If you own a Canon PowerShot SX50 HS, you may want to stop using it right away for a second. The company announced that certain models could cause a rash in people with sensitive skin – no joke. The problem stems from improperly vulcanized rubber around the viewfinder, which could create allergic reactions around the eye. Unfortunately, it’s serious enough that Canon has issued a recall for the camera – one of our Editor’s Choice models – but before you freak out, know that it doesn’t affect every camera.
Canon says tests conducted by the third-party maker of the rubber confirms that the white deposit, made up of zinc bis (N,N’- dimethyldithiocarbamate), could cause illness for people allergic to the compound. The white deposits form when rubber isn’t properly vulcanized. But it seems the issue affects SX50 HS models made between September 1 and November 15 of this year; these models have serial numbers beginning with “69,” and contain the number “1” in the sixth digit (see image below). Users who have noticed symptoms should wash their hands and rinse their eyes, and seek medical help if necessary. If you suspect you own one of the affected models, contact the company’s customer service (855-226-3277, carecenter@cits.canon.com) and they’ll inspect and repair it free of charge.
The problem is a déjà vu for Canon. The same issue occurred more than a year ago with the EOS Rebel T4i DSLR. Canon recalled some after discovering improperly-vulcanized rubber in the handgrip, which created the same health issues.
Click here to read more about the issue and recall.
(Via Imaging Resource)
