shutter release not working S100

[sandysorlien]

Hello,

I am suddenly having problems with my S100. It will not take the picture when I press the shutter release. In case I had accidentally changed something, I did a Reset to Defaults. Then it worked, briefly, before returning to not working. It also would not let me change My Colors.  Everything else seems to be working fine.  Any ideas?

[kumaresh]

Hello Forum...
I have the same problem on S100 - the so called premium range 😞
I see that it is a very common problem. Has anyone been offered a free repair by Canon?
Thanks

[tronnebonne]

I haven't, no...

But have you tried blowing into the right side of your camera where the flap covers the USB ports?

This solution is SocalJD's solution 🙂

[nikfrom80s]

Impressive: nearly 2 years and 20 forum pages of the same isolated Canon s100 issue. It appears that Canon will dogde this one and adding my click will be just as ineffective. Ah what the heck, I'll share too...

All functions seem to work properly, except for that pesky and utterly uselss shutter release. Who needs a shutter anyways? I press the shutter, it initates the auto focus yet only fires off intermittently or is super laggy. Haven't notice a particular pattern and tested in all modes - which produces the same uncomical sense of regret and brand abandonment feeling each time. Ashton Kutcher here I come.

..at least I do not have the "lens error" problem, yet.

Serial 4220320xxxxx

Model PC1675

[AngelaX]

Nikfrom80s, you have summed it up nicely.
Would you mind sharing your serial number with the community - and hopefully Canon, if a tech advisor is monitoring this site at all.
Adding tags to this effect, as well as S100 in the message bar to the right might also help future owners find this thread.

[aleieng]

I got my free repair from Canon for the sluggish shutter problem, after reporting the case to BBB.

I mailed my s100 to Canon factory service center first, and was given a quote of USD160+ for the repair. I called them to argue, and the only thing they could provide was a 30% discount for the cost. And that was after I was transferred to speak with a supervisor. I then immediately filed a online complaint on bbb.org against Canon I. T. S., Inc., including a link to this forum thread. Two weeks later I got an email and a call from Canon informing that the repair would be complimentary. I already received my camera now and it works like a charm!

A couple of other posts earlier in this thread have also reported that filing to BBB worked. Hope this helps everyone who is still struggling with their s100 shutter.  

[rbarribeau]

Hello Everyone,

I've been having the same shutter release issues with my S100.  Not wanting to spend >$100 to repair a 2 year old camera, and planning on just replacing it, I figured I had nothing to lose, so I decided to try to repair it myself.

I disassembled the camera (it's easier than you'd think as long as you have a very small phillips screwdriver, and are VERY careful), and found that the shutter release uses a small tactile switch located under the actual shutter button.  The switch is mounted to a flex on the top of the camera frame, along with the mode wheel contacts, power and zoom switches.  The flex is mounted solidly to the top of the metal framework of the camera, so the issue is NOT movement of the flex as some have suggested.  It's the switch itself that's the problem.  I held the switch down, and sprayed a very small amount of DeoxIT (a contact cleaner / conditioner used for repairing old radios and the like) into the switch.  Worked the switch several times to distribute the cleaner, and now the shutter release works just fine.  Obviously the issue (at least with my S100) is the low quality switch used for the shutter release.  Not sure how long this repair will last, but for now it’s working just fine.

[John_]

Ive used DeoxIt for many years now and it is good stuff and wont harm anything either. It is a great cleaner as well as a lubricant.

I was guessing it was the flexible printed circut board that came loose as one of my guesses or the solder joints on the switch. It is only because I have seen and repaired loose FPC's on older powershot models where the frame was bent.

Have you looked closely at those solder joints with a magifying glass before you reassemble the camera?  You should know by working on these things a "flakey" solder joint can be the source too and just by manipulating the switch like you did could be enough to temporarily make it work. Might be a good idea to reheat them again if possible.

If it turns out to be a permanent fix that would be good news for a lot of people..it still does not explain how some people got it to start working by forcing air into those USB ports on the same side as the shutter switch ?

Since you had it open and saw that it is solidly mounted could some of these reported problems be from pushing the shutter button to hard and bending that frame that holds the board with the switch?

Like I said there are a lot of people who are stuck with a broken S100 shutter switch and any other thoughts you might have would be appreciated

[rbarribeau]

I did look at the solder joints, and they looked OK. I also played around with the switch and the flex for a while before I used the DeoxIT, and it didn’t make any difference.  Resoldering on Flex is tricky – a little too much heat, and you’ve got bigger problems than the switch. I figured I’d try the most non-invasive things first.

I have no idea why some people had luck blowing air in the USB ports, though none of the symptoms / solutions make much sense. For instance, once I got my S100 to take the 1st picture after powering up (usually by wiggling the shutter button around a bit), it would suddenly start working, and until I powered it off, would have no issues.  That’s what caused me to originally think it was a settings / firmware issue.

The flex that holds the switches is physically attached to the top of the metal frame of the camera, and it’s a pretty beefy frame for a small camera. It would be difficult to bend that frame by pressing the shutter button – though I’m sure you could if you really tried.  The switch itself, however is just a small two posn tactile PCB mount switch, and could be easily damaged by pressing too hard. If you press the shutter button and feel both of the detents (focus & shutter), then the switch is probably in the correct position, and is probably not physically damaged, though electrically it still might not work.  

Not sure how permanent the Deox solution is going to be. Best solution would be to replace the entire top flex assembly, which I’m assuming Canon is doing, and would be pretty simple if you could get the part. 

[AngelaX]

Interesting....mine only works in dry conditions. Hence, the desiccant.
One more try with customer service, then it is the BBB.

[John_]

yes I dont think we have that "ah ha !! " moment yet since the reported fixes are pretty diverse . There may be more than one fly in the oinment