Nikon Coolpix 2100- lens error/system error in Nikon Posted July 19, 2005 After carefully pulling on the lens while turning the camera on, as suggested, with no positive results, and with repairs costing near the price of a new camera, I decided to remove the case to see if I could unjam the lens. My only regret is that I had no camera to record the process! I removed the entire case, front & back, by unscrewing 7 phillips screws ( note different threads on one screw, & different length on the R side. Unplug 1 data cable ( slide the black friction retainer ~1mm towards the cable on each side) to completely remove the back cover. I just pulled out one short cable near the ON/OFF switch, and left 2 more wires attached to the front of the case, but with enough play to rotate the front cover to one side. In retrospect, I may have been able to just partially open the front half of the case, just enough to access the tiny drive motor. The drive motor was located just under the serial number label. Try removing the 4 screws on the L & R sides of the case (note different lengths) and just the forward 1 of the 3 screws surrounding the tripod mount. You may be able to crack the case bottom and reveal the round motor, about the diameter of a AA battery. Just towards the left (nearest) side in front of the motor, there is a small rectangular (1mmx5mm?) opening where I could reach in with a small screw driver and laboriously rotate, 1/4 turn at a time, what looks like small fan shaped plastic tabs attached to the drive shaft ( acting as a flywheel?). At first it was slightly resistant to turning, but soon freed up. I continued to turn the shaft MANY TIMES in a direction AWAY from the front of the lens until the lens appeared fully retracted. Reassembled, and voila! It works! Not sure what caused the jam, but it has been dropped on concrete before, and dropped on the beach, which couldn't have been to good for it. I sent it back twice to repair the battery latch, but it busted again, so I just use a rubber band, or tape to hold the compartment closed. Good luck & don't blame me if you screw it up (phillips, of course)
Nikon Coolpix 2100- lens error/system error
in Nikon
Posted
After carefully pulling on the lens while turning the camera on, as suggested, with no
positive results, and with repairs costing near the price of a new camera, I decided to
remove the case to see if I could unjam the lens. My only regret is that I had no camera to
record the process!
I removed the entire case, front & back, by unscrewing 7 phillips screws ( note different
threads on one screw, & different length on the R side.
Unplug 1 data cable ( slide the black friction retainer ~1mm towards the cable on each
side) to completely remove the back cover.
I just pulled out one short cable near the ON/OFF switch, and left 2 more wires attached to
the front of the case, but with enough play to rotate the front cover to one side.
In retrospect, I may have been able to just partially open the front half of the case, just
enough to access the tiny drive motor.
The drive motor was located just under the serial number label.
Try removing the 4 screws on the L & R sides of the case (note different lengths) and just
the forward 1 of the 3 screws surrounding the tripod mount.
You may be able to crack the case bottom and reveal the round motor, about the diameter
of a AA battery. Just towards the left (nearest) side in front of the motor, there is a small
rectangular (1mmx5mm?) opening where I could reach in with a small screw driver and
laboriously rotate, 1/4 turn at a time, what looks like small fan shaped plastic tabs
attached to the drive shaft ( acting as a flywheel?). At first it was slightly resistant to
turning, but soon freed up. I continued to turn the shaft MANY TIMES in a direction AWAY
from the front of the lens until the lens appeared fully retracted.
Reassembled, and voila! It works!
Not sure what caused the jam, but it has been dropped on concrete before, and dropped
on the beach, which couldn't have been to good for it. I sent it back twice to repair the
battery latch, but it busted again, so I just use a rubber band, or tape to hold the
compartment closed.
Good luck & don't blame me if you screw it up (phillips, of course)