Lens keeps on zooming a tad bit and lens error

Question

So my family got a Canon Powershot sx220 HS 9 years ago. It was a great camera and had lived that full 9 years.

When we got a new camera and left the camera in its place my dad decided to give it to me to do some photography. Then our baby got a hold of the camera, (when the lens was zoomed in all the way) and pushed the lens hard. Everything was fine but after turning it off the problem started.

The lens did retract but only on the non zoomed in place (where it did zoom out but stayed on its normal place whenever you turn on the camera) and then the pop up message "Lens error shut down automatically restart camera" was displayed.

The next day when i turned it on, it zoomed in a tad bit and then after some time, the error message returned.

When i shake the camera i hear something shaking. I tried every method but it wouldn't work.

So can someone please help me with this problem.

Answer 1

From your description, it appears your baby broke some relatively delicate part in the lens mechanism -- possibly a gear tooth or sensor part. Given there is no practical or cost-effective option to repair cameras in this class (a repair would cost as much as replacement due to the cost of skilled labor), the only suggestion I can make is to take the Powershot out of service and replace it.

It appears this Powershot model is still offered, and you may also be able to get a good working one for less on eBay or from a used equipment dealer such as KEH.