Cameras can be fixed. If it's an all in one (can't change lenses) either you or someone really comfortable taking things apart without losing the pieces could try just removing the cover. Sometimes the mechanism can get jammed by a sudden shock and will go back to happily working once you release it ... another shock is obviously not the answer.

I can't count how many times I've had to fix cameras in the field ... just be conservative and don't take anything off you can't put back together. And watch out for springs that decide to shoot across the room!

Good luck!

Ack. See you in June?

--
At any given time, somewhere in the world there is a sunrise... and somewhere there is a sunset.

Unless I can fix the damn thing.

--
-Ravie

Hold your breath if you like, but don't cry when your skin turns blue.

Oh dear. It's a digital though, does that make much of a difference?

--
-Ravie

Hold your breath if you like, but don't cry when your skin turns blue.

--
At any given time, somewhere in the world there is a sunrise... and somewhere there is a sunset.

Not really. I've had to fix and clean mine many times. If you were close enough I could take it apart, clean it and put it back together and if it was just a gear that slipped when it was dropped it would work again.

Just don't touch the sensor with anything at all!

What does the sensor look like?
(Where do you live?)

--
-Ravie

Hold your breath if you like, but don't cry when your skin turns blue.

The sensor will be a tiny shiny rectangle where the light will focus. It should be obvious. If the focus no longer works since you dropped it, there are several simple possiblities:

1) a piece broke off inside. This is not really likely due to the way the pieces mesh, on an impact there's no particular reason anything would flex far enough to break unless the shell holding them breaks first.

2) a gear has slipped and is lying against the next gear instead of being meshed. If you can spot this you can ease it back in place.

3) some other unknown problem. Believe it or not, you can often fix a mechanism without knowing what was wrong.

If the camera won't focus, it probably means some piece that is meant to move freely is now jammed in an odd position. If you can take the housing off and release the strain, it may just pop back into place by itself. Just don't force anything. And be very conservative: don't disassemble the innards unless it's clear how you'll put them back.

(I'm on the wrong coast, unfortunately. You'll have to find a local geek if you don't want to do it yourself )