Black screen on S3 IS

This is really creepy.. I got my Canon S3 IS in 2006 and it was lying without batteries on my desk for a month as I was traveling. When I came back and loaded the charged batteries, all I see is a black screen on the display.. i tried everything.. changing modes..resetting factory settings..removing batteries..recharging them.. again inserting..even tried pressing the DISP and FUNC buttons but Im unable to get any display.

In play back mode I do see the images .crystal clear which I shot a month ago. So it definitely isn't the LCD. I searched online and there is this issue of CCD in S1 and S2 series and I think mine is the same.. I even called up Canon support and they are asking me to ship it to them for diagnosis..

I just wanna make sure this isnt some button trick.. and that it is a genuine issue with the image sensor.. anyone experienced the same with S3 IS?

Thanks a lot.

Even if it were a button trick, the reset would have wiped that setting, so that wouldn't be it.

My names Jamaica, and Im 14

I take pictures regularly and YES, even though i'm a teenager, I take extremely good care of my camera.
heres the thing:

I had the same problem! I just recently had a photo lesson and my instructor had seen this problem several times with her own S2 IS and some of her students cameras, identical to mine (S3 IS). She told me that if it ever were to happen, then I should get canon to get me a new camera or a refund. She warned me about this "black screen of death" and I just thought 'oh it will never happen to me!' and it did.

Just now I just wanted to snap a few pictures but when I pulled out my camera and turned it on, the 'flip out' screen was black. The eyehole is on and displaying stuff, but is very blurry. I tried taking a picture in this state and it turns out that the picture is great and looks crystal when i view it on viewing mode.. But I cant take quality pictures with a blurry eyehole and a black LCD screen!

When I switch over to view mode, The pictures display great, as if the camera was working just fine. But then as soon as I turn it back to camera mode, all hope is lost and the black screen returns.

I'm not sure how to act.. Im lost!
Will canon really replace the camera?
I think they may, considering i very recently got this camera as a gift for a birthday in early march 2008 (this year). but you knever know with corporations these days..

It may if there's a defect. What you'll need to do is contact Canon and request and RMA return (crucial to use this term). Tell them the problem. Explain that several of your school's cameras are experiencing this problem and you would like to have the camera replaced do to product defect. They may want to have you send it in for evaluation and repair estimate. You may or may not want to do this. But be very clear with them that you believe this is a product defect very similar to the faulty CCD issues that plagued the S1IS. Remind them that you are a STUDENT and use this camera for school.

Good luck.

hello
i have the same problem with black screen with my s3 is it may be a factory fault
may be a ccd problem like s2 is

Mine broke too! I need it to be fixed!