Canon Powershot SD1000 Lens Will Not Retract

The lens is normally retracted for safety about one minute after you press the button in Shooting mode . To have the lens retracted immediately after you press the button, set the retraction timing to [0 sec.].Choose [Lens Retract], and then choose [0 sec.].

From the way you describe the problem it appears that the retraction mechanism has become out of line. I think that as you can hear a clicking sound the mechanism is working but not engaging with the lens. Try gently applying slight pressure on the front of the lens this may help to re-engage. You may need to consider a trip to the repair shop.

HI there, the camera lens gear is damaged from internal. So you must changed that. Other wise it gives you lot of trouble. Thanks.

hi your answer of your problem e18 lens will not retract.
i have send this information to solve your problem.


Turned the camera on with weak batteries. Lens extended and won't retract.

Hello there,
The E18 error is related to the LENS not able to retract fully. If it is still under warranty, I would advise you bring it to the nearest service center. This is to avoid further damages. Otherwise, you can try a few things below.
There are a couple of things you can do.
1. Turn it on and then off. Spray canned air around the lens.
If trick 1 will not work out, try this.
2. Make sure the battery is fully charged. Turn on the camera and then give it a couple of firm whacks on the side. Make sure nothing is blocking the lens and wait for it to fully retract.
Let me know how it goes.

the block is damaged ...see if the lens barrels are a little bent or something....

Dear Grammie,

You have either experienced a lens error or your zoom dial is broken (both usually caused by some sort of impact damage, but which can be spontaneously occuring).

Look for an error message on your camera's LCD screen such as "E18," or "lens error restart camera." If you do not see a lens error but simply cannot retract your zom lens (go into wide angle mode) via the zoom lever then it simply maybe a broken command dial. Either way, however, you will need to have the camera serviced in all likelihood. Call tech support at 1-800-828-4040 M-F from 8 am to 12 midnight EST and Saturdays until 8 pm EST. Hope this helps.

Sincerely,
HeavyDLB

1>>u may have dropped the camera in some place.
2>>the camera POWER ON switch must have got pressed while the camera was inside pouch. if this has happened, the lens system gets jammed and so lens wont retract. for this problem it costs nearly 1800rupees in indian service center.

This is a gradual breakdown of the zoom mechanism due to ingress of dirt or having had a knock. A repair will be expensive- Fuji support will advice.

Manually rotating sensor rotor inside camera and cleaning gear fixed the Canon "lens error" for me.  
I placed instructions with photo's here: http://www.avh.dds.nl/Fix-Canon-SD600-Lens-Error/