Hi, you seem to know about these cameras - i am getting a S0051 message and wondering if it is the same as the people are talking about with the lens stuck open - it does eventually go in but cannot take a pic...thanks for any help!
Guus' solution works. Beware...those little gears are tiny. Oh and when you go to unplug everything be careful with the ribbon cables. Wasn't too hard. I'm not sure if it's going to be a permanent fix, after all, if it happened once it can happen again.
my camera also shows the same system errors as yours (and the lens is also stuck), and i was just wondering if you had gotten it fixed yet, and how much it cost.
Had same problem.
Repaired under warranty
Still same problem if you happen to bump lens when carrying by strap.
Dealer recommended carrying camera in a soft case therefore forcing one to close lens cover.
I found a QUICK fix-when carrying camera by strap- open lens cover to test, then partially reclose lens cover so lens is retracted- bit of a hassle but better than a $150.00+ repair bill.
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.
Thank's to ericand for the great discussion about fixing the jammed lens which generates the system error 0042.
I had found my g500 in an open position w/ a dead battery after several weeks in my briefcase. I charged the battery and rec'd both a system error 0042 as well as an 004E.
I took off the front case per ericand's great instructions and was able to move the partially retracted lens outward, but not into its full recessed position -- by spinning the cog at the base of the front. With the battery back in, the lens moves out to full position, then retracts to the jammed point. When there, the spring response to the cog is present, and I can't move it down any further. It appears the gearing position of the lens has slipped as it "thinks" mid way is totally recessed.
I've tried removing the circuit board -- to get a better look at the lens gearing -- but am limited by a ribbon connector on the right edge of the board (looking at the lens) which seems solidly connected.
Any suggestions anyone?
Thank you so much for the advice. I was so panicked I had broken my camera for good, but I managed to unjam the lens and now it is working perfectly. :)
hi i have kd500z and accidentally dropped in the floor the lens wont move anymore and i cant close the camera and also it wont work anymore any help? greatly appreciate it thanks...
Many thanks for your fine write-up on how to overcome the stuck lens / "system error s0042" problem. Using your directions I was quickly and easily able to get my camera working again too. Thanks for posting your steps!
hi,
i'm having difficulty removing the two small screws that are holding the lens down in my camera. what do you suggest i do. I already tried pushing in the screwdriver firmly and turning, but it will not budge. please help! thanks!
I got the s0042 error as well.. i sent it in and they said it was impact damage. i spoke with the repair technicians and had them look it over thouroughly and they assessed it again for me and did the repair for free. i am to get it back i a few weeks. keep on trying to get it done..with lots of smiles and a little bit of a-tude.
I had the same error message "SYSTEM ERROR S0042" too. Upon close observation of the camera, I realised it was an impact damage. The smaller lens was knocked downwards. By playing around with it & with a gentle push, I pushed it back into position. Simple & quick! Saved me a lot of time & hassle too.
I.ve got the same problem. I'm trying this, but have a problem. I've removed the 12 silver screws, and one black one from the battery compartment. I can't get the front off the camera. It seems to be stuck somewhere behind the flash area (top/center of the camera front). Any ideas?
I gotta old *.* dimage7 if it breaks I will be up the creek also without this forum ... Have I missed something? are we about to get swallowed Up? los?..
I just got through taking the cover off my G500 (trying to fix the s0042 ssytem error) and I can see why you could think it was stuck. There are two small physical 'catches' in the top/center that you just need to be firm (yet gentle) about prying apart. I used a small (tiny) screwdriver to pry and it came right apart.
For re-assembly, start with this same area; put the top sides together while still holding the bottom up a couple of inches. Push the top together, then swing the bottom down until it's all back together.
I was getting ready to take apart my friend's camera when I read your post! All I had to do was push it back into place! THANK YOU! You save me a lot of money! AND a friendship! :)
Cause my camera (konica kd 510) had the same problem, and i found it much too expensive to fix it proffesonally,i did it myself. It didn't do anything anyway. The problem is a jammed lens. The solution is to open the front part and remove the PCB. unplug all the plugs first. Then remove a black plastic cover and behind it you will find a brass plate and some gearwheels. The problem is with one of the gearwheels. Remove the brassplate and watch out for falling gearwheels and a spring.
My way was with some trial and error; putting everything back, till the pcb and try if it works.
You will find that one gearwheel is loose and you have to assemble it in such a way that no teeth touches the wheel from the lens (you will see)and the lens must be in (use force to turn en push, it's ok)
Then assemble, try is first with only the Print board, before assemble it totally, to see if it works.
good luck!
I have a KMG400. A few weeks ago, i was using it and while taking pictures for a party (with a fully charged battery - had just been recharged...battery is also only a few months old) it lost all power. The lens is now in the out position and I have absolutely no power whatsoever to the camera. i did notice that day when I was taking pictures that the camera seemed very warm near where the battery would be...
Tried charging the battery again, makes no difference.
Any suggestions????
Thanks
This post string was extremely helpful. I was sure it was the end of my camera. But I was able to take the camera apart based on the instruction in this string and force the lens back into the right position. Saved me a lot of money! It did take quite a bit of force. When the warrenty is out, you might as well push as hard as you can to fix it.