2 quick questions about my camera

watna

Hi all,

I have two simple questions about my digital camera that I'd love some advice on.

I was at the beach today and had my camera with me. Friends were using it to take photos too so it was not put back in its case after each use and I'm pretty sure it has sand in it. I cleaned it as best I could when I got home but the lens is making scary whirring noises when it is opened and closed and at one stage a lens error message appeared. Is there anything I can do? I really like the camera but it's not sounding too healthy at all. Quite annoyed that people were careless with it but I guess I should have watched where it was.

Secondly, for some reason every time the camera is turned on it prompts me to enter the time and date - which I never bother doing. I did at first but as the camera never remembered this I stopped entering it. This means all my photos appear to be taken in 1979 which is a bit annoying when uploading the photos as they are all out of order. The camera just can't seem to remember the date and time.

The camera I have is a Canon Powershot A460. It's nothing fancy but I really like it so I'd love to get this sorted - if the sand hasn't destroyed it first!

Fajitas!

The date question, usualy means the hidden battery is beginning to die - Not too familiar with the Powershot, but there should be a small battery, a bit like a watch battery in it, that needs a replacing... Unfortunately...

Sand is a bitch.

Unless you send it away to get the sand out, it's going to be there for a long long time! It tends to get into every nook, cranny, crank and gear it can - The error message was probably when the camera wasn't able to push it out to it's full extent... However...

Wait until the after Christmas sales, and get a new camera!?

Paulw

It certainly sounds like sand is now inside the motor, so you will most probably need to have it serviced.

With the date/time, I know my Olympus used to reset it's date when batteries were taken out for more than two hours. I'm not sure about your model, but is there no small battery that is used to maintain the clock? Maybe you just need to have that battery replaced?

Maybe it would be a good idea to have it serviced, if that is cost effective.

watna

Thanks guys, it sounds like I'll need to get a new battery put in it. As for the servicing - I live in New Zealand and I have a funny feeling that it will be more expensive to get services done here than it would be at home.

I'll have a look around and get some prices. The camera was not that expensive so it may be best to wait until the sand makes it give up the ghost and then get a new one. Colleagues regularly travel to Asia so they can pick one up for me if I find a model I like so it really may be cheaper to get a new one.

CabanSail

Unfortunately the cost of repair/servicing on models like that will be a substantial cost of a new one. If you have people that go to SE Asia then there are bargains to be had in Singapore or Hong Kong.

Get some new friends while you are at it!!!