Canon Powershot S500 Won't Turn On, E18 Error Message: MY CAMERA IS DEAD!

My camera is the latest casualty to faulty production. For 23 months this camera was my friend, you know, one of those friends that can piss you off so bad, but you still retain your comaraderie. Well, it's over. My $400 camera completely died and will now be used as a paperweight or a blunt weapon.

When I sought the chance of becoming a digital camera owner I did my homework. I got on the internet and checked out all the reviews that I could find. All gave this model the thumbs up, five stars, lists of pros vs. the not-many cons.

The camera did its job and did it well for almost a year. Then, suddenly, problems started happening. My camera would lock up with the lens stuck out. An error message, which I just found out recently, is quite infamous amongst Canon owners, made it's appearance - the E18 Error. At the time, I assumed I did something bad, like getting sand within the contraptions of the camera and I took it in to be serviced. Luckily, the warranty was still in effect, though, I did pay a bit to get the situation solved.

Then all was fine until February this year. My camera got increasingly moody. It would demand of me a change of its battery pack. I would lovingly oblige, but all I got back was sass! Even with a freshly charged battery, I would get the same message. Okay, I thought, I'll buy it a brand new battery. That should solve it. Nope. After waiting almost 2 months for the thing to show up in the mail, I charged it and fed it to my hungry camera. Same sass! Argh!

To make things more frustrating my camera basically went on strike, powering on less and less frequently until it just wouldn't turn on at all. Many great shots were missed because of this stubbornness. Finally, due to my overwhelming poverty, I took matters into my own hands. I employed the use of a mini-screwdriver and opened up casing of my camera to check out its guts myself. I wasn't sure what to look for, but I eventually figured there must have been a malfunction with the power pad within. I looked at, shrugged my shoulders and wiped it up with a little bit of my spit. Oh well, if my camera was truly dead my spit wasn't going to hurt it anymore than it already was.

It pulled a Lazurus! Suddenly, the other day, I, by chance, had my camera with me at a time when a photo was required. To my amazement it turned on without a hitch - and it stayed on! No sass-backs at all! So I've been using it like a madman ever since.

Until yesterday evening. I used it all day taking pictures of random NYC sightings. Finally I was home, and out my kitchen window at that time the sun was setting on the famous Brooklyn Willy Bank. I got my camera and aimed it. Nothing. No power. Darn!

So, I get out my invisible doctoring gloves and open her (him, I don't know) up again to check things out, maybe wipe it down with a little spit. Well, nothing seems to work this time at all. It's death certificate being signed when I spot that some of the circuitry from the power pad that is supposed to be soldered to the circuit board is detached. Without the tools of a micro-precise soldering gun and a small supply of solder there's absolutley nothing that I can do. (Weeping starts now.)

What makes this really bad, is that I can't just go out and get a new camera. I'm poor. Part of my grief process is anger. I'm mad because I paid so much for a high-end item that didn't even last two years. For crying out loud, you can go to a pet store and get a little gerbil for maybe ten dollars and be able to have it as a pet for more than two years. This camera cost me about a week of wages, which makes my blood boil more because it makes me realize I have to stay working at my hell-hole of job longer than I wanted to just so I can make enough money in order to replace the camera.


If you're interested in just how bad the Canon Corporation is to it's paying customers, check this out:

http://www.e18error.com/canonstory.html

Also, here are a bunch of user reviews for your perusal:

http://www.digitalcamera-hq.com/canon-powershot-s500-reviews.html#professional_reviews