Canon IXUS 400 'E18' Error - How To Handle Canon??!!

Hi All,

I've had my Ixus 400 for about 6 months when it presented me with an E18
error and the lens refused to retract. I managed to get the lens back in
after powering on & off a few times but I'm still getting the occasional
error and when I shake the camera it sounds as if something is broken
inside. I have returned the unit to canon for 'repair under warranty' - who
have told me the unit has been dropped (which it hasn't) and want £250 for
repairs. Apparently this is a common fault with these cameras (even though
canon won't admit as much), so I'm hoping someone here has had similar
dealings with canon and had their camera repaired under warranty. So far I
have spoken to 3 people and am waiting to speak to the technical team
manager who is personally going to review my case (not that I hold out much
hope).

Any advice people could offer with this would be great as I'm sure they are
still gonna refuse to repair under warranty (would this be a job for the
office of fair trade, or trading standards?)

Many thanks

Dan Ricketts

 

Dan Ricketts wrote:

Sounds like it. Anyone have similar experiences with other companies?
I'm pretty soured on Canon right now for several reasons, and am looking
at Nikon, Olympus, and Fuji for my next digital camera.

 

Nikon after sales service is shit. Don't know about olympus. Nothing
negative heard about fuji.

 

The IXUS 400 makes a noise when you shake it. It is the orientation sensor.

 

Snip SNip.

Dan,
My daughter was using her camera is a Canon IXUS v3 she was taking shots
when a gust of wind blew fine dust over her and her camera.
The zoom lens got stuck and that she thought was that and it would have to
go back for an expensive clean out. I looked at the lens barrel with a
magnifying lens and could see the tiny bits of grit/sand wedging the barrel
to one side very slightly. What I did was to turn the camera so that the
lens was pointing down and pushed firmly but carefully to open up the barrel
some of the grit dropped out and I taped the camera carefully again until
most of the grit was out. Replaced the battery and switched the camera on
and off several times with the lens pointing down and much more grit came
out.
She is happily useing it without any trouble to date.
This a copy and paste of a post I sent in April 2004 to which I dint get ant
feed back.
If this works could let the NG know?
MikeS