E18 Error Fixed! (Canon PowerShot SD450)
October 23, 2008
Huzzah! I finally fixed the E18 error I’ve been experiencing on my Canon PowerShot SD450, which prevented my lens from extending when the power was turned on, and the fix wasn’t nearly as difficult as I had expected. I’ve even snapped some shots of the process so that you can follow along at home, and fix your own camera if you are experiencing the same problem that I was.
If you’re not yet familiar with the E18 error, check out this information on the topic from Wikipedia:
The E18 error is an error message on Canon digital cameras. The E18 error occurs when anything prevents the zoom lens from properly extending or retracting.[1] The error has become notorious in the Canon user community as it can completely disable the camera, requiring expensive repairs.
This is a fairly prevalent problem with the PowerShot cameras, and a class action lawsuit was filed (but dismissed) against Canon:
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] Although the suit was dismissed in a court of law, the plaintiffs are appealing.
Fortunately, at least in my case, the fix did not require returning the camera to a Canon repair facility or having to take unreasonably complex steps.
My solution for the PowerShot SD450/IXUS 55 follows:
(You’ll need a very small Philips head screwdriver, #00, to remove the screws)
- There are six screws holding the metal frame of the camera body together, two on each side, and two on the bottom. Remove all screws, pop the strap-hook plate (sorry, probably not the most technical term there), then gently lift the front plate off by pulling up from the bottom, and remove the back plate in the same fashion. These should come off relatively easily. This is what the camera should look like as you remove the plates:
- Now, looking from the top of the camera, you should see a small motor on the left side, as shown below (it’s beneath the cable with a “22” written on it):
- Take your screwdriver (or another small instrument) and gently try to rotate the plastic piece attached to the motor on the left side, as shown below:
- At this point, try placing the battery back in the camera (if you have removed it), turn the camera to one of the capture modes, and press the power button. If all went well, your lens should now be able to extend and retract properly.
Further information (and other repair tutorials) are available at the following locations:
- Canon PowerShot A70 Error E18 Fix (Translated from Bulgarian)
- Canon E18 repair guide for SD300 [PDF]
- CNET: Digital cameras: Fixed my SD450 e18 error
- Canon and the E18 Error / Lens Error, Restart Camera
- Canon E18 Error Dialog
- Canon E18 Error: Repair Instructions
- E18 Error
- E18 – Repair Guide part 1
Unforunately, the site that had the most comprehensive information about this issue, e18error.com, seems to be down for the time being. Here’s a quote from their site that I saved in another blog post before the site was taken down:
HOW IT ALL WORKS:
Canon E18 error happens when the lens gets stuck while trying to extend. The camera will beep a few times and the LCD will display a little E18 in the lower-left corner. The lens gets stuck in the extended position, and refuses to move either to focus the lens or to retract when powered off.Apparently, people who posted about this incident on forums say they had to send the camera for repair and that Canon has horrible customer support and response time.
Here is how the E18 error looks like. You just get a black screen with small “E18″ sign in the lower-left corner:
The problem usually happens because dirt or sand get into the lens mechanism. But it seems that more and more people are showing, who took great care of their camera, and still started receiving E18 errors.
Please share your experiences with this fix, or the E18 error in general, in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
October 23, 2008 at 2:02 pm
[...] August 13, 2008 Update! I’ve fixed the E18 Error on my PowerShot SD450 (IXUS 55) and posted the steps here: E18 Error Fixed! (Canon PowerShot SD450) [...]
October 23, 2008 at 5:07 pm
[...] other things included in this image is my PowerShot SD450, post E18 Error Fix. Posted by willwm Filed in [...]
November 22, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Perfect directions… Thanks! Worked perfectly and took about 10 minutes.
Two things I picked up in doing so: First, it took a can of compressed air to clean out whatever was sticking the motor (manually moving it wasn’t enough). Second is to make sure you line up the switch that toggels between photo mode and picture review mode before you put everything back together.
December 13, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Thanks to all for perfect instructions and comments!
December 16, 2008 at 8:49 am
you da man. perfect. 10 minutes max.
December 20, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Genius ! This works !
I’m a 30 year old female who is distinctly un-techy to the extreme, and I have never attempted to take anything remotely technical apart in my life.
But it worked, easily ! I’m thrilled !
December 23, 2008 at 2:00 pm
WORKED!
I had an old IXUS 60 sitting on my shelf for a long time, before deciding to look into if I could do something about it. Tried advice from a different of sites (hitting/pushing/twisting the lens gentle, etc) — but this was the only solution that worked in the end! I still have some grinding noise from the servo, but the camera works! Thanks a lot & Merry Xmas!
January 25, 2009 at 10:59 pm
Unfortunately that did not work for me, but after putting the camera up together I did the following and the problem was fixed. I guess the steps bellow can be tried before disassembling the camera:
1) Turn on the camera, hopefully the telescope will come out.
2) Hold the telescope with your fingers
3) Turn off the camera and while the telescope is trying to retract gently try to rotate it to the right and then to the left, at the same time make some resistance to the retracting telescope, you might hear a click.
4) Release the telescope
5) Turn on the camera, it should work now.
January 28, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Worked flawlessly. My roommate gave the camera to me b/c he couldn’t fix it. After 10 minutes I fixed the problem and now have a new camera.
As mentioned above, definately make sure to line up the switch that controls the camera mode before putting the screws back in. I learned this lesson the hard way.
Thanks for the fix!
January 31, 2009 at 12:48 pm
I looked at a number of illustrated guides, including one I couldn’t find again that had a full strip down of a similar model to get at the telescopic lens assembly. Well, that might be a more complete solution, but I don’t think I would ever have got the whole thing together again. As it was I stripped mine more than necessary and have one tiny surplus screw to show for it. Your tip for just removing the case, nudging the motor and retrying with the battery worked fine, it took a couple of goes before it would do so without some grinding noises. Back together and I’m happy, especially since I’m flying to Malta in less than 24 hours and had only just discovered the camera wasn’t working. Thanks a million!
January 31, 2009 at 10:47 pm
Thanks! I had the same problem and followed your instructions and it fixed everything! After reading about the poor service from Canon and the thought of paying $150 for repair this was a super cool treat. It took me about 20-30 minutes and problem was solved!
February 3, 2009 at 11:20 pm
THANKS! This is what the internet is all about! I fixed it! Yaaa! My one comment is to be VERY CAREFUL putting it back together. There are many little tabs to line up (I screwed up a few times). Also be sure to LINE UP THE SWITCH that changes camera modes. My first try had the switch not properly lined up and it obviously wouldn’t work. I finally got it 3rd try. Anyway, the camera works! Thanks.
February 4, 2009 at 4:22 am
I have the same problem with a Powershot A85 bought in 2004: can anybody tell me if it works with such models, too?
Thanks a lot
Elena
February 4, 2009 at 10:37 am
@Elena: I’m pretty sure that it should work; the screws might be in
different places, but the lens drive motor placement should be the same. If
it does work for you, please leave a comment here telling your story.
Thanks! =)
February 6, 2009 at 10:39 pm
Thanks my camera is working again… I followed the same steps and modified them slightly to do the same thing for The IXUS 80 IS which has another step or two in the process.
Here is a link to the fix.
http://canonixus80lensfix.blogspot.com/
Simon
February 8, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Thanks a lot, your instructions worked perfectly with my A410 (bought in 2006 and E18 errored two weeks after purchase). you saved my holidays!
February 20, 2009 at 1:38 am
Thanks for the information and pictures. It worked. I fixed my roommate’s E18 problem. I disassembled the camera and managed to get the lens closed using a small flathead screwdriver to turn the gears on the outer edge of the camera just below the motor in the pic. I had to turn the camera on and off several times for the lens to reset, but I got it to work.
Thanks
Bob
February 23, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Well done! You allowed me to save a little money and delay the inevitable for a little bit longer. PLUS – I feel like the “man” for having done this myself.
March 1, 2009 at 5:56 pm
Hi – Thanks for the great tutorial. I did exactly what you said and it worked. BUT, I think I may have scratched the lens in the process b/c now all my pictures are coming out completely blurry. Any recommendations?
March 1, 2009 at 6:26 pm
@Eddie D.
I do recall hearing about this symptom (blurry images before/after E18 error) on another website, but I haven’t experienced this problem myself. From what I recall, however, the blurriness is due to the lens being out of sync with the gear which causes a focusing problem for the sensor. You may be able to remedy this problem by slightly twisting the barrel of the lens while fully extended (max. zoom) until you hear a click.
Let me know if that works, I’d love to collect more information about further fixes for this issue!
March 11, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Thank you! I can believe this worked. I love this camera and did not want to give it up. I took this camera apart and put it back together, not knowing what to do. I fund this site with photos, and now I am up and running again…….Thanks One Million.
March 20, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Was ist das?
March 27, 2009 at 1:37 am
Thanks for the great advice. Had tried other methods but yours worked perfectly. Camera hasn’t worked for a couple of weeks and now my wife is happy she can take photos and videos of the kids again. Also good advice regarding lining up the camera/video/playback switch when reassembling
March 31, 2009 at 12:41 pm
[...] 31, 2009 This sounds awesome. I’m gonna have to pull out my SD450 and give this a shot…pun [...]
April 5, 2009 at 9:22 pm
=*( [tear]
Unfortunately all the instructions and other people’s comments did not save my camera. i guess because instead of my lens being unable to extend like yours, mines wouldnt retract.
I followed your instructions and took my camera apart. Rotated the thing by the motor, used the compressed air tip, even held the lens and twisted it. NOTHING. The best i would get was that the lens would retract but not completly then extend back out and stay out, displaying the e18. I guess this works only if your lens WONT EXTEND….
May 4, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Thank you so much! worked great…my camera is an SD450 and it had an 8 on it by the motor instead of a 22 but it worked fine!
May 5, 2009 at 12:41 am
MANY THANKS!
Works perfect for my Ixus55 camera….
No more “E18″ on display; now showing perfect photo’s again!
May 18, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Great instructions. Worked like a charm.
Thanks. Isnt the internet wonderful!
June 7, 2009 at 10:51 am
The combination of this and the http://www.e18error.com/repair.html were helpful and hope to not have to replace Canon SD450! Turning the lens quite a few times with a lot of force solved my problem for now! Thanks much!!
June 24, 2009 at 5:25 pm
You rock! I fixed my camera using your directions and it worked perfectly!