6 Common Digital Camera Errors & Their Fixes (Easy Steps)

Official Tech Support

7 years ago

If you own a digital camera and using it for several months, then chances are high that you must be familiar with several camera problems and errors, which are discussed here below. In case if not have experienced any problems till yet or if you are a beginner, then also below listed common digital camera errors and their fixes will help you a lot.

Digital Camera errors are usually frustrating. Majority of them do need a professional, however some of them can get resolved with a simply DIY repair. Lens errors, battery issues, a stuck shutter and card write errors are some of the common digital camera errors which can get easily and inexpensively fixed. Here below are a few simply DIY camera error fixes.

Digital Camera Errors & Their Fixes

Have a look at the common digital camera error and their respective solutions:

#1. Fix – Camera Shutter Error

Often camera’s shutter gets stuck. In this situation, if shutter remained open, you will get an overexposed pictures, and if shutter does not opened, you will get black photos.

Solution:

Ensure that the lens surface is clean and nothing is coming there in between the way. In case if find any dirt, clean the glass. After this with the help of can filled with compressed air, clean the area around lens and shutter.
Hopefully the aforementioned trick would work in fixing camera shutter error. However if not, its suggested to try to disrupt the shutter. You can make use of shutter priority or manual to adjust shutter speed to bulb or to the slowest probable settings, in case if your camera allow manual modes. Nonetheless, in case if camera does not allow manual modes, then also you can try to use scene setting which is made to take pictures at low light like sunset or fireworks. After all this, take a photo, and at time while camera is taking photo, take out the battery (without switching off the camera). If your camera does not allow manual settings, then you are require to be very fast to take the battery out while taking pictures. Via doing this, the shutter will get interrupted and it may start to release. You might be require to repeat this process several times.

#2. Fix – Camera Lens Error

Lens errors is one of the most common digital camera errors. This error particularly occurs in cameras with barrel style lenses. Camera Lens Errors typically occurs at time when dust gets trapped inside or something bumps the lens slightly out of place.

Solution:

When camera gives you a lens error message, first thing you should try is to clean out the entire lens area. Make use of a can, full of compressed air. (Note: These cans are sold at electronic stores for this purpose). Use this can to clean out all the pieces. While doing this, pay special attention to area where the lens retracts and area where it would be easy for dirt to get stuck in. Here, you can also use a hair dryer set to the no heat setting.
If this good cleaning doesn’t work, visually inspect the camera lens. Check whether it is tilted slightly to one side. In case if a camera get dropped or bumped or the lens make attempts to extract with something in front of it, the lens might get tilted and no longer work properly. In this situation, fixing a tilted lens yourself can cause more damage to the camera. Try it is advised to fix it yourself only when the cost of a professional repair goes out of the question. Try gently pushing on the extracted lens, till time until it’s no longer cooked.

#3. Fix – Camera Battery Errors

Majority of the digital camera users have been notified complaining about battery problems. Its true that battery errors can be big trouble for digital camera users.

Solution:

Firstly ensure that battery of your digital camera is fully charged. Also check the light on the charger, to ensure that the charger is working. Besides from all this, ensure that the battery contacts appropriately and they’re clean. In case if find them dirty, clean with dry cloth. Here you can also use can of compressed air to clean it.
Secondly, different batteries might have different level of handling temperature. In case if your camera does not get switch on in high or low temperatures, try to switch on the camera after 30 minutes in normal temperature level. If camera gets turned ON, then it gets confirm that your digital camera battery cannot handle extreme temperature level. So, try your level best to keep your camera in normal temperature level.

#4. Fix – Camera Software Issues

Often in the case of digital camera, it happens that the actual hardware is working fine, but the software has a bug. Don’t worry, this can get fixed.

Solution:

Try restoring the camera to the factory settings.

Note: This option is usually found in the menu, however different models vary.

In case if this doesn’t fix the issue, download and install the latest software update, Google ‘firmware updates’ for your camera model. Updating the software is usually very simple. It involves adding an file to an SD card and then using a few menu commands from the camera.

Note: Its important for the firmware update to be accompanied with instructions.

#5. Fix – Wet Camera

Camera mishaps with water or other liquids are common scenario. Depending onto how much quantity of water gets inside, the camera may or may not be salvaged.

Solution:

In case if camera gets wet, first thing you should do is not to turn it on for at least one week to dry it out. Open up any compartments (say the battery compartment) and leave it alone.

In case if your camera was doused with salt water or another liquid, wipe it and any other compartments clean. After the camera gets dry, turn it on for assessing the damage. The camera might need new batteries and an SD card.

#6. Fix – Camera SD Card Error

Sometimes, the problem isn’t with the camera, but within the SD card.

In case, if the pictures won’t record to the card or the camera displays a ‘write error’ message, ensure that the card isn’t locked. SD card include a small switch on one side for preventing any changes to the content, including adding new photos.

Different cameras need a different format on the card. So reformatting the card might also resolve the camera SD card error. Ensure that all the pictures are off the card first. The ‘format card’ option is mostly listed in the menu, despite the fact that different camera models vary.

Dirt, grime and dust causes memory card issues. Ensure that the metallic parts on the card are clean via wiping it with a cloth.

Note: The microfiber cloth designed to clean camera lenses work best.

You can also use a can of air for blowing out the camera’s SD card slot. By doing this, you can ensure that there’s nothing preventing a good contact with the card.

SD cards are quite inexpensive to replace. So, give a try to new one in the camera. In case if the photos seem to be recording slow, a more enhance SD card can help you out speed things up. If the card still contains only the copies of some images, take help of a file recovery program online (say Stellar Phoenix Photo Recovery Software) or take it in to a repair shop.

So, this was all about the common digital camera errors and their respective fixes.

Now besides from all this, there are several other camera errors and issues that are impossible to fix it yourself. Though there are numerous camera repair shop and service center, but they cost you very expensive. So, in all such cases, buying a new camera is better option. Below here some scenarios have been discussed which will clear your question when to buy a new camera.

Situation Tending to Buy a New Camera

When repairing camera is more expensive than camera itself

When your camera get broken or damaged, and repairing it, is costing you more than the camera itself, then in that situation, you should consider purchasing a new camera. You might go for the older version of camera, as it will help you save money.

When you camera gets too old

When your camera is having issues and as a result you are unable to capture the best quality picture, then in that situation, the best option for you is to upgrade.

Yes!!

In such case, you should go for a new camera or old model DSLR camera.

You might get surprised with the improvement in quality, as digital cameras have been modified a lot with the latest technology in the last 5 years.

The Final Verdict

Its obviously very frustrating when camera does not work properly. Nonetheless, there are some issues that can get fixes and some are there which cannot. Keeping your camera clean and in the safest place has always been the best practice to fix the common digital camera errors. But sometimes, when repairing costs are more than camera itself, you should consider purchasing a new camera or old model.