20 Most Recent Samsung Digimax S500 Digital Camera - Page 3 Questions & Answers

Nope, it was made before 4GB SDHC as explained in this video.

The best way to download pictures from your camera to your computer involves removing the memory card from the camera and plugging it into a card reader (either built-in to the computer or connected via USB or FireWire). This is likely to be faster than connecting the camera to the computer, and won't run down your camera's batteries.Once the card is plugged in, it will appear to your computer as a removable drive. You can use the operating system's drag&drop facility to copy pictures from the card to the computer's hard drive, the same way you copy any other files. Or you can use any photo cataloging program such as Picasa.

Do NOT Force IT. better to take it to camera shop so as to not cause any damage to the drive unit.

Press cursor-left to cycle through the various flash modes. See page 21 of this manual.

One source for the part is here.

You may download a copy of the manual here.

The S500 only works with SD cards, up to 2GB in size. It will not work with higher-capacity SDHC cards.

No. The S500 only works with SD cards, up to 2GB in size. It will not work with higher-capacity SDHC cards.

You don't need any special software.The best way to download pictures from your camera to your computer involves removing the memory card from the camera and plugging it into a card reader (either built-in to the computer or connected via USB or FireWire). This is likely to be faster than connecting the camera to the computer, and won't run down your camera's batteries.Once the card is plugged in, it will appear to your computer as a removable drive. You can use the operating system's drag&drop facility to copy pictures from the card to the computer's hard drive, the same way you copy any other files. Or, despite what I said first, you can use any photo cataloging program such as Windows Photo Gallery or Picasa.

Try NOT connecting your camera to your computer.The best way to download pictures from your camera to your computer involves removing the memory card from the camera and plugging it into a card reader (either built-in to the computer or connected via USB or FireWire). This is likely to be faster than connecting the camera to the computer, and won't run down your camera's batteries.Once the card is plugged in, it will appear to your computer as a removable drive. You can use the operating system's drag&drop facility to copy pictures from the card to the computer's hard drive, the same way you copy any other files. Or you can use any photo cataloging program such as Picasa.

SD cards have a slide switch along one edge. The position farthest from the metal contacts locks the card, protecting it from writes. The position nearest the contacts unlocks the card.

Try NOT connecting your camera to your computer.The best way to download pictures from your camera to your computer involves removing the memory card from the camera and plugging it into a card reader (either built-in to the computer or connected via USB or FireWire). This is likely to be faster than connecting the camera to the computer, and won't run down your camera's batteries.Once the card is plugged in, it will appear to your computer as a removable drive. You can use the operating system's drag&drop facility to copy pictures from the card to the computer's hard drive, the same way you copy any other files. Or you can use any photo cataloging program such as Picasa.

Try the free program Picasa.

Fixing a Lens Error on a Digital Camera

This has to be THE most common failure mode for a digital camera. Some common error messages that might show up on the LCD's of cameras with this problem include "E18 lens error", or "lens error, restart camera". Some cameras might show nothing at all, but merely make a beeping noise as the lens goes out, then in, then the camera shuts off. Sometimes the lens won't even move.

The problem is actually quite common throughout all camera brands. Usually it's sand or grit interfering with the lens extension mechanism. Or the camera's been dropped with the lens extended. Or the camera has been powered on, but the lens had been blocked preventing its extension. Or the battery ran down with the lens extended. Believe it or not, one BIG contributor to lens errors is using a camera case. Sand, gunk, case fibers, etc... accumulate at the bottom of the case. These materials love to cling to the camera by electrostatic build-up from the camera rubbing against the side of the case (especially those cases with soft fibrous intreriors). Once these materials work their way into the lens mechanism, that's all she wrote. I have many cameras, and NEVER use a case for this very reason.

A camera owner that suffers this problem may have no recourse for having the camera repaired. Many camera makers will not honor repairing this problem under warranty as they claim it is due to impact damage to the camera, or sand or debris getting into the lens gearing mechanism (neither of which is covered under warranty). The quoted repair cost is usually close to or more than what the camera is actually worth.

Fortunately, about half the cameras that suffer this failure can easily be fixed by one of the following methods. None of these methods involve opening the camera, although some have potential to cause other damage to the camera if excessively done. If the camera is still under warranty, before trying any of these, please please first contact your camera's maker to see if they'll cover the repair, or to determine how much they'll charge for the repair. Who knows, you might get lucky. But if they quote you a number that's higher than the value of your camera, you may want to consider the following methods.

The methods are listed in the order of risk of damaging your camera. Thus make sure you try them in the listed order. And remember, these fixes (especially #6 and 7) should only be considered for a camera that's out of warranty, who's cost of repair would be excessive, and would otherwise be considered for disposal if unrepaired:

Fix #1: Remove the batteries from the camera, wait a few minutes. Put a fresh set of batteries back in (preferably rechargeable NiMH 2500mah or better) and turn the camera on. If that didn't work, try pressing and holding the Function or OK button while turning the camera on.

Fix #2: Remove the batteries, then remove the memory card. Then install new batteries, and turn on the camera. If you get an Error E30, it means you don't have a memory card installed, so turn it off, slip in the memory card and turn it on one last time.

Fix #3: Insert the cameras Audio/Video (AV) cable, and turn the camera on. Inserting this cable ensures that the camera's LCD screen remains off during the start process. Thus extra battery power is available to the camera's lens motor during startup. This extra power can be useful in overcoming grit or sand particals that may be jamming the lens. If the AV cable doesn't fix the lens error by itself, consider keeping this cable installed while trying fixes 4, 5, and 7 as a means to provide extra help to these fixes. But note that I DON'T recommend keeping the cable installed during Fix 6 as you may damage the AV port while tapping the camera. Reinsert the cable only AFTER tapping the camera.

Fix #4: Place the camera flat on its back on a table, pointed at the ceiling. Press and hold the shutter button down, and at the same time press the power-on button. The idea is that the camera will try to autofocus while the lens is extending, hopefully seating the lens barrel guide pins in their slots.

Fix #5: Blow compressed air in the gaps around the lens barrels with the idea of blowing out any sand or grit that may be in there jamming the lens. Other variations include blowing with a hair dryer in "no heat" setting, or sucking the gaps with a vacuum (careful with this one).

Now we're entering into the realm of potentially damaging your camera in conducting the fix. There is definitely some risk here, so take care when conducting the following two fixes.

Fix #6: Repeatedly tap the padded/rubber usb cover on a hard surface with the intent of dislodging any particles that may be jamming the lens. Other variations include hitting a side of the camera against the palm of your hand. A lot of people have reported success with this method. HOWEVER, there is also some potential for damaging or dislodging internal components with this method, such as unseating ribbon cables, or cracking LCD screens.

Fix #7: Try forcing the lens. More people have reported success with this method than with any of the other methods. HOWEVER, there's obviously some potential for damaging your camera by using this method. Variations include gently pulling, rotating, and/or twisting the lens barrel while hitting the power button. Attempt to gently straighten or align the barrel if it's crooked or twisted. Another variation includes looking for uneven gaps around the lens barrel, and then pushing on the side of the lens barrel that has the largest gap (note pushing the lens barrel all the way in is NOT recommended as it may become stuck there). While doing any of the above, listen for a click that indicates that the lens barrel guide pins may have reseated in their guide slots. If you hear this click, immediately stop and try the camera.

try to slide up the notch on the memory card...its on the lefthand upper part of the memory card...

SD cards have a slide switch along one edge. The position farthest from the metal contacts locks the card, protecting it from writes. The position nearest the contacts unlocks the card.

Turn the camera on with out inserting the battery and see. f you face same problem then its a camera internal power supply unit fault. You need to visit service center for repair.

This has to be THE most common failure mode for a digital camera. Some common error messages that might show up on the LCD's of cameras with this problem include "E18 lens error" (older Canons), "ACCESS" error (Sony), "Zoom Error" (Fuji), "Lens Obstructed" (Kodak), "lens error, restart camera" or just "lens error" (nearly all camera makers lately use this variation). Some cameras might show nothing at all, but merely make a beeping noise as the lens goes out, then in, then the camera shuts off. Sometimes the lens won't even move.

on the left side of the card they is a gray slider, slide it up and it unlocks hope this works for you

The reason why your Samsung Digimax S500 camera beeps 3 times and shuts down is because the internal workings of the telescoping / retracting lens barrels may be damaged beyond reasonable repair, of the casual user, and the internal circuitry senses the malfunction.And to open up and attempt to service any digital camera, with an electronic flash, is a dangerous proposition. The Samsung Digimax S500, for example, has an internal 320 Volt, 110 microfarad photo-flash capacitor that, if accidentally touched, would hit you like a stun gun. In fact, I had to discharge the capacitor by bridging two soldered contacts (just to the upper-left and upper-right of the "53", of the "STS2-53-SR" printed on the internal circuit board). And, even though I was careful to use an old, worn out flat-head screwdriver, electrically grounded (MUST have an insulated wooden or plastic handle), the discharge arc was so violent that it destroyed the tip of the screwdriver.And don't think that the telescoping / retracting lens barrel can be "gently forced" open or closed, as the tiny DC motor has a plastic worm-gear on its shaft, initiating torque to a miniature train of 7 plastic spur gears, before reaching the final plastic spur gear track, 120 degrees part-way around the large outside lens barrel. So, to make a long story short, any attempt to manually move the lens barrel out, or in, will most certainly damage the spur gears, as absolutely no manual movement is possible at the worm gear on the motor shaft. And, anyway, the geared motor drive provides more than enough torque, by itself, to extend / retract the lens barrel, unless there is grit and debris interfering with the smooth motion of the gears and angled slots.Sand, grit, and other debris can sometimes find its way between both lens barrels, and into the curved, 120 degree spur gear track. And since the 120 degree spur gear track is not lubricated, it can possibly be cleaned by very lightly tapping the camera on a table top, with the lens down (this is assuming that both lens barrels are fully retracted) , to loosen any debris, and then using a vacuum cleaner: Taking care to apply the open nozzle of the vacuum cleaner, tilted (to reduce its intensity), but directly on the perimeter of both lens barrels, so as not to **** the lens barrels out, yet apply a strong vacuum into the narrow grooves.This may damage your camera -but do you really have a choice?Also, a piece of paper can easily inserted between the lens barrels and run along the circumference to help clean out some of the grit. And repeat the process above, until the lens works.But that's assuming that the problem is caused by dirt and grit in the inner workings of the lens.The other cause for the telescoping / retracting lens barrel to malfunction is either the camera was dropped (while the lens barrels were extended), or the camera "POWER" button was somehow depressed while the camera was stowed away, and the lens barrel was prevented from extending. Either situations will break off 2 teeth of the final circular plastic spur gear, that powers the 120 degree spur gear track on the outer lens barrel. If you know either of these to be the case, then your camera cannot be fixed, and a repair would probably cost more than the camera.