Canon Cameras "e18" Error

I have a Canon Powershot G9 that recently got the ever so common no power problem. Canon was of no help other than wanting a fortune to look at it! I ended up using a site called: www.camerasandparts.com. They totally fixed the problem, thoroughly serviced up and cleaned the camera. Plus, they do the no power correction to all G9 and G7 cameras they service. They were excellent, all for $89 with shipping back to Washington included! For those that need help with the Canon G9 no power problem that Canon wants a fortune to look at, this site is a lifesaver: www.camerasandparts.com.

I have all too heard about E18 code and the camera lens won't retract. Our camera went to the E18 code 2 days in to our 9-day trip to Disneyland/Califoria. We had a great vacation and I would have liked to have had pictures for my 2, 4 and 10-year-olds to remember it by.

I recently had the E18 lens error , After much persistance,( Canon tries to tell you they know nothing about this problem and wants you top pay upwards to $300. or buy a reburshished for $175.00)they did a courtesy fix on the optical assemby unit was malfunctioning . Now less than a month later I now have the so called black screen of death. The LCD is black pictures are black, even thru the viewfinder the pictures will not come out.. Im seeing posts about an CCD chip that is defective or a "stuck" iris now, Canon once again expects me to pay more money or buy a refurbished unit. The camera is just over 2 yrs old ,was very expensive, This should not happen to a expensive camera,. Seems from all the postings I see that these cameras fail at about 2 yrs, Canon needs to address these issues people are having, and not try to bamboozle the consumer

I have a Canon PowerShot S2IS. I went into an E18 error while trying to take a picture. After some research, apparently, this is a known problem and a major flaw with Canon. They will fix it for $150+.

This is a $500 camera I thought was of high quality and reliable. I understand there is a class action lawsuit currently being appealed. This is wrong for consumers that we cannot get a known flaw fixed.

What makes me mad is that Canon hasn't helped us out one bit. I am sure not ever going to buy another Canon camera again, even though I loved all of the Canon cameras.

Unfortunately the unit is not under warranty as I purchased it in early 2006. It has had very light use though and I don't think this should have happened given the price range of the camera. Reading about the large number of owners who are getting this problem, I find it bizarre that Canon has not instituted a repair program for it. It may be in place and I just didn't see it. I find it even MORE bizarre that a judge denied the Class Action Suit!

Please add me to the list of disgruntled customers who will NEVER purchase another Canon product!

I tried to take pictues and all of a sudden an E18 error came up. my canon powerShot SD200 digital camera has an error E18 and the lens doesn't come out any longer. I have been trying to get find a place that would fix the problem, that doesn't cost as much as it would to replace the camera. Cannon is of not help what so ever.

ref E18 class action suite. I had the same problem with an SD1000 - stuck lens after just 2 years of ownership. Canon said too bad, $150 to fix a $214 camera.

I currently have an S2iS camera by canon. There is a highly known issue with the camera, that there are many many complaints and websites upon the issue. I have contacted Canon multiple times, and they are insisting that I have to pay for the repairs for the camera even though it is a highly known defect on the camera.

Only damage that is really notable is the Canon S2IS that is broken due to a faulty part from Canon.

PowerShot SD200 July 2005-March 2009 E18

Money lost

All Powershot S1 IS and S2 IS Digital Cameras Error Code E18 , is due to a Motor and Sensor Issue within the Optical Lens Unit. I am a Electronics Tech with over 20Yrs Exper . And there is a Problem With Canon Cameras that Canon is Igoring . They Will Not Come Good on this Problem I Have Service Many of these Cameras , over the Last few Years . And Customers Feel Ripped off , and Will not Buy another Canon Name . This will take a few More Years to Iron itself out, but Canon Will Suffer, on their low resale of their Proconsumer Cameras , for every One person Complaint 10 others, will here about it .

Most of these units Showed no signs of abuse . 95% where in Good to Excellent shape . Customers Who Taken Care of their products , with purchase of a Good Size Camera Bag

All Powershot S1 IS and S2 IS Digital Cameras Error Code E18 , is due to a Motor and Sensor Issue within the Optical Lens Unit. I am a Electronics Tech with over 20Yrs Exper. And there is a Problem With Canon Cameras that Canon is Igoring. They Will Not Come Good on this Problem I Have Service Many of these Cameras , over the Last few Years. And Customers Feel Ripped off , and Will not By another Canon Name. This will take a few More Years to Iron itself out, but Canon Will Suffer on there low resale of their Proconsumer Cameras, for every One person Complaint 10 others, will here about it.

Most of these units Showed no signs of abuse. 95% where in Good to Excellent shape. Customers Who Taken Care of their products with purchase of a Good Size Camera Bag

Camera was purchased in March, 2005. After approximately 18 months of minimal use the E18 error appeared and the camera lens will not retract. I also own a Canon PowerShot A80 which has been heavily used for several years without a problem. I purchased the A610 as an upgrade due to my positive experience with the A80. Canon should be ashamed; I will never purchase another product from them.

Have about a 3-year old Canon Power Shot SD400 which has the e18 error problem. Camera had worked well and then out of the blue the lens would not retract. When attempting to turn on there is a noise and then just shuts off.

Economic impact will be cost of new comparable camera ($350).

Camera Stopped Working. Turns out is is a well known and common Lens Error problem. Lens won't open.

My canon camera also became the victim of the e18 error and is unusable. I only owned it slightly over 1 year. Disappointing.

I believe I paid $150.00 for the camera and now I have to purchase another one.

I have a Canon S1IS camera that started getting E18 errors about 12 months after purchase.

I have lost countless photo opportunities when the camera went into error while zooming the lens. The shot is lost by the time the camera can be reset. The problem is very frustrating because of the intermittent nature. I am loathe to use the zoom on a time critical shot. I replaced the camera prematurely because I could not tolerate the lost opportunities and frustration.

I have a Canon PowerShot A75 digital Camera and get the error message E18 and now cannot take pictures. I see that this is a VERY COMMON issue with Canon cameras and am curious if the class action lawsuit has been settled.

Cannot take pictures

we also own a canon powershot a-70 have used it quite often never had a problem until today error e18. I have not contacted canon because form all of your comments on this site it won't do any good. I guess I'll buy a new camera and do some reasearch before hand lost $350.00

just the loss of use and the expense of buying a new camera which i really don't need this type of money lost

I just bought a Canon SD890IS digital camera. After 22 days it gave me the e18 lens error problem. Canon will not receive packages from overseas, even from Canada which is supposedly covered under the warranty.

As a photo-journalist, I am out of business without this camera.

I had a cannon powershot a series for a couple of years and got the E18 error. Cannon said they could try to find the problem or send a refurbished one - both would cost me about what I paid for the camera so I chose to buy a new one. I stupidly bought another cannon powershot and have had it for a few months now. Today, the lense wouldn't retract and I had the same problem I did with the last one, but haven't seen the actual E18 error yet. The lens just won't close and open as it should. I'm going to try again to get cannon to stand by their product, but am not optimistic based on what I'm reading on the internet and how they responded to my complaints the first time around. I am sad because I love the picture quality of the camera, but I WILL NOT buy another one after this unless they respond the way a customer service department should and stand by their product. We'll see.

It's just so frustrating when you don't have a working camera to capture the pictures you want to capture. The family is all together for the holidays and I can't take any pictures! And what's even more ironic is my sister doesn't have a camera with her because her cannon powershot had the same problem with the E18 error!!!!!

I bought a Canon SD500 Power Shot camera about 5 years ago. I have used this camera all over the United States. I have used it in the rain, dropped in in puddles and even dropped it in a cave resulting in the door that holds the Compact Flash Card having to be taped shut to use the camera. Recently while taking pictures I received an E18 code on my camera. Never had I had a problem using my camera.

I thought this wads the best camera I had ever purchased and planned on keeping it until it fell apart. Now after reading about all the other people and the problems they have had with the other various Canon cameras I am worried because my mother bought me a new SD770 IS Digital Elph and I am wondering how long it will take for this camera to display the same message.

I also hope after learning that there was once a class action law suit another will be brought against the Canon Company. I have always owned a Canon and would not like to have to purchase a different camera, however I will if the same error message shows up on my new camera.

Regarding Canon PowerShot SD750: I have a fatal lens error. The lens just stopped working one day so the camera no longer works. I purchased it just a year ago. I'd like to know if I am to be included in the CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT that I just read about on this site?

Lens will not close. Camera will not work.

I purchased a Canon PowerShot SD 850 IS less than a year ago. I was very happy with the quality of the photos.

One day, without any apparent reason, I received a message that there was a lense error. The telescopic lens was stuck and would not open.

I took it to the camera repair shop and was informed that the repair would probably cost more than the camera and there was no gaurantee that it could be fixed.

They told me at the repair shop that this is common with this camera and the telescopic lense.

I was told in the future that I should buy a camera without the extending telecopic lense.

I brought the camera home and tried to fix it myself and when I did get it unstuck the quality of the photos are now all fuzzy. The camera is useless.

This was not a cheap camera!

My Cannon Powershot S2 IS has that dreaded E18 error code! It's completely frozen and won't even retract. Now I see so many other people with this same problem!

I purchased a Canon SD870 IS camera approximatley 11 months ago. The camera's picture and features met my expectations. After using it for six months the lense failed to retract properly. I contacted Canon concerning the problem and sent it in for warrantee repair. After $15 for shipping and insurance and 20+ days I had a repaired camera. After another two months the display had white lines across it and the lense mechanism was making noise. I contacted Canon again, got authorization for a warrantee repair, spent my $15 for insurance and shipping and lost the use of my camera for another 20+ days.

Canon has been good about repairing their problem. I am very concerned that either I have a lemon or Canon's quality is poor. I requested a warrantee extension or a replacement camera. Canon's customer service plain sucks. This was like talking down a long tube and getting no response. Thieir internet site does not provide an avenue to place a complaint. I used a page that was geared to technical questions and got cut off twice when I tried to send my concern. When I called I met a stone wall - this is not in there policy. Very frustrating. I will be getting my camera back with one month of warrantee left and a history of problems. Not a comfortable feeling.

Let see, I bought it in 2007 and now it is 2008 and I am having the same problem Error E18 appears and shuts downs. I am spent over 385.00 on this camera and to fix it it will cost way over 150 dollars .

I'm filing 2 complaints about Canon PowerShot SD cameras, SD200, and a SD850IS. The SD200 camera suffered an E18 lens error, and was repaired under warranty twice...but has stopped working since with the same E18 error. I bought a SD850IS at Christmas 07, stopped working for lens error 7 months later, exibiting the same problem extending and retracting the lense.

They wanted to charge me $127.00 to repair, stating a screw was missing, implying I had tried to repair! After having words with a rep and a supervisor they decided to repair for free as a good will gesture! All for warranty work. If this happens again...I swear Ill never buy another Canon product.

Own Canon's POWER SHOT S2-IS. Camera lens just stopped working. I get the E18 code, which apparently, according to internet searches, seems to be a very common problem with Canon cameras. Camera has lens frozen in the out position. I turn camera on, black screen appears, E18 code appears, camera beeps, then shuts off. My camera is a few months older than Canon's warranty, so $500+ down the drain.

I am out $500+ for a camera that is essentilly, of no more use to me, than a doorstop:

Lens error restart camera. canon Power shot Digital elf SD800. Could not focus when i zoomed out. I got a blurry image, heard a series of beeps, and then got the display message that said lens error, restart camera.

This happened at my granddaughter's pre-school graduation, a time that cannot be recaptured.

I've had my S5 for less than five months. Started getting the Lens Error, Restart Camera (also known as the e18 error) message. Sent the camera to them a month ago (May 2008). Got word from them today that they will not fix the camera under warranty. Canon claims that it has moisture damage and that the repair costs exceed the value of the camera.

I've used the camera on the order of 2-3 times in the outdoors, period. Never at the beach, never in the rain, etc. If there is moisture damage, this camera can't take any kind of humidity at all. I've never felt this disatisfied with a warranty claim in my life.

$350 lost.

I used a canon SD500 camera once before I got E18 error; camera would not turn on and the lens would not retract. I called canon customer service and they told me to sent the camera via insured mail to canon repairs. They did not inform me that canon would be charging me at least $150 dollars in repairs; They would inform me if I needed to pay more than $150 after they opened the camera. I decided not to have it repaired and threw the camera away. I understand that even after they repair the camera you can still and probably will get the same problem again.

After researching the problem I discovered that there was once a class lawsuit some years back that was dismissed. So now canon has a field day selling defective cameras and making a fortune repairing them. I purchased my camera from amazon.com after reading favorable reviews about canon cameras but it is possible the company is writing those reviews.

My experience with poor, indifferent customer service plus a camera (the first canon product i have ever purchased) makes me suspicious. I hope someone will file a new class lawsuit so this company can stop de frauding people. otherwise for me i have to take time off from work to file small claims and especialy to ensure there are fewer victims in the future.

Loss $425

I contacted Canon when my Canon Powershot SD450 suddenly stopped working one day. We've always taken good care of cameras and keep them in the case. One day when I opened it, the lense stopped retracting and I had a black screen that said E18 error, I went online to find that many other Canon customers had the same problem with the camera.

When I contacted Canon, they refused to take responsibility for this major defect in their camera, I was forced to pay $107.00 to have my camera fixed by them. What's to say I won't get this error again. This is shameful for Canon as they know they have a defect and refuse to do anything about it.

My S45 is 4.6 years old, and it's out of warranty of course. A couple days ago, during my journey to Green island of Taiwan, it stuck. The lens keep at the extended position, cannot be retracted, and LCD showed E18 at left lower corner. I think this is the end of our companionship. Missing my S45 always.

bought a cannon powershot SD450 and it has malfunctioned several times e18 error comes up and I cant use it. it is 2 years old finally had enough and looked up on line about the problem, finding out that is not new but many complaints about the same problem. one time I fixed it but this time cant.

I had an e18 error with my canon as well, which was very frustrating but managed to fix it with the help of this website: http://www.e18error.com/ Strongly recommend it!!

Canon E18 error. Powershot SD800. Actual error on this model is lens error, please restart camera but it is believed by most to be the E18 error renamed. Camera will now not focus, nor will it zoom in.

I was literally in the middle of snapping pictures when I noticed that the camera had turned blurry. Unaware of how to manually focus pictures on this camera even (I'm sure there's a way), I was puzzled at what setting I may have accidentally switched to. I quickly figured out it wasn't a settings issue. While this happened, I was walking briskly (in front of a forklift carrying a pallet of wood), but did not drop, shake or otherwise do anything out of the ordinary to the camera.... I wasn't zooming or unzooming even, and I wasn't moving while I was actually taking photos. I noticed that the lens housing has a rectangular area that's normally completely parallel to the rest of the camera, but right now it's at a slight diagonal like it didn't open up all the way. and the lens itself is not retracted fully nor will it retract fully.

The camera is blurry beyond use. I can zoom it in to a very specific part of the zoom and it seems to be within acceptable focus range, though it's hard to guage that acceptable range when just going by the viewfinder. Plus the camera will unzoom itself when powering off, so after powering on I then need to find that range again. I don't get an error until I try to zoom in, at which point I get the lens error, please restart camera error. Camera is about 15 months old, just out of warranty of course. Built in design flaw?

Canon powershot s2 is e18 error. Had the camera since October of 2006. Just the other day 4/20/08 wife was using the camera and turned off the power, when she went to turn it back on and the E18 error appeared. After reading all the information on the internet I guess the camera is just now junk being to repair it would cost just as much as the camera.

Considering cameras should last many years longer, just $300 for a new camera.

I was very happy with the pictures taken from my Canon PowerShot S230 until I started receiving the E18 error message and it won't let me download any pictures to my computer. I just googled E18 and discovered this is a wide spread problem that can't be fixed. How frustrating!

Canon PowerShot 550

Looks like we have to buy a new camera, but Canon is off the list.

I bought canon PowerShot S2 over year ago. This was a display camera and I discovered, that lens has some loose. In last month of warranty I sent this camera to Canon service and they fixed such problem but 6 month later new problem appeared E18. Camera stopped! I ask Canon service again but they offered me service for $140 or S3 (refurbish) as a replacement for $170! I gave up! Should be recalled for such error!

I had bought a Canon Power Shot SD550 for my daughter. It's about 1-1/2 yrs old and the Error code 18 comes on so the camera won't work. I was going to contact Canon, but after looking at the website of all those other people who have the same problem, and Canon will not do anything about this problem but sell them a used camera for $150, I decided to forget it.

I am out approximately $375 for a camera that I thought would last at least 4 to 5 years.

I've had my Canon SD 550 for 18 months. I've treated it extremely well and I have been very satisfied with the pictures it takes and it's features. Recently I turned on the camera and I received an E18 error and the camera beeped...subsequently shutting off each time.

I also contacted canon about the E18 error. Told them about the many blogs I had read on the internet and the response from them via email was they have no knowledge of any problem with this camera nor have they had any complaints and they could not respond to what people would write in a blog. They also offered me the replacement of a refurbished camera. I loved my canon but WILL not purchase another.

Like all of the others I just read about, I had the dreaded E-18 on our Canon SD 550 it will not retract and gives a little beep. This happened on Thanksgiving Day, so no pictures as we traveled and saw relatives we haven't seen in 10 years. Now Christmas is approaching. Who wants to pay $125 for a repair, or $185 for a replacement, especially this time of year. We bought real disposable cameras today for about $3.50 today for Christmas. . . I really don't want to dispose of a $350 investment, but . . .

I purchased a Canon SD 600 powershot camera for my wife. In less than a year, it stopped working. An error message appears on the screen and the lens won't retract.

When I sent it in for a warranty repair, I was told that it was not covered because it had been dropped and dented. This is totally false. The camera is in pristine condition.

What a terrible way to do business.

I own a Canon PowerShot SD450 Digital Elph camera. After less than 2 years, the lens broke and the E18 error appeared on the screen. The only thing Canon offers is a refurbished camera for $150.

The camera is unusable.

Disappointed that more and more it looks like the products our evolved society creates break down very quickly. Disposable consumerism...I think these companies do it on purpose.

The Canon S70 camera has been handled very carefully and never dropped or mistreated and always kept in the case or used with a wriststrap.

The lens will not retract and the screen bears a warning E18.

This caused me to miss taking photos while in Luang Prabang and Vientiane, Laos and in Bangkok Thailand in September. Then upon return home for two months now have not had use of the camera. Purchased a disposable film camera which is virtually useless compared to the quality I'm accustomed to and of course, cannot email those photos. The camera shop in San Anselmo , Marin County, California, told me they could send it in for repair to Canon for about $200. I chose not to do such and will need to buy another comparable camera which, with matching extras will cost about $500 or more. And it will not be a Canon!!!

Canon S410 quite working because of E18 error. Last Canon product I buy!

My digital ELPH camera is displaying the E18 code. Great camera until this issue. Repairs will be more than the cost of a replacement.

The camera is defunct

I have the Canon sd450 and after a year and a half of thoroughly enjoying the camera the lens just stopped going in and out and the screen gave me the e-18 error code. I didn't think too much off it until I started to do some research and found that it was a common problem. I shipped the camera back to canon usa and they told me it would cost me 110.00 to fix the camera.

Received the 'fatal' error (E18) code and the lens will not retract on my canon sd550 dgital elph. This is the second time this has happened (first time fixed under warranty thank-fully). Now they want to charge me $127 to fix same problem. I am a professional photographer and camera was NEVER dropped or abused!

Canon PowerShot SD200 DigitalElph Camera displays E18: the lens will not retract. The camera will not photograph.

I have had the canon PowerShot A80 camera for less than one year and it has started giving me the much dreaded and seemingly manufacture defect E80 message. This is obviously a manafacturing defect and Canon is selling disposable garbage. I will not ever purchase another Canon product.

The lens on my Canon Powershot A60 is fully extended and will not retract. When I press the power button, you can hear the motors and gears grinding, but nothing happens. Finally, the E18 error message pops up on the screen. Now I have a $300 paper weight!

Bought a Canon PowerShot A60 a couple of years ago, and suddenly at a niece's high school graduation 2007 it turned on, made a small grind sound and it quit working. It gives an E18 number before it shuts off. It looks to me like a very common problem for this product and company.

I paid over $300.00 for this and will never buy another Canon!

After a year of great pictures my Canon S80 has reached E18 day! I took it out of the pouch, opened it to take pictures and it made a loud grinding sound, the lens moved in and out a little then remained stuck.

Canon Camera S400 ELPS. Worked fine for a couple of years (but used very little). At the very beginning of our recent 7-day Alaska cruise, the now infamous Error 18 appeared. Camera would start up, extend the lens, retract the lens, and then shut down.

Unable to take any pictures while on this wonderful trip. Many cool photo ops of wild life (whale tails, eagles, bears, mountain goats, seals, otters etc.) and scenery (mountains, glaciers, water falls, etc.) all missed. It looks like I need to buy another camera (so that would be my economic damages ~ $450). We will make sure not to buy a Canon brand!

Yet another Canon digital elph with the E18 error. Powershot SD300 model.

I have an S400 Powershot digital camera with the E18 error. Canon wants $125 to repair it and it's useless at this point, and not worth sending in for repair. I think Canon should stand behind the product and repair it free of charge.

Canon E18 error. Purchased at Comp USA in Torrance CA

Missed capturing my child on a pony for the very first time.

After little more than a year of moderate and gentle handling, my Canon Power Show A610 shut down completely showing an E18 error. After checking I have discovered that this has been an ongoing problem with many, if not all, Canon cameras. Canon has been useless in helping the consumer. Placing all the blame on the user and not taking the proper responsibility for their part in all of this. Thank you for providing me a place to vent.

I bought a Canon IXUS50 equivalent to the A40 point and shoot camera and no later than four months after purchasing it, the camera gave me this E18 warning and discontinued taking photos. My warranty is outside of North America and is not covered here.

I have a Canon Powershot A60 digital camera. It shows a error message of E18. Canon states it is a defect in the camera lens and since it is out of warranty that the only thing I could do is send it out for repairs starting at $95.00+ or they can replace it for a 4 megapixel at the cost of $100.00 more dollars. Nothing was mentioned about this accurring on other cameras or other complaints until I did some investigation on the internet.

It shuts off and won't do anything when I get the E18 error message.

After approximately 7 months of use out of the Canon PowerShot SD200 Digital ELPH camera, I am now receiving the E18 error on the LCD when attempting to it. The lens seems to be stuck in the extended position. After notifying Canon through an email about the problem, all they offered was to replace it with a refurbished model at approximately $175. This is unacceptable considering we paid nearly $400 for the camera only 7 months ago before it broke.

After taking some photos, I could not power off the camera. The lens appears to be stuck, and it won't move when the power button is pressed. I followed the recommended basic troubleshooting: check battery and memory card covers, ensure batteries are fresh/replace. In doing some research for additional troubleshooting for the problem, I discovered a number of consumers have had the same complaint; that is also how I found this site (consumeraffairs.com). I have not yet contacted Canon, and will do so both by phone and in writing, but judging from others' experiences, I'm not hopeful for a positive outcome. This problem seems to be common and not being dealt with fairly by the company.

As someone involved in activism, I know how to organize and get the word out about unfair corporate practices and, pending the outcome of my contact with Canon, will devote the time needed to take action on this issue.

The camera is now inoperable after a little over a year of moderate use and gentle handling. If Canon offers me the same recourse they've offered everyone else, Canon will offer to trade in my camera and replace it with a refurbished one for ~$175, which is about the same price I paid for it (it's late and I don't have my receipt in front of me but have retained all my purchase paperwork, warranty info, etc). That is unacceptable to me, given the number of consumers with the same or similar problem.

i have a canon a60 powershot that is giving the e 18 errror

A one month old Canon SD550 digital camera developed the e18 problem and will not work. Lost picture-taking ability while on vacation. Costco (being a great company to do business with) is giving us a refund.

In January of 2006, I purchased a Canon SD400 elph. By June of 2006, the camera had error E18 and no longer worked. I took it to the store I bought it from and they said it would be $190+ to repair it. I spent almost $300 on a camera that worked only 5 months and I feel it should be replaced or my money refunded. I see a lot of others on the internet complaining about the same error, maybe canon needs to just recall them. They are too big of a company to be making $300 disposable cameras

I bought a cannon powershot digital camera, to take famliy pictures and upload to my computer. I have had it for just over a year. It took great pictures and then one day I got e18 on the display screen. It will not turn on or do anything else. I emailed cannon and they want $155 to repair, mind you that this camera cost almost $300.

I purchased a Canon Powershot A80 digital camera about two years ago. I don't use the camera very often. I think I paid over $300 for it. Two weeks ago My wife and I atook our son to a park. We went into a shallow (less than a foot deep) pool and someone splashed a little water which hit the camera while it was closed. We tried turning on the camera a short while later and it would not turn on. We were told to let it dry and try a couple of days later. We had to buy a disposable camera for the remainder of our trip.

When we tried turning the camera on a couple of days later we got what apparently is a famous 'E18' error. I called customer support, and they automatically explained how much it would cost to get it fixed. Just to send it in for evaluation would cost $108 which could ultimately cost mor eto repair. They also offered the option of sending me a refurbished camera in exchange for the one I have plus I would have to pay an additional $125. This is unacceptable. Is this their business strategy?? I was offered no troubleshooting tips and they made it seem like this is something that often happens. I searched online and saw that many people have the same issue with Canon.

This is obviously a defective product and I should either receive a refund or a new camera. The issue with merely receiving a new camera is that I will likely have the same issue again. I still have the camera which does not work. Now I have to find a replacement and shell out even more money (certainly not a Canon).

I've had my Canon A510 for just barely over a year, probably to the day. The camera was working perfectly. Never have I had any complaints about it until I went to turn it on last time. It turned on, I took a couple photos and then the lens never closed and showed me the E18.

I'm going to look into getting it fixed, but by what I've read on here, sounds like I'm SOL and will not buy another Canon product unless they take care of this free of charge.

E18 error on canon digital point and shoot camera (SD500)

E18 error renders camera not functional. spent $18 to send back to repair center. they claim a scratch on the lens is causing the problem, which does not fall under normal wear, voiding the warranty that should still be valid otherwise (problem arose 11 months after purchase). asking $127 for repairs on a camera that cost $500 at time of purchase

Canon Power Shot SD200, have had it since March '05. Was taking pictures when I received the 'E18' error. Lens is stuck for no apparent reason. I am not under warranty anymore and will cost a lot to fix it, plus it takes 2 weeks.

Receiving e18 error message on canon s400 digital camera..seems to be very common problem. csr service at canon will only repair it or exchange it for an extreme cost. this is happening to alot of people on many of canon's models..must be manufacturer defect.

I bought the Canon PowerShot ELPH SD550 on Friday. Two days later I received an E18 error due to the lens not retracting. Immediately, I checked the internet to see if there was a quick fix to this problem. What I found was 843 complaints on the website (http://e18.bitnet.cx/comments.php).

Thanks to those who spoke out, because instead of dealing with Canon, which would've been wasteful time, I exchanged the camera for a different brand.

I have an A70 Sureshot digital camera. I purchased it for $350 around 12/03 and it is beyound its warranty coverage. I got the E18 error around 06/05. I was simply using the camerea and turned it off. The lens will not retract and it is a paper weight now. I contacted Canon by email and they responded with their regular canned letter and offered to repair it for $170. But of course they did not mention all the other similar calls they have been getting on this. So I would not mind being part of a class action suit. But at this time I am not purchasing another Canon product..

Lost out on family pictures and events. Canon wants me to pay for a product malfunction due to their poor product and design. There is no reason I should have to put out more money on a company that does not stand by their product.

After 16 months Canon SD200 camera failed to work with E18 error. Camera is no longer usable, repairs would be well over 100 dollars.

I have a Canon Powershot S60 and have gotten the E18 error message, and the camera has never been dropped and it was also a gift so i dont have the receipt and i learned that it is indeed a faulty product and i feel that canon should do a recall on their digital cameras. it is ridiculous to pay more money to fix a problem that is completly their fault.

i am vacationing in florida and can no longer take pictures which just saddens me.

Error 18 - lens will not retract - new camera - only took 40 photos to date.

I publish national car magazine and travel to shows across the country. CANNOT take chance that I'm at a show and camera will fail so a fix or replacement camera is out of the question. Research on the web indicates that E18 would be a reoccurring error. I was doing a shoot of a project car and camera failed Sunday. Had to reschedule I’m lucky it’s in town.

I have sent an e-mail to Canon about my camera and am waiting on a response. However, after reading the many complaints about this problem with this model camera, I probably won't get anywhere. My camera is a Canon PowerShot A75. I purchased it brand new December 30, 2004. So it isn't even 2 years old yet. I teach elementary school and was taking pictures of the children today to send to the newspaper(we had a special event). When I tried to turn the camera off, the lens would not retract and it made some beeping sounds and then it displayed E18 in the left corner of my camera. I

have used this camera alot, and have never had this happen, I take care of my cameras and electronic equipment, making sure I follow the procedures for everything, because they cost a lot of money! I read some complaints stating that when Canon told the consumers that if they wanted another camera(new or repaired) it would cost them over $100. THis is not fair to the consumer, when you make a purchase of this magnitude, you expect it to last longer that just a little over a year (with normal use and proper care.)

Last week, I tried to use my camera at a volleyball tournament. After I turned it on, the "low battery" icon was on the screen. I tried to take a picture, but the camera was faltering (the lens mechanism was acting weird/slow), so I turned it off. I recharged the batteries and replaced them. When I turned on the camera, it seemed to work until I used the zoom. Then it shut itself off with the E18 error code. I can take a picture (sometimes) if I don't use the zoom. Most of the time, it just shuts itself off. I bought it the end of December, 2004. It's the only electronic product I've bought from Best Buy without an extended warrenty (ironically because of Canon's reputation).

Purchased a Powershot A75 December '04. After my batteries died recently, I changed them and turned the camera on. Once I turned the camera to off, the lens got stuck about a third of the way in. I've gotten the E18 message on and off. I have used this camera minimally for just over a year, and now I have to deal with this. Unbelievable.

I purchased a Canon Powershot A80 digital camera about a year and a half ago. I use this camera very infrequently, and I believe I paid close to $400 for it. All of a sudden last weekend, it stopped being able to take pictures, and all that the screen displayed when I tried to take pictures was 'E18'. I just called customer support, and they offered me no explanation for the problem, but rather automatically started explaining how much it would cost to get it fixed. Namely, $108 as a starting estimate, and they said it could be more. They also offered me the option of sending me a refurbished camera in exchange for the one that I have plus $149. I believe that this is unacceptable. I paid a lot of money for this camera, and it all of a sudden stopped working, and now canon wants me to pay a lot more money to get it repaired.

They offered me no other solutions, no troubleshooting tips, and didn't seem at all concerned that their product just stopped functioning. After doing some research on the internet, I saw hundreds of other examples of people in situations similar to mine. If so many people are having the exact same problem with the same company, I would venture to say that their product is defective. They should replace it free of charge and apologize instead of expecting consumers to dish out more money for faulty products.

I lost about $400. The camera is now useless.

In May 2003, I bought a Canon Powershot A60. It was a great camera indeed, until-after less than 6 weeks-it was totally paralyzed displaying a weird message: Error-E18. I was so disappointed. It seemed there was nothing I could do. The camera started working again for two days, then died completely. I tried over and over, called the Canon warranty who offered to fix it for no price and give it back to me. I told them that I wouldn't trust a fixed camera.

I went back to Target, who were very nice and let me return it (it was within their 3-months return policy. I thought this was a bad incident with that particular camera. At that time the A-70 came out; I bought a Powershot A-70 in September 2003, and it worked fine. Since I knew then about the horror of the E-18 error, I was using the camera very carefully and only when necessary.

However, less than two years later, in May 2005, the E-18 appeared again. I failed to get it to work back. I called Canon, they offered to fix it for a minimum of $100 or give me a refurbished A-75 for $100. At that time, I checked the internet, I knew that the A-75 is as bad as the A-70, and since it was refurbished, I felt it probably had the same bad lens sensor. I was also so busy with other stuff, so I didn't get back to them until Jan 2006: same answer, fix it or pay $110 and get the Powershot A510 (which requires a different memory card, another $60).

Now I was relieved to learn that this is a common problem, because I felt that I couldn't have treated my camera better. If Canon expects customers to spare $340 every 2 years to get vulnerable cameras, they should really expect to go out of business soon. Their photocopiers are good though!!

Economic damage: I lost over $330 Other damage: I waste lot of time trying to contact customer service and discussing with them but they wouldn't take any responsibility and claimed that I mistreated the camera. When my first baby was born, I couldn't use the camera and I had to buy another one.

I received the infamous E-18 message on my Canon PowerShot SD 200 digital camera after only 5 months of owning it. After I sent in my camera to be fixed (which is what I was instructed to do via phone), I contacted Canon as to the whereabouts of my camera where they told me I must pay $88 (a 20% decrease from the original $180) even though I was still in warranty.

Their reasoning being a small dent on the camera (even though it may not have been the cause of the E18 Error) and their warranty somewhere states if there is any damage to the camera prior to being sent in to be fixed, the camera is instantly out of warranty. I see this problem from people all over the internet and I would like something to be done about it.

I am forced to pay $88 or have a damaged camera returned to me.

Unable to take pictures of family and events.This puts me in financial hardship if I have to spend another $150 for a camera that also could be faulty by design when I already purchased it for over $450 about a year and a half ago.