Specifications
- 4 megapixels (effective)
- 3x optical zoom/3.3x digital zoom
- autofocus only
- program exposure
- JPEG file format
- ISO range 100-400
- proprietary Lithium-Ion battery
- movie mode with sound
- includes EasyShare camera dock
Editors' Comments
The Kodak EasyShare LS443 is designed for photographers who want to shoot, download and share pictures with an absolute minimum of hassle. While the enclosed docking station and EasyShare software let complete novices enjoy the benefits of digital photography, a substantial number of reviewers complain that the camera produces blurry images and suffers from lengthy shutter lag. If image clarity is a major concern, there are better 4 megapixel cameras available.
Kodak EasyShare LS443 Comments & Questions (write your own!)
Here is a similar discussion for the same problem/ same camera:
stevesforums.com/forums/vie...
If your not too worried about the camera give it a good hard slap, the dx range was notorious for jammed lenses and shutter, being just a thin sliver of plastic any damp tends to make them stick together, so far Ive "fixed" 5 dx3900's by giving it a good hard slap, hold the camera and bash the edge next to the lens against the palm of you hand as hard as you can, one I did have to get a little more medieval on and bashed aginst a bit of carpet on the bench.. but it worked... might be worth a go if the next step is the bin...
I foolowed your suggestiosn (nothing to lose, right?) and it worked like a charm. Thanks!
something i forgot for others, it may also be the lens contacts or grit in the gears
open it up on the side of the lens you will see a row of thin gold coloured contacts that report the lens position back to the cpu sometimes these get dirty or bent.
on the side of the lens is a motor, look where the gear meets the lens and use a pin to flip out any grit that is stuck in the teeth.
Its very unlikely the lens is "out of alignment" this just cant happen unless its been dropped or bashed, in which case it may be broken.
l8rs
jay
Thanks
Gaz
That pricey 3x optical lens on my wife's Kodak EasyShare v530 (lens mfg: Schneider-Kreuznach) has been stuck open for nearly a month. Error e45 on the display. I told her to google it, but she'd sat on it all this time.
Took matters into my own hands. Very first link led me to this forum. After reading the related posts, I listened closely to the camera. When I powered it on, I could actually hear the gears spinning but without closing. A few hard smacks later....Voila. Problem fixed.
Took less time to fix (incl. research) than it's taken to write this reply.
Hopefully, other Kodak customers will benefit and the company will fix this manufacturing flaw in future versions. Great camera otherwise. Was going to by one for myself. Now I'm reconsidering. Those Exilims are pretty slick.
Jay your method worked like a charm. A bit hesitant to smack but it WORKED!!!
THANK YOU
kris
Great advice!!! I have a Kodak LS753 and I have it a good smack and baam it worked like a charm!! I'm travelling in Vietnam and I'm so happy my camera is working again!
Thanks again,
Amanda
Can anyone help me??? please!! and thank you!
THANK YOU!!!
I tried to turn it on but the lens was stuck! and I made a horrible noise. But with All of your guy's awnsers helped me soo much.
I would have been in soo much trouble without these awnsers.
I thought "slamming the side of the camera" would never work.
But what do you know I fixed the camera in less than thirty seconds. And it didint cost anything.
Thank you all soo much. :]
This trick worked PERFECTLY! I was amazed and glad, because I really though I was looking at replacing yet another camera. This is the third one I've gotten replaced due to problems with the hardware.
THANK YOU!
Ok so I tried the smacking and well I was scared looking at the screen turn rainbow colors but than my lens was working but after a few more smacks nothing happens, now i hear the clicking grrr noise everyone is hearing but still the #E45 and now my palm is red and hurts.....whats the next step dont know, didnt pay much for this camera and dont want to spend much to fix it...so I guess ill keep smacking it.
hey hey .. thank u jay!!! u saved my 500 bugs...
my friend faced the same problem and he gave 500 bugs to the dealer to fix it...
but as adviced by jay, i just slaped my camera and ot works..... thank u again...
Thank you SO much!
thanks for the tip hahaha.
Thanks very much.
(Kodak EasyShare DX4330)
I was all worried that the camera was ruined after I tried turning it on and that E45 error showed up. I was already getting the irresponsible 15-year-old speech from my parents but after I smacked the side of the lens it was able to close and open. The only problem is that when i try to turn it off it still doesn't go all the way...anybody have any suggestions as to what i can do?
Thanks :]
the E45 error a week ago with the lense stuck open. I was already in the process of looking at another
camera when I decided to Google the E45 code and found this page. Drastic measures but what a money
saver when it works. Thank you whoever thought this one up.
I was disappointed earlier after slapping it slowly. But what the hell we already purchased a new camera and this one was just sitting there in the closet for at least two year now. Foolish me I got time now to check whats wrong with it.....
A harder slap....Man.....THAT WAS IT......girr girrr and here you go. Thanks Jay !!!!
So I slammed the kodak on my hand... nothing. Harder... nothing... took a book and slammed the camera down on it. SHAZAM! it worked... I figured, what did i have to lose, so I really SLAMMED IT!!
SO, in a matter of one day, I figured out how to fix my dud Kodak, and learned about a recall on my minolta! YAHOO, I will have my 2 favorite cameras again!!
:)
I am so happy...
thanks Jay
the light sensor is off, i checked the manuel, and its not dirty. the settings are fine, but any time taking a still outside the white is way the hell too high, everything is light blue and white, and all glared.
i thought ,well i can take pictures inside (inside were normal) , and videos, so cool somthing is better than nothing i went online to check if there were any firmware updates(it was1.01 i think) the update was 1.03. i followed every instructin as of "meathod two" in the online instructions at kodak.com
i turned it on after i put the firmware on, no instructions appeared, and the lens stuck out, and the motor buzzed in a low pitch 3 times loudly, witch, it never did that before.
it shows on the lcd "camera error #E45 see users guide"
i found this page and this is where i am now.
luckily, my dad knows it wasn't me who caused this disaster known as E45.
any suggestions?
please help
you can reach my at
adamjames95@comcast.net
www.youtube.com/user/AJDeakin2
www.myspace.com/sk8erboy2425
i check my youtube and myspace more currently
THX! -Adam Deakin
some other comments talk about a slaps method, whats the slaps?
I was really depressed because I loved the 10X of this model.
I whacked the camera as I turned it on, Voila!
I could kiss you!
I slapped it square on the back on a carpeted floorseveral times while truning it on and off.
Thank goodness for google as it led me here to this site.
Like the one post said I had nothing to lose as my choices were $150 to Kodak to repair or buy a new one at the same cost.
This worked like a charm - thank you so much Jay.
Thank you!!!
Thanks, Jay!
EasyShare LS743
extended review: i'll admit that i was super reluctant to take jays advice. i bought my camera in april of 2005 and have loved it ever since. there are definitely better cameras out there now, but this camera has given me some of the best pictures ive ever seen.
the error occurred without notice, i had LITERALLY just turned my camera off and back on and it erred. this was the first forum that i found. i read it over and figured that if it worked for everyone else, i might have a shot.
i gave it a couple of love taps on the left side and it worked!
i suggest you try this before getting it repaired.
-paul
I was already filling up the process on the kodak website when I read some more of the comments on here and saw that the lens should be closed (you can see if it's open or not by just noticing how big they are, like your eyes pupil, if they're big they're open, if they're small, they're closed)
then I turned on the camera and started to notice when was the moment the lens would be closed, in the whole starting process, when the lens were closed I smacked the camera real good against my wooden table and IT WORKED!
I'm soooo glad, I didn't want to spend money on repairing it, much less get a new camera 'cause I love this camera so much...
thanks to anyone that helped, hope my experience can help somebody too!
edit: Just so you know, I have a kodak Z730
what should i do ? pls help me cuz this isnt my camera :)
i have the manual for v 570. the page 50 says help it at www.kodak.com/go/v570support.
and what happens when i go to this site? i get page does not exist.
I'm afraid all I've been able to find about this error in the past is that it's an internal lens error and most people say that the cost of fixing it is equivalent to a new camera. I know that's not what you want to hear. The good news is that one or two reviewers HAVE said that they called Kodak and got it fixed cheaply, so I guess it's a matter of calling them and seeing what they say.
Here are a few links talking about it:
stevesforums.com/forums/vie...
volokh.com/posts/1136170949...
Sorry but the news is all bad. I read many posts on this subject and finally decided that the camera was pooped, so I took it to pieces (figured that it couldn't get any worse).
To understand what has happened you need to understand some fundamental rules about gear trains (between the motor and the lens there are a number of gears), as the speed is slowed down by the gearing, the load on the gears in the train increases. About one or two gears back from the lens there is a small gear which runs on a plastic spindle which is a moulded part of the lens body. That spindle shears off as a result of the load applied to it. The ONLY fix is a new lens carrier body. Unfortunately the construction seems to be......start with the lens body, and build EVERYTHING else on to it, so when you get to the lens body, you don't have a camera, you have a take-away container full of bits. It's probably cheaper to provide a new camera than repair the old one.
MY OPINION, for what it's worth is that it's a fundamentally bad design it would have been very easy to make that spindle twice the size thereby at least giving the thing a chance of surviving.
If you're interested I can send you photos of the offending parts.
Since I took that one to pieces a friend of a friend handed over another one with the same error message (so of course I took that one to pieces too.............................now if anyone wants spares for a 443.....)
The outcome of that one (still a lens error) is that INSIDE the lens carrier body are two pieces of flat ribbon cable, designed to roll back and forth as the lens extends and retracts, BOTH were broken. Dare I suggest that this camera might have been designed on a Friday..................Ho Hum!
I noticed you haven't marked a Best Answer... are you still looking for help? If so, I recommend re-submitting your question at digitalcamera-hq.com so it has a better chance of being noticed. Lately questions are being answered within just one or two days. Good luck!
If your not too worried about the camera give it a good hard slap, the dx range was notorious for jammed lenses and shutter, being just a thin sliver of plastic any damp tends to make them stick together, so far Ive "fixed" 5 dx3900's by giving it a good hard slap, hold the camera and bash the edge next to the lens against the palm of you hand as hard as you can, one I did have to get a little more medieval on and bashed aginst a bit of carpet on the bench.. but it worked... might be worth a go if the next step is the bin...
Since posting this message I decided to have a bit more of a play with the Kodak compacts and have bought various dead units off eBay to have a play with.
DC215, DX3900, CX4230, C340, DX7630, still to come v603
They all use a gearbox to slow down and power up the drive to extend the zoom.
The DC215 uses a very nice metal gearbox, which seems nigh on bomb proof, if you jam the lens it just stops, the camera detects it and it shuts down, but seeing as its a single stage lens it needs little power so the over rated gerbox isnt realy needed.
The DX3900, DX4900 (and clones) has a plastic gearbox but again being a single stage lens the power requirements are small and so far I haven't heard of gear breakage in these, there more prone to the lens getting contaminated (muck in the gears and on the contact strip) although a full strip down is needed to get to the contact strip.
For the CX4230 see dx3900 except its a more open chassis allowing you to get to the contact strip a lot easier.
Now heres where things get crappy DX7630 this has an almost identical gearbox to the DX3900, but its back to front so it wont fit. This one has a 2 stage lens which needs far more power to get it moving, and bizarrely it needs more power from the parked position than anywhere else in the lens movement range. It also has a clip on lens cover so leaving the lens cover on while powering up can be fatal.
It also uses a variable resistor for lens position detection rather than the contact strip found in earlier cameras, this over time will be prone to becoming electrically noisy and wear so confusing the electronics, this could cause the lens to over run (not stop when it should) and break a tooth off the gearbox output gear, Broken output gears seem to be common on this range (using the Variogon lens) weather due to the lens becoming fouled or dirt in the mechanism. Basically if the lens only comes out part way and makes a clicking noise the gear is broken and Kodak wont supply parts so your camera is scrap for the sake of a 20p plastic gear, I'm not sure why Kodak are scraping these units (well I do they want to sell you a new one) the "not economical to repair" is a down and outright lie, the gear could be changed in 30mins buy someone who knows what there doing, less if they were to just swap out the gearbox.
The C340 sees a re-design of the gearbox, this uses a worm gear arrangement turning the drive through 90 degrees. Kodak seem to have wanted to speed up the lens extension to reduce startup time, BIG mistake, a worm gear will deliver allot more power so your far more likely to break the output gear even though its only a single stage lens, Having said that, of the 4 C430's I bought only one had lens problems, the rest had brain problems, but the gearbox had almost exploded, the output gear had broken, and would only turn one turn each way before jamming (so the lens did move a little) but the amount of power within the gearbox was enough to separate the casing...
The other change in this model is a return to the contacts rather than the variable resistor for lens position detection.
So here's the tips on how to get a long life out of your Kodak. I have a DX3900 that's still running fine (although sounds like a tractor) after 10,000+ shots and 5 years so they can last.
TAKE THE LENS CAP OFF
Keep it in a case,
Keep it dry,
keep it clean, Sand could be particularly fatal
Maybe a plastic bag in your camera case would be a good idea.
NEVER force the lens if it gets stuck, It will NOT help. except with the Variogon which a GENTLE turn of the 1st stage (the fatter part - as you look at the front of the camera, counter clockwise to retract - clockwise to extend) but ONLY do this while the motor is trying to move it, but really don't, put a small piece of cardboard tube over it (will protect the lens while its in your bag) until you can look at it properly
Happy Snapping
I hope this works for someone else
An update for the dx7630 Ive had several in now, and so far ALL have suffered from poor focus in landscape telephoto mode this is due to lens ware, and cannot be repaired, but it can be bodged.
You can tell easily if you have a problem without another camera for comparison, put the lens in wide and see if there is any vertical play in the last lens stage (should be none) then put in telephoto and if there is a problem there will be more, sometimes focus will be soft other times it wont it depends how the lens falls.
A bodge to fix is to put the lens in wide, take some sellotape and stack several layers (one of my cameras needed 3 layers the other 5) so that the stack of tape its snugly in the gap between the first and second stages, cut the tape into a triangle about 1cm along each side. Insert the point between the two lens stages in wide mode.
Now hopefully because the play gets worse as you go telephoto the tapering section of tape will provide more padding due to the extra width. Both my cameras are under 5000 actions so watch this model if you plan on buying second hand.
Another bit of useful info. It turns out the gearbox output gear from the cx4230 is a good fit for the dx7630 its slightly wider so an upgrade but you will need a scalpel to remove the plastic tube (you will see what I mean if you do it)
Thanks, Jay!
is the lens sticking half way and being silent, making clicking noises, pictures taken are blank or wobley lens?
you cant take the front off, you have to take off the back, carefully disconnect the screen and control pannel.
dissconnect the ccd and motor ribon, remove the main pcb, then you can get the chassis out and remove the lens assembly,
I had a problem, don't use sellotape, if it gets wet it comes off and can end up rolled up in the lens, use electrical tape, its less prone to moisture
it worked! tokk earlier advise and smacked it on carpeted floor . threw it down from about 8 inches above the carpet.. took about 5 times
and thn the error stopped showing up
and the camera started working .throw lightly
at first to figure out what the camera can take.
through "screen down"towards the carpet.
i did it as a last resort w my ls443 cuz i wasnt paying going to pay to fix it.just to old.
I'm not exactly sure where your at....
contact me directly, do a search for - planetzed stuff - on google n you will find me
cheers
jay
I still have a problem though. It doesn't seem to focus.
I don't think I'll ever buy another Kodak.
Which camera? DX6490 or DX7630 have most common focus problems, if 6490 shake it .. anything rattling about inside? if so unfortunately its most likely the pin which pulls the final lens from its park position may have broken/ come out of its hole, its fixable with epoxy resin but means stripping the lens down and that's no mean feat....
if ls433 is it trying to focus? if not there are sometimes poor connections where two ribbons meet, get in touch below if you want more help..
All compacts have lens problems, most of them due to muck getting in the works, the lens getting bashed or the camera getting switched on in its camera case together with everything being made of plastic.
If anyone wants direct help you can get my email from my web page at planetzed dot org
also when posting here please mention which camera your talking about.....
Thanks for all the information!
interesting, haven't come across a early retinar lens with that problem, it uses a worm gear assembly to focus.
The closet I have to your camera is a cx7330...
so if you put your ear to the camera and half depress the shutter button there is no noise at all?
If your confident with a screw driver, my first check would be..
BUT BE CAREFULL THESE THINGS HAVE A 300Volt BITE from the flash
take all the screws out around the case and remove the back
if its anything like the 7330 the lens mechanics ribbon will connect to the top board (one the on/of/auto/movie switch on) release the ribon by pulling the black retaining slider out by about 2mm, the ribbon will now be free. check for corrosion using a rubber (pencil eraser) to clean it.
if the ribbon is clean the next check would be for a problem with the mechanics of the focus. for this you need to get to the back of the lens, its not that hard, contact me via planetzed dot org. preferably after installing skype or msn with a webcam
In case it helps....
I've had my Kodak easy share LS753 for around 2 years - it cost $500AU. A week ago when I turned it on it came back with Error #E45. After no help with customer service I took it to a camera repair shop. Apparently the error is common if it's been wet or dropped - neither of these had happened to my camera. It was going to cost $70AU to 'look at' and approx $200-$300 to fix - which is way more than the camera would be worth now! I decided to give it a crack myself - I took it to pieces and cleared out all the dust (much more intricate than I'd anticipated - I nearly sent it flying across the room at this point!)... to no avail. As a last resort I gave it a good firm smack on the back/LCD side as you guys suggested - it took 2 hits & it's working again! Thanks Jay & co. for your advice!!!!
for some reason I'm not getting emails to replies to this topic any more,
anyway re your spring, sorry to say I don't have a cx7525 but i think that lens is fairly much an early version of the "C" series lenses.
now if its the spring I think it is, it looks a bit like the spring out of a retractable pen but thinner coils and shorter yes?
luckily its not from deep inside the lens..
remove the ccd and you will see above the place where the ccd lives a raised section with a hole in which the end of a shaft sits, to help with location, next to this raised section there is a hole with what looks a screw within the hole, this is where the spring lives. Remove the lens back plate and you will see that the screw is in fact the end of the auto-focus motor shaft.
Next to the screw is the shaft the final lens runs up (which is the shaft you can see in the raised section) and down to focus this has a raised plastic nipple on which the spring sits, the other end of the spring sits in the raised section of the back plate.
Before replacing the back plate make sure that the final lens is at the end of its travel (close to the ccd) with the lens in the park position.
After re-assembly if the lens is extending but erroring at focus time or in the final stages of extension check to see if you can see movement in the previously mentioned auto focus shaft end if your not it may be that the lens has jumped a thread or the nut has come off, a couple of careful turns to re seat the thread may help, take care not to cross thread it though.
If you are still getting an error check the fingers and foil of the lens positioning switch,
also it is possible to put these lenses together wrong so they appear to be correct but are in fact jammed. remove the motor and or gearbox and make sure the lens runs smoothly throughout the extension/retraction and zoom.
Best of luck
J
BTW PLEASE HAS ANYONE A LCD FOR A V1003 or V610?
or could someone in the US / Canada help me out by ordering and forwarding the parts from Kodak...
For some strange reason if I lived in the USA I can buy a new LCD for about $35 but here in the UK they want $180 to fit one (and wont sell the parts)
thanks
There's a train coming your way very soon. I set a pot of stew in a vacant car for you.
Good Luck
Hi jay I have tried to get in touch with you in july but can't seem to locate you now planetzed seems to be down :( any other way I have skype and msn and camera. thanks so much for your help!!!!
Gotta love repairs for high tech electronics!
I am in awe.
I just smacked the bottom of it with the palm of my hand... turned it on/off and the lens went back inside.
I tried the smacking technique and it worked =o I slapped the screen side against my palm as I turned it on and I heard the whirring and the error stopped coming up :D
But it doesn't focus---- any sugestions??
I tried all the remedies suggested here- including light taps, rough taps, and taking the camera apart. By the way, to take the camera apart take all 8 screws off; the back will come off, but only with force to disengage two hidden snaps, left and right on the top; the tabs are on the extractable back and the receptors are on the stationary front; so push down a little on the top, back, and take the back off by lifting it up, disengaging the snap-on tabs. Satisfying, but useless for me because the motor for the lens is three layers deeper into the guts of the camera.
I abandoned those remedies and reexamined the stuck lens. With nothing to lose I twisted the lens and sleeve (turning it is useless) with considerable force and, to my surprise, the lens and exterior assembly popped off. It is held in place by three tabs fitting into three slots which travel up and down as the motor turns.
The camera still would not work but I could see that the inner lens with its delicate shutter assembly was slightly tilted. I suspect that this inner tilt stopped the up-down movement of the inside lens and was the actual cause for the camera failure; and that it can usually be righted by tapping the camera. No such luck with mine. It was stuck, solidly, caused, I think, because my granddaughter whacked the outer lens to straighten it out before I got it.
Again, with nothing to lose, I put a screwdriver into the side of the assembly and put considerable force on it to remove the tilt. It snapped into place! Moreover, the inner lens would now move in and out and the camera was fully functional, except that all images were out-of-focus because the outer lens was off.
So ... with the camera on I pushed one tab of the outer lens assembly into the one of the movable slots and twisted the assembly into place with a lot of force. Voila! The darn camera worked except for some dark spots on the corners of the digital images. Looking at the outer lens I saw that I had put the first tab into the wrong slot so that the rectangular lens guard was cocked by 120 degrees. I simply twisted the outer lens assembly off and put it back into the right slot, with the wording on the lens in a proper horizontal position.
The camera now works flawlessly. And I gave it to my mischievous granddaughter who, when the lens and back were off, asked “Papa, if you put it back together can I have it?"
BTW- if you're going to try this with your good camera use these tips.
#1 turn the camera on.
#2 start by pressing in around the outer edge of the lens with medium strong pressure.
NOTE: pressing or hitting the camera lens will not cause it to retract if the camera is on, even if it worked to dislodge the lens.
turning the camera off and on again will engage the gears and that is when you'll be able to tell if it worked.
#3 power the camera off and on again.
#4 if the pressure didn't work, try tapping the lens against the palm of your hand several times.
#5 power the camera off and on again.
#6 if all else fails try giving the camera a really good smack against your hand or a folded towel on a flat hard surface such
as a table or counter.
Good luck!
About 2 years ago I gave it to someone to take a picture and he dropped it. The lens are out and they won't go back in and the camera won't turn on. The circle with the different settings also gets stuck. The little knob in the middle of the settings doesn't work, but that stopped working right before the camera broke.
Should I just take it apart, is it a lost cause? I loved this camera, it was my first big purchase of my own and I would love for it to work again.
for some reason I stopped getting notifications of new messages??
if anyone still needs any help post here or go to the contacts page on my new web site www.blasterbates.info
The slapping it option is good for several problems, stuck shutter, slightly jammed lenses due to contamination or if the plastic track s the lens runs down is worn, burred or cracked. The slap will just jarr the lens enough to get past the problem or dislodge the dirt, turning the lens as mentioned by others can help but if you put too much force on it you may cause more dammage, if le lens turns easily, you have a broken gear within the lens, although if its only one tooth the camera may continue to function. the turning action most likely moved the broken piece of plastic from the gear which was jamming the lens
If the camera has been dropped particularly if the lens is out and especially if the lens is now looking in any way lob sided. Either one of the pins that the internal lenses or lens tubes are mounted on have broken, become jammed or dislodged from there tracks in this case the lens will at least need opening up and some reassembly performed
couple of quick answers to recent posts -
Nicole - is as above do you mean the glass withing the lens tube looks out of alignment, drop me an email via the above.
Vianna & KDJ - sounds like a stuck shutter, but obviously could be other things. one way to tell, if there is a shutter issue when you look down the lens you will see there is no "hole"(camera off) then when you turn the camera on and the lens stops moving a second or two later the shutter should open and you will be able to see the "hole" if the shutter is stuck you wont see it open. Unfortunately if slapping it hasn't worked it may be damaged (warping can occur if left in the sun for example) or a lot of condensation got on it effectively gluing the shutter closed, beyond a slap the lens needs opening. one thing though that series of lens has a vertical shutter so banging it on the bottom may be more helpfull than the side (with camera switched on)
Chris - if you still need help get in touch although if the lens tbe has come away from the front something is almost certainly broken as all the lenses are assembled from the rear, are there still 3 metal pins in the barrel that came off? examine the end of the barrel that's still attached to the camera and see if there is a chip of plastic missing. I see above someone managed to put there barrel back in from the front, but I wouldn't attempt that as your likely to break something and would be lucky to get it back in the right way. to refit the final stage barrel you should really strip the lens from the rear and re fit it first. if you want to try and refit it from the outside as you have moved the other lenses back in its all in the wrong place and would need to be all the way out again to attempt.
cheers
jay
Ever since, when we go to turn it on, it just shuts off after saying "reading memory card" The lens also won't retract. I can retract it myself by turning it counterclock wise. We've tried hitting it, we've replaced the batteries, hitting it some more, and it's still not working, when i retract the lens myself and turn on the camera, the lens comes out fine, but then it shuts off at the same point, and the lens is left retracted.
If anyone has any suggestions, please get back to us.
.
That worked with my V610 after smacking it several times.
Most of the times, that problem is caused by the grease acumulated inside the camera.
All of the software available for the LS443 is here ( kodak.com/global/en/service... ). I don't see anything labeled version 2.1, but if what you need isn't there, you can contact Kodak here ( kodak.com/global/en/service... ).
Good luck!
If you're getting black picture output (image files) and no image on the LCD screen, it's most likely an issue with the camera's CCD (imaging sensor). Can you still see the status indicator overlays on the LCD (icons, etc)?
Since the camera is several years old it's definitely out of warranty, and that means an expensive repair on a severely out of date camera. If I were you I'd definitely consider upgrading to something newer and better.
Sorry, and good luck!
In fact I have a shelf full of kodaks cameras some 100 years old and still work, any ways kodak dropped the ball on this one and need to be held to task there is a law firm that is considering a class action law suit and are asking for experiences regarding this camera, I have read the chinese are also filing one if you had the same problems as me I posted the link below.
www.lieffcabraser.com/kodak-easyshare.htm
I contacted Kodak and they seem to be in the dark (pun intended) about this situation.
I have had the camera for 3 years and have taken a fair amount of pictures. I am I being unreasonable to think that this should last longer than this, or is this just technology that can fail and that's the price you pay for being in the digital world?
Please go to the below link. There is a law firm that is considering a class action law suit and are asking for experiences regarding this camera. Let's stick together and try to get our cameras fixed by Kodak.
www.lieffcabraser.com/kodak-easyshare.htm
Abby1100ny@yahoo.com
I like all about this LS443. Will Call Kodak tomoorow for help.
Thx..
After searching the internet and reading a *LARGE* number of posts from people with the same problem, I followed Ron Baird of Eastman Kodak Company suggestion in his post asking people to call the 800 number and help would be given...NOT!!!
The woman I spoke to said it can't be fixed BUT I could upgrade and get 15% off another Kodak camera with the trade in of my LS443.
So...Kodak gets my old LS443 which I'm SURE they'll fix and sell somewhere as "Refurbished", I get to buy another Kodak, but only from their website where they dictate price, and we'll just forget the original $450.00 purchase price of the LS443! I never signed up for a LEASE!
Last Kodak product I'll ever own!
I have seen so many of these reviews i think that I will send my complaints to lawers @
lieffcabraser.com/kodak-eas...
who are looking into a class action law suiet and are requesting complaints.
I have packed it away hoping that one day someone can repair it.
Meanwhile Kodak products are on my black list and have purchased a Canon S3IS that is doing a great job.
Flora Pulfrey
Any recommendations for a new, more reliable camera? Maybe I can shoot out quickly to buy one. Thanks!
I have a KODAK EASYSHARE P712, Great Camera, until last night, (The Black Screen of death), the same as being described, obviously a common problem, i am switching to Canon.
It also did something to my SD card where it wont load up on my laptop now.
We bought a Nikon as a replacement. Less than getting a camera repaired. Even though you KNOW Kodak knows exactly what is wrong. =(
It's a scam so you'll update your camera.
I took the LS443 apart to try and see if it was indeed the shutter that was the problem. Another guy said he bought inoperable cameras on e-Bay and repaired his camera with parts from those. I don't know how he did it. As I worked deeper into the camera I noticed that accessibility to the interior for potential future repairs wasn't engineered into the device. After a half-hour it was with a combination of disgust and satisfaction that I rather unceremoniously dumped my disemboweled LS443 and its asundry innards into the trash.
Note: I took the $1000+ plunge on a Canon XSi with 2 Canon EF-S lenses and a Canon external flash unit from B&H Photo BEFORE I opened my LS443...and I couldn't be more pleased. Sure I spent a more than I would have on another point and shoot, but the kind of point and shoot I was looking for will run close to or upwards of 500 anyways. And I was ready to go beyond point and shoot. And another unforeseen bonus is this - after I backed up all my photos and uninstalled Kodak's Easyshare software from my computer, my computer starts up and runs faster.
Dump Kodak, go DSLR. Or if DLSR is beyond your interest level and/or budget, All of your manufacturers have decent 10+ MP point and shoots for under 200 bucks. Nikon, Pentax, and Olympus have great point and shoots for under 300 (the Pentax and Olympus being waterproof to depths of 13 and 33 feet, respectively). Panasonic, Nikon, Sony and Canon have some excellent, high end point and shoots in the 300 to 500 dollar range.
Kodak can kiss my.................
Ebay is crammed with faulty digital cameras of all types with black screens. Buy one to try to repair it at your peril!
One or two here sound like software issues (Stuck with one message on screen) and maybe they can be given a 'hard reset' by removing all batteries (including internal clock battery) and formatting memory cards outside the camera then starting again.
Some faults appear to be the screen itself (no menus or other indicators at all) while others appear to have a problem with the CCD or electronics (some things on teh display - just no picture and nothing saved). Sadly I have two very different Canon cameras (Ixus II 2 and A70) which fall into the later category. They're pretty fiendish to get into - not for the ununitiated and quite a challenge for a techie like me. Big prize to whoever discovers the root causes - but there are probably a lot of different ones. and will vary for different makes/models. C,'^(
Tried to contact the customer service (chat on kodak.com) ....these are the options I was given in the technician's own words "At this point, you have two options. You can participate with our Service Upgrade Program. A discount code will be provided which you can use to avail a 25% discount when you purchase one major product from the Kodak online store. You may actually purchase one camera, one All-in-One printer, one digital frame and one accessory. Discount will apply on the total amount of purchase. The second one is to have the camera sent in for repair.
Aris D (9:51:42 PM): For the service upgrade program, it's free of charge. I just need to have your shipping address, full name, email address, and phone number so that I can fill up the request form.
Aris D (9:51:59 PM): If you wish to proceed with the repair, you may call 1 800 235 6325 option 12. A credit card information is needed to process the repair. For security reasons, it's best to gather it via phone. The camera will be repaired for $110.00 + $10.95 shipping and handling. Please provide this case ID number 4876061 to the phone agent. Normal turnaround time is 7-10 business days.".....
Is there some type lawsuit in progress? I absolutely think all the Digital Camera manufacturers have to be liable ...since it seems it is across multiple brands and not limited to one...
I do miss my Kodak. It took great photos. My Nikon is OK. We always had issues with Canon's. What next???
I was unable to find any information on the L-03 error either on Kodak's site or on the greater internet from users like yourself. Are you sure you got the error code right?
If so, you should send a message to Kodak's support people here ( kodak.com/global/en/service... ). If anyone knows what it means, they do.
Good luck!
message "error 45" appears on screen.
If the lens is not stuck, you may try to download the firmware from the Kodak site and update the one in your camera.
As the lens is already stuck, there is no choice except to send the camera back to Kodak for servicing.
Abby
Someone has posted the same complaint in a forum before and here is a copy :
" I get this error message, when i turn on the camera, but the Kodak Service people informed that the whole lens assembly needs to be replaced., which is the same cost as purchasing a new digital camera. "
Among the answers, one gentleman, who claimed he has repaired this problem many times, said it could be dirt getting stuck in the gear or the shutter blade and the aperture blades get stuck and won't work.
I do not encourage untrained user to open the camera to look for dirt or to try to free whatever is stuck inside. One of the suggestions, and it seemed to come from Kodak if I remember well, is to use an AC adapter to start the camera. It may or may not work, but worth trying before sending it to Kodak for repairs.
I'm assuming you're getting error message 45 on your camera? What this means is that the shutter/ lens mechanism on the camera is stuck or failing. There are a number of possible solutions. The first thing you should do (I always say this just in case) is to call Kodak and see how much repairs would be, particularly if you're still under warranty and they may be free. I say that because any tinkering you might do could void your warranty.
If that's not an option, some people suggest that a rather firm smack of the bottom of the camera against the heel of the hand may help. I've also heard that there is a contact point inside the camera that needs cleaning. The suggestion is to remove the three long screws on the side of the camera and the four small ones on the bottom, then carefully open the camera and gently clean the small metal part underneath the selection dial. Put it back together and reset time and date and it may be fixed.
Of course, as I said all of this will void your warranty right quick, so explore that option first!
A smack on the bottom didn't do it, but one on the side of the lens did.
Amazing!
how long it will work for i don't know as i didn't half whack it the first half a dozen times!
my sis has just fixed it with the mentioned method, thanks guys!
Good Luck
this error code. I'm considering just buying a new camera, but now am leary
of Kodak. This camera wasn't cheap and it is only 2.5 years old.
Here is a big discussion of the Kodak E45 error- a lot of that info might help you:
digitalcamera-hq.com/digita...
My opinion is that while the E45 doesn't mean Kodak is a bad camera- after all, Canon has the E18, and the other brands have their own issues as well- I would not spend the money repairing this one but would do some research on something else and replace it. Just my two cents.
Good luck!
I have a different opinion aboy Kodak now.
I have the same problem as you.
My443 had the proverbial black picture problem half way through my hollidays. Stored pictures ok, new pictures just black. I put it into my warm conservatory when I got back, to maybe dry out, as we had wet weather and it could have got damp. After a couple of days, still the same problem. I tried a combination of switching on and off and removing the batteries etc., I still had the black picture problem, but like yourself I herd a click/clunk sound and now my zoom lenz will not retract and I get error code # 45. Could some person from Kodak please, please, please, inform us as to what is going wrong here. Kodak obviously have a list of error codes which could help us. Could Kodak please let us have the list, or inform us as to where we can view said list, or tell us what these problems are. ....KODAK ..... We are your customers.... please help us... Come on now you guys, you must have made enough money out of your sales to be able to help us, afterall we did buy your product in good faith. ...KODAK... please answer this request and help us. In expectant anticipation... with kind regards.. Stef
Kodak has released an firmware update ( kodak.com/global/en/service... ). This may fix the problem.
I also found this thread ( dcresource.com/forums/archi... ) which goes in depth of other users having the same problems.
You may qualify for an RMA return and get a new model, instead of having to send it in for repair. But you'll have to bring that up with Kodak when you call them.
Thanks for the info, however, I needed to use my camera at the week end, and having seen many reports of the same problems, I lost confidence and jumped ship. I bought a Canon G7 which I am impressed with. Not all is well though as I can not get their software to work correctly and I am having to down load my pics vi the Picaso soft ware. Unfortunately this will not let me down load my movies so I am waiting for a card reader to arive which should solve all my problems many thanks for your reply.. Stef
Yes thanks again for the info. My Still-To-Arrive card reader sounds as though it will do the trick. Would you believe it. Whilst waiting for my card reader to come through the post, our Postmen over here have had a Strike and withdrawn their labour for a day. This will have a nock-on effect and will delay my card reader for a few more days. It never rains it pours, however I have had another result today. I took my card out of my camera and put it into my PDA and connected my PDA to my computer and copied the Photos and Videos across to my computer. This works quite well. I don't know why I didn't think of this before. I have a Mio 550. I've not had it long so I am just realising it's potential. Cheers.. Regards.. Stef
my name is tina i have a LS 443. I do not get the E45 error but i do get a black screen. i can view pictures on the camera and the menu. live view to see what you are taking a picture of and to review when it is done does not work it is black...I was wondring if some one could help with this..please......thank you
Are you saving your photos to a memory card or to the camera's built-in memory? Try hooking your camera up to your computer and seeing if it lets you view your already-taken photos on the computer. If so, download them and save them, and then try reformatting your memory card or erasing your camera's memory (don't do this if you can't get your photos first, as it will erase them). Since it's happening when you review photos, I'm inclined to think it's a memory issue.
Gracias... Me ssalvaste .. Se soluciono. Muchas gracias !!!!!
Hay que intentarlo...........
Well, you shouldn't "strike" the camera at all. An e45 is a lens error which points to being slightly out of adjustment. Just GENTLY push it with the palm of your hand. One should be VERY careful in doing this. But certainly do NOT strike it. Also try using the reset, changing to fresher batteries, and lastly - contact tech support about a repair estimate. (translated with Google translate)
saludos.
Eso es para cuál estamos aquí. Feliz ayudar.
(traducido vía Google traducir)
That's what we're here for. Happy to help.
(translated via Google Translate)
yo muy contento. Aqui en Córdoba, Argentina hoy cayo nieve despues de 30 años. Estoy muy feliz.
Saludos.
Thanks. By the way, I noticed that you haven't marked any replies as the "best answer." Are you still looking for an answer? If so, I recommend you re-submit it on digitalcamera-hq.com so it will have a better chance of being noticed. These days it looks like most questions are being answered within a few days. Good luck! (tranlated by Google translate)
well as movie mode in and outdoors Is there some setting I need to deal with? Must admit I am disappointed in the camera and output of color which does not seem to be true.
In terms of your white screen issue, I think what might have happened is settings may have been inadvertently changed. If you're unsure what or how, try doing a Factory Reset/ Restore to Defaults. There should be an option for this in one of the Setup menus (if I had my manual handy I would look it up, but if you can't find it let me know). That should restore everything to its "normal" setting and possibly clear up the problem. Let me know.
I went through my manual and made sure all the settings
were correct. After taking an outdoor shot, I found that my problem with no color was still the same. Some reviews I have read say 3 - 4 years with this model is all you can expect to
get. I agree with many others that Kodak is not a reputable
company and this particular model camera was certainly a
waste of money.
I have not had any problems with this camera. I downloaded my pictures to my laptop and when I put the card back into the camera I received an error b11
help help !
The only real way to fix this error is to send the camera back to the factory for repair. This is probably going to run you $100-200, since the camera is undoubtedly out of warranty at this point. So you're faced with a choice: repair a 4 year old camera for a large sum of money or use that money to buy a newer, better model (not a Kodak, if you want my advice). I'd chose the latter, personally.
You can reach Kodak's repair department by going to their support center ( kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier... ), selecting your model, and then going through their (mostly worthless) interactive troubleshooting thing.
Good luck!
Are you saying that the LCD screen never, ever shows any image, or that it simply doesn't show the live preview/review of images you've shot?
Can you see images you've shot if you transfer them to your computer, or are they black there as well?
If I'm understanding you correctly, this sounds like either a LCD failure or a CCD (imaging sensor) failure, and either would require a repair from Kodak. Unless you're really in love with the camera, I'd say it's definitely not worth getting fixed, being as old and out of date as it is.
You definitely won't get anything worthwhile if you try to sell it for parts.
At that point, you've got nothing to lose, you can try to gently, and I do mean GENTLY push against the lens with the PALM of your hand as you turn it on, it may cause it to depress back into the camera. If that doesn't work, and you can't reset it or turn it on/off several times, then you may have to send it in for a repair estimate anyway.
Also using the batteries recommended by Kodak:
Rechargeable Ni-MH Batteries (AA Size): These Ni-MH AA batteries last up to twice as long as alkaline batteries when used in your Digital Camera - and you can recharge them up to 1000 times in our rapid charger.
Oxy-Alkaline Digital Camera Battery (AA Size).
CRV3 Lithium Batteries: A non-rechargeable battery designed specifically for today's feature-rich cameras. This battery is the obvious choice for speed performance, and long life. It delivers faster flash recycle times and lasts up to 10% longer than our previous design!
Ni-MH Rechargeable Battery Pack: Provides exceptional capacity with its 2.5 hour fast charge cycle time; can be recharged up to 1000 times in the EasyShare Camera Dock or EasyShare Rapid Charger.
If that doesn't work, then the camera indeed does need repair.
Also try resetting the camera. This is a fairly easy procedure which involves either going into your setup menu and choosing "reset" (or intialize), holding down the menu key for 5 seconds, or, removing the batteries for a few minutes. It may be that the firmware loading got corrupted and the camera just needs to be "rebooted," which is something that turning it on/off won't accomplish. But after which, you should have the camera reset to factory default settings.
Then go to the Kodak website and look for firmware updates. Download and install them.
If the issue persists, then your camera may need repair. But understand that the average cost of a camera repair is around $180. If it isn't under warranty, it may cost more to repair than it is really worth. The rule of thumb is that if the estimate for repair is north of 50% what you paid for it, you're better off taking that money and buying a newer and upgraded model.
"the bad news is that this means the lens alignment of your camera is messed up and it will take repair service to fix it. The cost of this might be equivalent to replacing the camera- I would give Kodak a call and see what they're willing to do for you.
Here is a similar discussion for the same problem/ same camera:
stevesforums.com/forums/vie...
BTW - If you're happy with the answer you received, you can simply click on "Mark for best answer" bubble and it will place the question in the "Answered" category for all to see. Or, you can leave the question open for a little while longer and see what else gets posted.
Thanks for posting it and Good luck!
Name DSbrookes
I've found that Kodak's are filled with quality issues. The fact that this camera has lasted this long for you is a good thing. With an error code popping up like that, you will need to contact Kodak product support ( kodak.com/global/en/service... ). The age of your camera will bring it out of warranty, so paying for a repair could cost just as much as a new camera. Good luck to you.
Andrew
One thing to try is to cycle the camera on/off several times in the hopes that it will work itself back into alignment. Otherwise, you'll need to send it to Kodak for a repair estimate. But understand that the average cost of a camera repair is around $180. As such, it may cost more to repair than it is really worth. The rule of thumb is that if the estimate for repair is north of 50% what you paid for it, you're better off taking that money and buying a newer and upgraded model.
However, if the lens is stuck out of the camera, and since your camera is out of warranty, the one thing you can try is to If you gently, and I do mean GENTLY push against the lens with the PALM of your hand as you turn it on, it may cause it to depress back into the camera. If that doesn't work, and you can't reset it or turn it on/off several times, then you may have to send it in for a repair estimate anyway.
And specifically, I found the cover door ( cgi.ebay.com/gENUINE-Kodak-... ) listed for sale.
James, I want to thank you for your helpfull info. I will probably do the eBAY thing since nobody is going to have new parts.
Thanks again.
But understand that without warranty coverage the average cost of a camera repair is around $180. The rule of thumb is that if the estimate for repair is north of 50% what you paid for it, you're better off taking that money and buying a newer and upgraded model.
Be advised, however, that if it's out of warranty, it may cost more to repair than it is really worth. The rule of thumb is that if the estimate for repair is north of 50% what you paid for it, you're better off taking that money and buying a newer and upgraded model.
Rule of thumb is that if you get an estimate that is north of 50% what you paid for it, you're better off taking that money and buying a newer, more updated model.
Also check your batteries for being underpowered or near dead.
I have opened the unit to see the soldered small battery used for Date and time. I measure 2.6 V on the battery I believe it should be closer to 3V.
Could this battery be the problem? . Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated
The black screen is not caused by batteries, not even the small button battery.
If you Google for " black screen on digital camera ", you will see a lot of examples, covering many makes and models.
The only cure is to send it back to Pentax for repair, and if the cost is too much, you are better off buying a new camera.
However, if you want to read more about it here are some links :
1. Canon S2is
digitalcamera-hq.com/digita...
2. Kodak L443
digitalcamera-hq.com/digita...
3. Canon 610
forums.cnet.com/5208-7593_1...
It is possible that there might be one that is similar to your problem, but it's not worth looking for it in the 1,690,000 sites.
Users only need to know that black screen is caused by faulty LCD or jammed shutter and only Pentax can solve the problem because Pentax knows how to source for the spare parts.
As eBay sells the new camera for only $60 and used ones for below $30, see <a href="catalog.ebay.com/Pentax-Opt... this site </a>,
I would think twice before sending it for repair.
R.I.P. Kodak LS443.
28/1/2010