[Lenny Lens]

Hi everyone,

Well, my troubles with the Canon MD235 have just got worse.

I bought it less than 3 months ago and must have used it about 3 times, if that, each time for less than 5 minutes.

I recharged it last night to use today but today when I tried to switched it on nothing happened. I thought, hmmm, maybe I left it switched on last night by accident (though I'm sure I didn't) and all it needs is recharging. So I attached the charger and nothing happened! Not even a red light flashing to indicate charging.

I tried to switch it on again and this time it bleeped and said onscreen to change the battery pack, then it switched off again.

Change the battery pack? What? As I say, it's been used for 15 minutes, at the most, and the battery pack needs changing?!

I then removed the battery and the small round battery which keeps the time and date in memory, left them out for an hour then put them back in. Nothing happened! The charger isn't recognised.

I browsed the web for the same error message and it looks like a lot of people are getting the same thing from Canon's cameras... but after only 15 minutes of combined use?!

I already disliked this model for not having a manual focus ring and switching off the viewfinder when manually focusing with the buttons on the LCD screen, but this new error message and the charger not being recognised (experienced by many it seems) has me seriously questioning the quality of Canon's products. I've NEVER had a problem with Sony.

I missed recording an important event today because of the failure of the MD235, and so if anyone can give me some advice apart from smashing it to pieces as is my wont it would be seriously appreciated.

The recommendations I've read from Canon about this error were to send it in for repair - AT COST - and that is a major no-no for me. It's THEIR problem, not mine, and they should pay the postage, being a big company, compared to me being a lowly bum who's just been shafted along with the rest of us by the banksters.

Anyway, rant over. Please excuse my temper, I'm just annoyed I missed an important day of recording today and to read of Canon's advice whereby I would have to spend more money I just haven't got, especially for a product that seems to be made to break within a year.

Any recommendations?

Many thanks.

[A n d r e w]

Most rechargeable batteries will discharge of their own accord within a couple of months. What alarms me is why Canon is suggesting you pay for a repair. Is this really not covered by the warranty? I know even that would hardly make up for missing out on recording whatever it was you wanted to record, but still . . . When you say you've read "recommendations" from Canon, are these email communications you've had with Canon?

[Lenny Lens]

Hi, thank you for your reply, I've calmed down now, heheh.

The Canon responses I had read were just on forums on the Internet, I'm getting in touch with them tomorrow so I was perhaps jumping the gun due to my annoyance at missing today's recording. I was just getting to see past the MD235's lack of features I needed and started to enjoy its "feel", the way it fits so snugly in the palm of the hand, in your pocket, and, especially, the ease of use when using a tripod - the smallness of the model really comes into play really well there. I was just disheartened to read of so many people having the same "Change the battery pack" warning when the battery is fully charged. I guess I was kind of worried that even if I get it replaced or repaired, what with the complaint being so common, it would happen again and again. But, yes, that hasn't happened yet so hopefully it'll be OK. I have the warranty and will call Canon tomorrow. I just wondered if there was a "trick" to fix it. One suggestion on the web was to take out the batteries and put them back an hour later, but that didn't work.

Anyway, I'll compose meself better before I compose a message here next time. Thanks for listening anyway.

Lenny.

[A n d r e w]

Originally Posted by Lenny Lens

Anyway, I'll compose meself better before I compose a message here next time. Thanks for listening anyway.

It's all good. It's as much a forum for ranting and venting as it is for reasoned and measured discussion!

Hope you get on alright with sorting this out.