If it is indeed the lens cap fault, and your model "can" suffer from that problem, then unfortunately a special "free" repair offer on this manufacturing defect expired at the end of December 2007, the offer having been in existence in all the main English speaking countries of the world for the past 30 months or so, the offer in theory operating under the same conditions no matter what country but with certain elements of difficulty in obtaining it dependant on the country of residence. (Canada in particular) However this said, advice which you may find helpful has been sent via DIRECT e-mail, (as it has web links) because it is known that in certain circumstances the free repair is being done as a goodwill gesture, the main point being that the owner of the camcorder "must" have the purchase receipt as proof they were the original purchaser of the device. (this being essential!!!)