HELP! My blue horizontal lines & blobs in my viewfinder

[amybedow]

My SL IS has crapped out, I think.
I turn the camera on, and I get blue-ish purple-ish white moving horizontal lines and blobs where the image should be. I've changed the batteries, cleaned out the compartments, can view old images off of old flash cards- tried ALL programs. It appears to be in the lens? I've tried turning on and off the digital zoom...
Any ideas?
TIA!

[amybedow]

Here's a pic of what I see, and what it takes.

[BowerR64]

That is the CCD problem happening to all the canon cameras that were built around that time. You need to contact canon and get a return form. They pay shipping and repair them free and send em back. Its like a recal.

Thats what it does when its right on the edge of failing. A total failure is all black screen and images.

If you bang on the camera a little it will sometimes work ok again. Try it see if you can get it to work.

[amybedow]

Thanks. I got it as a gift from an old boyfriend... don't have the receipt.
Will they still repair it for free?

[BowerR64]

yep, they should

[amybedow]

Bower,
I contacted Canon. Here's what they had to say.
They didn't recognize that problem- so they weren't willing to fix it for free (actually, they said that they had no record of any problems with my model- (SL IS))
They continued on to say that they had a program where they would be willing to upgrade me to a factory refurbished S2 IS, with a warranty of 6 months, for $200. I also have to send them my broken camera as an exchange. They said that they were doing this because they realized that people were getting upset because the cost to repair their cameras were equal to the value, and they were trying to do their part to help out some way.
Kind of had me by the short and curlies, really. So I went for it. Now I'm wondering if I should have. When they originally told me of their offer, they told me everything was compatible, but then I realized that wasn't true, and I've got to order a SD card.
Know anyway I can dump these 512 & 128mg flash cards?
Cr@p!
Anyway, sorry for the rant, and thanks for your help.

[BowerR64]

wow i find that hard to believe. Every other camera that has been repaired and they say is the CCD connection problem looks just like that. Almost every image ive seen looks either all black or like your image.

Did yo look on e-bay and see how much the SL IS sells for used? Is it SL or S1 IS?

Do a search on google for canon CCD problems, here is one i found that has a few sample images.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/badccds.html

Here is a link to a site that has S1 owners who have had theirs fixed free by canon.

http://www.stevesforums.com/forums/view_topic.php?id=70144&forum_id=15&jump_to=566773

Check this out, a used "AS IS" S1 sold on e-bay for $162. AS IS! i think you could of sol dyours used if canon wouldnt of fixed it then got somthing different new. You gave $200. for a refurbished one if you could of got atleast $100. for yours "AS IS" you could of got a new S2 in box for about that.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Canon-PowerShot-S1-IS-Digital-Camera-AS-IS-unit-only_W0QQitemZ220010593964QQihZ012QQcategoryZ64352 QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The part in your story about the person not telling you that your camera and a new one had different memory type leads me to believe they had no clue what they were talking about. To bad you dont know the persons name who you talked to.

[BowerR64]

Here are a couple pics i found of a CCD problem and what kind of pictures it takes.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/BowerR64/Camera/CCDerror1.jpg

Kinda weird, ive seen others most look just like yours though.

[amybedow]

oh. dear.
they must have smelled the desperation on me over the phone.
I haven't been in, so I just read this. I'll bet they've sent it already- (they said it was going out today).
Yep. I have several images that match that one.

Looks like I'm going to have to call them baaack.............

Thanks so much Bower.
I'll keep everyone posted.

[amybedow]

Bower,
Called Canon.
'Tom' in service said that, while they recognized the problem with certain models-
http://www.imaging-resource.com/NEWS/1128632808.html
Digital Cameras: PowerShot A60, PowerShot A70, PowerShot A75, PowerShot A300, PowerShot A310, Digital IXUS V3, Digital IXUS II, Digital IXUS IIs
Digital Video Cameras: MV600i, MV630i, MV650i, MV700i, MV730i, MV750i, MV5i, MV5i MC, MV6i MC, ZR60, ZR65 MC, ZR70 MC, ZR80, ZR85, ZR90, Elura 40 MC, Elura 50 (some others were added later- in another link)
He couldn't guarantee that they would fix it for free, because it was 'not one of the models listed'. All he could do would be to promise they would look at it for free and take it from there. He's emailing me a shipping form, should be in my email box around Tuesday, he said.
Over at the 'upgrade department' where I tried to cancel my order- they said I was still responsible for the shipping charge. I tried to get to someone in customer relations, but they only work Monday through Friday 8 - 5. I spoke with 'Wendy', a supervisor in the upgrade department, and she agreed to waive the shipping; and politely asked if I would call back on Monday, when I could speak to a customer relation’s manager, and speak to them about my dissatisfaction.

I am so angry.
I've dealt professionally and personally with Canon for over 20 years.
I feel as if they tried to swindle me- and probably would have gotten away with it had I not known better than to ask around a bit.

In the mean time- I HAVE NO CAMERA!!!!!!!!! My back-up crapped out (cheapo/mostly using it as a poloroid back) about a month ago.
This is as essential to me as breathing!

..I wonder how much it's going to cost me to return the 2g SD card I ordered from J&R.

Thanks again, Bower.
Sorry for the (continuing) rant.
I think I will go entirely mental if I go one more hour without a camera though.

Here are some more pics:

[ben7337]

if the package is unopened you might be able to just sell it for what you paid somewhere instead or returning paying for shipping and then maybe a 15% restocking fee.

[amybedow]

The camera came on for all of seven minutes today. I captured it going down. You can view it here if you're interested.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6277736927133770075

[BowerR64]

Well i read somewhere they added the S1 and S2 to the list. The original list is what you have but ive read they added a few models they found out had a similar CCD and the issue was still in these also.

I sent an actual image to canon in an e-mail and asked them to look at the image and tell me if it was the CCD problem and they said it was. Just by looking at the image they could tell if it was the issue. Maybe you could of done that? It seems the guys taking e-mails know what they are doing. You may have got some one new that doesnt know all the problems yet.

I think the cameras are at the point where they are flaking out now. I see more and more as time goes by.

Whats sad is i see people on e-bay selling cameras with this problem and they have no idea they cold get it fixed free. I e-mailed a guy a few days ago with an S2 and he thanked me for letting him know it could be fixed and fixed for free. He said "Thanks man you saved me SO MUCH money!" he likes the camera but didnt know it was a common problem and canon was fixing it free.

imagine selling an S2 for $75. and then knowing they sent it to canon for free and had it fixed. A good condition S2 for $75! Ide be a little upset. :mad:

[amybedow]

I just called Canon customer service.
They refuse to acknowledge the problem.
I ranted on about it on www.stevesforums.com, under the Canon service advicory forum.
Here's what I wrote:

I have a Canon s1is that looks like I have the CCD issue.
Canon refuses to aknowledge there is a problem with their CCD's in the USA.
I almost, well, in fact I did, order the upgrade until I found this site and a few others. Then I canceled the order, and I will be sending in my camera to them to see if it's the CCD, and see if in fact they will pay for the repairs.

I asked them if they were planning on looking into if the bad CCDs were used in the s1is's in the USA, and they said no. Not until they have many complaints. I asked them how many they'd had so far, and they said my complaint was the first they'd heard of it.

I offered to send them this URL; and they said they were uninterested in reading anything about Canon's products or complaints, etc.. unless it was authorized by or written to Canon Corporation.
Oh, and Canon.Asia.com doesn't count in the USA, because they claim they used different parts.

They added that, if I had my camera fixed by Canon corp., and they found out later that it was a manufacturer defect, and officially recognized it on their website, they would then refund my repair cost.

So here's what I'm thinking so far.
If I hadn't stumbled upon this website, I would have paid the Canon Corporation $200 for a refurbished camera with a six month warranty, that I could have bought from a store, brand new, for about $50 more.
I would have had to relinquish my defective camera (the unscrupulouse and/or quicker amongst us are selling/dumping their Canon s1is's on eBay right now for- I think the last one went for $162. AS IS.), which would have been my only proof that it was in fact a manufacturer defect. (Canon would have probably re-sold it after fixing the CCD, just as refurbished s2is's are probably being sold as part of their upgrade program right now)

It's brilliant.
Canon turns around a huge, costly mistake into a profit maker; and at the same time uses their upgrade (and relinquish) program as a PR move for superior customer service.

Come on, Canon.
I just wanted you to say you were looking into it... instead you said my complaint didn't warrant it.

Sorry for the rant. I'm still upset right now.
Grrrrrrrrrr.

[BowerR64]

e-mail them, i know you have already pretty much worked it all out but e-mail this place and see what they say anyway. They seem to be pretty cool when i contact them. Ive never called them

CareCenter@cits.canon.com

If you e-mail them start from scratch, pretend your new to everything and you just found out that you may be able to get it fixed free of charge. Play dumb and see how they act.

ive sent them 2 70s they seem to be very willing to take care of it.

[amybedow]

dang it, Bower.. I'm so mad right now I wouldn't know what to write!
I feel as if Canon just tried to rip me off $200! I've been using them professionally and personally for 20 years.

I REALLY NEED my camera.

[JTL]

Send a hand written letter to the head of customer service. If you know a lawyer (have one in the family or have one as a friend) cc: him/her on it and also cc: your state attorney general and the Better Business Bureau. Be very respectful in the letter, but remind them that this is an acknowledged issue with the Sony supplied CCDs. Include pictures of the screen. Also write that you expect a reply. Tell them how everyone has told you that Canon "always does the right thing", but are dismayed that they haven't helped you. Tell them how much you loved the camera and wanted to remain a loyal customer. I can almost guarantee that you'll get a satisfactory response...but it will take a while.

[amybedow]

Thank you, JTL.
I'll do just that.
I'll keep you posted.