RX100 VII stuck with lens open

I just bought a brand new RX100 VII, and I’ve had multiple occasions where the camera keeps gettijg stuck with the lens out and not retracted. The only thing I can think is that the battery runs out. But it’s locked up with a full battery too. When it does, I have no way of retracting the lens until I recharge the battery.

When I had my very old Canon pocket cam, it auto-retracted the lens when the camera was idle or running low on battery. Is there an equivalent setting on this Sony camera?

When I am shooting in burst mode with my RX100VI, it takes time for all the images to be written to the card.  The lens stays open until all the images are saved from the buffer memory onto the card.

Is your back screen still on after you hit the on/off button? is it showing anything?

Does it make any noise when the lens is extending?  Grinding or motor noises?

If the camera is truly off and the lens is out, you may have a lemon.  Only option then is to return it.

Val

Val Bueno wrote:

When I am shooting in burst mode with my RX100VI, it takes time for all the images to be written to the card. The lens stays open until all the images are saved from the buffer memory onto the card.

Is your back screen still on after you hit the on/off button? is it showing anything?

Does it make any noise when the lens is extending? Grinding or motor noises?

If the camera is truly off and the lens is out, you may have a lemon. Only option then is to return it.

Yes, good point. The camera might just be writing the files, before retracting the lens.

TumblingTiger wrote:

I just bought a brand new RX100 VII, and I’ve had multiple occasions where the camera keeps gettijg stuck with the lens out and not retracted.

Based on other replies, how long are you leaving the camera after turning it off?  Expect there to be a delay of several seconds before the lens retracts.

If it stays open for, say, 10 seconds after you switch off, then the camera is probably faulty.

My RX100Vi has the Power Save mode set at 2 minutes.  After 2 minutes of inactivity the camera shuts down.  This includes retracting the lens.  If your lens is not retracting then it is a software issue or mechanical issue.  if the camera was purchased new, you should be able to return it or exchange it.  it is sounding more like a lemon than anything else.

The RX100'a that I have bought new have had no issues.  The ones I bought used had a few issues.

Val

TumblingTiger wrote:

nevada5 wrote:

The lens will retract when the battery power is insufficient to operate the camera.

Your camera is malfunctioning, it needs to be sent back for repairs.

That's good to know. I would have expected it to auto-retract when the battery power's low, which is the behavior of every other camera I've ever had that's similar. It's been very finicky from the very start, so it does sound like I have a defective model. I bought it from OnBuy.com, and will likely never buy from them again.

I don't know this seller, but it could be just bad luck with this particular unit!?

FWIW, the lens on my very battered VII rarely closes by itself when I turn off the power.  The reason is that there is dirt and debris in the works from carrying the camera loose in a hunting vest pocket over probably a thousand plus miles of pushing heavy cover in the uplands both east and west.

Joy working pheasant cover in a Montana coulee:

Bliss at work in typical Pennsylvania greenbrier pheasant cover:

My solution - just gently press the lens closed as it tries to mechanically close.  So far, that has worked every time.  You can hear the little plastic gears crunching as it does so. It will usually open on its own, but sometimes takes a couple of tries.  This is obviously a field expedient solution with a badly worn-out camera that will soon need to be replaced.  It's probably too beat-up to be worth fixing.  But it has earned its keep by capturing hundreds of good action shots in the field for me:

If I had a new and/or pristine VII, I might invest the money and time to have it repaired.  But if this problem is only occasional, give my solution a try (gently).

Greg