executables (no need for installation). You'll have your pics back in minutes after reading this. Note that these programs all require the use of a card reader, so think about getting one if you don't have one already (They're VERY inexpensive these days. Check on Amazon):

Art Plus Digital Photo Recovery
This one's very easy to use, pretty, and is only 1 meg in file size. It's a single executable file that doesn't need to be installed. The only downside it has is that it can only recover pictures (don't see any selection for movies):
http://www.download.com/Art-Plus-Digital-Photo-Recovery/3000-12511_4-10778073.html?tag=lst-1

SoftPerfect File Recovery
Ahhh, the beauty of simplicity! This one is very tiny (276kb) and recovers any file type by specifying searches for "*.jpg", "*.avi", "*.mov" etc... It's very fast too! It's a single executable file that does not need installation. Controls are simple and minimal. Manually highlight the files that are to be recovered, and right click to save them to a folder.
http://www.download.com/SoftPerfect-File-Recovery/3640-2248_4-10578157.html

VAIOSoft Recovery Manager

If the above two don't work for you, then here's another example in free recovery software. Not as simple as the other two, but definitely gets the job done. It's 3.2 megs in size and requires an install:
http://www.download.com/VaioSoft-Recovery-Manager/3000-2094_4-10431721.html?tag=lst-3

PC Inspector Smart Recovery

Had to add this one to the list. This is the ultimate in photo recovery software favorite. Will recover files from flash card reader, hard drive, or just about any drive (but not directly from a camera). It's slower than all of the above BUT and I mean BUT this software is thorough. This one will very likely work in recovering your photos if the others had failed:

http://www.download.com/PC-Inspector-Smart-Recovery/3000-2242_4-10066144.html?tag=lst-1

Now go recover those "lost" pics of Aunt Lucy!

CR

Simple fixes for dead cameras that won't power on.

For that camera that died, here are some non-intrusive simple fixes that you should try before throwing in the towel. Copied this first post from somewhere. It was a fix for a Canon A520, but am not sure if it would work for other cameras with the same problem? For those of you with a camera that will not power up or turn on, especially if this occurred after a power interruption with your lens extended, please give it a try. If you do, please leave a comment on specifics like your camera make/model, and whether it worked for you or not.

"DEAD CAMERA, LENS OPEN-If the batteries run down completely while the camera is still open, it may not start up again when new batteries are installed. But if you remove the memory card, then install the new batteries, when you turn it on it should come back to life. Error E30 means you don't have a memory card installed, so turn it off, slip in the SD card and turn it on one last time."

OK, so the above didn't work. Next thing to look at are the batteries themselves. Are you using alkaline batteries, or worse yet those "Super Heavy Duty" batteries? If so, betcha we've just discovered your problem. Alkaline and regular "super heavy duty" batteries just don't have the power for more than a few pics in a digital camera. Some may even have problems just powering startup of the camera. It doesn't matter if they're new, and right out of the package. Digital cameras for the most part should only be used with rechargeable NiMH batteries (if you still have your instruction manual, open it to the "batteries" section. Pretty sure you'll see a statement similar to what I've just said). Most retailers sell NiMH batteries for around $7 for a package of four (about $15-19 for the batteries with charger). Keep in mind they'll save you big bucks in the long run over alkalines, AND they'll last for at least 100 pictures per charge (and probably many many more). You'll be very pleased with their performance, and may slap yourself for not buying them sooner. When at the store, look on the package for a power rating of at least 2500 mah.

OK, so maybe those newfangled batteries didn't fix your camera, don't give up just yet. The next thing to check is that your batteries are actually making contact with the battery posts, and that these posts are clean. If not, bend the posts up/down a little, and maybe clean them with a little rubbing alcohol on a Q-tip.

The next thing to try is examine both the battery and flash card door. There's usually a little switch on both doors (note some SD card doors do not have this switch) that activates when the doors are closed. If they don't, the camera won't start to prevent damage to the flash card or camera startup sequence. For most cameras its usually a little piece of plastic on the door that pushes in on a pin switch when the door is closed. Closely examine both doors to try to identify these switches. A lot of times that little plastic nib wears down or breaks off, but can easily be jury rigged with a small glued-on replacement.

If you've tried all of the above and still no luck, the problem is then likely to be internal to the camera. Am planning on posting sometime in the future some likely things to check, hopefully with a pictoral guide. One example would be that if your camera uses Compact Flash, check to make sure all pins are present and aligned in the card slot (if bent, simply unbend/straighten them with a skinny "jewelers" screwdriver, then insert the flash card for final realignment).

As before, if one of these simple fixes worked in your particular case, please leave a comment on your camera's make, and which fix worked.

Good Luck!
Camera Repair

Camera Mode Dial Repair

The "Mode Dial" enables the camera to select different modes of operation. Rear mounted types, such as those seen in the example picture, are of very simple design. Top mounted types are also of similar design, but they are usually much harder to access. Mode dials should operate for a very long time due to their simplicity. Yet some may become inoperative for a variety of causes (dirt fouling, impact damage, etc...). When this occurs, it may be necessary to actually open up the camera case to correct this problem. As such, please consider this a repair that requires some electrical background and knowledge, and should not be conducted by anyone unfamiliar with basic electrical components and safety precautions.

Mode Dial

Before downloading the following repair guide, please first review this important warning concerning the possibility of SEVERE electrical shock from the camera's flash capacitor, and how to mitigate it:

http://camerarepair.blogspot.com/2007/11/important-warning-camera-flash.html

Also the usual warning of “Follow these procedures at your own risk. These procedures should only be considered as a last resort on a broken camera with an expired warranty. I take no responsibility should you damage your camera in following these steps. Also note that there is some danger of electrical shock from the camera's flash capacitor. I also take no responsibility if you zap yourself while following these procedures.” Here's the repair guide download link:

Mode Dial Repair.pdf (from skydrive)

Important Warning: Camera Flash Capacitor Shock!

Any repair that requires opening up the camera case requires some electrical background and knowledge, and should not be conducted by anyone unfamiliar with basic electrical components and safety precautions. If you must open up your camera in an attempt to repair it, it is very important that you understand that there is some risk of SEVERE electrical shock. All digital cameras contain a flash capacitor. This device stores quite a bit of electrical energy from the camera's batteries. This energy is utilized to power the camera's flash. The device itself looks a little like a battery, and in turn draws its power from the camera's batteries. In order to work on your camera, it will be necessary to safely drain the capacitor of any residual charge it may have.

Flash Capacitor

The following link is downloadable procedures for safely discharging the flash capacitor to greatly reduce the risk of electrical shock. Before downloading, the usual warning of “Follow these procedures at your own risk. These procedures should only be considered as a last resort on a broken camera with an expired warranty. I take no responsibility should you damage your camera in following these steps. Also note that there is some danger of electrical shock. I also take no responsibility if you accidentally zap yourself while following these procedures.” Here's the link to the procedures:

Flash Capacitor Safety.pdf (from skydrive)

Fixing or replacing a broken LCD screen

It is necessary to actually open up the camera case to fix a broken LCD screen. As such, please consider that these repairs require some electrical background and knowledge, and should not be conducted by anyone unfamiliar with basic electrical components and safety precautions. Before proceeding, it is important to first read this WARNING concerning the possibility of SEVERE electrical shock from the flash capacitor should you decide to open the case of your camera.

http://camerarepair.blogspot.com/2007/11/important-warning-camera-flash.html

The following link outlines repair or replacement of the fairly common problem of broken, cracked, or shattered LCD screens, including rotatable ones. These are not my own guides, but wanted to share them with all (hope this is ok Andy?):

http://www.andyozment.com/guides/

Photography on the Net (Canon) forum of LCD screen replacement. Recommend scanning these posts for some background info prior to attempting any repair yourself:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=7839

And here's a pictorial guide for replacing an LCD screen on a Canon Powershot S40:

http://www.pasieka.com/static/simon/fixcam/

And here's pictorial and video guides for replacing an LCD screen on a Canon Powershot S400 / S410 / S500:

http://www.sdcamerasolution.com/index.php?p=page&page_id=canons400lcdinstall

By the way, the above YouTube video is by Zweige9. He is a very prolific videographer of LCD repair. If your camera's model is not covered here in my blog, you might want to peruse his videos on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=zweige9&view=videos

Here's a couple great pictorials on repairing the LCD screen of a Canon Powershot SD300 (note these procedures are also applicable to SD200 / SD300 / SD400 as the LCD screens in these three models (and ONLY these three) are interchangeable):

http://www.smashedhat.com/sd300repair/

http://digitalcamerarepair.googlepages.com/canonsd300

And here's an excellent pictorial guide. The example used is a screen replacement on a Canon Powershot SD400:

http://www.iq9.com/blog/2006/09/08/canon-sd400-lcd-repair/

And here's another excellent LCD screen replacement pictorial on the Canon Powershot SD450:

http://thydzik.com/replacing-a-cracked-canon-ixus-55-ixy-60-sd450-lcd-screen/

And here's a pictorial guide for replacing an LCD screen on a Canon Powershot SD500:

http://digitalcamerarepair.googlepages.com/canonsd500lcdreplacement

And here's an LCD repair on an SD550, including how to buy a replacement screen from Canon:

http://fivepoundsflax.blogspot.com/2006/05/diy-canon-powershot-sd550-lcd-repair.html

And here's a couple pictorial guides for replacing an LCD screen on a Canon Powershot SD600:

http://cannonlcdrepair.blogspot.com/

http://digitalcamerarepair.googlepages.com/sd600

And LCD replacement on a Canon Powershot SD870 IS:

http://blog.jharding.org/2008/05/replacing-lcd-on-canon-sd850-is-few.html

And here's a LCD replacement pictorial for a Canon Powershot SD1000:

http://www.myfixtips.com/blog/digital-camera/how-to-replace-lcd-screen-for-canon-sd1000-151.htm

And here's a pictorial guide for replacing an LCD screen on a Casio EX-S500 and EX-S600:

http://digitalcamerarepair.googlepages.com/casioex-s600

Sony Konica Minolta Cameras Experiencing Black Images or Distorted Images

Similar to Canon, Sony has also promised to REPAIR FOR FREE its cameras experiencing symptoms of a defective CCD under their recall advisory. THIS INCLUDES FREE SHIPPING. Some symptoms of a defective CCD include distorted images or abnormal colors, scratchy purple lines, blank or black pictures, and/or black videos with good sound being recorded on the camera's flash card. You may suspect that the camera's shutter is not opening, but this is not the case. Digital still camera models that are affected include:

Cyber-shot DSC-F717, F88, P10, M1, P12, P2, P31, P32, P51, P52, P7, P71, P72, P8, P92, T1, T11, T3, T33, U10, U20, U30, U40, U50, U60, V1

CD Mavica MVC-CD250, CD400, CD500,

FD Mavica MVC-FD100, FD200

Go to the following support page and enter your particular camera model:

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/select-system.pl?PRODTYPE=7&NAVDISP=di

A page describing your model should come up. Select "Important Notice About Your Sony Product". The service advisory for your model should next appear. Go to the bottom of the page and select "Yes" stating that you images are distorted or blank (i.e. your experiencing symptoms of.a defective CCD). Hitting yes will bring up the online service request form. Just fill in the blanks and submit it. Read the following paragraph on this page, paying particular attention to its last sentence):

"Based on the information provided, your product may be affected by the CCD image sensor issue and needs to be sent in for evaluation and possible repair. Sony will repair your product, free of charge, where the issue is caused by the image sensor device provided the failure is not due to abuse, misuse or neglect. Sony will also cover the cost of shipping and handling from and to addresses within the United States and US Territories for service to correct this issue."

Make sure that they do cover the shipping and handling as promised. Qoute the last two sentences to every Sony employee that you come in contact with on this matter.

By the way, If you have a Konica Minolta digital camera experiencing these issues, Sony will also fix this for your for free:

(UPDATE September 6, 2008: A reader has reported that the following link no longer works, and that Sony has abandoned their free repair of the Konica Minolta cameras with the defective Sony imager. The reader also stated that as a result that he will no longer consider Sony products. Given the quality assurance problems Sony has been encountering lately, I don't blame him. Just my opinion. Also IMO, ALL of these cameras should have been recalled and repaired in the first place as inevitable failure of the defective imager is HIGHLY likely. To have repaired them on a case by case basis, with a program limited duration, has inevitably led to the above consumer's experience and response. Shouldn't a camera that originally cost a few hundred dollars really be expected to last more than just a few years? Shame Sony, Shaaaaaame!!! ):

(UPDATE 2: It looks like Sony has temporarily extended the free repair for the Cybershot models until March 2009. Please see this link:

The Dimage models that Sony was accepting for the recall repair were: Dimage 7HI, 7I, A1, Xi, F300, XT, X20, S414.

And finally, this is a WORLDWIDE advisory recall. You may need to do some google searching to find the advisory notice for your country. Google the words "Sony", "advisory", your camera's model number, and your country. Look for the official Sony website for your country with its related advisory in the Google results that come up. For example, here's the advisory for the UK:

http://www.sony.co.uk/view/ShowArticle.action?section=ODW+SS+en_GB+Support+New&article=1128075116465&site=odw_en_GB&articlesection=2

Hope this helps some of you out there. Please remember to come back and leave a comment below on how things went. We're all curious, and your feedback may help others!

Canon Digital Cameras Showing Black Images or Distorted Images

This problem may be corrected by Canon for free if you suffer the above symptoms. But before reading further, first verify that you didn't just accidentally turn off the LCD. To check, turn the camera on and press the "DISPLAY" or "DISP" button once. One other thing to check is that black pictures can sometimes be caused by a stuck shutter. Continue reading below, but if your camera is not on the list of affected cameras, please see this other article for self-fixing a stuck shutter.

Potential symptoms may also include purple scratchy lines showing up on the LCD monitor and the camera's pictures. Other reported symptoms may be extremely distorted images (one reader likened them to the movie "Grudge"). Or blank or black pictures or black videos with good sound being recorded on the camera's flash card. You may suspect that the camera's shutter is not opening, but this is not the case. Note that the camera's menu functions should show up without any problem.

A large batch of potentially faulty CCD image sensors (from another vendor who shall remain nameless) were installed on a large number of Canon cameras over the space of a few years. The sensors may go bad prematurely with time, especially if you live in humid areas. A big thumbs up to Canon in that they recognized this problem, and are willing to fix your camera for free if it is experiencing CCD problem symptoms, especially for the free shipping and handling both ways :-). Under the recall advisory this is regardless of the cameras warranty status! I recently got an old A300 fixed this way. They are not going to ask for receipts or any of that.

Please note that your camera must be experiencing these symptoms due to a faulty CCD, and not due to other problems. If the problem is due to your dropping the camera, you might be out of luck. Note that they're going to look for dings and dents. They also are not going to repair your camera just to change out the sensor. If your camera is working fine, they don't need to (and won't) fix it.

The list of problem digital still cameras include:
A40, A60, A70, A75, A80, A85, A95, A300, A310, S1 IS, S60, S200, S230, S330, S400, S410, S500, SD100, SD110, IXUS V2/300/400/430/500, IXY Digital 200a/300a/400/450/500

Canon's advisory listing the program's details may be found at:
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=PgComSmModDisplayAct&fcategoryid=225&modelid=13390&keycode=2112&id=29819

You will be directed to call 1-800-828-4040 for further assistance. Or if you wish, you may also contact Canon via email at CareCenter@cits.canon.com. Make sure you print out the above advisory and have it in hand when speaking to the customer service representative. State the problem you're experiencing with the camera. If for any reason it starts to sound like they want you to pay for shipping or repairs, MAKE SURE that you let them know that you are aware of the advisory for your camera, and quote the following paragraph from the advisory:

"Effective immediately, and regardless of warranty status, Canon will repair, free of charge, the products listed above exhibiting the above-mentioned malfunction if Canon determines that the malfunction is caused by the CCD image sensor. Canon will also cover the cost of shipping and handling in connection with this repair."

You should receive several emails from Canon. One includes a short repair evaluation form that you'll need to include with the camera, along with a free UPS shipping label that you'll print out and tape to the camera's shipping box. In addition to Canon's repair form, make sure you print out a copy of the advisory and include it in the package. Also include a short note stating that you're aware of the advisory, and that you're submitting the camera for free repair as per the advisory. Just drop the box off at any UPS drop off point.

If instead of the above you receive an email that infers that it's your responsibility to arrange shipping and/or pay for the repair, REPLY BACK IMMEDIATELY again quoting the above paragraph from the advisory, and also include the above link to the advisory in your email.

One important note. Some readers have been reporting that Canon had offered them as a replacement a refurbished "upgrade" camera, BUT at an inflated price. Not sure what this is about, but if this happens, recommend turning them down. The upgrades that have been reported seem to be older model cameras at much higher prices than the going price on ebay. Recommend pushing for and demanding the advisory dictated free repair with free shipping on your old camera. If offered a replacement, it should also be free.

Another reminder for you owners of cameras that are not listed in the advisory list of problem cameras, including other non-Canon cameras. If your camera is not listed in the above list of problem cameras AND it is taking black pictures, there's a good chance that your camera is experiencing a stuck shutter. Don't fret, as there are some simple fixes for this, albeit it may be a temporary fix. Please see this article instead for some tips on how to unstick that shutter.

Hope this helps some of you out there. Canon really does make quality cameras and stand behind their products. Please remember to come back and leave a comment below on how things went. We're all curious, and your feedback may help others!

And finally, the following videos may help you understand what you're getting with this free CCD repair. An SD100 (IXUS II) is the camera being repaired. Don't try this at home (I know I won't):

Part 1 SD100 CCD Repair

Part 2 SD100 CCD Repair

Camera Repair

Repair of Stuck Lens Covers

A stuck automatic 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: 1) Try blowing lots of compressed air around the lens cover to clean the mechanism. Or use a hair dryer for a few seconds (don't want to heat up the camera). Use no heat mode if possible. 2) Slide a thin strip of paper between the lens cover shutters and the outer support ring. Work it around 360 degres to clear out any debris that may be in there. 3) With the lens barrel extended and pointed downward, tap the lens barrel with a pencil while you extend and retract the lens by powering the camera on and off. Repeat the above three steps several times. If repeated tries don't work (keeping in mind that it usually does), it then may be necessary to open the lens barrel to access the lens cover mechanism.

The lens cover mechanism is usually accessible for many cameras without needing to open up the camera case. Before starting, a reminder that I hold no responsibility should you damage your camera or worse. These repairs are intended as last resorts on expired warranty cameras that would otherwise be tossed. In the example outlined in the following link, we'll fix an inoperative lens cover on an old Canon A400:

A400 Lens Cover Repair.pdf (from skydrive)

And here's two excellent tutorials for those with slightly more complex four leave lens covers. A Canon A530 and a Canon A1000 are used as examples (hope you don't mind me including the links xscrewdriver).

http://www.myfixtips.com/blog/digital-camera/how-to-fix-a-sticky-lens-barrier-on-canon-a530-14.htm

http://www.myfixtips.com/blog/digital-camera/how-to-fix-a-sticky-lens-barrier-on-canon-powershot-a1000-441.htm

And finally, found this fix that was particular for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 camera. It's simple enough and worth giving a quick try even if your camera is not a Panasonic:

http://www.fixya.com/support/t295958-lens_cover_stuck_open

Disassembly Guides

Please first consider that any repair that involves opening up the camera case will also require some electrical background and knowledge. Camera disassembly should not be attempted by anyone unfamiliar with basic electrical components and safety precautions. Before downloading or following any of these guides, please first read the following post concerning the risk of SEVERE flash capacitor electrical shock, and how to mitigate it when working on the exposed internal components of your camera:

http://camerarepair.blogspot.com/2007/11/important-warning-camera-flash.html

That said, the usual warning if you decide to proceed: "Follow these procedures at your own risk. These procedures should only be considered as a last resort on a broken camera with an expired warranty. I take no responsibility should you damage your camera in following these steps. Also note that there is some danger of electrical shock. I also take no responsibility if you accidentally zap yourself while following any of these procedures.”


Had to share this site. It's in Estonian, but has great picture tutorials describing disassembly of many cameras:

http://qman.fotokala.ee/

Disassembly guides for cameras by manufacturer and model include:

Canon Powershot - Pro1, S10, S45, A70, A95, IXUS II/SD100
Sony CyberShot - DSC-P7
Nikon Coolpix - 775
Fujifilm FinePix - 40i, 2650
Minolta Dimage - Xi, E223
Olympus - C5050
Kodak - DCS 760
HP PhotoSmart - 620
Kyocera Finecam - S3R


Here's some guides showing disassembly of Canon Powershots including disassembly of a:

Powershot S5 IS

Powershot S30

Powershot S40

Powershots S400 / S410 / S500

Powershot S500

Powershot SD300

Here's another example Powershot SD300

Yet another example Powershot SD300

And another example Powershot SD300

with an excellent fix of a lens error!

Powershot SD400

Powershot SD450

Powershot SD500

Yet another Powershot SD500

Powershot SD550

Powershot SD600

And another Powershot SD600

And another Powershot SD600

this one fixes a lens error!

Powershot A70

Powershot A430

Powershot A530 / A540

Powershot A550 / A560

Powershot A650

Getting great photos

Let's use this post to share websites that provide some instruction on digital photography. I'll start off with a couple posts of great websites that will help you take photos that you didn't think possible with your camera. Please post others that you know of and recommend in the comments section, and I'll include them here in the main post:

http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-bypass-the-portrait-mode-on-your-digital-camera-and-get-great-portrait/

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech.htm

Repair of the Nikon Coolpix L10

I'll start this blog off with disassembly/repair of the Nikon Coolpix L10 camera. Before downloading or attempting to follow these procedures, please consider that these procedures require some electrical background and knowledge, and should not be conducted by anyone unfamiliar with basic electrical components and safety precautions. Please also read the following post concerning the risk of SEVERE flash capacitor electrical shock, and how to mitigate it when working on the exposed internal components of your camera:

http://camerarepair.blogspot.com/2007/11/important-warning-camera-flash.html

The following links to a small pdf file that outlines the steps to dissect the Nikon L10. They were developed by personal disassembly of the camera, and are not recognized or authorized by Nikon. Follow these procedures at your own risk. These procedures should only be considered as a last resort on a broken camera with an expired warranty. I take no responsibility should you damage your camera in following these steps. Also want to restate that there is some danger of severe electrical shock from the camera's flash capacitor. I also take no responsibility if you zap yourself while following these procedures. Here's the link:

L10 Disassembly.pdf (from skydrive)