Canon G12: Years ago I gave my grandson a Canon G12 to start his photography magic. So he gives it back and I can't get the screen that covers the lens to open. What can I do? It did...

Jules Karney Loc: Las Vegas, Nevada

Years ago I gave my grandson a Canon G12 to start his photography magic. So he gives it back and I can't get the screen that covers the lens to open. What can I do? It did take wonderful pictures.
Thanks in advance.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Jules Karney wrote:

Years ago I gave my grandson a Canon G12 to start his photography magic. So he gives it back and I can't get the screen that covers the lens to open. What can I do? It did take wonderful pictures.
Thanks in advance.

If it is still in otherwise good condition I would send it back to Canon and have them repair it.

Dennis

artec540

Did you try a new battery?

Jules Karney Loc: Las Vegas, Nevada

dennis2146 wrote:

If it is still in otherwise good condition I would send it back to Canon and have them repair it.

Dennis

I would except my wife would use it. I have my D4 but would be nice for her to put in her purse. I am not sure if it would be cheaper to repair or buy new.

RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

Jules Karney wrote:

Years ago I gave my grandson a Canon G12 to start his photography magic. So he gives it back and I can't get the screen that covers the lens to open. What can I do? It did take wonderful pictures.
Thanks in advance.

If it’s the lens cover you are referring to maybe it’s binding I have one that did this just send it in to canon for repair. Do check that the battery for it is fully charged too!

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

Jules Karney wrote:

I am not sure if it would be cheaper to repair or buy new.

Don't think you can buy this range anymore. I got a G16 and I think they were the last in this generation of G camera's. Have to admit these stupid ways of protecting a lens worry me. So flimsy looking, and the G16 seems to have more leaves than the G12.

I would suggest looking for a good 2nd hand one or looking on Google or You Tube for a fix. Here's a starter.

http://camerarepair.blogspot.co.uk/2007/11/repair-of-stuck-lens-covers.html

I'd like to know if you are successful. I failed to repair a stuck lens on my G7 so gave it to the Disabled Photographers Society (U.K.) who have a no. of people able to get these going to raise society funds. Unfortunately they do not undertake commission work.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Jules Karney wrote:

I would except my wife would use it. I have my D4 but would be nice for her to put in her purse. I am not sure if it would be cheaper to repair or buy new.

Forgive me; I am not trying to be contrary and I may be missing something. If you send it back to Canon for repair or at least call Canon to ask about it you might get it back in service again. As is, you can't use it for anything but a boat anchor or maybe a paperweight, can you?

Dennis

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

I own a G16. Capable compact to be sure. Your problem isn’t all that rare and is very likely due to leaf binding of the lens covering. Last Christmas, my wife and I were in Austria on a tour of a schnapps distillery. As the owner was passing out samples, she accidentally dripped some onto my camera. It might as well have been glue. I tried dabbing 90% isopropyl alcohol in the hopes of diluting it. No luck. I found a few procedures online for taking it apart. Finally, I gave in and called Canon. About 10 days later and $200 poorer, I had the camera back and all was well. Just so you know, I was told that it’s a fixed cost repair for 90% of the G-series they see.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

47greyfox wrote:

I own a G16. Capable compact to be sure. Your prob... (show quote)

I am curious. There may be no way of telling but do you know if Canon did anything OTHER than fixing the lens covering. I mean did they maybe polish the outer surface to make the camera look better, go through the other inner parts of the camera for a check up, things like that. Again, I realize there may be no way of telling but I am thinking just from a customer service point of view?

Dennis

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

dennis2146 wrote:

I am curious. There may be no way of telling but do you know if Canon did anything OTHER than fixing the lens covering. I mean did they maybe polish the outer surface to make the camera look better, go through the other inner parts of the camera for a check up, things like that. Again, I realize there may be no way of telling but I am thinking just from a customer service point of view? Dennis

The repair order I saw said something like “repair and fully test camera operation.” As for cosmetics, the camera looked new again. Yeah, you’re right. There is a leap of faith here but that’s always going to be the case unless we could watch the tech work. On a personal level, I’ve always been satisfied with Canon’s support.

Dano Loc: North Carolina

I have 2 g16's that I've been using for years (mostly for underwater work). Fantastic little cameras IMHO. I had a similar issue with one where the lens cover leaves would get stuck, so I sent it back to canon for repair. Their standard repair rate is $180 on these cameras, and I received a similar invoice saying "repaired and tested." When I followed up to get more detail (because I would have been pissed if all they did was blow out dust from the lens cover), their detailed report showed that they had replaced the entire lens assembly, installed new battery terminals, and tested / recalibrated the entire system. That was over a year ago and it's been shooting like a new camera since. Yes it's expensive, but they do it right. It also took less than a week to get it back. Your G12 is a much earlier generation, so I'd ask yourself how much you really like the camera. You could upgrade to a newer model (used of course) for a similar cost of repair. Hope that helps.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

47greyfox wrote:

The repair order I saw said something like “repair and fully test camera operation.” As for cosmetics, the camera looked new again. Yeah, you’re right. There is a leap of faith here but that’s always going to be the case unless we could watch the tech work. On a personal level, I’ve always been satisfied with Canon’s support.

The top camera manufacturers are usually up there with good service in my opinion so I would think they did just as they said.

Thanks,

Dennis

clint f. Loc: Priest Lake Idaho, Spokane Wa

G12 is a respectable camera, I use mine primarily in an underwater housing. If it were me I’d fix it. If you don’t want to fix it send it to me😎

AndyT Loc: Hampstead, New Hampshire

I have a Canon G7X with those same plastic blades that close after the lens retracts at shutdown. I measured the outside edge of the lens and bought a lens cap to protect those blades from repair.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

AndyT wrote:

I have a Canon G7X with those same plastic blades that close after the lens retracts at shutdown. I measured the outside edge of the lens and bought a lens cap to protect those blades from repair.

Damn, that idea never occurred to me! The blades on the G series do seem fragile. Good idea!👍