This camera has been plagued by "lens cap" errors. Just google the phrase "lens cap error" and you definately won't feel alone. On the JVC website, there is a reference to the same problem with a couple of dozen JVC camcorders: http://www.jvc.com/support/notification/index.jsp?pageID=2 If you have a GR-DF430 like me, you'll be disappointed to find that this camera is not listed, nor eligible for a "free" repair. However, there are rumours that this will change. Since I haven't the time to send it back to the factory before going on vacation, I had to go out and bought another camera...this time, a Sony, which I probably should have done a year ago. Rick Sullivan