Fujifilm FinePix S4800 Troubleshooting

When trying to use the camera, the lens is stuck in a stationary position. Based on user experiences, this happens most often after the camera has been dropped.

If the lens will not retract an error message for the lens may appear when the camera is turned on, restarting the camera can fix this issue. Turn the camera off, if it is on, by using the on/off switch on the top. Use the switch again to turn the camera back on and this should reset the lens. If the camera is off, power cycle the camera by switching it on, giving the camera a chance to initialize and possibly reset the lens, and then switching it off. Repeat this process until the lens resets.

If restarting does not fix the lens, the batteries may be low on charge. When the batteries are low, the camera will not be able to provide enough power to adjust lens position. Turn the camera off, replace the batteries, and turn the camera back on.

If all else fails, the camera lens or the lens' connection to the motherboard may be damaged and will need to be replaced.

If replacing the lens has not fixed your camera, there is something wrong with the lens' connection to the motherboard. The best course of action here is to remove and replace the motherboard. Please refer to our guide for replacing the motherboard.

The monitor on my camera has malfunctioned and is not working correctly.

Check if the lens cap is on. If so remove it. If any other object is obstructing its vision then use caution to remove it.

If nothing is blocking the lens then check for smudges along with any foreign objects on the lens, if found remove them with a microfiber cloth while proceeding with caution to not damage the lens.

If the lens looks to be in good shape and the Monitor is not displaying images bright enough, try replacing the batteries and be sure not to use old or used batteries. Only fresh new batteries will work properly.

Reinstall the most current Firmware update by following the instructions on the Fujifilm website. You may need to contact Fujifilm directly for more information about the firmware on this camera, since this is one of their discontinued models. Upload the current update to your camera by using a USB cable connecting from the camera to PC. You may need to download a driver from Fujifilm's website, if it doesn't download automatically, in order for the camera to be able to communicate with your computer.

The connection behind the screen to the motherboard may be loose. Please refer to the our guide for replacing the LCD monitor, as this contains a step that includes checking the monitor's cable.

Unfortunately, replacing the LCD monitor may be the best option if the LCD display is physically damaged. Please refer to our LCD monitor replacement guide to help you with this task.

No matter what you do, the camera is not turning on.

The batteries need to be inserted with the correct polarity facing up. There are markings next to each battery slot that denote how each battery needs to be placed. In our battery replacement guide, we show you how the batteries need to be oriented.

If your camera won't turn on, the batteries might be drained. Try recharging your batteries with the battery charger and then check if the camera turns on. If it still does not work after charging the batteries, the batteries are most likely faulty. Open the battery compartment and remove the old batteries. Then place the newly charged batteries in the compartment and close the compartment door.

If the batteries are fitting too loosely in the compartment, this may be the reason why your camera isn't turning on or is turning on and off intermittently. Make sure you are using the correct size batteries (in this case AA batteries) and correct type of batteries (alkaline, lithium, or NiMH). If you have the correct batteries in the compartment, the electrical contacts might be bent down too far to touch the battery. Use a spudger or a pair of ESD-safe tweezers to bend the contacts back up just a little bit. You can damage the compartment if you bend them too far or they could break off, so proceed with caution. If the problem still continues, then you might need to replace or clean the electrical contacts of your battery compartment.

It's also possible that the battery compartment door is not closing properly and needs to be replaced. Please view our guide on this topic.

If your camera is unable to turn on, even with a new set of batteries, the battery compartment contacts are most likely the cause of the problem. Replace or clean the battery compartment to take care of this problem. Here is a link with a basic tutorial on how to clean battery contacts in cameras.

My camera is not reading the memory card and an error message shows up on the LCD screen.

Make sure all of the metal contact points on the memory card are clean; you may use a soft, dry cloth to gently clean them. Make sure the card is inserted in the camera correctly. Finally, you may need to format the card, which will erase any photos stored. Use this only as a last resort.

The "Card Error" or "Card Not Initialized" message, indicates that your memory may be temporarily corrupted. This can be caused by not formatting your memory card on a consistent basis. We recommend formatting your memory card in your camera after saving the images from your previous shooting session. Once a memory card is formatted, the images will not be recoverable.

My camera will not take clear pictures when the dial is set to "A".

When taking pictures from a distance, the auto-focus may require adjustment. Aperture priority ("A") mode controls and maintains correct photo exposure automatically. Turn the mode dial to "A", press the partially shaded +/- button, and use the selector to bring image into focus.

Turn the mode dial to "A", press the partially shaded +/- button, and use the selector to bring image into focus.