Lens comes out when turned on, but then immediately retracts back on its own. Any ideas? Screen says something like "Please turn camera off and then back on"

SOURCE: Lumix lens retracts and extends

Belikes, any external object is trapped in between your Lens Motor and Camera Body. You should consult Authorized Service Personnel to handle this trouble.

SOURCE: Canon Powershot SD1000 Lens Will Not Retract

This is a huge recurring problem with Canon cameras. check out this website-give it a minute to load. You will see literally thousands of people with the same experience.

http://e18.bitnet.cx/comments.php?full=1

SOURCE: Casio Exilim Pro EX-P600 - lens won't retract or come out

Guys - I know this sounds absolutely bizarre but I recently had this problem with my casio exilim ex p600 (with the lens sticking when powering down and not powering back up again) and it worked for me. Pulling my hair out trying anything and everything, I decided to take the SD card out, turn the camera on (at which point hopefully your lens will go back in) then turn the camera off again, Put the SD card back in and hey presto everything ok! Doesn't make any techincal sense (and I'm semi into these things) but the lens sticking\not powering up and happened to me twice now in last few months and that sequence of events is the only thing I could do to solve it! If that doesn't crack it try taking both the SD card and the battery out and doing the same. Good luck...apologies if it doesn't work for any of you guys but it did work for me :o) Let me know how you get on when\if you try it.

SOURCE: camera freezing up

did someone spill some pop or anything near the camera? If so, then you'll need to clean that out with rubbing alcohol

SOURCE: lens stays open, won't retract when camera turned off

If your camera is still under warranty, the best thing you can do is to take it to the nearest official Canon repair shop and Canon should fix it for free.

If your camera is out of warranty, or if Canon refuses to repair it for free (happens sometimes if for example they suspect the camera has not been treated properly) you can try some of the methods listed here to repair it yourself. These simple methods have helped a lot of people fix their cameras.

Before trying any of the suggestions, make sure your Canon has fresh batteries and it is in recording mode.

1) Remove the batteries from the camera, wait for a couple of minutes, then put them back in and turn the camera on.

2) Try compressed air. With a fine tip blow off gun and dry compressed air (20 lbs) set the tip between the lens turret and the camera body and turn on the air while moving the tip around the lens. It should remove all dust and sand. Turn the camera on and it should function fine.

3) Another method is to tap the padded USB cover part on a hard surface, for example, a desk. It sounds so simple, but very often in works.

4) Try forcing the camera lens:

Turn off the camera. Place it on the back with the lens facing up and take a look at the spacing between the lens and the lens housing. If you notice that the gap is not even all the way around the lens, the problem should be easy to fix. This type of a problem usually occurs if the camera was dropped while the lens was extended.

Simply - VERY GENTLY - press down the lens on the side where the gap is the biggest. You should hear a "click" as it pops back into place. Try powering the camera back on.

If the lens doesn't extend at all or it extends, and then retracts again, do the following. Turn the camera off. Take the camera in one hand and with the other gently take one part of the lens and gently move it round in a circular movement. Do so with both sections of the lens. You will hear a "click" as it pops back in place. Power the camera on.

Another version of this fix would be to pull and twist on the largest ring of the lens while turning the camera on. Listen for a "click". If at first the focus seems to be off, turn the camera on and off and take lots of pictures, close ups and distance. Focus should slowly start improving.

5) If that doesn't work, there is an online guide for dismantling Canon cameras and fixing the E18 error. (NOTE: Try this only if your camera is no longer under warranty!) It is a great guide with pictures and it can be found here.

regards iversh
a very helpful rating is apreciated for answering ur query.....