PowerShot S3 no display

[Fox5flyer]

My S3 has a problem in that everything seems to work just fine, except that the LCD display and view finder do not display what the camera is pointed at. The menus show up just fine in both the view finder and LCD display, shutter seems to be working fine (however, I understand that this is just electronic noise to sound like a shutter), and everything else works as it should. It's almost as if the aperture is closed or possibly the shutter is not opening, but I'm not sure how it all works to give much more than that.

If I take a photo of something the recording on the SD card just shows a blank. If I put in an SD card that already has photos on it they show up just fine on both display and view finder.

I've owned this camera since new about 3 years ago and it has been stored in the camera bag for over a year without being used. Batteries were out of it during storage and I've put fresh batteries in it. I also reset the menus to defaults, but nothing has helped. A friend said the mirror is stuck and suggested I start banging on it with a screw driver handle, but I'm not quite ready for that yet. Does it even have a mirror?
Any help?
Thanks,
Deke
NE Michigan

 

[kenn threed]

Hi Deke,

I'm sure no expert on camera mechanics or repair, but I do own an S3 with well over 100k shutter actuations and it's still going strong. Anyway, I'd make a couple observations on your situation.

First, since you've owned this cam for 3 years I'd rather doubt you've just left the lens cap on, ...but the symptoms you describe sure fit that scenario.

Barring that tho, it seems you've proven that the LCD and EVF are functional (by viewing images from another card). So, I'd sure suggest reformatting the card, or trying to write new images to another card you know is working.

If that doesn't help, you may indeed have a failing shutter mechanism... There is no mirror to get stuck tho, so I doubt banging on the camera will help.

best luck,

Kenn

--
Kenn & Temple - Backyard Birders in St.Louis, MO USA
http://kenn3d.smugmug.com

 

[Fox5flyer]

Thanks, Kenn for the input. No, the lens cap is not on, but that is exactly how it acts.

I did format the card which is a new one that is different from the one that was in it previously. Both act the same way.

I went to the Canon site to see if there was a firmware update, but nothing is available for it. I guess the camera is too old. Amazing, huh.

Hopefully, someone here will be familiar with the problem and let me know if there is a fix or if I'm wasting my time. I'm considering a G12, but would still like to get this one working as it's (was) a good camera.
Question: How do you determine how many shutter actuations are on record?
Thanks,
Deke
NE Michigan

Hi Deke,

I'm sure no expert on camera mechanics or repair, but I do own an S3 with well over 100k shutter actuations and it's still going strong. Anyway, I'd make a couple observations on your situation.

First, since you've owned this cam for 3 years I'd rather doubt you've just left the lens cap on, ...but the symptoms you describe sure fit that scenario.

Barring that tho, it seems you've proven that the LCD and EVF are functional (by viewing images from another card). So, I'd sure suggest reformatting the card, or trying to write new images to another card you know is working.

If that doesn't help, you may indeed have a failing shutter mechanism... There is no mirror to get stuck tho, so I doubt banging on the camera will help.

best luck,

Kenn

--
Kenn & Temple - Backyard Birders in St.Louis, MO USA
http://kenn3d.smugmug.com

 

[mbkamrani]

Hi

My suggestion: take it to a Canon service center,it is a special malfunction,leave it for experts
--
mbkamrani

 

[MisterPootieCat]

My S3 has a problem in that everything seems to work just fine, except that the LCD display and view finder do not display what the camera is pointed at. The menus show up just fine in both the view finder and LCD display, shutter seems to be working fine (however, I understand that this is just electronic noise to sound like a shutter), and everything else works as it should. It's almost as if the aperture is closed or possibly the shutter is not opening, but I'm not sure how it all works to give much more than that.

The shutter opens as soon as the camera is turned on. It has to, you're using the sensor to compose and take a shot.

If I take a photo of something the recording on the SD card just shows a blank. If I put in an SD card that already has photos on it they show up just fine on both display and view finder.

Yep, I was getting the same symptoms with my s2 IS.

I've owned this camera since new about 3 years ago and it has been stored in the camera bag for over a year without being used. Batteries were out of it during storage and I've put fresh batteries in it. I also reset the menus to defaults, but nothing has helped. A friend said the mirror is stuck and suggested I start banging on it with a screw driver handle, but I'm not quite ready for that yet. Does it even have a mirror?
Any help?

Same thing happened for me, took the camera out after being stored for a year and she just wouldn't spring back to life.

No mirrors in this camera that I know of, and whacking on it with a screwdriver doesn't sound cool.

If the shutter is stuck there is a way to actually confirm this. Turn the camera on, zoom all the way in, with good lighting look directly into the lens, you will see the shutter (appears as the smallest disk visible) at the very bottom. If you cycle the shutter release the shutter blade will wiggle a small amount. When my S2 failed I tried for an hour to get the shutter to break free but it never did. You'll need to switch over to manual focus before trying this.

Call Canon, this is a known problem and they should offer to fix it free.

 

[Cyril Catt]

I recall that I had my S3 repaired by Canon for some malfunction of the LCD which Canon had issued a notice on and was willing to fix for free. But I cannot recall the exact problem - it was several years ago. I suggest you contact Canon's service centre.
--
Cyril

 

[GarryFC]

Hi, sorry for the zombie thread resurrection, but I've got precisely the issue above and wondered if anyone ever managed to solve this. My 7 year old had shown a real interest in photography so took my old starter camera (Powershot S3 IS) out of storage to let him get to grips with something easier to manage than a full size SLR. Sadly the same issue - the display works but the shutter doesn't seem to open. Neither viewfinder nor LCD shows anything (like the lens cap is on).

Did anyone find a solution to this. Way past a warranty repair now!

 

[reyalp]

Hi, sorry for the zombie thread resurrection, but I've got precisely the issue above and wondered if anyone ever managed to solve this. My 7 year old had shown a real interest in photography so took my old starter camera (Powershot S3 IS) out of storage to let him get to grips with something easier to manage than a full size SLR. Sadly the same issue - the display works but the shutter doesn't seem to open. Neither viewfinder nor LCD shows anything (like the lens cap is on).

Did anyone find a solution to this. Way past a warranty repair now!

It is a mechanical or electrical problem, either of which most likely requires disassembly of the lens/sensor part of the camera to repair. Some discussion of failure modes and diagnostics on the CHDK forum

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