Lumix Panasonic DMC-FZ7 Zoom Help!

[SamanthaL]

I wasn't sure where exactly to put this, but this seemed like the most suitable place. Alright, so, today I accidentally dropped my camera on the HARD ground, and ever since, every time I turn it on, it zooms all the way out, and all the way in, and then stops and on the screen is says, "please removes the lens then press -->" and the lens is already off. It's always blurry though when it does the zooming out. Is there any way to fix this? Help would be much appreciated. Thank you!

[deckcadet]

Sounds like you seriously damaged your camera. You should kinda expect this after dropping it
The zoom mechanism appears to be jamming and the focus mechanism appears to be dead? Can you try activating manual focus control on that camera?

[freygr]

If sound like it has to go to the repair shop, my be cheaper to purchase a new camera the way things are priced. (manufacturer pays only about $1/hr someplace, and we have to pay $35-100 per hour to the local or factory repair shop)

[SamanthaL]

Sounds like you seriously damaged your camera. You should kinda expect this after dropping it
The zoom mechanism appears to be jamming and the focus mechanism appears to be dead? Can you try activating manual focus control on that camera?

No. :/

Thanks anyway guys!

[A.M.D.A.]

I think what happened is that when you dropped the camera, the lens got banged out of position. This is why the lens cap message comes up, part of the lens bumps up to another part, the camera detects that there is something in the way and thinks that it is the lens cap.

To get this problem fixed, it will probably be over $100.
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I use the plastic hood adapter and a filter to protect my FZ7s lens.