All buttons not working, zooms by itself

[belledumonde]

Hello to everyone, this may be quite long because I want to give all the info I have. I've tried to make it scan friendly and hope you'll find the patience to read through it all.

I have a Canon PowerShot A620. I got it back in February and it's been working fine until recently when a friend borrowed it. When I got it back something strange happened in playback mode, I zoomed in once on a photo and it zoomed in all the way without me touching the zoom button and I couldn't get out of it. When I tried to zoom out nothing happened. I turned it off and back on and everything was back to normal.

On the second incident, this is what happened. I turned the camera on shoot mode and I hadn't touched anything, it zoomed all by itself. When I tried to zoom out it zoomed in even further with digital zoom. I turned it on and off repeatedly and the same thing kept happening. Then after a while it went back to normal.

Now when I turn it on in playback mode nothing happens. None of the buttons work. The only thing it responds to is the zoom button, and that's only sometimes. It zooms in all the way but doesn't zoom out.

And now in shoot mode it automatically zooms all the way and sometimes even into digital zoom, I can't get out of it and none of the buttons work. I can't even take a photo.

I wonder if there's something I could do to fix it although I highly doubt that. The camera was bought in the US and brought here to the Philippines so the warranty is already void if I understand it correctly. That's why I'm hesistant to bring it anywhere to have it fixed. If they break it even more I got nothing.

Can anyone tell me what's wrong, why and anything else that could help? I'm feeling very upset as anyone would when something very expensive is broken, and I'd really appreciate any help. Thank you so much.

[Piltnik]

Sounds like all your problems are caused by broken zoom ring. I think it should be possible to fix, you should try to find Canon certified repair shop.

[belledumonde]

Hello piltnik. Thank you for your reply. I was thinking maybe none of the other buttons work because something is keeping the zoom ring on zoom? I hope so because if it is then I just need to fix that and everything else will be ok.

[Jon]

The warranty isn't void because you've relocated, but the camera's warrantied through Canon USA so you'd need to send it back to them for service unless Canon Philippines is willing to honor it (but no harm asking them).

But what it almost sounds like is that your friend might have splashed the controls with some kind of sticky substance that's now gumming (literally) up the works. Can you hook it up for Remote Capture and work the various controls from your computer?

[belledumonde]

Excellent. I tried the remote capture and everything is working fine. So I think this may just be a problem with the buttons. Oh &*#@, I can't find the warranty. %&@* even more I think I might have even thrown it away.

Say I can't find it, and I go to a Canon service center, does that mean they can fix it but no guarantees? or they can fix it but I have to pay? or they can fix it and I have to pay and no guarantees?

Thank you Jon.

[Piltnik]

I think if you take it to Canon certified service you would have to pay but probably original warranty would still stand.

[Jon]

Do you have the sales receipt? That's usually sufficient to prove it's in the warranty period. The warranty card really only proves that it was legitimately imported and sold by/for a particular country. But if they repair it, there's a separate guarantee on the repair work they've performed, regardless of the state of a warranty or whether you had to pay for the repair.

[sonnyJ]

If you registered the camera when you first got it then Canon Has the name, serial number on file and can use that as starting point for covered services

[chicagoastronomer]

Sorry about the problem, quite depressing I'm sure. But it's a credo that needs mentioning - "Never Lend out your equipment!" No one takes care of the tools like you would. And...I have an agreement that if whatever is returned, and is not in the same condition as it was when lent...they bought it. But, it's best just to avoid such encounters.

Probably what happened is some inconsiderate heavy thumb banging down on the pad and deforming the memory bubble. Does it still click when you tap it down...probably not.

Regarding my Canon powershot S3, someone posted a thread on another forum about not having one or more directions of the pad "click" when depressed. Others chimed in saying that they were experienceing the same. I checked mine, and sure enough...my right directional does not click, but functions fine. It seems that Canon pads are inherent in this area.

[belledumonde]

Ok, I've learnt my lesson. Must keep receipt, must keep warranty card, must register stuff, don't lend ANYONE camera including boyfriend.

So what happens now? I go to the main Canon Philippines service center then... What can I expect? I'll be charged for the repair won't I? Will I definitely get a guarantee on that even if I don't have the receipt or haven't registered? I'd just like to know what's going to happen when I go there. Thanks.

Sorry about the problem, quite depressing I'm sure.

It is actually, holiday season and I can't take any photos or videos. We have a party today and there's nothing I can do about it :(

[chicagoastronomer]

If you are not able to bring it in for repairs I would do a couple of things.

I would take out the batteries, including the small button battery, and leave it sit for awhile. Put them back in and see what happens.

If it's still messed up, turn the camera upside down while it's off, and gently tap the zoom lever area with the handle of a small screwdriver or something similar. Move the lever back and forth and do it again. If you have a can of compressed air, blow around and inside the zoom lever area while holding it upside down again and moving the zoom lever. Maybe you can clear the area of debris and get it working again for your holiday activities.

Again if it's under warranty and you can get it to a repair facility, then do it. But me being the adventurous type, I would do the above myself.

[Jon]

If you get it repaired (in the US anyhow), that will be covered by a warranty regardless of whether the camera has an existing, valid warranty or not, and whether you pay for the repair or it's done as a warranty service. I'd expect Canon Philippines has similar policies and practices.

[belledumonde]

Thank you to all who replied. I will go to the main Canon service center as soon as I go to the capital and have it repaired and hopefully cleaned too. I hear it takes up to two weeks so I guess no photos for the holidays. Thanks Chicago astronomer but I don't want to take any more chances and mess it up even more. :(

[rpolitsr]

Thanks Chicago astronomer but…

I also think you have the zoom in side of the zoom lever stuck. The compressed air blower and taping and moving the zoom lever will not harm your camera and might allow you to shoot some pictures during the holidays.

Good luck and Merry Christmas

[belledumonde]

I think I may give it a try. I don't have compressed air though and I don't think my excessive blowing is going to do the trick but I will try. Thanks, merry Christmas to you too! :)

[cheerio0s]

I'm sorry about your camera. Although I can't help you with it, you better get the truth out of your friend :mad: