Lens Error after installing CHDK (IXUS 950 IS)

matthew_skinner

2

« on: 19 / April / 2020, 10:18:03 »

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Help me :'(

My Ixus 950 has always worked perfectly. Yesterday, after the installation of CHDK I have the lens error. I just try this method (

without success.

Is it possible to reinstall the original firmware? Or try an hard reset?

Someone can help me?

Thank you in advance,
Matt

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srsa_4c

4451

Re: Lens Error after installing CHDK (IXUS 950 IS)

« Reply #1 on: 19 / April / 2020, 10:52:11 »

Quote from: matthew_skinner on 19 / April / 2020, 10:18:03

Yesterday, after the installation of CHDK I have the lens error.

Can you describe in detail what happened (how did you install CHDK, how did you start the camera with CHDK and what exactly happened after that)? Does the cam start in playback mode? When does the error message appear? What does the lens do?

If possible, try dumping the camera's firmware and upload it to a file sharing site.

Quote

Is it possible to reinstall the original firmware?

CHDK does not touch the firmware, so the camera still has that.

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reyalp

14119

Re: Lens Error after installing CHDK (IXUS 950 IS)

« Reply #2 on: 19 / April / 2020, 14:43:38 »

In addition to what srsa_4c said, just to confirm, the error now happens without CHDK running (SD card unlocked)?

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matthew_skinner

2

Re: Lens Error after installing CHDK (IXUS 950 IS)

« Reply #3 on: 20 / April / 2020, 07:46:06 »

Dear guys, thank you for your prompt reply.

I made this video for showing you the procedure and the error.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1lcnKrdMmYq0icKfCsF-Ou7L6f_9dN3z-

Let me know, cheers.
Matt

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srsa_4c

4451

Re: Lens Error after installing CHDK (IXUS 950 IS)

« Reply #4 on: 20 / April / 2020, 16:22:24 »

Quote from: matthew_skinner on 20 / April / 2020, 07:46:06

I made this video for showing you the procedure and the error.

From the noises the camera makes, I would guess that the zoom lens and the focus lens are blocking each other. They are likely in a position from which the standard "lens recovery" doesn't work.

The only "reset" procedure I could think of would likely not be much of help.
There is a (rechargeable) coin battery inside the camera somewhere, which keeps the camera's real time clock (RTC) working when the battery is out. Some cameras keep some configuration data in the RTC, among others a "lens was stored properly" flag. If that flag says that the lens wasn't stored, the camera will attempt to retract it when it is switched on. Which is what's currently happening. Letting that battery deplete could reset the flag and allow the cam to start in playback mode. But any attempt to enter shooting mode would get the cam back where it currently is.

I guess an experienced person could switch the cam into factory mode and experiment with separate focus and zoom lens movements, but that's not an option in this case, and would not necessarily work anyway.

The other option is to take the cam apart and move the focus mechanism out of the way, manually. Doing this is very difficult due to tiny and hard-to-reach parts.

A question that has not been answered: how did you start CHDK when the camera was alive the last time, and what happened after start.

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waterwingz

12140

Re: Lens Error after installing CHDK (IXUS 950 IS)

« Reply #5 on: 20 / April / 2020, 21:00:59 »

I've often wondered if the lens mechanism lubricants in old Powershots that sit on the shelf for years dry out or otherwise harden. Ten (or more) year old pocket cameras are likely operating long past the life time their designer's envisioned.

EDIT : having said that, my aging fleet of eleven or so Powershots are all working fine. Even my 13 year old A560. They do get turned on periodically even though not often these days.

« Last Edit: 21 / April / 2020, 00:18:19 by waterwingz »

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c_joerg

1251

Re: Lens Error after installing CHDK (IXUS 950 IS)

« Reply #6 on: 21 / April / 2020, 02:09:43 »

Quote from: waterwingz on 20 / April / 2020, 21:00:59

EDIT : having said that, my aging fleet of eleven or so Powershots are all working fine. Even my 13 year old A560. They do get turned on periodically even though not often these days.

I still sometimes use my 18 year old S45. Unfortunately there is no CHDK for them. I just sold the second S45 with a functional underwater housing. I haven't lost any P&S yet...

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M100 100a, M3 121a, G9x II (1.00c), 2*G1x (101a,100e), S110 (103a), SX50 (100c), SX230 (101a), S45,
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Mlapse

584
S95 S110

Re: Lens Error after installing CHDK (IXUS 950 IS)

« Reply #7 on: 24 / April / 2020, 02:29:28 »

Lens errors that are not solved by restarting are rare and usually have a mechanical problem.
Dirt, a fall or too much heat or cold while in use, lens was pushed out while the cam was in it's case or in your bag...things like that.
I have a working cam that has run over 2.000.000 pictures, most I have at least have made the 500.000 mark. (A and S series)
some are laying in drawers for years before i start using them, have fallen over with a tripod or have had a really hard life traveling.

In my opinion if it is related to dirt or a fall you might get the cam running again,
but reliability will be compromised and it can take hours to pull apart and clean/glue the cam.

What to try with wear/old grease/heat/cold stuck mechanical parts. First accept that the cam is lost, but did a good job until now.

So, start applauding violently while you hold and rotate the powered down cam in your hand(left and right for stuck shutters, to and fro for stuck lens)....as a thank you for it's excellent job until now.
it sounds silly, but it has loosened locked up shutters (sometimes i had to repeat it a few times before it was reliable again),
and solved some intermittend lens errors when the camera is starting up.

just give it a try before you bin it.

oh, and some models just suffer from assembly/design flaws, like a little too short internal cable for lens operating. So avoid buying those.

« Last Edit: 24 / April / 2020, 02:55:27 by Mlapse »

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