Canon Class Action Denied
Judge Blocks Suit On Behalf of Shutterbugs
By Joseph S. Enoch
ConsumerAffairs.Com
September 27, 2006
Canon Not So Candid • Cameras
• "e18" Error
• Printers & Scanners
• "Worldwide" Warranty
• Rebates
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News
• Canon Class Action Denied
• Canon Leaves Camera Customers in the Dark
• Canon Addresses Some Camera Problems But Not Others
• Class Action Suit Charges Canon Ignored e18 Error
In a heartbreaking loss for the many consumers affected by faulty Canon cameras,
a United States District Court judge in New York has decided not to allow a
class action lawsuit against Canon.
"He (the judge) considered only the defendant's version," Richard Doherty, the
lawyer who filed the case, said.
Doherty was seeking to file a class action case against Canon because many of
their cameras have a number of known defects.
Probably the most commonly known defect is the E18 error. Every camera with a
zoom lens feature has what is called a bellows claw. This part is essentially
the gear that physically extends and retracts the lens.
Doherty said a piece that holds the lens, the barrier plate, is not large enough
and can sometimes cause the bellows claw to malfunction, resulting in a stuck
lens and a message on the LCD screen that says: "E18."
ConsumerAffairs.Com has received over 60 complaints about Canon cameras failing.
It is almost the same story every time.
"I bought a Canon Powershot digital camera to take family pictures and upload to
my computer," wrote Lupe of Salinas, Calif. "I have had it for just over a year.
It took great pictures and then one day I got 'e18' on the display screen. It
will not turn on or do anything else. I emailed cannon and they want $155 to
repair. This camera cost almost $300."
Canon cameras also have a known defect with their Charge-Coupled Device (CCD).
The CCD is to digital cameras what film is to 35mm. It captures the light and
converts it to a form that can be understood by a computer and finally, the
user. Canon's CCD can sometimes yield blurred images or distorted colors.
In April of 2005, ConsumerAffairs.Com reported that Canon's Asian website
admitted there was a problem associated with the Sony-made CCD found in Canon's
cameras. Canon still has not made this news public to U.S. consumers.
One other known issue is that the LCD screen found on the back of the camera is
prone to breaking. Canon increased the size of the screen, but did not increase
its support -- meaning it takes less pressure to crack.
To make matters worse, the case that comes with many cameras is often the cause
of the LCD cracking. The case does not indicate which way the camera should be
placed. There is a snap-on button on one side. If the user chooses wrong and
places the camera LCD in the case facing the button, that button with the right
amount of pressure can crack the screen.
Finally, Canon cameras also have issues with memory cards that store the photos.
When a digital camera takes a photo, it sends the image to a flash memory card
for storage. If the photo does not arrive in the memory within a set time
period, the photo is lost.
Some flash memory cards require more time than others. However, Canon has set
their cameras to send the photo in 100 milliseconds, or one tenth of a second.
Some memory cards require more time than this and thus, the camera will not work
with those cards. Doherty said Canon has offered fixes for some of their cameras
to fix this problem, but not others.
"I don't see any reason why it needs to be set that fast," Doherty said.
Documentation proves that Canon is well aware of the defects in their cameras,
but is doing nothing for the consumers who purchased these cameras, Doherty, of
Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates, a Chicago law firm, said.
"Canon has refused to stand behind the cameras, and offers consumers who paid
approximately $400 for what they thought was a high-quality digital camera the
option of a repair costing at least $150 or the opportunity to purchase a
refurbished, used camera for $175," Doherty told ConsumerAffairs.Com in November
2005 when he originally filed for class status.
Although Doherty has appealed the judge's decision, he said he does not know how
long it will take before the appeal is considered.
What To Do
Canon-lovers, what are your options? Well, be sure to hang onto your purchase
receipt. Keep a copy of your warranty. Keep copies of any repair records. And
keep your fingers crossed. It's always possible you'll be one of the lucky ones
who cameras don't experience any of these problems.
If your camera does fail, notify Canon in writing, citing this article and the
numerous complaints on our site. File a complaint with ConsumerAffairs.Com.
Complaints filed with our site are made available to class-action attorneys,
including Doherty.
If you are willing to spend a little time and a few dollars, head for your local
Small Claims Court and file against Canon. Check our state-by-state listings to
learn more.
Are there more reliable cameras out there? Maybe, but it's important to note
that the internal workings of most digital cameras are pretty much the same, and
are often manufactured by the same supplier. It's the optics and the "packaging"
that differentiate one brand from another.
Digital cameras are arguably more convenient than film cameras and, while they
are generally more expensive to buy, they may be cheaper to use over the long
run, depending on what process you use to print your photos. But more reliable
they're not, at least not yet.
For those can't-miss moments, it's still a good idea to keep a small film camera
in pocket or purse. Nothing beats a back-up.
On Thu, 05 Oct 2006 09:40:37 -0700, nospam@nospam.com wrote:
>Canon Class Action Denied
>Judge Blocks Suit On Behalf of Shutterbugs
Uh-oh.
>Probably the most commonly known defect is the E18 error. Every camera with a
>zoom lens feature has what is called a bellows claw. This part is essentially
>the gear that physically extends and retracts the lens.
>Doherty said a piece that holds the lens, the barrier plate, is not large enough
>and can sometimes cause the bellows claw to malfunction, resulting in a stuck
>lens and a message on the LCD screen that says: "E18."
>ConsumerAffairs.Com has received over 60 complaints about Canon cameras failing.
>It is almost the same story every time.
Yeah, I read about that before I bought an A530.
>Canon cameras also have a known defect with their Charge-Coupled Device (CCD).
>The CCD is to digital cameras what film is to 35mm. It captures the light and
>converts it to a form that can be understood by a computer and finally, the
>user. Canon's CCD can sometimes yield blurred images or distorted colors.
Didn't know about that one.
>In April of 2005, ConsumerAffairs.Com reported that Canon's Asian website
>admitted there was a problem associated with the Sony-made CCD found in Canon's
>cameras. Canon still has not made this news public to U.S. consumers.
Sony's been making crap for years. Big laptop battery recall just
recently.
>One other known issue is that the LCD screen found on the back of the camera is
>prone to breaking. Canon increased the size of the screen, but did not increase
>its support -- meaning it takes less pressure to crack.
I understand the camera has a viewfinder and was planning on using
that since I've never used an LCD when shooting.
>To make matters worse, the case that comes with many cameras is often the cause
>of the LCD cracking. The case does not indicate which way the camera should be
>placed. There is a snap-on button on one side. If the user chooses wrong and
>places the camera LCD in the case facing the button, that button with the right
>amount of pressure can crack the screen.
I bought a so-called "soft" case with my order. The camera didn't
come w/case.
Thanks for the heads-up about the LCD being prone to breaking.
>Finally, Canon cameras also have issues with memory cards that store the photos.
>When a digital camera takes a photo, it sends the image to a flash memory card
>for storage. If the photo does not arrive in the memory within a set time
>period, the photo is lost.
>Some flash memory cards require more time than others. However, Canon has set
>their cameras to send the photo in 100 milliseconds, or one tenth of a second.
>Some memory cards require more time than this and thus, the camera will not work
>with those cards. Doherty said Canon has offered fixes for some of their cameras
>to fix this problem, but not others.
Something else for me to think about. I bought a 1GB Sandisk card
too. Hope it works ok. It was advertised next to the camera on
Amazon.
>What To Do
>Canon-lovers, what are your options? Well, be sure to hang onto your purchase
>receipt. Keep a copy of your warranty. Keep copies of any repair records. And
>keep your fingers crossed. It's always possible you'll be one of the lucky ones
>who cameras don't experience any of these problems.
Got my fingers crossed.
Thanks.
--Vic
On 5 Oct 2006 13:56:58 -0700, in misc.consumers.frugal-living "Ryan"
>I have owned many digital cameras and the Canon's were ALWAYS the very
>best. I use two today and they are far superior to anything else I have
>used.
>That said, this is not a major loss, most class action settlements I
>have seen or been a part of end up giving the consumer $5 here and $2
>there when the lawyers take their fees.
Just enough to cover postage costs for mailing the camera back for warranty
service. It really pisses me off that I have to pay the postage for warranty
service and a clearly defective piece of merchandize. I suppose they will
replace my Canon Powershot a520 with the same model but will it have warranty?
Probably only a very short one and then this camera will be a total loss for me.
My Canon a520 is a piece of junk, I will never buy another Canon and since I've
read that Sony made some of the defective parts for it I will not buy another
sony. But I've also seen the cheap parts that the inside of my HP all in one
printer scanner copier is made of so I will not buy an HP digital camera either.
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