Sony DSC-HX80 problem: My daughter's HX80 compact camera has developed a problem. When you power it on, the lens begins to extend, stops and retracts. It repeats this three times, then...

gekeller Loc: New Jersey

My daughter's HX80 compact camera has developed a problem. When you power it on, the lens begins to extend, stops and retracts. It repeats this three times, then the screen says to power off and back on. Doing this causes the cycle to repeat. Sometimes the camera will power itself off after the three lens cycles.

I have removed the battery, left it out for ten minutes and put it back in with the same results.

I called Sony, but they're closed for the weekend, and their esupport seems worthless for this device.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Battery need charging? Or fresh batteries?
Not knowing what you are using or is required, my H-1 will NOT work with alkalines, they have to be NiMHs.
(It behaves the same way with alkalines or almost dead batteries.)

gekeller Loc: New Jersey

Longshadow wrote:

Battery need charging? Or fresh batteries?
Not knowing what you are using or is required, my H-1 will NOT work with alkalines, they have to be NiMHs.
(It behaves the same way with alkalines or almost dead batteries.)

Thanks for your response. The HX80 has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that shows a full charge. I also tried a second third-party battery with the same results.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

gekeller wrote:

Thanks for your response. The HX80 has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that shows a full charge. I also tried a second third-party battery with the same results.

'Tis a quandary, not sounding promising, unless the battery contacts might be dirty.
By any chance might there be a factory reset button? I'm guessing it doesn't stay on long enough to go through the menu.

gekeller Loc: New Jersey

Longshadow wrote:

'Tis a quandary, not sounding promising, unless the battery contacts might be dirty.
By any chance might there be a factory reset button? I'm guessing it doesn't stay on long enough to go through the menu.

I tried that, and after a series of on/offs I worked through the menus to the reset screen (the menu kept the last screen each time I got to it), but it wouldn't respond.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

gekeller wrote:

I tried that, and after a series of on/offs I worked through the menus to the reset screen (the menu kept the last screen each time I got to it), but it wouldn't respond.

Not sounding good......

Twist the mode dial? Maybe the contacts are a little dirty???

gekeller Loc: New Jersey

Longshadow wrote:

Not sounding good......

Twist the mode dial? Maybe the contacts are a little dirty???

Tried that too, thanks. No joy.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Sounds like you may have a defective retractable internal motor. A short circuit perhaps? Send the lens out to its maximum length. Then wipe with a clean soft cloth, completely around the lens extension. To remove any possible grit, that would cause sticking. If, that doesn't work, you have a future camera repair.

gekeller Loc: New Jersey

mas24 wrote:

Sounds like you may have a defective retractable internal motor. A short circuit perhaps? Send the lens out to its maximum length. Then wipe with a clean soft cloth, completely around the lens extension. To remove any possible grit, that would cause sticking. If, that doesn't work, you have a future camera repair.

Unfortunately, the lens only goes about 1/2" out before stopping, instead of the normal 3"+, so this isn't possible.

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

Call Sony again. However, it may be time to get another Sony.

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

Try cleaning the battery and camera contacts with 91% alcohol, it could be that you are making contact, but not carrying enough current/amperage to push it on out, so it retracts. If spring loaded pins in the camera, make sure none are bent, or barely making contact. May/may not help, but doesn't cost anything.

photogeneralist Loc: Lopez Island Washington State

On my hx 80 the lens cover diaphragm blades open simultaneously with the initial lens extension during power on. If the lens cover diaphragm blades are gummed or jammed, or bent and binding , that may be the cause of the camera failing to complete it's power on sequence. The user reviews on the amazon and "amazon like" website(s) had, among it's lowest ranking reviews several users that had problems with the lens cover diaphagm blades. Be aware that several of them indicated that the cost of Sony's service repairs is a too large percentage of the cost of camera replacement.