My Canon SD500 LCD broke for no obvious reason and it seems to be a common problem with Canon cameras, particularly the SD series.

I've posted a bunch of information on my site at http://rene.conneriver.com and I also posted to digg.com.

Anybody on here have a mysteriously broken LCD?

Rene

I read that the screens had this problem. I lost my s200 a few months back and was looking at this for a replacement.
how do you like it otherwise?

SD300 ok here.

I hate to say it, but it looks a whole lot like an impact fracture. Maybe time to start questioning the wife/kids/cow-orker/dog etc...

I think Scott Adams said approximately the same thing when he coined the phrase in The Dilbert Principle.

I'll have to re-read that (and the others)- it's been too long since the last time.

Yeah, I know what you mean. I just love those books. I've got four of them, has he written any more since then?

/me checks Amazon...

Hm, looks like I need to get "Top Secret Management Handbook". I'm skipping the two God books because I'm pretty sure he'd be preaching to the choir with me.

Glad (in a way ) to see I am not the only one here... though my jaw almost hit the floor when I read your post! Any idea what happened to yours??? I still don't know what happened to mine as I was the only one who had used it. My fiancee hardly touches the camera and she would tell me if she did break it and no one else had access to the camera when it broke.

For those of you who are interested I have an entry on my blog at http://rene.conneriver.com/ as well as pictures and somewhat of a writeup in my gallery linked from my blog.

I hope it helps you Tony. I could probably do it myself in about 20 minutes now that I have already figured out how to strip my camera apart.

If you need any assistance feel free to email me.

Rene

P.S. I didn't disasseble mine until I had my new LCD in hand so I could make sure they matched as I was taking things apart. I also wouldn't have to worry about forgetting what went where when reassembling.

Actually, I already stripped my camera apart to make sure I could do it before ordering the LCD on Monday. Pretty straightforward stuff. But I'm glad that you have those photos up just in case I need a reference.

Regarding what happened: I've got a pretty good idea, but the thing is, I can tell from the fracture that it was stresses on the casing, and not an impact on the LCD itself, that caused the break. The fracture originated at the corner of the point next to where the ribbon cable tucks beneath the LCD. It was clearly the aluminum LCD frame pressing against the LCD glass that caused it. The origin point of the fracture isn't even visible from outside the camera.

Anyway, it happened at the same time I dropped my empeg case (the camera lives in the side pocket) and caused the hairline fracture in my empeg's VFD glass, that I mentioned in another thread. Thankfully, the empeg VFD is still working. The case hit in a completely different spot than where the camera lives, but I guess it was the sudden G forces that caused the stress on the casing that snapped the glass.

Oh, also, I find it amusing that the LCD in the camera is a Sony part.

I sold my SD400 on Craigslist for $300 and am planning to buy the SD450. The 450 is SUPPOSED to have addressed the fragile screen issue, although I can't find anything official on that - just conversation on www.dpreview.com.

- Jon

BTW, I dunno why someone paid $300 for a camera that can be bought brand new from Dell for 263.00, but I'm not complaining...

So they know there's an issue? Should I be asking for my LCD free when I call them on Monday?

Argh. Got the replacement LCD, put it in really carefully, everything fits together perfectly, and the unit won't turn back on. Argh argh argh.

Argh argh argh.

From ShadowMan's gallery:

Quote:
The camera didn't turn on the first time and I panicked a little. I removed the memory card and battery and reseated both and she fired up!

First thing I looked for, and first thing I tried.

argh argh argh

Is today "Talk like a Pirate Day"?

No, it's scream and panic day, it seems. I'm completely stumped as to why this thing isn't working.

please don't find this insulting, but are you sure the battery is charged?

No insult taken, always good to check assumptions.

I have two batteries for the camera, both of which I took the opportunity to recharge during the time I waited for the replacement LCD. I have tried both batteries.

Incidentally, I'm not the only person to have this problem. Haven't gotten a reply back from him yet.

Wow, this sucks for you. Not to sound mean, but it really does suck.

Have you disassebled the camera again to see if there is something you missed? Mine didn't start the first time for some reason unknown to me but luckily it did the second time around. Maybe you have something just a little out of place inside. You are pretty competent with this kind of thing so taking it apart again shouldn't be too big a deal for you.

I hope Canon/Sony admits to a flaw in these cameras sometime and maybe gives us our money back for the screens and a little extra for our own labour!

Good luck, watching the thread closely.

Rene


P.S. Any pics of your Elph surgery?