strange noise from A710is

[KevinB]

Hi, I just picked up an A710is today. Has anyone else noticed a strange high-pitched, low-level "whirring" noise coming from the camera when the LCD display is on? I get it when the display is on in shooting mode, but not in review mode, and not when the display is turned off. It isn't caused by the IS system (happens whether that is on or off). I can only hear it in a very quiet room, or if I hold my ear right up to the camera. Is this normal for this camera? I'm just worried that something is funny with this one but I don't want to bug the retailer if this is normal.

Thanks for any insight.

kevin

[Elisha]

good call. i hear it too. sound like a little turbine. but disappears when i switch to review mode.

[KevinB]

yes, that's exactly what it sounds like. Maybe this is normal with this particular model. I have an A95 and used to have an A80, they both make very very faint whining noises with the LCD on, but nothing like this.

[BowerR64]

What if you turn the sound off? or turn it down, is there options in the menu to alter the sounds? maybe the amp that drives the sounds is generating noise threw the amp and its making the noise from the speaker?

[KevinB]

Hi Bower, I tried turning the volume to mute and it had no effect. Good thought though. The sound seems to be coming from somewhere within the center of the camera body. I would have guessed that it's just the IS system working, but when I turn the IS off it doesn't do anything. I have an email in to Canon, we'll see what they say. Maybe I'll go down to the store and test out a floor model and see if it does it too.

[GNMink]

It's the IS that your hearing.... 100% sure

You can't really turn off the IS on a Canon P&S, when you turn the IS to the off position it no longer conpensates for camera movement but the IS mechanisim is still actually working to keep the lens group centered. As long as the camera is ready to take a picture the IS is functioning in one way or another.

You can only control if it compensates for movement or not (off), and when it starts to compentsate (shot only) or if it is continually compensating for movemnt (continuous), and of course the axis of correction (panning).

Bottom line.... the little gyro's are always spining.

I hope that makes sense to you? Its late! lol

[KevinB]

Thanks for the tip! well that is probably it, then. I wonder why they don't make it so that the IS will actually turn off, you would think that would save battery power quite a lot. Hmmm. Well, anyway, now I know. Thanks all!

[BowerR64]

When you turn the sound off did you take a picture?

I think the shutter works with a solenoid, maybe with the sound off takign a picture you can hear the sound change. Also try it with the sound off and with the iS on see if you can hear it thunk and it rotates the lens.

[KevinB]

I have played with the camera a bit more. I am still not totally convinced that it is the IS, since just turning the LCD display off (just the LCD, not the camera) makes the noise stop. The camera is still on and ready to take a picture, so if the gyros are always spinning whenever the camera is ready to shoot, then shouldn't the noise occur whether the LCD is on or off?

I have tried taking photos with both the LCD on and off, and the sound I am hearing doesn't seem to have anything to do with the lens.

I tried an email to Canon and I pretty much got a non-answer.

Is everyone else with an A710IS having this same noise?

[RebelRat]

I may have the answer for you.

I think it is the motor for the lens you are hearing. Try turning on the camera in the 'view mode' without the lens extending out. Do you hear the sound then?