The Canon PowerShot S100 point-and-shoot camera is a great snapper and undeniably popular (you can see our review of the S100 here). Popular cameras fly off the shelves fast, popular cameras with manufacturing issues — well, you know where I’m getting at.
Unfortunately, there’s no such thing as a perfect gadget. Every now and then we encounter some problems with new gizmos, the Canon S100 is one of them. Not exactly every S100 just those with “The first and second digits of the camera’s serial number are any number from 29 through 41â€.
For example:　”29xxxxxxxxxx“,　 “30xxxxxxxxxx” up to “41xxxxxxxxxx” — as mentioned by Canon Philippines.
According to numerous posts online, some owners of the S100 digicam has encountered the “Lens Error of Death” wherein the cam’s LCD display would pop a message stating that “A lens error has occurred, will shut down automatically. Restart camera” when they try to take a picture. The lens error issue is said to be caused by a “disconnected part inside the camera”.
Well, if you happen to be one of the owners of a PowerShot S100 plagued with this problem, you’ll be glad to know that Canon Philippines is offering free repairs with no charge, regardless of the warranty period. This, a manufacturing issue,the defect has been there long before the cam was even able to leave the factory. If your camera was bought in the U.S. your S100 should still be covered, if you’re in doubt, you can contact them through their customer service hotline: (632) 884 9000 or try sending them an email here.
Sources: Canon Philippines, TechnoBuffalo
My S100 broke down when I was in Taipei. I don’t know if it was due to the cold weather. But my lens stopped retracting altogether. I sent it to Canon Service Center in Eton Building in Ortigas. They told me replacement of optical lens will cost me a whopping 9.5k. WHOA! Dude, no fair.
not true. apparently, even serial numbers outside of 41*****… encounters this lens error. mine starts with 43, and i’ve only used it sparingly since my husband gave it to me. i’ve never mishandled it, never dropped it, and it acted up during our recent HK travel. i took it to Aserco in Waltermart (the service center for Canon in the Phils.) and when I called back they said that there was something broken in the optical lens, but since there’s no separate part like that, they have to replace the entire optical lens. it costs 7000PHP. T_T i might as well buy a new camera.
this was my first Canon camera. i used to be loyal to Olympus and Panasonic but was awed by Canon’s bright color images. all my previous cameras are still working. i’m so disappointed i don’t think we’ll buy another Canon camera again.
if grey units are not covered with the free repair, how much would it cost to fix this?
sir abe, i’m planning on buying this online within nextweek.. i saw this post, kaya I asked the merchant kung pwede magrequest ng unit na ang serial eh hnd scope nung 29-41.. hopefully it will be good.. :)
any advice po para hindi makapurchase ng may ganitong problem sa mga online store?
swerte ng mga nikon users
Ako din affected ng ganitong problem. Binili sa dbgadgets.
i’m planning to buy s100 sana pero nga nabasa ko tong lens error of death.
paano na yan? ano sabi ng dbgadgets sa iyo? free ba repair?
Are other Canon camera models included in this? I have been encountering this same error but with a different model.
I hope they could also fix my Canon S95. It was handled with care but I don’t know which part has a problem. It’s smudging! I hope it’s not the lens.
Look! https://vimeo.com/45179896
Are grey units also covered, like the ones bought at Kimstore or Widget City?
No, since they are not distributed by Canon PH.
i thought it would be covered; yuga is contradicting, this article said, regardless of its warranty and wherever it came from( ex. US), as long as it’s a canon, it will be covered with free repair. now it’s saying that only those units that were distributed by canon ph.
what’s the real deal then?
-Canon S100 user.
Hello @Jops,
I specifically said “If your camera was bought in the U.S. your S100 should still be covered”, “regardless of the warranty period” not wherever it came from.
Grey units are devices sold just with shop warranty. Not manufacturers warranty.
Thanks for reading!
-Kevin
@rod – let me clarify my initial comment. No, it will not be covered by warranty by Canon Phils since the unit you bought was not distributed by Canon in the Philippines. However, you can trace back which country your unit was bought and take it back there for warranty. In your case, I’d assume it is Hong Kong. If it is, then it can be repaired there for free.