E18 error

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The E18 error as it appears on a camera's LCD display.

In digital photography, the E18 error is an error message on Canon digital cameras. Canon says the E18 error arises when anything prevents the zoom lens from properly extending or retracting ^[1]. The error is not common, but has become notorious in the Canon user community as it can completely disable the camera, requiring expensive repairs.

It is currently not acknowledged by Canon as a flaw in the cameras' designs. Some users are dissatisfied with Canon's responses to E18 errors, and at least one class action lawsuit is under way.

Other digital cameras suffer from similar problems, such as the Nikon Coolpix SYSTEM ERROR. Any compact with a zoom lens may suffer a similar error.

1 Causes
2 Repairing the E18 error
3 Consumer response and class action
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Causes

According to Canon, one may get an E18 due to any of the following:

Camera activating and lens opening while in a confined space
Extracted lens getting jarred
Low battery condition as the unit is turned on or off
Dropping of the camera
Foreign substances, such as dust, sand or dirt entering into the camera body.
General jarring of the camera
"General camera malfunction"

A user can generate an E18 error simply by blocking the extension of the objective or lens when the camera is turned on. The issue is when the error becomes persistent or results in the lens becoming locked in one position, disabling the camera to avoid possible further physical damage to the lens mechanism.

[edit] Repairing the E18 error

To fix the problem it is often necessary that the camera and optical assembly is disassembled, realigned and reassembled, taking several hours' labour and often requiring replacement parts. A non-warranty repair at an authorized service center reportedly costs between US $79 to $250.

There are a number of online guides to repairing E18 errors oneself ^[2], from simple guides on tapping the lens back into place ^[3] to complete disassembly/realignment/reassembly instructions.

[edit] Consumer response and class action

Much of the upset from consumers comes because they feel that the failure is not their fault and are left to pay for the repair. Canon reportedly examines cameras received for repairs looking for signs of consumer negligence, thereby making the repair non-warrantable; photographs of scratches and dents have reportedly been sent to consumers as proof for such arguments as to why the repair is not under warranty^{[citation needed]}. The consumer is then left to have the unit sent back to them at their own cost or pay to have it repaired.

A Chicago law firm, Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates, has already filed a class action ^[4], while the law firm of Girard Gibbs & De Bartolomeo LLP are investigating this camera flaw and may issue a class-action lawsuit against Canon.^[5] There is at least one other ^[6].