The Canon PowerShot S100 point-and-shoot camera is a great snapper and undeniably popular (you can see our review of the S100 here). Popular cameras fly off the shelves fast, popular cameras with manufacturing issues — well, you know where I’m getting at.
Unfortunately, there’s no such thing as a perfect gadget. Every now and then we encounter some problems with new gizmos, the Canon S100 is one of them. Not exactly every S100 just those with “The first and second digits of the camera’s serial number are any number from 29 through 41â€.

For example: ”29xxxxxxxxxx“,  “30xxxxxxxxxx” up to “41xxxxxxxxxx” — as mentioned by Canon Philippines.
According to numerous posts online, some owners of the S100 digicam has encountered the “Lens Error of Death” wherein the cam’s LCD display would pop a message stating that “A lens error has occurred, will shut down automatically. Restart camera” when they try to take a picture. The lens error issue is said to be caused by a “disconnected part inside the camera”.
Well, if you happen to be one of the owners of a PowerShot S100 plagued with this problem, you’ll be glad to know that Canon Philippines is offering free repairs with no charge, regardless of the warranty period. This, a manufacturing issue,the defect has been there long before the cam was even able to leave the factory. If your camera was bought in the U.S. your S100 should still be covered, if you’re in doubt, you can contact them through their customer service hotline: (632) 884 9000 or try sending them an email here.
Sources: Canon Philippines, TechnoBuffalo


My S100 broke down when I was in Taipei. I don’t know if it was due to the cold weather. But my lens stopped retracting altogether. I sent it to Canon Service Center in Eton Building in Ortigas. They told me replacement of optical lens will cost me a whopping 9.5k. WHOA! Dude, no fair.