Stanfords Finest

Why will it break? E18. Error Code 18. Chances are that if you have a Canon camera you should expect a E18 message any day now you lucky thing you. I’ve had my Canon Ixus for 18 months now which is a minor miracle considering how I can lose anything at the drop of a dime. I carry my camera everywhere I go but that’s what these things are for right? Did they say on the box that they should only be used once a year on your holidays? You would therefore assume that Canon cameras are built to last but alas, like my PSP, modern technology is still promising the earth but only able to deliver a quick fumble in the back seat of a car. All fur coat and no knickers. The general rule is that if it has moving parts then sooner of later it will break down. This is why the DS wins over the PSP every time and anything that has a laser or a drive or moving part and is tiny and portable will break. Alas, The Man doesn’t want us to know that but thems the facts. So unless your portable device is solid state then you are just winding down time until it breaks. Hooray!

Today I used my camera as I do everyday; I switched it on and nothing but a black sreen with E18 in the corner and then four beeps and then it switched itself off. But that why we pay upwards of 300 pounds right? Of course. So I switched it off then on and off and on and the same thing. Basically it was busted. One type of “E18 Canon” into Google and hey, well, what do you know? There’s a whole cottage industry out there based around the Canon E18 code. There are sites like this one or that one and some that even show you how to dismantle then repair your broken piece of overpriced shit. What is happening is very clear. Canon have made a product that is faulty but are keeping quiet. A Canon camera will last you a year, if you are lucky, before it will break. Of course you can get it repaired but it will cost time and money (if you are outside the warranty) and it will only happen again anyway. It’s just postponing the inevitable. I’m going to take mine to be repaired tomorrow and I will not take no for an answer. I will let you know how I get on over the next few days but for me it’s the worst possible timing as I am going to Thailand at the end of the month and then onto India after that.

I have no problems with something breaking but when this is a known fault and I have been lied to then I have a problem. A Canon camera will last one year. If you are lucky. The choice is yours but please tell anyone that you know that this is happening so at least we all won’t be turned over.

UPDATE: I took my Camera to the service center in Wan Chai. I was ready for war but this being Asia you get nowhere quick fast by banging you fist on the table and yelling in the face of some unfortunate service gimp. I waited in line until my number was called and then I sat calmly at the desk and explained my predicament. The Canon has a bug and I will not pay for it to be repaired. The young girl behind the desk smiled at me politely and asked where I got the camera. Thailand I replied. Therefore I would have to pay anyway or take it back to Bangkok. No way I said, this thing should have a WORLDWIDE warranty. She said it did not and I asked why as Sony, Apple et al carry WORLDWIDE warranties. She had no answer, it didn’t have one and that’s that. Next she asked when I got it. I said over a year ago (it was 18 months ago) and she then informed me it was out of warranty anyway. I told her I knew this but I wanted it repaired anyway as it should last longer than one year and I am not paying for a manufacturing defect. She said it wasn’t a manufatcuring defect. I said it was and she only had to look on the internet to see how many other people were finding the same problem. She said I shouldn’t believe evrything so I asked her if all these people were liars? Am I liar? She didn’t comment and told me it would cost HK$1200 to repair. I said no way. She said I’d have to pay and said I wouldn’t.

To cut a long story short and afetr going round in circles for ten minutes she picked up the phone and spoke somebody and she then informed me they would waive the HK$200 they charge just to look at the camera. I was pleased that I had made some breakthrough but still 1200 of your Hong Kong dollars is very expensive considering I had done nothing wrong. I look at it as a form of tax that I have to pay every year just to keep the thing working. Anyway they took the camera and it is now being examined and they will call me to tell me the results. I won’t pay a bean until they tell me what is wrong with it. I’ll update as I find out more but in the meantime let’s agree on this: CANON SUCK.

UPDATE: Due to the power of my blog I think Canon must of wondered what had hit them. I called them a few days after handing it in and yes the lens was broken and needed replacing. the cost would be 1500 HK dollars. I did toy with the idea of telling them where to stick their charges but it would be pointless as 1500 would not get me anything decent. It would be a waste of money just to prove a point. I lost the battle but would win the war by never ever buying Canon again. So I reluctantly said yes, go ahead and repair it. After hearing nothing again for a few days I called them again but was amazed as to what they said. They told me the camera was ready but as they had inspected the lens and saw no damage, just some sand in the in-and-out mechanism, then the repair would only be 300 Hong Dollars. Thats 30 pounds or 60 US dollars. I was pleased and surprised as most of the E18 sites never give a happy ending so, to be balanced here is mine. Well done Canon but I think the power of my blog and the thousands of messages of support had a lot to do with it. Wise move on their part.

This entry was posted on Sunday, February 11th, 2007 at 4:11 pm and is filed under blah blah blah. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.