Dropped my camera . . . can I fix it or can you recommend someone who can? (chicago)

December 24, 2008 10:44 AM

Oops . . . I dropped my camera on the ground and now I'm experiencing this error. It's not the batteries; it's definitely because I dropped it. The little part that moves the lens in and out appears to be jammed inside. I didn't drop it from a particularly great height so I don't think its broken forever. It still turns on and off and takes pictures, it just can't focus.

My warranty has expired and I've heard unpleasant things about sending cameras into Hp for repair (expensive, takes forever, etc.) Plus I'm broke and this camera didn't cost that much to begin with so I don't want to spend more than I have to. But I really like it, so I'd rather fix it than get a new one.

Is it possible for me to fix it by jimmying it around some more? If not, what kind of place would fix this and how much should I expect to pay? I am in the Chicagoland area, if anyone has any specific recommendations.

Thanks everyone, and have a Happy Festivus/ Christmakus/ Haunakkus, etc. :-)

posted by lblair to technology (8 answers total)

A similar thing happened to my little Olympus.
I pushed the lens and it snapped back into position. I do not recommend this method of fixing things, but it worked for me.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 11:28 AM on December 24, 2008

Just to clarify . . . are you telling me to drop it again so I can get a new one? It's not under warranty anymore so all that would get me is a more-broken camera :-(
posted by lblair at 11:46 AM on December 24, 2008

Wow, bad day for breaking cameras...

I had a stuck lens in my old Canon, and I just unstuck it by gently popping it out with a mini screwdriver. (I figured it was unusable anyway, so why not.) It popped out, and didn't stick again.
posted by JoanArkham at 11:50 AM on December 24, 2008

I think fixedgear is advocating the bang-on-it method of fixing things. You'd be surprised how often this works.
posted by randomstriker at 12:36 PM on December 24, 2008

First, I reiterate the call to try to force the lens back, probably by banging on it or jimmying it. Second, I suggest sending it in to HP and telling them it came like that. One of two things will occur: they'll say, "No, it didn't. That'll be $200 to fix," in which case you politely never speak to them again. Or they'll say, "Yup, yer right, here's a new one," in which case you have a new camera. You'd be surprised what a nicely worded letter enclosed with the broken camera can accomplish. I speak from experience, by the way -- had the same thing happen to me on an out-of-warranty Pentax, sent it in, and they repaired it no questions asked.
posted by incessant at 12:48 PM on December 24, 2008

I once fixed a digital camera by assuming it was broken beyond repair, disassembling it to see what the insides looked like and putting it back together. First I'd try forcing the lens into position like others suggest, but if that doesn't work I think disassembly's a better suggestion than dropping it again, especially as you know to have a good poke around at the lens motor assembly when you're doing this. You will need a small screwdriver and a flat surface so when you drop the tiny little screws you can find them again.
posted by nowonmai at 5:31 PM on December 24, 2008

Yeah I'd muck with it. Either way you have a broken camera. Start with gentle force, see if something clicks into position. Work up without pushing it so much you are going to break it.

And yeah, banging might work too.
posted by sully75 at 7:26 PM on December 24, 2008

I posted this question when my Canon's lens got all out of whack. Pretty much, the advice boiled down to 'fiddle with it'!

Eventually, rather than send it in for repair I just forcefully smacked it on a table, camera-card side down. Two years later, it's still working, lens and all. Good luck!
posted by amicamentis at 4:19 AM on December 25, 2008