Zoom Error Just bought an Olympus SP550 Ultra Zoom for my daughter. In less than 24 hours the cam developed a problem. When she turns it on, the zoom lens goes part way out, a message "zoom error" shows on the screen, and it powers itself off. We thought it might just be the batteries, but new ones didn't help. Similar problem with SP-560UZ On power up lens clicks & sticks when zooms out. Then get "zoom error" & powers off. Tried new batteries, helping lens out. Leaving batteries out. Could not find a back up battery on this model?

I think a grain of sand was blocking the zoom tubes. This will not work if the camera has been dropped & the zoom apparatus is bent. It is entirely at your own risk & may invalidate any guarantee but they may charge anyway if you have got sand in. I cut a finger of 80gm computer paper 1cm X 5cm. Inserted this first  around outer zoom tube & worked it all around. It goes in quite deep so be gentle. I switched on to open zoom & tipped out batteries before it had time to close & repeated procedure. When I put batteries back in it worked OK. I repeated procedure with lens fully extended. I found a thin bit of plastic packing worked better as it did not kink so easily. It is still working today having failed 100% before.
Chris