Troubleshoot a Canon Powershot S3 IS
The Canon S3 IS is an advanced point-and-shoot camera with a six megapixel sensor, a 12x optical zoom and an articulating LCD screen, as well as a viewfinder for shooting in bright sunlight when the screen might get washed out. In addition to many standard point-and-shoot scene shooting modes, the S3 has Aperture, Shutter and Manual modes for advanced photographers, just as on Canon's SLRs. While some problems may require sending the camera to an authorized service center, there are some issues you can troubleshoot at home.
Instructions
1. Check that the batteries are properly aligned with the polarity if the camera does not power on. There is a diagram on the battery door that shows which side of the AA battery should be up or down in each slot.
2. Rub a cotton swab over the battery contacts and insert new batteries if you can't power on the camera and you have the polarities aligned properly.
3. Replace the small lithium battery if the Date/Time message flashes on. The S3 IS powers date and time from a different battery than that used to take photos.
4. Format the memory card from the S3's set-up menu if the camera seems to take a long time to record images to the memory. Formatting erases all data, so make sure you have downloaded the pictures to your computer before formatting the card.
5. Turn the mode lever from playback to shooting if the lens doesn't retract when you power the camera down.
Tags: Canon Powershot, power camera, Troubleshoot Canon, Troubleshoot Canon Powershot