Canon Powershot SX40HS Lens Error

[FranciscoPadron]

I have a Canon Powershot SX40HS and a few weeks ago I was foing a basketball film video, I had my camera set in a camera stand with it's lens zoomed out all way it 35mm.

Suddendly someone tried a trick shot and the ball bounced of the rim and hit the camera straigh in the lens, Camera was at least  3 car spaces away from the basketball hoop.

So now I;m having the lens start up error and it says please restart..I only take out the battery and try and try, the other day I got it to the no memory screen then it went back to the normal annoying thing, I though maybe it had something in it like a rock or dirt I got  a bag of air and and blew it in around it then later I got a piece of paper and shpaed it to cylinder to place it in the lens so it can maybe push out anything that is holding the lesn back but yet I dont know....Nothing that I do is working,,,,,,Is there any other ways to fix this? ...Btw It makes a weird star wars robot sound like when the lesn is tryng to come out and in

I will upload a video of the camera doing it's thing

Here is my last video I edited, Video was fully shot with the SX40HS and was filmed last year

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ2l1ddylCs

Also would be good if anyone can help me find a good deal on one of these cameras 60D, t3i or the t5i...Short on money four dollars aint gonna buy me nothing expeft for a drink.

[Davy]

Lay the camera flat on it's back and have a good look at the lens, making sure the lens assembly is central.

Sometimes these can be cured by manually gently, very gently teasing the lens a central position I did say sometimes, others it will call for it to be stripped down.

How can I explain this easily... I'll give it a try-:

Imagine two or three halter skelters in series the spiral down slide having guides to retract and extend the lens or lenses, this is driven by the zoom motor that drives a cog gear unit, this is the best I can do at this moment in my description.

The motor, it's gears or the guides on the helter skelter could have become disorted or dislodged.... being dislodged 'some' people have been lucky to solve this problem by 'gentle persuasion', the other two problems require a 'strip down.

Another thing that can cause the lens to jam is usually grit or sand, one single grain is all it takes, the cure here is a air blower or a peice of thin card or paper, inserting  it between the lens assembley and the front case then rotating the paper or card round the lens, I doubt this is your problem but one never knows.

The only proper answer is to return it for service to Canon service, I guess the answer depends on how you value the camera, it is very easy to make matters worse than they are, yet again some of these problems can be 'fixed in a jiffy'.

But do lay it flat on it's back and study the lens positioon first whatever you decide to do.

Dave

[Vanes38f]

I have same problem.  Used thick paper amended up getting a black dome kind of gasket, maybe to prevent dust from getting in there.  But lenses still stuck.  Paper goes all the way around lense gap.  Any other suggestions

[Danny]

Thanks for letting us know what Canon product you've got. The PowerShot SX40 HS is an older model which we have retired. While that means that Canon USA no longer offers direct support for it, your friends here in the Canon Community are welcome to offer suggestions!

You can also speak with a Canon Upgrade Program specialist to help you score a modern replacement that would meet your current needs at a discount. You can reach them weekdays and Saturdays at 1-866-443-8002.

Hope this helps!