# message: "Lens error, restart camera" on my Canon SX 120 ?!?!? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 3, 2010, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-lens-error-restart-camera-on-my-canon-sx-120/555935 "2010-10-03T18:02:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2010, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-lens-error-restart-camera-on-my-canon-sx-120/555935/1 "2010-10-03T18:02:44Z")
preceded by a few beeps. The lens seems stuck on the “ON” position, I tried reinserting the batteries, shutting the on switch a few times, reinsterting fresh batteries. Nothing. WTF? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2010, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-lens-error-restart-camera-on-my-canon-sx-120/555935/2 "2010-10-03T18:06:41Z")
I had this problem with my Nikon 5700. This happened after the camera turned on when in the camera bag, and the lens jammed when it extended. I fixed it by (carefully) jiggling the lens while turning the camera on. You might have a piece of grit stuck in the lens zoom helix. You can try my method, or bring it in to a camera shop. ---
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2010, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-lens-error-restart-camera-on-my-canon-sx-120/555935/3 "2010-10-03T22:45:16Z")
Pretty much any camera with a retractable lens is suceptible to this phenomenon. The lens mechanism jams due to some reason or another, and then you get that error. A rebuild of the lens structure may fix it, but it will probably colst upwards of $100. On e-bay, some people sell the lens assembly and you can put it in yourself and save a few bucks…but mess it up, and you’re out a good chunk of change. I sympathize, as I have had more than one camera with this problem. ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-lens-error-restart-camera-on-my-canon-sx-120/555935/4 "2010-10-06T19:38:38Z")
My camera, a Canon just did this. I kept hitting the power switch while putting pressure on the lens and twisting it slightly. It eventually retracted as normal, but I did notice some grittiness in the action. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-lens-error-restart-camera-on-my-canon-sx-120/555935/5 "2010-10-06T19:48:43Z")
Canon point and shoot cameras seem to have that problem a lot. I’ve encountered it a couple of times on my 790IS…the lens got hung up trying to autofocus on a non-reflective subject. I could hear that little AF motor working away…and it just gave up and died. In my case, I was able to power cycle it and it came back okay. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-lens-error-restart-camera-on-my-canon-sx-120/555935/6 "2010-10-06T21:16:55Z")
power cycle? What’s that? ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-lens-error-restart-camera-on-my-canon-sx-120/555935/7 "2010-10-06T21:18:13Z")
You’ve already done it (turn it off and back on again). ---
**Author:** ![QuanSu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c37758/32.png) [@QuanSu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuanSu)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/message-lens-error-restart-camera-on-my-canon-sx-120/555935/8 "2010-10-06T21:48:26Z")
You might want to give [this](http://camerarepair.blogspot.com/2007/12/fixing-lens-error-on-digital-camera.html) or [this](http://www.e18error.com/repair.html) a try. I dropped my A620 and the camera started having this same error (“Error 18” on mine) while in South Africa. Following the guides there got me to use it for 4 more days. I sent mine in to Canon to have it fixed (the drop dislodged a leaf in the lens cover, too); they replaced the whole lens assembly, cleaned, lubed and checked all electronics for $85 (out of warranty).