How to fix a maddening problem common to most compact cameras: the sticking zoom.
In this video shot in my gallery I show how to fix a maddening problem common to most point and shoot cameras: the sticking zoom. When the zoom either refuses to protrude at all or does so only to retract immediately with ‘lens error’ showing on the display, you feel that the camera has reached the end of its natural life as sending it away for repair will cost more than the value of the camera. The answer is the common or garden vacuum cleaner. Using this method will also help clean the sensor of most or all the dust that has been sucked in through the telescopic zoom lens as for some reason even expensive compact cameras have no sensor cleaner. All you need is a vacuum cleaner with a flexible tube, a plastic bottle, sticky tape and five minutes of your time. I have demonstrated this method scores of times without damaging the camera (a Lumix LX100) in any way. That said, you shouldn’t do this if your camera isn’t already manifesting these problems.
Top tip for anyone who has had a zoom lens error . My lumix LX7 came up with this near the end of a trip to Rome.
When home the vacuum tip worked a treat no lens error .
Three months later I had to do this again as I had many dust spots on the sensor
I also vacuumed out from the battery compartment . It can definitely save a camera from being a paper weight.
good idea to vacuum the battery compartment too
Top tip for anyone who has had a zoom lens error . My lumix LX7 came up with this near the end of a trip to Rome.
When home the vacuum tip worked a treat no lend error .
Three months later I had to do this again as I had many dust spots on the sensor
I also vacuumed out from the battery compartment . It can definitely save a camera from being a paper weight.
It worked for me! What a fantastic piece of information! I’d ordered a used Olympus SZ-12 camera, largely for the zoom. Got “zoom error” every time I tried the zoom, was scared to try other suggested tricks to fix it, for fear of doing damage. Tried this, worked on second try!! Now I don’t have to return the camera, and have it in time for my birthday! God bless you! Thank you so much!
glad to hear it works on cameras other than just the Lumix – happy birthday!
I will definitely give this a try! When I received my Olympus stylus camera some 6 or 7 years ago, everything was fine, except a few days after I got it, the camera no longer responded to the button that retracts the zoom lens. I have to shut off the camera for it to retract and then turn the camera back on to resume taking pictures. Very annoying. Fingers crossed that this helps!! Thanks a bunch!
good luck! Let us know how it goes.Patrick
Thank you! my Canon g16 was knocked off a table onto dusty ground. was opening closing opening closing. Then error message. Took the ring off, get the lens extended, vacuumed and it is 1005!
I know this post is a few years old now but just had to reply.. your a Godsend couldn’t find this info anywhere on the net for my Lumix FZ80 it’s only 4 months old and sticking already I was just a bout to send it back for repair…thanks a million
Regards
Barry
glad to be of help!