Hi all.
An E18 lens error or a "lens error restart camera" message is almost always a problem that must be sent in to the service center for repair. Though most often the result of a fall or other physical impact, they can occur spontaneously. Like a car stripping its gears, the lens motordrive mechanism has gotten off track. Often the camera will make a grinding noise as the camera lens attempts to track back and forth and occassionally the unit will beep several times and turn itself off.
Unfortunately most point and shoot cameras have very delicate lens mechanisms and it doesn't take much force at all to cause this to happen. Very often you may inadvertantly obstruct your camera's lens with your hand when holding the camera and turning it on. In these cases it is often possible for your lens to correct itself by actually turning the camera on and off several times (restarting camera). In the case of falls or drops, however, the impact damage is often uncorrectable by simply restarting and the unit must be sent in for service at that time.
If this happens to your camera through no fault of your own and you are still within your twelve month warranty period, simply send the camera in for service and the unit will be repaired at no charge. If you are outside of your warranty period OR it is determined by a technician that impact, liquid, or grit (sand or dirt) damage is at fault then you will be assessed a repair charge (even if within your warranty period).
Typically customers with out-or-warranty repairs will have a choice of either repairing their camera at the stated charge or (depending on the camera model) taking advantage of the Canon Loyalty Program in which they may opt to select a specific refurbished camera model of slightly higher model design - at a discounted price.
Hopes this helps.
Sincerely,
HeavyDLB
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