damn it digital camera - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**benna2** · 08-25-2005, 05:56 PM

Ya I am pissed. I bought a $300 camera two years ago and have never had anything but a blissful relationship with it. It has taken beautiful pictures of countless trips, concerts, friends, family, special occasion and even the occasional naughty escapades (kidding about the last one) AND now it is acting up. It decides to screw up on me when I am broke and without a job. It just started making this little shakey sound and wouldn't turn off properly, the lens would just stick out. I called the sony tech number and they said "sure no problem send it in for sevice...it will cost $186" Ummm, pardon?????? I could pretty much go out and buy a new camera for close to that. I am thinking of just taking it to a camera store and having them take a look at it. I just want to see what the problem is, get it fixed and move on because I am planning on traveling within the next few months and my camera is my favourite travel companion.

Anyone have any camera stories and/or tips on what might be the problem with it??
The kind is a Sony DSC-P92. It's a great camera. I'm so sad.

**kingcrazylegs** · 08-25-2005, 06:21 PM

That blows

**weirdbeard** · 08-26-2005, 01:14 AM

I don't mean to sound like a jerk but have you changed the batteries lately? It sounds strange to have two malfunctions in different places at the same time. It might be some kind of problem with a servo or motor controlling the lens. It doesn't matter though, repairs are usually very costly no matter what the problem is, especially with small electronics.

Good luck.

**d_fresh** · 08-26-2005, 04:01 AM

can you get one off ebay for less than what the cost to fix is? if it's 2 years old it's probably discontinued or cheaper now....

I had to pay 450 bucks to get my dimage 7hi fixed. really sucked.

**omisan** · 08-26-2005, 11:59 AM

I've had that issue with both my Sony cameras - shoddy workmanship? Or do I just beat the hell out of them? (Probably the latter - I drop 'em all the time.) With both of them, I just let it slide and they went back to working order after a few days of use and shaking into place.

Basically, your lens mechanism has come loose and it won't retract when you power it off. You can jiggle it as you hit the power button to make it work and hope it sticks, otherwise, just take it to a local camera repair place and they can probably fix it for a few bucks.

**benna2** · 08-29-2005, 07:54 PM

Well after looking at some online auctions on ebay I thought about just buying a new camera. I even contemplated the idea of selling mine as well as an "as is-for parts" camera.

But then I took Omi's advice and just gave it a good shake...and now it is working fine. So I guess for now I will hold off on buying a new one. I can't really afford it anyway. I will just shake it whenever it acts up.

But I think for sure before I go on a trip I will buy a new one.

**MolsonGirl** · 08-30-2005, 09:15 AM

My camera broke over the weekend too... the computer part of it works fine.. but the motor on the lens is BUST...so I'm not sure if I can fix it or if I should just get a new one...either way it's gonna mean a lot of money.

acid8000 · 08-30-2005, 10:43 AM

probably your best bet is to just buy a new camera...like weirdbeard said small electronics are crazy expensive to fix

Qwardian · 11-18-2005, 08:43 AM

Sony cameras are infamous for the LRS (lens retracting servo) from malfunctioning doing to poor soldering. One of the main reasons is due to the fact the servo is not getting enough current to operate it. Blame Sony on out sourcing all their parts. A way to combate this is use batteries with a high milliamperage (mA) Lithium batteries work well. If you go to turn it off and the lens wont retrack remove the batteries essentially resetting the camera and place back in and turn on then off.

Any other problems let me know

**benna2** · 11-18-2005, 08:52 AM

thanks!

I have since bought a new camera and it is working fine. I still have the old one as well because sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt! I will try that though with some new batteries and see what happens.

**weirdbeard** · 11-19-2005, 01:28 AM

Which camera did you get Benna? I don't remember if you posted it. And Qwardian I haven't seen that name in a while. You were around when I first started posting. Welcome back!

**benna2** · 11-19-2005, 07:20 AM

I got a Sony Cybershot DSC S-40. It is a 4mp and tiny which is what I was looking for so it would be good for traveling. It takes nice pictures and I don't have any complaints about it so far!

**TheJake** · 11-19-2005, 08:59 AM

I like my DSC-W1 a lot.