Canon E18 Error in Digital Cameras-Troubleshooting

Canon E18 error happens when the lens gets stuck while trying to extend. The camera will beep a few times and the LCD will display a little E18 in the lower-left corner. The lens gets stuck in the extended position, and refuses to move either to focus the lens or to retract when powered off.

Apparently, people who posted about this incident on forums say they had to send the camera for repair and that Canon has horrible customer support and response time.

Here is how the E18 error looks like. You just get a black screen with small "E18" sign in the lower-left corner:

The problem usually happens because dirt or sand get into the lens mechanism. But it seems that more and more people are showing, who took great care of their camera, and still started receiving E18 errors.

It seems that the problems have been happening with the following types of Canon cameras:

- Powershot A40
- Powershot A60
- Powershot A70
- Powershot A75
- Powershot A80
- Powershot A85
- Powershot A95
- Powershot A400
- Powershot A410
- Powershot A430
- Powershot A510
- Powershot A520
- Powershot A530
- Powershot A540
- Powershot A610
- Powershot A620

- Powershot S1 IS
- Powershot S2 IS

- Powershot S10
- Powershot S30
- Powershot S40
- Powershot S45
- Powershot S50
- Powershot S60
- Powershot S70
- Powershot S80
- Powershot S400
- Powershot S410
- Powershot S500

- S100 / Digital Ixus
- S110 / Digital Ixus V
- S200 / Digital Ixus V2
- S230 / Digital Ixus V3
- S330 / Digital Ixus 330
- S400 / Digital Ixus 400
- S410 / Digital Ixus 430
- S450 / Digital Ixus 55
- S500 / Digital Ixus 500
- S550 / Digital Ixus 750

- SD20 / Digital Ixus i5
- SD30 / Digital Ixus i Zoom
- SD100 / Digital Ixus ii
- SD110 / Digital Ixus iis
- SD200 / Digital Ixus 30
- SD300 / Digital Ixus 40
- SD400 / Digital Ixus 50
- SD450 / Digital Ixus 55
- SD500 / Digital Ixus 700
- SD550 / Digital Ixus 750
- SD600 / Digital Ixus 60
- SD630 / Digital Ixus 65
- SD700 / Digital Ixus 800
- SD800 / Digital Ixus 850
- SD900 / Digital Ixus 900


Other models might also be affected by the same error.

Here you can find information on how to repair Canon E18 error[via].