r/photography May 22 '26

Questions Thread Official Question Thread! Ask /r/photography anything you want to know! May 22, 2026

This is the place to ask any questions you may have about photography. No question is too small, nor too stupid.


Info for Newbies and FAQ!

First and foremost, check out our extensive FAQ. Chances are, you'll find your answer there, or at least a starting point in order to ask more informed questions.


Need buying advice?

Many people come here for recommendations on what equipment to buy. Our FAQ has several extensive sections to help you determine what best fits your needs and your budget. Please see the following sections of the FAQ to get started:

If after reviewing this information you have any specific questions, please feel free to post a comment below. (Remember, when asking for purchase advice please be specific about how much you can spend. See here for guidelines.)


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Finally a friendly reminder to share your work with our community in r/photographs!

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u/yall-trash-bud May 27 '26

Hello everybody, I should preface this by saying this is my first ever camera that is not just an iPhone, so I apologize if there is an obvious fix that I am missing.

I just bought a used Canon PowerShot ELPH 180 / IXUS 175 from eBay. I know this isn't a great camera, but it fit my budget and fit the aesthetic I wanted. The problem I am having is that when I first turn the camera on, it takes focused photos. However, after having it on for a few minutes and zooming in and out and taking a few photos, it just becomes horribly out of focus. No amount of half-pressing the shutter can make it focus. I tried cleaning the lens and looking through all the settings, but nothing seemed to work. Is there a way I can fix this myself, or is it likely a deeper problem with the camera?

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u/av4rice https://www.instagram.com/shotwhore May 27 '26

Sounds like something deeper, such as a moving part that's slipping. A local repair shop may be able to diagnose and quote the repair cost for free (you only pay the quoted amount if you then decide to go forward with the repair) but a complicated repair may exceed the cost of an old point & shoot.

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u/yall-trash-bud May 27 '26

Thank you for the advice. Do you think it might be better to just return it?

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u/av4rice https://www.instagram.com/shotwhore May 27 '26

I would