Powershot S100 lens error solved

justin-T · May 29, 2013

Bought my S100 in Jan 2012, have loved it as a pocketable alternative when an SLR wasn't needed, but this just happened to mine too. Not dropped, just tried to power down and the error appeared. $160 to send to Canon, so I decided to try the fix described here. Although I was able to open the case, get to that ribbon cable and unseat & reseat it, it did nothing to fix the error. Even tried powering up while pressing lightly down on the cable. So I now have a $450 little black brick.

No way I'm paying the money, given how often people just have the error recur later. Will have to think about replacing it, most likely with my first Nikon...

Its pathetic that Canon have not have recalled or properly fixed this. As a 5d2 owner, and after owning 6 previous Canon SLRs, probably 5 other P&S Canons, I came to expect better quality from Canon.

artcameleon · Jul 29, 2013

I wish I had read this article before I sent my camera to Canon.. I contacted canon about this error and they said they would fix it free of charge all I had to do was add a note with Attention: Lens Error Advisory and pay for shipment.. they called me back and said because there was a "dent" which I had not noticed it cancelled the free fix due to the error. so they charged me 150 bux to fix the camera.. its clear they came up with a way to charge anyone who sent the camera in. I guess im not surprised because most companies will go for a cost savings over loyalty to company mindset.. thats probably why most of us dont stay with any company especially when it comes to these disposable cameras. oh well sucks to be me the consumer. hope none of you create any false sense of loyalty to companies like Canon.

artcameleon · Jul 29, 2013

Canon said they would fix it for free to just put a note with "lens advisory" then called me back and said the "dent" in my lens (that I didnt even notice) cancelled this free fix .. they charged me 150 bux for the free fix. Go figure.

Berkeley1 · Oct 15, 2013

I had an S100 for 13 months when I dropped 2 ft and the lens problem appeared.

Canon agreed to fix it 13 months after purchase. I had to pay for shipping and insurance.

Lo and behold, six months later it fell again about 2 ft and the same problem occurred.

I tried your fix. The ribbon wire connector had been cocked at an angle. I pulled the battery and set the connector straight. Thanks to your bulletin, your fix restored it to original operation.

Thank you.

RosseterA · Dec 12, 2013

I have had 3 lens errors on my canon s100. It's not covered under the serial number warranty. I have never dropped it or abused it in any way. Canon is not helpful. For the price I would expect more as well. I'm going to try the fix here, because I'm not interested in spending another $150.00 to get it fixed. If this fix doesn't work I'm buying a different brand, very disappointed in Canon.

nickrs · Jan 1, 2014

Thanks for the details. I was just getting ready to give upon my S100 when I found your post. It took me maybe 10 minutes to fix between getting my tools, destatic-ing, removing the screws and carefully pulling off the plate. The hardest part was definitely getting the cable reseated without damaging it or the holder. We'll see if it stays this time, but if it doesn't, I know what to do.

For anyone else wondering if you're capable of this fix, you probably are unless you feel really uncertain with tools or disoriented by the original pictures.

Thanks!!

belle2 · Mar 19, 2014

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.

I love my camera but dropped it with lens out.

I followed your instructions (didn't do the tape, just pushed with the end of my screwdriver) and it works again!!

Can quoted me $178 to fix it.

Cheers

Lyn (big hugs)

belle2 · Mar 19, 2014

Canon quoted me $178. It was only free if the problem was the one identified as their fault. $50 to assess whether I was eligible. Since I am honest I told them I dropped it.

I followed this video and it worked! Thank you

Chezza · Jul 8, 2014

Hi, I am having this same error with my S100 and it doesn't fall in the range of numbers they are willing to repair. I'm not sure if I am trying your fix properly and wanted to know what you did to the piece to fix it? Did you remove the part you indicated as the part you fixed or did you use some sort of tool to align it. I'm afraid to hurt the camera, it sounds like it will work if I try. I lightly pushed on this part and the lens retracted a few times then said in the zoom out position. Now it makes a click click click noise (every fast) and won't retract. Any advise on what I might be doing wrong? I know it could very well be the whole lens, bubt I think this will work, if I do it right.

deeperblue2014 · Aug 10, 2014

This fix worked like a dream for me. I had kept my camera in a jacket while hill walking and I think the heat and humidity and sweat caused "Lens error" to occur. I found this site and the suggested solution. It was very easy to remove the camera covers, 2 small crews on both sides and two underneath the camera. Note. You will need a very small cross head screwdriver. The photo of the problematic cable is spot on. I opened the connector, cleaned and reseated it and then re assembled the S100 and found "Lens error" did not occur. Thank you very much for discovering and sharing such a simple solution!

Klety · Oct 20, 2014

Hey,

I have the same behavior, but the fix here does not help.

Did you find any solution already?

Regards

Klety

rowlandw · Oct 26, 2014

Thank-you! I just fixed my first lens error myself after two that Canon covered at no charge. I bought the s100 (s/n 29xxx) in Nov 2011 so on to its 4th year of service (fingers crossed).

bigboss97 · Dec 29, 2014

My S100 is ~2.5 years old and is not from the defective series.

I've tried the fix as described without luck. Then I removed the barrel and re-tracked it manually and put all back together, like:

After switching on, the lens came out and I received the same error again.
Now I've ordered a new lens for ~$20 from eBay and hope/pray this would help

bigboss97 · Feb 14, 2015

bigboss97 said:
After switching on, the lens came out and I received the same error again.

Now I've ordered a new lens for ~$20 from eBay and hope/pray this would help

I'm so happy that my S100 is back in operation

So I want to share the video and hope it can help others in the future:

Phuoc Can HUA

Mani1966 · Jul 30, 2015

My 44xxx series S100 displayed the dreaded lens error (2 years old camera). Called Canon (canada) and they quoted $150 + tax + s&h. The solution provided here did not help. I hear a light mechanical noise (tick tick tick tick) before the lens error appears (and thus it is unlikely the contact issue). I will have to change the lens unit (as shown by bigboss97). I am leaning towards dumping this and getting RX100.

m_a_schuster · Jul 31, 2015

I have an S100 outside of the affected SN# range, but have always been a little concerned because I've read reports of the lens error occurring in later builds as well. I was unaware of this old report; so thank you, it is good to keep for reference.

There is one aspect of this explanation that puzzles me. IIRC when Canon officially acknowledged the problem, they stated that it was more prone to happen when the camera is used in warm, humid environments. Now, if the ribbon cable is held in place with some kind of thermoplastic glue, that would make sense. But I see nothing in these photos to suggest that. So what is the basis of Canon's explanation?

mustang_sallad · Aug 11, 2015

Thanks for sharing this fix. It gave me a glimmer of hope, and I did get the lens to move around a bit by reseating the connector a few time, it never closed up completely, and I'm still getting the lens error.

I'm wondering if I might have a slightly different version of this issue. I've noticed a few people say their lens error is accompanied by rapid clicking sounds, and mine is too. I'm wondering if that's an indication of a different problem.

Sadly, this has come up just a few days after being repaired for the same problem by a service shop. I'm just trying to fix it myself now as I'm on a vacation away from any towns big enough to have stores with even cheap cameras for sale.

Torgny Dellsen · Aug 12, 2015

My S95 broke. Can't repair it myself. The S-series cameras don't seem very durable. How is the S120?

bigboss97 · Aug 12, 2015

mustang_sallad said:
Thanks for sharing this fix. It gave me a glimmer of hope, and I did get the lens to move around a bit by reseating the connector a few time, it never closed up completely, and I'm still getting the lens error.

I'm wondering if I might have a slightly different version of this issue. I've noticed a few people say their lens error is accompanied by rapid clicking sounds, and mine is too. I'm wondering if that's an indication of a different problem.

I was unsuccessful with re-seating of the connector, too. Now I've replaced the lens barrel (for ~$20). It's working fine. I can't tell whether the cheap lens is making less quality pictures.

jdelduque · Nov 22, 2015

Yes! It worked! Took me a while to realize how to disconnect and reconnect the cable, but following your tip did the trick!

Thanks a lot!

Powershot S100 lens error solved

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