Dust, or gunk, inside lens of SD 800 IS - can this be saved?

[Mark_Turner]

Tragically, after taking a whole bunch of photos I was quite pleased with, I discovered they all had a strange milky diffusion... looking closer, it appears some dust or something has lodged itself inside the lens.

Is there any way for me to get inside there, to clean it? Warranty is long gone, I imagine.

Can this nice point and shoot be saved, or do I give this camera up for dead?

EDIT - as per my last post, I discovered this was fungus inside the lens! (camera repair shop told me). What a bizarre issue.

[rachelsne]

Most point and shoots are expensive to get repaired, although doing it your sell may be a better option, look on ebay in the camera section-they have a whole area that sells broken cameras and parts, so you may find the lens replacement you need there. it may be better than cleaning it...

[Mark_Turner]

Most point and shoots are expensive to get repaired, although doing it your sell may be a better option, look on ebay in the camera section-they have a whole area that sells broken cameras and parts, so you may find the lens replacement you need there. it may be better than cleaning it...

Thanks, and yes, I do see a replacement lens for sale on Ebay.

Do you know any good guides to pulling one of these elph's apart?

[JustShootin']

Being that I'm about as handy as a screen door on a submarine, I would be replacing the camera with a new one without a second thought!

[Mark_Turner]

I took it to a repair shop for an estimate - they said it was fungus (!) that had grown inside the lens.

Any way I can deal with this without pulling everything apart. Price quoted for them to clean it was $85. Seemed a little steep given the value of the camera.

[Jon]

Nope - the only way to get rid of fungus is to physically clean the lens surfaces. And $85 for that kind of disassembly sounds like a steal.

[Mark_Turner]

Nope - the only way to get rid of fungus is to physically clean the lens surfaces. And $85 for that kind of disassembly sounds like a steal.

Hmm... maybe you are right.

I got through the first layer this afternoon, but looking further inside (under the lcd screen) I was daunted by what it would take to get through the subsequent layers and back again.

I think I will go for the professionals.

[darntoothysam]

I wouldn't bother trying to clean it, what if you don't get every spec, it's just going to grow back again!

You can get your lens replaced for that same $85... I'm not trying to make a pitch, this isn't meant to be an ad... Just letting you know that there is the option available.

Thomas