The most common problem is a sticky lens. In this case, the lens cannot move smoothly due to the adhesion of the glass plate. Another type of problem is a broken gear. The gears inside the lens assembly work together to make sure that the image sensor moves up and down in sync with the movement of the lens. The third problem is a dirty lens – dirt particles can enter the lens and affect the focus.
Also See: How to Fix a Blurry DSLR Camera Lens
If you are having problems with a jammed camera lens, you can try to use one of the following techniques:
1. Change the Battery
Your camera’s battery may be at fault if you suddenly can’t get the lens to extend. The battery may not be strong enough to allow the lens to extend. Therefore, you’ll need to swap out the battery for a new one.
Before attempting to extend the lens once more, you should allow the batteries to be recharged for six hours if they are rechargeable. After you’ve charged the battery, you can test extending the lens by pressing the button.
If you accidentally dropped the camera while the lens was extended, returning the camera to its factory settings might be able to help. The camera needs to be turned off and the battery and memory card removed to be reset. Now replace the battery, but leave the memory card out.
If there is a problem with the memory card, an error message will appear on the camera’s screen. This is perfectly OK. If you attempt to extend the lens, the camera will try to reset it. This reset may restore normal operation of the stuck lens. Reinsert the memory card into the camera; this may solve the problem.
2. Clear Away the Dust
When a camera is dropped while its lens is extended, dust particles might get wedged into the microscopic crevices. If the lens barrel becomes clogged with dust or dirt, you may experience difficulty moving the lens.
To remove the lens again, you’ll need to clear off the dust first. A small air blower can clear the lens of dust by pushing air through its tiny openings. The lens can also be cleaned with a piece of paper. It should function properly once the crevices have been cleaned.
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3. Compress the Lens’s Barrel
Whenever the camera attempts to extend the lens, the central portion of the lens rotates. The camera may need to be nudged or pulled gently by the barrel of the lens in order to extend it fully.
In certain cases, this may be all that’s needed to free up the stuck lens. Thus, as the camera is trying to extend or retract the lens, a tiny push or pull on the lens will aid in unjamming it.
4. Clean the Lens Barrel
It is necessary to clean the lens barrel after it has been dislodged. First, you can point the camera downward and shake it a little to remove the dirt inside the barrel. The next step is to use a portable vacuum cleaner set to a low setting to remove any remaining dust from the lens barrel. Lens extension and retraction should now function normally.
You should be able to find a solution to your problem with the help of the tips above. If it doesn’t work, it’s time to take the camera to an expert.