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Canon PowerShot S3 IS problems

J

Jordan1

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Nov 1, 2005
Messages
1,733
I finally decided to get a decent camera and decided to go with the Canon PowerShot S3 IS. It arrived today. The first thing I noticed after examining it and seeing that it looked great I noticed it sounded as if there was a loose screw in it, or maybe a loose spring moving around. I decided to dismiss it at the time and put in my charged 2500mAh NiMH batteries and 2GB SD card. It powered up fine. I snap a few pictures, previewed them, and deleted them. I went into some rooms with very little lighting and it made an sort of a grinding noise as it tried to auto focus. It continued to make those noises as I moved to other rooms and pointed the camera at other objects. Before I shut it off, or the last time it was trying to focus the image on the screen was very jittery/shaky as it attempted to focus. I turned it off and now it won't turn back on. No noise or anything. I also tried putting in the included alkaline batteries, but it still did nothing...nothing at all, as if I don't have any batteries in it. The battery door is fully latched. Am I missing something or is my camera dead?
 
Jordan1 said:
I finally decided to get a decent camera and decided to go with the Canon PowerShit S3 IS. It arrived today. The first thing I noticed after examining it and seeing that it looked great I noticed it sounded as if there was a loose screw in it, or maybe a loose spring moving around. I decided to dismiss it at the time and put in my charged 2500mAh NiMH batteries and 2GB SD card. It powered up fine. I snap a few pictures, previewed them, and deleted them. I went into some rooms with very little lighting and it made an sort of a grinding noise as it tried to auto focus. It continued to make those noises as I moved to other rooms and pointed the camera at other objects. Before I shut it off, or the last time it was trying to focus the image on the screen was very jittery/shaky as it attempted to focus. I turned it off and now it won't turn back on. No noise or anything. I also tried putting in the included alkaline batteries, but it still did nothing...nothing at all, as if I don't have any batteries in it. The battery door is fully latched. Am I missing something or is my camera dead?
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Can you return it to the place you bought it from for a replacement?

In most cases, I'd have said that the "lose screw" noise was normal, espeically since this camera has an image stabilizaer, which physically moves inside the camera (it could be this part moving around).

However, reading the rest of your post seems to indicate that it is not working properly, so I'd return it while you still have the receipt and other paperwork.
 
Thanks for the reply.

I ordered it from J&R online...I'll probably have it sent back tomorrow if I can't figure anything out...and depending on how J&R issues their RMAs.
 
I don't have an S3 (I have the S5), but I've played with a couple different S3's, and I never noticed any sort of noise that you described, like a loose screw moving around inside. My guess is your camera is unfortunately defective. I'd definitely exchange it for a new one.
 
The retail should have no problem taking back defective equipment.
 
I called today and got a RA# after telling them my problem. The lady said they would ship out a new one when they receive my defective one. I sent it in today, now just gotta wait again.
 
The camera itself looked new and came in the retail packing. I think J&R could have packed it a little tighter as there was still more room for more packing stuff. Maybe that had something to do with it.
 
Jordan1 said:
The camera itself looked new and came in the retail packing. I think J&R could have packed it a little tighter as there was still more room for more packing stuff. Maybe that had something to do with it.
Click to expand...

I never ordered from J&R, but when I got my camera from amazon.com the thing was plastered with big red fragile stickers. Though that doesn't always mean the up-most care will be taken by the shipping company. Either way every now and then a defective product slips through Q/C. It sucks you have to wait longer now, but it least it won't be a hassle to get a new, and hopefully working camera.
 
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