G9 - Optical Viewfinder zoom not working HELP!

[jameskelly2010]

Hi!
Im new to the site, and as im the kind of person that likes to learn to repair rather than pay silly money for the privledge I call on your help.

I have a Canon G9 which has served me well over the last few years, but in the last week the optical viewfinder will no long zoom back in. It zooms out fine.. the only way i can get it in, is to turn the camera off.

Does anyone have an idea of what the fault is and the repair?

Many thanks

James

[CarloY]

James, welcome to the forum.

I would think, simply put, that the problem could be mechanical or electrical. The linkage or the casing of the viewfinder could be 'hanging-up' (dry plastic, sand, grit, etc). You might try adjusting the diopter dial in and out a bit, see if that makes a difference.

More likely (?) it is something electronic. I have had my G9 start acting funny with the lens zoom (at first) and then ultimate total power failure -- due to a factory defect (IMO, and which canon never admitted) with internal screws coming loose and shorting out either the control board or the main board or both (in my case). Do a search here of the forum for screws loose, and google it as well.

One way to check it at home follows. But be AWARE that this could make the problem worse if there is in fact one or more screws rolling around inside the camera.
NOTE: It's possible a screw was once loose, did some damage, and now is stuck (safely) in some crevice or corner -- shaking the camera may free the screw up and cause it to contact inner electronics and do more damage.
If you want to take that chance:
-- I would remove the battery and the SD card first.
-- roll the camera around in various directions and listen closely for anything rattling inside.

If you hear nothing, maybe that is good... although not conclusive that all screws are in their proper place. If you hear rattling, Search the issue and read the extensive info... then decide what next.

Third party repair services charge about $100, or a little more, to make basic repairs for common problems.