Need Help-Problem with G12 Zoom locking up during use underwater

[jimthediver]

We have a recurring issue with a G12 in a FIX housing. We are frequently experiencing the zoom control totally locking up electronically, when we are using the camera underwater. After it locks itself up, it flashes "check aperture". However, we have attempted to then make aperture adjustments but the zoom remains locked. This never happens with the camera on land but is a random occurrence underwater. We haven't found anything that reliably unlocks the zoom, other than removing the camera from the housing & then removing its battery. While the camera is in the housing, with the zoom lock position, the camera, otherwise functions normally We have combed through the Canon g12 operating manual & can not find a clue as to what is causing this issue or how to prevent it. Can anyone out there shed some light on this problem? We would appreciate any suggestions. We are current diving in Ambon, Indonesia & will then boarding the Damai for the Banda Sea, so we really want to have full use of this camera, as it takes great pictures.
Thank you, Jim

 

[ScubaSteve]

Is it at all possible that the camera is seating in the housing slightly askew which puts pressure somewhere specific once at depth?

 

[jimthediver]

Is it at all possible that the camera is seating in the housing slightly askew which puts pressure somewhere specific once at depth?

Hi Steve,

We are pretty sure the problem is electronic because an incident is always accompanied by an after the fact warning in the monitor "Check Aperture". We have not found any set ups or adjustments that seem to be able to prevent it. My wife used it on our three dives in Ambon yesterday. First dive it worked perfectly, second dive locked up first photo she tried and stayed locked the rest of the dive, third dive worked perfectly again. Camera was set up exactly the same by me each time and used by her in nearly identical conditions all three times. Next time it happens I will take closer note just to reverify that its taking the battery out that frees it and not just the act of taking it out of the housing. Thanks for your input. Jim

 

[azscubadude]

We have a recurring issue with a G12 in a FIX housing.
Thank you, Jim

This might not have anything to do with your situation but thought I would mention it anyway just in case.

I have the G-12 in an Ikelite housing and the way the Ikelite zoom lever works there isn't enough back pressure from the G-12 zoom lever to move the Ikelite lever back to the middle. So if I zoom in and forget to back off the Ikelite zoom just a bit (moving it back to the neutral position) it will lock the camera up because the zoom on the G-12 is still pushed zoom in or zoom out position. I always have to double check to make sure the zoom lever on the Ikelite is moved back to the middle. It does this on the zoom in and zoom out, either direction and causes my G-12 to be totally inoperable until the pressure is taken off the G-12 zoom lever (back to the middle neutral position).

It isn't that my Ikelite lever is sticking, but the tiny zoom spring on the G-12 doesn't have enough oomph to move the bigger Ikelite lever back to the middle.

Not sure if this might be doing the same thing since you are getting the an aperture warning and I don't remember mine doing this, but mine is locked up, no other functions, shutter, etc, work until this is fixed.

When I first had it happen I was totally perplexed but now I know what is going on, so it is an easy fix by moving the Ikelite zoom lever back to neutral relieving the pressure on the G-12 zoom lever. You don't have to zoom in or out to correct this just take the pressure off the G-12 zoom lever so it can go back to neutral, it just takes a small touch, not a big move.

On the Ikelite you can actually see it stuck since it is clear lexan but since the fix is solid so you might have to play with it a bit to see if this is it. Also, it doesn't have to be a full zoom, even a slight zoom in or out on mine using the Ikelite lever will hold the G-12 zoom from springing back to the middle neutral position locking up all the other functions.

Hope this is understandable and helps, if not hope you figure it out.

 

[jimthediver]

This might not have anything to do with your situation but thought I would mention it anyway just in case.

I have the G-12 in an Ikelite housing and the way the Ikelite zoom lever works there isn't enough back pressure from the G-12 zoom lever to move the Ikelite lever back to the middle. So if I zoom in and forget to back off the Ikelite zoom just a bit (moving it back to the neutral position) it will lock the camera up because the zoom on the G-12 is still pushed zoom in or zoom out position. I always have to double check to make sure the zoom lever on the Ikelite is moved back to the middle. It does this on the zoom in and zoom out, either direction and causes my G-12 to be totally inoperable until the pressure is taken off the G-12 zoom lever (back to the middle neutral position).

It isn't that my Ikelite lever is sticking, but the tiny zoom spring on the G-12 doesn't have enough oomph to move the bigger Ikelite lever back to the middle.

Not sure if this might be doing the same thing since you are getting the an aperture warning and I don't remember mine doing this, but mine is locked up, no other functions, shutter, etc, work until this is fixed.

When I first had it happen I was totally perplexed but now I know what is going on, so it is an easy fix by moving the Ikelite zoom lever back to neutral relieving the pressure on the G-12 zoom lever. You don't have to zoom in or out to correct this just take the pressure off the G-12 zoom lever so it can go back to neutral, it just takes a small touch, not a big move.

On the Ikelite you can actually see it stuck since it is clear lexan but since the fix is solid so you might have to play with it a bit to see if this is it. Also, it doesn't have to be a full zoom, even a slight zoom in or out on mine using the Ikelite lever will hold the G-12 zoom from springing back to the middle neutral position locking up all the other functions.

Hope this is understandable and helps, if not hope you figure it out.

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the input. We have tried playing with the zoom when it has locked up but no dice! We are pretty sure that it's an electronic glitch because of the "Check Aperture" warning, which isn't much of a warning seeing as how the camera is already locked up at that point. Also, no matter where the zoom is at the point of the incident the camera moves it to, and locks in at max wide angle. Then lastly, it seems the only sure way to unlock it is to pull the battery. Interestingly enough when it is in this locked zoom mode all other camera functions seem to work perfectly. I ran this by the guys at Backscatter. They were not aware of any normal functionality of the G12 that could produce this result. It may just be an issue with this particular camera. Yesterday it worked perfect on all three dives which was great because all three were awesome Ambon critter dives! I guess we are just going to have to send it in when we get back. Thanks again for your input.

Jim

 

[azscubadude]

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the input. We have tried playing with the zoom when it has locked up but no dice! We are pretty sure that it's an electronic glitch because of the "Check Aperture" warning, which isn't much of a warning seeing as how the camera is already locked up at that point. Also, no matter where the zoom is at the point of the incident the camera moves it to, and locks in at max wide angle. Then lastly, it seems the only sure way to unlock it is to pull the battery. Interestingly enough when it is in this locked zoom mode all other camera functions seem to work perfectly. I ran this by the guys at Backscatter. They were not aware of any normal functionality of the G12 that could produce this result. It may just be an issue with this particular camera. Yesterday it worked perfect on all three dives which was great because all three were awesome Ambon critter dives! I guess we are just going to have to send it in when we get back. Thanks again for your input.

Jim

Definitely sounds like a firmware glitch. I know that sometimes the Canon Pro bodies lock up because of weird settings or glitches and pulling the battery does reset the functions, plus on most you can also re-install the firmware if there is a glitch in that. But not only can't you do that on the G-12, being underwater and all set up to shoot in the housing kinda rules that out. It's very disappointing to have a malfunction like that, I would definitely send it to Canon when you get home, I'm sure they will get it fixed.

Good luck, hope you get it solved !!