my S2 died today

[nwyman]

Tried to take some shots of birds this morning in TV setting. After setting focus lock and depressing the shutter all the way down, the screen went black. Still showed the focus rectangle and all that, but - no pic. No image visible on replay. Boosting ISO to 400 managed to give me a faint glimpse of my image. Several shots later, I got a screen that was three quarters black and one quarter of the scene I wanted to shoot. THis only happened in modes where the shutter speed was adjustable. (TV and Manual).
Other settings seemed generally ok, but I noticed that the screen got slightly darker when I tried for focus lock.

Canon tech support thinks I might have a short in the system. So, back to Illinois it goes.

FWIW, just because one registers one's Canon online, don't think that you have registered the warranty card. They still require your warranty card (which I had thrown away, thinking I'd taken care of that online) and/or an invoice, and they won't accept your credit card statement as proof of purchase. Luckily, B&H Photo have provided me with a duplicate invoice.

And me, leaving for Europe in a week and a half, now with no digicam. Sigh.

Nancy

[Relocin]

I'm not sure of the technical reason, I would like to know about this myself.
But I have found that turning the flash on will make the shot work.

[nwyman]

I'm not sure of the technical reason, I would like to know about this myself.
But I have found that turning the flash on will make the shot work.

loss of flash was apparently part of the problem. Flash worked fine the night before, but ceased functioning at all as I was talking with Canon support.
Nancy

[davidfig]

Whenever problems happen like this. I suggest that you remove the battery for at least 4 minutes and then replace it.

Almost all cameras, never turn all the way off. They will go very low power. Some even slow down up to 100 times slower. But not completely out. So think of this as a reboot.

[sonnyJ]

I called Canon tech support to ask about the warranty policy since I had registered on line and don't remember sending in the card.

I was told - sending in card is not necessary - If problem - call tech support , they will tell you where to send the camera and you WILL have to submit a copy of the invoice - but nt the warranty card

[davidfig]

I was told - sending in card is not necessary - If problem - call tech support , they will tell you where to send the camera and you WILL have to submit a copy of the invoice - but nt the warranty card

Yeap that's what they did for me. This is keeping in line with their no transfer policy.

[nwyman]

Whenever problems happen like this. I suggest that you remove the battery for at least 4 minutes and then replace it.

Almost all cameras, never turn all the way off. They will go very low power. Some even slow down up to 100 times slower. But not completely out. So think of this as a reboot.

yeah - with the tech's advice, we tried this. Even took the date battery out. Still had the problem, so back it went to the Canon hospital. As Isaid, they think it might have a short.
Nancy

[nwyman]

I called Canon tech support to ask about the warranty policy since I had registered on line and don't remember sending in the card.

I was told - sending in card is not necessary - If problem - call tech support , they will tell you where to send the camera and you WILL have to submit a copy of the invoice - but nt the warranty card

the directions re: warranty card and invoice state: "and/or". Luckily, I was able to get a copy of my original invoice, as I had erroneously assumed the product registration took care of the warranty as well, and had discarded the warranty.

The humerous side of this (if there is one) is that the S2 is only, what - four months old, and comes with a one year warranty, so it would have to be covered under warranty, right?

Nancy (hoping the new S2 will be stronger than the original)

[pulze]

I have a S400, last December, my camera started behaving the same way.
Since then, i am looking for a solution. None found. I also tried the 4 minute battery trick. Did not help!

Lets keep looking. Till then i use it in manual, flash off mode.

[Robertson Bruce]

Uh oh. My S2 does exactly the same thing - Manual and Tv modes are black, with only the brightest lights showing up, and even that is weak. There is a red number in the top left corner that says minus 2.

All other modes seem to work well - great in fact.

Any suggestions (short of sending my S2 back?)

Ironically, last night I took a lovely shot of the moon in manual mode, and it was the only mode that worked for this kind of shot - it looks fabulous! Everything else was way too bright.:cry:

[Robertson Bruce]

I have a S400
Lets keep looking. Till then i use it in manual, flash off mode.

Can you tell me how to get the flash off in manual mode on the S2? Thanks.

[Salleke]

Can you tell me how to get the flash off in manual mode on the S2? Thanks.


Bruce - In the manual on page 40 you see: When you are not using the flash lower (close) the flash down until it closes.

So in other words: if you don't want the flash just push it down or let it down.

On the top left side of your camera (seeing from behind) you see the Flash button. Whit this button
you can control the flash by pressing it repeatedly. Good luck.

[mecdave]

Uh oh. My S2 does exactly the same thing - Manual and Tv modes are black, with only the brightest lights showing up, and even that is weak. There is a red number in the top left corner that says minus 2.


That minus 2 is the exposure setting in some of the manual modes. Use your FUNC button and left/right omni button to change the setting. See page 90 of your manual for more info.

PS Just got my S2 yesterday. You guys are scaring me. :-)

[nwyman]

That minus 2 is the exposure setting in some of the manual modes. Use your FUNC button and left/right omni button to change the setting. See page 90 of your manual for more info.

PS Just got my S2 yesterday. You guys are scaring me. :-)

I just got my replacement S2 from B&H yesterday as well. (Probably won't hear back from Canon repair for at least fifteen days, and I'm leaving for Europe on Saturday). I liked the original so well that I replaced it with the same model - let's hope I'm not hit twice.
I didn't have that exposure number show up on mine, but otherwise, the problems were the same.
Nancy

[Belmondo]

Nothing to do with your camera problems, but have a good trip. Take lots of pictures with your new S2.

Tom

[nwyman]

Nothing to do with your camera problems, but have a good trip. Take lots of pictures with your new S2.

Tom

thanks for your good wishes, Tom.
As for the new camera - I gave it a test run in the backyard this morning, and am a little concerned. The problem was nothing so severe as was in the previous camera, but in TV and Manual modes, I'm having to bump the ISO up to 200, and raise the exposure two notches or so in order to get a decent shot. It is very overcast here today, and most of my previous experience has been in bright summer sunlight, so I'm hoping that's the cause.
Nancy

[Robertson Bruce]

That minus 2 is the exposure setting in some of the manual modes. Use your FUNC button and left/right omni button to change the setting. See page 90 of your manual for more info.

PS Just got my S2 yesterday. You guys are scaring me. :-)

Sorry - don't be put off by my comments. I messed around with the settings and I think my camera is okay, it was just my blockheaded muddling that was the problem!!

Basically I am looking at the camera's settings in other modes, than trying to approximate that in manual mode now, and everything appears to be working fine.

So don't be sad - this is a great camera, and you don't have to be a photo-phile to appreciate that.:o

Thanks for the tips and have a great time with your new S2. :D

[Robertson Bruce]

thanks for your good wishes, Tom.
As for the new camera - I gave it a test run in the backyard this morning, and am a little concerned. The problem was nothing so severe as was in the previous camera, but in TV and Manual modes, I'm having to bump the ISO up to 200, and raise the exposure two notches or so in order to get a decent shot. It is very overcast here today, and most of my previous experience has been in bright summer sunlight, so I'm hoping that's the cause.
Nancy

I've found the S2 really does shine in brighter light too. It's more challenging in dim light, but thanks to the advice from people in the forum and subsequent fiddling, I think I've corrected my problem, which wasn't really a camera problem but just due to my ignorance of shutter speed, aperture, ISO etc. Sounds like you had more serious troubles for sure, because I never had any problem with flash or anything else.

I hope the new one works out and you get some great shots over in Europe, as well as having a wonderful time 'over there!' Cheers and bon voyage!