While Canon has managed to maintain a reputation of quality and impeccable design standards, its products are not immune to malfunction.
The onset of these problems can be quite distressing as most of them are direct attacks on the camera software, and the last thing a photographer wants to deal with is a camera that is refusing to turn on in shoot venues or lens with partial retraction.
Troubleshooting may be tremendously handy and helpful; getting it right may not always be a cake and cheese case. Besides the camera failing to turn on, other Canon camera problems that can take a toll on you include the LCD failing to display any image or the screen flickering. Others include white dots in the photos and the camera images failing to be transmitted to the TV.
While we consider how to fix these canon Camera issues, the cost of fixing them may also need to be loosed into, as well as the causes of the problem. Check them out:
Why is My Canon Camera Not Working?

There are a couple of causes associated with Canon cameras refusing to come on. Have you tried over and over to get it to come on, and it still stays dormant? Here are a few possible reasons for that:
Drained battery
This is one of the major reasons why you may attempt to turn on your camera, and it isn’t responding. If the camera has been in use for a pretty long time, then the battery power may have been completely exhausted.
Faulty battery
If your Canon battery is charged, yet it’s not functioning, a possible culprit could be a fault from the battery. If everything else seems to have been working in the camera, then a faulty battery may be the reason for the dormancy.
How to Troubleshooting Canon Camera
Using the Canon camera, you may encounter a couple of problems that may not display an error message or clues to what the problem is. Troubleshooting problems under this category can be quite difficult.
Here are some hacks and tricks you can apply when next your Canon has a hitch:
01. The camera will not come on
The camera refusal to come on can be linked to a couple of causes, and even though they may not be serious issues, they do create an unprecedented setback for the photographer. One of the major causes of this issue is the battery not being properly inserted.
Even if it was a charger that the battery was inserted in, it might be it wants to be done properly, or possibly the charger of the battery is not properly plugged into an outlet. This translates to the battery not having charged.
You can solve this problem by making sure the battery’s metal terminals are clean. To do this, use a dry cloth to wipe off any grime that may be stuck at the contact points. Also, if the compartment door of the battery isn’t closed properly, it may cause the camera not to turn on.
02. The lens retracts only partly.
It happens that this problem is often associated with the user inadvertently opening the compartment cover of the battery while using the camera. In this case, all that needs to be done is to close the compartment cover of the battery securely, then turn on the camera and turn it off again. This should cause the lens to retract.
It could also be that the housing of the lens has debris that’s causing the housing of the lens to stick out while retracting. To get rid of this debris, have the housing cleaned with a dry cloth after the lens is extended fully. Failing to do this could damage the lens.
03. LCD failing to display the image
If you’re familiar with the Canon PowerShot brand, you notice that some of them have a DISP button. This button may be responsible for the LCD going on and off, and if this is the case, all you have to do is press the DISP button for the LCD to come on.
Such an issue is common when there is an option for an electronic viewfinder useful for framing photos together with the LCD with the screen for also framing photos.
The live screen can be actively running the electronic viewfinder, so when you press the electronic DISP button, the live screen can be switched back to the LCD screen.
04. Flickering LCD screen
One common thing with Canon cameras is their LCD screen flickering when held close to fluorescent light. To stop this from happening, don’t bring the camera close to the fluorescent light.
The LCD sometimes may also flicker when one is viewing a scene during shoot sessions with minimal light. However, if the LCD seems to flicker habitually in all shooting scenes, then the camera calls for repair.
05. Photos have white dots.
White dots on the photos taken are most likely a result of the camera flash giving off a reflection of dust or other kinds of airborne particles. To correct this, turn off the camera’s flash or allow the dust in the air to clear before you begin shooting.
Another probable cause of this problem is the camera lens having spots on it, which interferes with the image quality. Make sure your lens is sparkling clean. Otherwise, you may have a problem with the sensor creating white dots on the pictures taken.
06. The image in the LCD looks different from the actual picture.
Certain point-and-shoot models of the camera don’t create a precise match image from the LCD and the real display, causing, in some cases, the LCD to display only about 95% of the shot.
A difference as this is even more exaggerated nearby of the subject to the lens. You may have to look up the specification list for your PowerShot to see if they made specifications of scene coverage percentage.
07. The camera’s image is failing to display on my TV.
Figuring out the technique for getting photos to display on your TV can be a tricky task. To make this happen, press the camera Menu button and select the Settings tab. When this is done, now try matching the camera’s video system settings with what the TV uses.
Some PowerShot cameras cannot display photos on TV screens due to their lack of HDMI capability or a missing HDMI port.
How to Fix a Canon Camera Problems
Fixing a Canon camera may or may not be under your purview, depending on the criticality of the problem, and most importantly, being the sensor and lens are very fragile parts of the camera component, you don’t want to get them permanently damaged while you’re attempting to fix them.
Besides problems that arise from system glitches or malfunction or some build limitations or flaws, we strongly recommend you book a Canon repair service to have the problem handled. This way, you get experts that can diagnose the actual problems of the Canon model you’ve presented them and apply expert repair knowledge to fix the fault.
01. Dropped Canon camera won’t turn on
If you’re shooting or handling your camera and it mistakenly slips from your hand, there shouldn’t be much panic about this as there are troubleshooting techniques you can apply if the camera is failing to come on.
The feeling of this could be sickening, however, and the few seconds before it reaches the ground could cause your heart to jump to your mouth; as you know, broken cameras are almost impossible to repair, even at a fixed shop.
If after you’ve picked up the camera, you press the power button as the instinct usually leads, if it fails to come on, don’t worry, keep your worry at arm’s length and try this simple hack.
02. Loose door to the battery compartment
Check the compartment of the battery, as it’s often common for the most fragile part of the battery to feel the impact the most. For a lot of Canon cameras, this part happens to be the door to the battery compartment, which after the fall, may even pop open. Some cameras will fail to come on if this compartment is, so try to reach that area.
03. Loose battery
Almost something similar to the above tip, check if the battery is still in place. Secure it back in place, as the battery would fail to work if it popped open from the camera.
04. Loose memory card
Check the memory card slot. Is the memory card seated in the position? As with the camera battery, a sudden impact on the camera can cause the card to pop loose, although this is less common, and while the camera may still turn on even if the memory card is loose, failing to check this potential cause wouldn’t do you any good.
05. Inspect the buttons on the camera
Have a close inspection of the buttons of the camera. Are they securely still sitting in place? A sudden jolt could cause a twist to the dial, making it seem like the camera isn’t working. Please take a close look at the buttons to ensure one of them isn’t jammed such that it stays on.
How do I know if My Camera Sensor is Damaged?
To know if your camera sensor is damaged, these are the signs you should be on the lookout for:
01. Sudden decrease in picture and video quality
This happens to be the most obvious evidence of a damaged camera sensor. Suddenly, everything begins to look blurry or strange lines may begin to appear in the photos.
If you notice this, there’s a high chance your sensor is bad. In certain other cases, you may experience a reduction in the dynamic range of your photos, while in severe cases, you start getting black images.
02. Display of multi-color stripes
When you begin noticing strange spots and stripes on your photos, it’s a big pointer to a probably faulty sensor. These lines are a result of the damage done to the silicon wafers located inside the assembly of the sensor. Most times, this damage is oddly permanent.
03. The appearance of hot pixels
Dead pixels are pixels that stay black regardless of the amount of light that hits them. When you have a bad sensor, it is often common to see these hot pixels in your photos. Hot pixels, on the other hand, embody a distinction from dead ones, as they are bright white and are more conspicuous.
Canon Camera Repair Cost
There are different repair rates for Canon, with these rates classified as A, which stands for minor repair, and B for standard repair, while C and D stand for major and major time to repair, respectively.
Most repair people take their Canon camera to repair shops for are classed under the B repair rate, which is about $180, inclusive of the standard shipping fee.
How to Clean Canon Mirrorless Camera Sensor And Lenses(Video)
Top Questions (FAQs)
How long is a Canon camera warranty?
While Canon has a one-year limited warranty, CarePak Pro provides you with options for a year or two of coverage for your Canon product, with years of service stretching into 3 beginning from the day the camera was purchased.
How much does it cost to clean my Canon DSLR?
A professional cleaning service usually costs about $75, plus an additional $25 for shipping. This is enough to fetch you good supplies that you can clean your camera with for a couple of years before you need restocking.
Why is an orange light blinking on my Canon?
If you’re getting blinking orange shots on your camera, a common cause for this is a warning asking you to slow your shutter speed.
Quite oddly, you may be getting these blinks on overcast or sunny days. If you experience this, carry out a dark room hack where you sit close to a lamp and point the camera lens towards and away from the lamp while listening for clicks.
Verdict
Camera malfunction is inevitable with any brand, and Canon users are not spared of this too. The problems, however, may be little day-to-day common glitches or runtime hitches.
Perhaps the camera may have fallen from you; we have provided some simple hacks, save for serious and intractable problems that require the interference of a specialist.
These hacks are everything you need to keep getting your camera back up and running when you experience a slight failure. We hope it helps.