Canon S1 IS flash operation problem

[Chi]

Okay, here's a slight variant on the problem I've seen here. When I hold the button halfway down, the flash DOES pop up; it just doesn't flash.

This might be something crazy simple, but I know NOTHING about cameras. This is the only "decent" camera I've ever owned.

Thanks in advance for any and all help!

[paps350]

Your repair instructions worked great and in ten minutes I had mine repaired. The hardest part was finding a screwdriver small enough to fit the screw. A pair of tweezers helped get it back together.

Originally Posted by fisher112

I recently purchased an S1 IS and had the exact same problem with the flash not popping up correctly, but I found the problem on mine. When the flash "clicked" as many of you have observed, the release mechanism fails to 'let go' of the flash, which is sprung. On mine, I forced the flash open (this is probably not recommended, but I did it at least 10 times without breaking or bending any parts). To make a long story short, if you look under the flash (left side as you're facing the flash), you will see a black catch mechanism held on by one small Phillips screw. When I removed this screw and pulled the catch off, there was a very small washer in between the catch and the flash plastic housing....this appears to be an assembly error. I reassembled the catch with the washer on the screw-side of the catch, and this fixed the problem completely. Again, the reassembly is Catch-Washer-Screw, NOT Washer-Catch-Screw. Hopefully this helps everyone out having this problem.


Scott