Problem was an Optio S40 lens stuck closed.
Note that the lens "gates" were not tightly closed.
Note also that when switched on in "Audio" mode it would sart up and stay on. Further when started with the replay button pressed it would also stay on.
However there was never a whir from the motor to suggest that the gears were faulty.
Took cover off and tried every possible easy solution.
After reading all the posts which suggested a costly or terminal problem, the end was in sight so I tried "force" in the light that if it failed, the camera was totally u/s anyway.
Well, with a fine screwdriver I pushed the inside ring of the lens (not the ring with the aluminium and printing on it but the fine plastic part) colockwise with considerable force. It moved and the gates shut.
Presumably I closed the mechanism fully. AND the camera works perfectly although a bit ugly on the face as a fair bit of plastic was removed as part of the forcing the lens closed.
A Tip. If the wording on the lens is not perfectly even - ie the 3x OPTICAL ZOOM is not perfectly aligned with the centre of the camera, the lens is not fully shut. I now note that the lens is slightly below the level of the camera body, not flush as was the case previously.
The soultion is not pretty but works and I presume that so many of the other problems have been caused by a software issue which simply says that unless the lens is showing fully closed (or probably open), it wont start the motor.
My suspicion is that when a battery goes or is going flat when the lens is out, there's not adequate power to close it properly.
Note that the lens "gates" were not tightly closed.
Note also that when switched on in "Audio" mode it would sart up and stay on. Further when started with the replay button pressed it would also stay on.
However there was never a whir from the motor to suggest that the gears were faulty.
Took cover off and tried every possible easy solution.
After reading all the posts which suggested a costly or terminal problem, the end was in sight so I tried "force" in the light that if it failed, the camera was totally u/s anyway.
Well, with a fine screwdriver I pushed the inside ring of the lens (not the ring with the aluminium and printing on it but the fine plastic part) colockwise with considerable force. It moved and the gates shut.
Presumably I closed the mechanism fully. AND the camera works perfectly although a bit ugly on the face as a fair bit of plastic was removed as part of the forcing the lens closed.
A Tip. If the wording on the lens is not perfectly even - ie the 3x OPTICAL ZOOM is not perfectly aligned with the centre of the camera, the lens is not fully shut. I now note that the lens is slightly below the level of the camera body, not flush as was the case previously.
The soultion is not pretty but works and I presume that so many of the other problems have been caused by a software issue which simply says that unless the lens is showing fully closed (or probably open), it wont start the motor.
My suspicion is that when a battery goes or is going flat when the lens is out, there's not adequate power to close it properly.
Best of luck.