20 Most Recent Fuji Finepix S9600 Digital Camera Questions & Answers

I would mostly say take it to authorized service, cleaning lens is very specialized task and can render your camera worst than it is. Also if your pictures still good, and you don't do giant prints, probably you will be ok with the dust.

Although the manual does not have indicate a focus error, I assume you notice the camera can't focus correct. I hope you know the camera has a focus selector, see the picture. (in the manual, page 10. For auto focus you should select C-AF (continues) or S-AF (single). If it is in manual, toy should focus yourself using the focus ring on the lens (closest to the camera) Then to help the focus system, there is a external AF sensor. If it is dirty, then it is difficult for the camera to focus correct in a short time. Also be aware the camera likes to have extra contrast on the focus distance and no objects in front of the subject you want to pictures, with lots of contrast. Sometimes point to a object with a sharp contrast, on the same distance, press the shutter release button half, then reframe your picture and only then press the button complete. when you want to shoot fast moving objects choose C-AF. I hope this helps.

You don't need any software in order to use your camera. 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 management program such as Picasa ( http://picasa.google.com ).

Multiple possibilities exist.
How long and how many pictures do you consider as a photo session?
What size picture are you taking? High res or low res.
Are you using the flash?
Are you using picture instant preview?
Are you using auto-focus?
These will ALL use power and help to drain the battery. The 3 largest users are the preview, flash and resolution settings.

Did you try to make any pictures in automatic mode? It is where you mode dail says automatic. Then if there is not enough light the flash should work and give you a good picture. In other situations, the camera leaves the decision with you. So selecting a bad tightening mode, is up to the photographer. There are so many possibilities with your camera. You could take lots speed light lessons and still not discover all options. Before switching on the flash light on your camera, read the manual and see what you can do with it and what is best to choose in what situation.

Took about 10 photos with and without flash

If you say that the camera was making a grinding sound before it quit working the grinding noise should have been looked at then, cameras do not make grinding sounds if they are working properly. the sound is the drive unit going bad and that is why you are now getting the focus error because the drive unit has quit working completely !!!! It is now time for the shop.

Rob, The best place is E-bay under camera parts for your model.

Robbie, just go to e-bay and search for your camera model under camera parts and you will find what you are looking for.