Canon camera E16 error fix
This is just a repost of my Canon camera E16 error post in English.
The story started yesterday, when my dad wrote me that his camera (Canon A610) screwed up and the only thing that it does is takes the lens out, takes it back in and then dies with
“Error E16“
I searched around the web and everywhere people said that the problem is of unknown origin and it’s not uncommon. The resolution they proposed was to send the camera to an authorized Canon service for a replacement.
So far so good. Send the camera away … but here is the problem – my warranty ended an year ago, so I was unlucky.
So I had no answer to the problem… until my dad came up with something which should work on all “asia-tech” (as you may have seen in Armageddon (1998)) – HIT IT HARD WITH THE 5$ WRENCH!
It turns out that hard shake or some firm slap of the camera fixes the problem most of the time, but this hides some risks – if you get the error, you are most likely to get it again some time in the future, so i suggest you send it to the Canon service for a replacement.
So remember HIT or SHAKE hard before you give up – it may save your camera (for at least a little while).
As a side effect of the E16 error the only mode that works is the Video mode, which, in my opinion, is funny – check it out: Canon A610 E16 Error video mode.
As you can see the frame is cropped in half and has funky colors.
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Apratim Said,
July 18, 2010 @ 7:46 pm
Your recommendation just worked for my wife’s Canon S5IS camera! I slapped it once and shook it 2-3 times, and that worked like a charm. You are a genious!
l1avs Said,
September 8, 2010 @ 8:03 pm
Fantastic! worked a treat x2 slaps + 5 second shake.
Thank You
Rob Reiman Said,
November 20, 2010 @ 6:10 pm
OMG!! This just worked for me too!! Unbelievable. I was using a Powershot SD790 that we have loved for years. OK, I’ll be completely honest here. I actually just bought a replacement (S95), and I now plan to keep both given the reviews of the picture quality (especially in low light) of the S95. But I can now feel comfortable letting my highschool daughter use the 790. To the person that posted this recommended fix for the E16 error, THANKYOU! I knocked the camera twice moderately with my knuckles, and shook the camera for 5 seconds, and whoolaa! It works.
Kimberly Said,
December 15, 2010 @ 5:04 pm
I JUST CALLED COSTCO CONCIERGE SERVICES BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE WE BOUGHT MY CANON SD790 IS CAMERA THAT IS HAVING THE BLACK SCREEN AND E16 ERROR CODE AND HE GAVE ME A FIX THAT WORKS.
TAKE YOUR BATTERY AND MEMORY CARD OUT OF YOUR CAMERA, THEN WITH THE BATTERY AND MEMORY CARD OUT OF THE CAMERA HOLD DOWN THE ON/OFF BUTTON AND THE PICTURE TAKING BUTTON AT THE SAME TIME FOR 1 FULL MINUTE THEN RELEASE PUT THE BATTERY AND MEMORY CARD BACK IN AND TURN ON THE CAMERA!!! I JUST DID IT ON MY CAMERA AND IT’S WORKING PERFECT AGAIN. HE SAID IT’S A HARD RESET FOR THE CAMERA.
I’M SO EXCITED AS I WAS ONLINE LOOKING AT HAVING TO PURCHASE A NEW CAMERA AND NOW I DON’T HAVE TO.
HE ALSO SAID THAT WHEN YOU PURCHASE A CAMERA FROM COSTCO AND USE YOUR AMERICAN EXPRESS CARD FOR THE PURCHASE, COSTCO EXTENDS THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY AUTOMATICALLY FOR ONE YEAR BUT YOU HAVE TO FILE THE CLAIM THROUGH AMERICAN EXPRESS, JUST FYI.
TRY THE RESET, IT REALLY DOES FIX THE CAMERA.
Wilson Said,
December 31, 2010 @ 10:36 pm
I shaked my canon g10 for several time and knocked it but it still not working, it still shows the error e16… Any alternative suggestion, guys? Totally have no idea what to do as no clue of where’s the canon help centre in the uk…
Mike Walton Said,
February 20, 2011 @ 12:49 am
Fantastic ! No need to shake or knock, removed batteries (all batteries, the AA ones and the little back-up battery) and memory card, pressed shutter button + on/off button for a minute, and my A560 now works again !
I had virtually abandoned hope for my camera
Shabeer Said,
May 19, 2011 @ 1:48 am
I really works. Just hitting the camera with the palm of your hand and it directly got rid of the E16 error.
John Said,
July 26, 2011 @ 1:41 am
LMFAO thank you. My sisters canon powershot sd790 had the e16 error. Read this site slapped the camera on the front turned it on working again.
Peabody Wormswort Said,
August 31, 2011 @ 4:46 am
I fully recommend everything u suggest for a camera that is out of warranty. If u try it on a camera that is still under warranty, then u should not tell the store u did this… or just dont do it. That said, I slapped my old canon a few times to get it working here and there. It really does work and if u r rough with ur toys, then u need to know this trick. Yes it works. Canon better not be trying to charge people for slapping their cameras to repair them though. I think it has to do with sand, dust, hairs and such getting interfering with the mechanical operation. And the slap frees the dust or realigns the parts into position again. I have never tried to hold the power and shutter button for 1 min while battery and flash card r out. I will try that first next time, but I suspect a slap is all it really needs. Try it, ull like it.
Peyman Said,
November 14, 2011 @ 10:31 pm
AWESOME it works!!!! My gratitude goes to the page creator. I was on the verge of getting rid of my SX1 IS when I came across this page and the slap technique worked for me!! It took more than a handful of blows at the poor camera however. (finally when I hit the camera around the lens base it worked!!!)
P.S. The reset technique didn’t work on my sx1
alinah Said,
November 24, 2011 @ 3:30 am
i did both and its still NOT working:(
its not my camera and i dropped it! i dont want to give it back broken:(
any other suggestions??