There aren't very many brands I really like, and Canon, until recently, was one of them.

We had a Canon digital camera for several years and loved it, took it everywhere and it has held up really well.

My in-laws got us a new model, the SD550 for our 10th anniversary and we were delighted. Better quality stills, much better movies, great great great. I often take little movies of my son, edit them together, put in a little music and please the whole family.

Well we had the camera for a couple of weeks when one day, while we were with our son on a miniature train, I pulled it out of my pocket and the lens was half out, stuck and the screen displayed E18. I couldn't get the camera to work.

I did some research on the issue, and it's evidently pretty well known. There's even a class action lawsuit, sites devoted to people who have suffered the indignity of an E18 error.

I'm counting on Canon to do right by me, but I have a sinking feeling that I'm on my own. The camera was a gift so I have no receipt. My in-laws may or may not still have the receipt. Without the receipt Canon won't honour the warranty. So I guess they don't stand by consumers who are given presents. I find this to be most puzzling.

I'm not paying anything for the repair of the camera, if I have to pay I'm switching brands forever.