Does Canon Ultra Compacts Have Lens Problem??

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Looking to get a small camera for my husband. We both have SLR's. I love the Canon SD990 and 880, but, I've read on some sites of a "frozen Lens" problem. They said it renders the camera inoperable and that Canon is charging $150 to fix it, even if the camera is new.

Does anyone know of this problem?

Thanks for any help.

Debbie

All cameras with lenses that telescope out from the camera body are potentially vulnerable to dust or grit that gets into the mechanism and jams it. The only way to completely avoid the problem is to buy a camera that uses a non-extending lens.

debbruce said:

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Looking to get a small camera for my husband. We both have SLR's. I
love the Canon SD990 and 880, but, I've read on some sites of a
"frozen Lens" problem. They said it renders the camera inoperable
and that Canon is charging $150 to fix it, even if the camera is new.

Does anyone know of this problem?

Thanks for any help.

Debbie

Click to expand...

Debbie,

To answer your question, this is not a significant valid factual issue with the Canon SD line of ultra-compact cameras. While such a problem may occur for a single user, it has not been widely reported for any Canon model. I have been following the SD line for many years in Canon Talk forum. Furthermore, I purchased my first one (SD880) in October, immediately upon its release. They're fine pieces of equipment to supplement your other camera gear, and I can promise you, that you and your husband will be using one more and more, if you get it. (Probably a great deal) The convenience and high quality images are very compelling features in this line of cameras.

Glenn
--
Alexander...our wild child



Canon S2, A610, SD880

I should add that while any telescoping-lens camera CAN have a problem, in fact problems for well-treated cameras are very rare, as Glenn indicated.

The biggest thing you can do is to avoid exposing your camera to dust and particles. For example, don't carry it in a pocket unless it's in some sort of case which will keep out the lint.

I've had (and still have) many SD models and never had a lens problem. So I would say, no, Canon lenses do not have a problem. Does the occasional camera out of millions have a problem? Maybe.

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Thank you for the input. My husband is leaning toward a sony but, I like the canons.

Debbie

Sean Nelson said:

I should add that while any telescoping-lens camera CAN have a
problem, in fact problems for well-treated cameras are very rare, as
Glenn indicated.

The biggest thing you can do is to avoid exposing your camera to dust
and particles. For example, don't carry it in a pocket unless it's
in some sort of case which will keep out the lint.

Click to expand...

I absolutely agree. I bought a SX100IS back in March of this year and carried it in my front pants pocket every day. I noticed dust and lint forming around and on the lens. But, I never thought it to be more than just a nuisance that needed to be cleaned now and then.

But, on the 14th day, I got the dreaded "Lens Error" and had to get the camera exchanged. I kept the new one in a soft pouch, still carrying it in my front pants pocket every single day, every place I go. It's holding up nicely and it's one of my all time favorite cameras.

So, I would not hesitate to buy another telescoping-lens camera.

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Joel
http://www.joelsphotoblog.com

Check out this website. I'm not going to change the naysayers minds, but in my opinion it is a real problem.

http://e18.bitnet.cx/comments.php

I have: A570, SD550, SD700(two of them), SD850 and SD1000 (two of them). Like I say, toomanycanons. There may be people reporting this lens error but in three years of owning one Canon camera or another I've never had this lens error, or any error for that matter except maybe buying too many of these fine cameras. And I still own every one I've ever bought. I got fixated on the idea of backups if my cameras got lost over a cliff or into a lake not because I feared some eventual lens error.

sfchris said:

Check out this website. I'm not going to change the naysayers minds,
but in my opinion it is a real problem.

http://e18.bitnet.cx/comments.php

Click to expand...

I wonder if the site is set up in such a way to prevent angry people from posting responses over and over again on the same camera...or even falsely reporting on other cameras when they're angry about one of them. (Just throwing that out there since I've seen that sort of thing happen before -- although I think it takes a pretty disturbed individual to do it.)

I don't think so. I've been reading most of the posts over the last 4 or 5 years and almost all of them seem to be posted by reasonable people who's cameras just upped and died on them without any abuse. Whether or not all manufacturers suffer from this same problem remains up for debate, but I personally think this is a real problem.

I would just make the distinction of saying: these owners of their particular Canons had the problem they've reported. There would have been a recall of all Canon cameras if it was a widespread constant problem. I wouldn't say "Canon Ultra Compacts have a lens problem". Mine don't.

I remember reading some reviews of the truck I own. The reviewers hated the seats, said they were the worst seats they'd ever sat in. I love the seats in my truck, from city driving to 10 hours on the highway. Do my truck seats have a problem?

with three Digital Elph cameras.

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Photography at the speed of sound.

sfchris said:

I don't think so. I've been reading most of the posts over the last 4
or 5 years and almost all of them seem to be posted by reasonable
people who's cameras just upped and died on them without any abuse.
Whether or not all manufacturers suffer from this same problem
remains up for debate, but I personally think this is a real problem.

Click to expand...

Thanks for that extra bit of info. I wasn't purposefully trying to cast doubt on the statistics or anything (just want to be clear on that). Your added feedback certainly sounds reasonable, especially from the standpoint of your having read and tracked the posts regularly.

My friend bought a Canon 870 at my recommendation. The first one's lens froze up in 2 weeks of light use. It was returned to Amazon for a replacement. The second one was taken on a trip to Africa, carried in a little case and it to froze up too. Not at all good. A friend who runs a camera store says that he sees people walk in off of the street with Canon telescoping zooms that are having this problem. The second one was returned to Canon, but the repair or cost related to fixing it are yet unknown. I have a G10 which I love and don't think that it will happen to that camera.

Honeybadger

I've had no lens tube problems with the five SDs I've had: 700, 850, 870, 900, 950.

My conjecture is that lens tube problems could be caused by abuse, grit, and impeded lens extension, such as turning the camera on while still in the case.

IMO, a good case is the best home for an SD; nothing else goes in the case, which makes for the most grit-free environment--much better than a linty pocket/purse.

SDs which have "Playback" on a recessed mode dial can be protected from accidental in-case lens extension by simply putting the dial on Playback before the camera is put in the case. That way, if the "On" button gets pushed, the lens will not extend. The best of these are SD700 and SD850, which have a well-protected mode dial.

On the 900 and 950 (which I think are similar to the 990), the mode dial protrudes, and putting it on "Playback" may not prevent accidental change to a different position while sliding the camera in/out. On the 870 (and I think 880) "Playback" has its own button off the mode dial, so this protective technique is not possible. The SD700, SD850, and SD900 all have been reviewed on dpr, and those reviews have pictures which show the styles of mode dial.

I hope this helps you.

Don

Now that you mention it I've always my SDs in a case. I've never carried them around on a wrist strap or in a pocket. They're either in a Lowepro Ridge 10 (or similar) or out in my hand taking a pic. And this includes bumping along with the case attached to a chest or hip strap while riding my mountain bike. Or for that matter in a Ridge 10 AND in my pocket.

And I never recall the lens attempting to open while in the case. Maybe they're sensitive to opening against something, which of course you shouldn't do, or sensitive to dirt/sand etc, which of course you should keep out of that area. I've always thought the way I take care of my cameras is standard for any owner but maybe not.

We have had quite a few SD's over the years ... Never had that problem.

I dropped one, threw one, and lost one...but that's it !

sfchris said:

sfchris wrote:
Check out this website. I'm not going to change the naysayers minds,
but in my opinion it is a real problem.

http://e18.bitnet.cx/comments.php

Click to expand...

Part of my camera-care routine is to never retract the lens tube if it has even a tiny spot/drop of water on it. Might come from drizzle, dripping trees, etc.

In iffy weather, I usually carry a clean 100% cotton hanky in a plastic bag, and use it exclusively for wiping off the camera before sliding the cam back into its case. Good for fingerprints, too.

Don

Well, there is one other important thing you can do. Set your camera in the Play Back mode befor you put in your pocket or even case. That way, if the power Button is accidentally turned on you won't have the problem of the lens trying to force itself open.