Digital camera woes

Well, my new digital camera was fun for around 3 weeks. One week at home trying it out, and what appears to be its final two weeks of life here in Goa. A frustrating gadget in some ways even when it worked -- capable and versatile, and coupled with a lap-top, a marvelous system for producing, adjusting, and sharing at least a part of one's travel experience on the fly; on the other hand, grabbing a shot quickly is extraordinarily cumbersome unless you stick to 'idiot mode' (represented by a little red heart (!) on this particular masterpiece from Panasonic) or the settings from your previous shot are ok as shuffling through menu screens and poking little buttons and trying to frame a shot doesn't make it real easy to catch a moment or expression. The shots I've posted so far, and most of the other 200 or so I've taken and deleted, have mainly been attempts to master the fundamentals of set-up, aiming, exposure, and the follow-up manipulation to prepare for sending via internet after downloading. Not that I'm any sort of artist, but the hope being that more creative pictures would only be possible after the basics were mastered through practice.

When I went out yesterday morning at 7 to catch the breadman I brought the camera along and took a shot him on his bicycle -- a replacement for a somewhat blurry shot taken the day before (it's hard to control 'shake' with a lightweight camera in less than full brightness due to slower shutter speed) I tried 'bracketing' this time and forced a faster speed by using the digital equivalent of 400 ISO film -- as soon as I got home and poured myself another coffee, I attempted to download them to the laptop and see how I did. Nothing -- no buzzing as the lens extended, no blinking lights or beeps; a change of batteries made no difference, it was DEAD.

The manual offered no other explanation or troubleshooting tips to attempt. Being somewhat leery of electronics, I had bought the extended warranty which added an extra 2 years free of repairs or replacement beyond year one -- but this is a minor consolation when you are at the start of a 4 month trip and the thing dies 2 weeks into it. bummer

a pissed m2

see if I can add the blurry breadman pic

Hi M2, sometimes certain "normal batteries" don't work with the camera. My sony cybershotU only takes SONY batteries and sometimes normal ones, although the normal batteries I tried out in India didn't work. It seems that some cameras have a fail-safe device that shuts the camera down after putting in the "wrong" batteries until you either "reboot it" with a small button or feed the camera with it's company batteries. It's just an idea...

Thanks for the suggestion, Watson. The original batteries lasted for 100 or so pix (I had the lcd on a lot which is a drain) the second pair were duracells from home which worked fine until the death without the warning that the demise of the originals gave. The next set, that didn't work, were from the same duracell batch as the ones that worked, and some locally bought fresh Kodak batteries gave no joy either. I don't see any reset mechanism and none is mentioned in the manual, but I've removed batteries and card for a while to see if there might be some sort of automatic resetting like a reboot but apparently not. will try periodically of course, just for the hell of it as it would be pretty embarrassing to have the clerk at the camera shop calmly flick the switch after listening to my rant, and all the lights and buzzers fire up.

Hey M2,

check and see if there is a small hole somewhere on you camera. A type of hole where you can fit a paperclip or needle in. This is sometimes the reset "button" on some cameras.

will check, tnx again.

m2, really sorry to hear of your problems; been there too. As a photographer who has been asked more times than I can count if I can fix cameras, I have one suggestion. The battery contact points can often become a little "greasy" and I find that more so in a humid climate like Goa. Try getting hold of an ink rubber (the usually dark hard one, better than a soft pencil type) and cleaning the contacts on the battery door gently - just rub the contact. If you can get to the inner ones too so much the better. It might be worth cleaning the battery terminal too, although I doubt that is your problem. As your camera is new I doubt it will help, but it has revived about 50 PC of the "broken" cameras I've been handed.

Technology has a way of waiting till you're well away from the nearest repair shop. Having almost never had a problem with tech stuff in the UK, in the last two and a half years in India I've had 2 internal CD burners pack up (second one last week), one motherboard, one 256Mb ram chip, and I am on my 4th kensington turbo mouse.

BTW, what did you do for a net connection in the end; BSNL? How is the quality of the connection down there?

Regards

I had a problem with my new digital camera, the batteries worked OK in the radio, the torch and the tape recorder, they just didn't work in the camera. I finally bought some new batteries and away it went. I find the camera is a real guts on batteries and it needs really good ones. Dare I suggest the Indian batteries just don't cut the mustard?

I assumed battery problem as well, but as mentioned, there was warning as the original pair were about to die. (and they did appear fine in a maglite) The second set worked normally right to the last click of the shutter -- it was when I plugged it into the laptop and switched it on that nothing happened at either end i.e. the camera did not show any life, nor was it recognized by the computer. Being new, and apart from 33-34C temps, no humidity or bumps to speak of, dont think contacts would be off or that 3 sets of new batteries would all be even semi-bad, but it is a possiblility and will try cleaning the terminals, etc. (found no reset hole,
Watson)

neon: re the connection, I sensed that using the guesthouses telephone line, despite my hosts willingness, would be an imposition and I first tried plugging in at my regular cybershop through their hub. this has worked out fine for the hour or so per day I'm online -- but if I had a connection in my room, I would no doubt use it much more. I haven't been up to Maharashtra to check with BSNL -- I guess if it gets unbearably busy at the shops, then I'd give it a go. There has also been a bit of uncertainty as to whether some changes in plans might be in the cards. Must be a pain repairing/replacing stuff from Manali -- do you have to make a Delhi run to deal with it?

The Panasonic web site says:

Does Panasonic have products with international warranties?
Panasonic has "Limited World-wide Warranty" applicable for products which are mainly designed for tourists.

link

I phoned Panasonic to check into this. 800 person number one thanked me for brightening up her day with the glow of my childlike optimism.

Sorry to hear about this. What model is it - is the one below (Lumix DMC L33) ?

thanks for your interest, trvl_in. My booklet, while issued for Canada, indicates I have the US limited warranty which is for a year on parts and (I think) only 90 days on parts and involves mail-in etc. That was the reason I got the extended from the store as it was 3 full years repair or replace direct from the store or any of its branches. (somehow the possibility of a screw-up on the road didn't occur to me, though it should have as that's obviously when I would be using the camera, DOH!!)

Yep, that's the one, vistet.

Hi M2

Could u post the exif data of your pic. I might be able to suggest couple of things after having a look at that.

not sure what you mean about exif data of the pic, koopmanduka -- it's the dead camera that concerns me, the picture I posted was from the previous day when the camera was working, it's crappyness is due to using the automatic setting when some fiddling was required given the motion and low-light situation. but thanks.

Hi, m2, back to the batteries in case it's just that. The batteries are probably required to be "alkaline" batteries, and I found that most shops in India didn't know the difference.

Now just think, if the camera was stolen you could stop worrying about it and have a regular claim on your travel insurance. Think of the money you would save on batteries alone!