Author Topic: Help- is my camera dying!!! (Read 3205 times)

macmac · « **on:** December 20, 2009, 09:23:40 »

Recently my 4yr old digi camera has started playing up.The images aren't sharp and it delays when pressig the shutter,I could occasionally get a good pic but now they all seem rubbish. :'(Have SD cards got a "life" I thought it might be batteries but I keep charging them up fully (and they are fairly new)
Should I give up and buy new camera? ???
ps I reset all the default settings in case I'd twiddled the wrong setting.

ACE · « **Reply #1 on:** December 20, 2009, 09:35:08 »

Battery!

northener · « **Reply #2 on:** December 20, 2009, 10:57:31 »

Yes sd cards do have a life, don't know what the symptons are for a dead one though.

Pesky Wabbit · « **Reply #3 on:** December 20, 2009, 11:52:42 »

Try copying all your pics off the SD and then reformatting it. I don't know if they can get fragmented, but its a cheap option.

Also new SD cards ain't very expensive these days. I just bought a micro 8gb, class 6 for £12, including a normal sized SD case if I needed it. Although the extra speed of a class 6 made no difference to the number of photos I could take in a minute, which was 10.

If you do end up buying a new camera, I'm sure you'll get a much better one for the same price you paid 4 years ago. Technology has moved on quit a bit. Whether you want/need that extra technology is a different matter.

Bill Door · « **Reply #4 on:** December 20, 2009, 21:09:04 »

I am with ace on this one. Try using Duracell batteries instead of re-chargeable ones.

There is a voltage difference that could be having an effect.

Bill

macmac · « **Reply #5 on:** December 21, 2009, 09:52:46 »

Went out yesterday and bought Phillips lithium ultra and thought it was ok but it's not :'( :'( :'(

mat · « **Reply #6 on:** December 21, 2009, 10:14:02 »

low battery levels are more likely to cause this symptom than an SD card. if my battery in my compact is running low, focusing is affected (my SLR doesn't have this symptom; obviously more advanced technology!)

SD cards failing, usually causes photos to not be stored when taking photos & photos not being able to be retrieved from the card.

batteries don't tend to last overly long... 4 years is not bad.

Paulines7 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 21, 2009, 11:28:36 »

Some cameras can be used without an SD card so if yours is one of them, you could take it out and see if it still works.

What make of camera do you have?

macmac · « **Reply #8 on:** December 21, 2009, 11:36:45 »

The make is Caplio R1v Ricoh
The batteries are not the original rechargable I replaced them earlier this year.Strange but when I put the new ones in yesterday the first couple of shots seemed sharp ??but this morning out of focus again >:(

BarriedaleNick · « **Reply #9 on:** December 21, 2009, 11:47:48 »

Seems the issue could be with the autofocus system - maybe not getting enough power or a faulty sensor. I don't suppose it would be economical to fix though
There is a firware update http://www.ricoh.com/r_dc/download/softmatch/win/r1.html but dont know if will help if the camera has been fine to date.

ACE · « **Reply #10 on:** December 21, 2009, 17:41:04 »

Perhaps a little touch up on the battery terminals might help. Nothing too drastic, use a nail file lightly. Also did you give the new batteries at least a day on the charger before use, sometimes they need the extra when first charged. If you do need a new camera and it is not needed for really fine work try a mid ranch Nikon coolpix. The cheapies are reasonable but pay the extra and get a better one. The one my other half uses knocks my canon into a cocked hat.

Pesky Wabbit · « **Reply #11 on:** December 22, 2009, 02:21:42 »

Nan , buy a cheepie. Buy an expensive one and it'll be out of date and half the price by Easter. Technology moves so fast with cameras.

Asda are selling a 5mp for £25. I think it was a Vivitar.

Columbus · « **Reply #12 on:** December 22, 2009, 11:12:18 »

Hi macmac, Hi all :)

Buy a Canon camera from their Ixus range but not from the Canon UK website because they will take your money, do not send you a camera, then do not give your money back until you are endlessly threatening them.

Good cameras, terrible service. Go to the sales at Jessops after Christmas.

Col

jimtheworzel · « **Reply #13 on:** December 22, 2009, 15:33:07 »

get a FUJI they only make cameras, nothing else.
jtw

OllieC · « **Reply #14 on:** December 22, 2009, 16:20:33 »

Does sound to me like the sensor has a problem... time to get a Canon!

Actually it depends on your budget & what you want it for, I think some of these recommendations are a bit hasty! I'm not too sure about things at the entry level, but in the middle (say G10/G11 area, around £400) & up they're amongst the strongest contenders. I love my G10 by the way!

One point on the number of pixels - Canon have finally noticed that we already have more than we need, & between the G10 & G11 (the G10 replacement) they have reduced the number of pixels but improved the sensor. Hopefully this is the shape of things to come & other manufacturers will follow. The number of pixels has been a fairly poor indicator of picture quality for a while now - I had a Sony with loads of pixels per £ but horrible firmware.

PurpleHeather · « **Reply #15 on:** December 23, 2009, 10:14:56 »

You can buy a new one for under £30.

http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/category/2006/Digital-Cameras

Paulines7 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 23, 2009, 10:36:28 »

Did you put a new camera on your Santa list?

dtw · « **Reply #17 on:** December 23, 2009, 14:09:53 »

I would have said a dirty focusing sensor too.
The dirt would most likely be on the inside.
Get somebody with a bit of technical knowhow to remove the case and give it a clean.

macmac · « **Reply #18 on:** December 26, 2009, 08:54:03 »

Thanks for all the help.
I'm going to bite the bullet and buy a new one in the sales.
I'm loathe to just discard the old one and dtw yor advice is interesting :)

macmac · « **Reply #19 on:** December 28, 2009, 17:40:58 »

I've been trying to find another camera BUTcrikey there are soooo many.
I think I want
8 mpix
4-5 optical zoom
able to plug in to my computer (via a lead not just card)
simple to use
pref under £100
any suggestions ?
p.s keep em clean ;D

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Author Topic: Help- is my camera dying!!! (Read 3205 times)