I experienced the stuck zoom lens problem on my Dimage G500 after it got
wet and I tried to operate it before it was completely dried out.
The symptom was the same as has been reported. The lens was stuck out,
the camera would turn on, and error with the "system error s0042" message.
If I poked around, or turned it on when the door was closed enough to
keep the camera off, I could run all the normal camera functions.
Thanks to the person who posted about the service menu, I was even able to
run the diags to verify that everything worked (except for the front camera test).
I am happy to say that the problem for me seems to be solved.
I fixed the camera by removing the front cover and manually moving the lens
to get it to retract. I did this as a last resort and because the costs I was
quoted for service were approaching the price I paid for the camera in the first place.
tools needed: 1 philips screw driver size #000 with a 2-3 inch shaft.
The steps involved were:
1) remove the battery and any cards from the camera
2) remove the exterior body screws (12 total, 8 longer ones are in the sides, 4 shorter
in the bottom). Take care, these screws are all very small and can get lost easily.
3) remove the black screw that is inside the battery compartment. The screw is deep in
the battery compartment towards the top left. It is the only screw visible in the
compartment. Removal is not too hard, putting it back is worse.
4) gently lift the front off the camera.
5) gently manipulate the base ring of the zoom lens. It moved for me and I was able to get
the lens to retract. I had to experiment and I think it ultimately worked by twisting
it counter clockwise. While I was doing this, I also noticed that there is a small black
gear at the base of the camera, directly below the lens, that turns as the lens is moved.
If you are having trouble moving the lens by hand, try moving that gear (gently with a
small screw driver).
6)If you get the lens in by hand, use a small screw driver to move the gear below the lens
counter clockwise. Do this to make sure that the drive mechanism is homed. It seems to
me that, when the lens is retracted properly and completely, if you attempt to move the
gear, you will feel resistance and it will spring back. The first time I got the lense back
in, I hadn't checked the gear to see if it was in all the way and the camera got stuck
again the first time I triggered the switch for it to open.
7) test that everything seems to be working. Put the battery in (leaving the cover off) and
push the swich in the top left corner of the circuit board. This switch is what the cover
pushes to tell the camera to turn on and extend the lens. Be sure to hold the switch down
while you check that the camera is working.
If you do this before the fix, you should see the camera turn on, attempt to move the lens
(you may see some movement), and then stop with the system error message. After the fix you
should see the lens extend as normal, and the camera get ready to take a picture, then when
you release the swich, the lens should retract fully.
I did this several times to assure myself that it was working properly.
8) reassemble the camera cover.
9) test again
I have just completed this procedure and my camera seems to be working. Hopefully I haven't
messed anything else up with my poking around and it will continue to work. I did this as
a last ditch attempt when I was prepared to write the camera off as a total loss. If you
wish to try, I hope my experience helps, but there are no garuntees.