occasional black LCD/pictures with S230

Hi - do you anybody have a similar problem?

I have S230 slightly over 1 year - that means the warranty just has expired. The camera has worked just perfectly until this little problem started appearing:
Occasionally when I turn the camera on in the movie or picture taking modes, the LCD display stays black, while the camera apparently is working. Attempt to take a picture results only in a black rectangle. But the LCD display is not broken - e.g. when I switch to the review mode, I can see all pictures previously saved in the memory.
Described in other words, the effect of the malfunction is the same as if I put my hand over the camera lenses and tried to take any pictures.
Turning the camera off/on one or several times usually solves the problem, but it returns back frequently.
Any ideas?
I have not dropped the camera nor damaged with water.

zkosty

Sounds like a loose connection or someother cause for the CCD to loose power or at least not calculate or transmit it's data. Sounds like a repair is required.

Yeah! I am very afraid that repair is needed, but my warranty has just expired a month ago.
Do you, anybody, have some experience with post-warranty repairs by cannon? Are they expensive?

If you send them a nice letter, and explain yourself well, they may see fit to do this as if it was under warranty. As long as the cause of the problem is not external you just might get it done for no charge.

Do not construe this as a pledge that they'll do it for free, I'm just saying that it can't hurt to ask. The more time that passes past the warranty the less chance for goodwill coverage. Good luck. May you enjoy many more years of Canon Camera use...