Released March 2014
Student-Contributed Wiki
An awesome team of students from our education program made this wiki.
The camera does not respond or show signs of powering on.
The camera has four AA batteries, which usually run flat. Replace the batteries with a new set and power on the camera. Use this guide to replace the batteries.
Verify that the batteries are placed correctly in the camera with the correct polarity. Do this step by following the yellow orientation stickers in the inner battery housings. Use this guide to verify correct orientation.
Dirty contacts will prevent a sufficient connection with the batteries. Remove the batteries and spray compressed air into the empty battery compartment. Also, ensure the batteries are clean at either end.
Spray compressed air around the power switch to clear any debris. Debris could prevent an adequate connection. If the compressed air does not work, then it could be that the switch is faulty and needs to be replaced.
The screen does not display anything.
Ensure the camera is powered on. The ON/OFF power button has a green light around the button, which will light up for a few seconds upon startup. The absence of a green light could indicate flat batteries, which need to be replaced.
Drained batteries will have to be replaced.
Check the screen for any cracks. Placing the LCD screen at an angle under bright light will reveal any cracks. Another reason for a blank screen could be a short circuit in the display as a result of contact with water. Remove the batteries and place the camera in a warm, dry place for about a day to evaporate the water. Check to see if any water comes out of the camera by gently shaking it. If the LCD still does not turn on after these steps, then the screen could be broken and will have to be replaced. Use this guide to replace the screen.
The lens barrel will not extend or contract.
A lens cover, which is not removed will prevent the lens from extending. If an error message is displayed, simply turn off the camera and take off the lens cover.
Dirt could build up on the inside of the knob, preventing the lens from zooming. Spray compressed air into the ridge around the knob to clear any debris. The zoom button could be faulty/broken, which means that it has to be replaced.
Sometimes the camera will have an error upon start-up, which will result in the lens not zooming. To correct the error, turn off the camera and power it back on.
The lens can accumulate dust, which can clog the lens from extending and contracting. Spray compressed air in the groove between the outer and inner lens housing. Additionally, insert a thin strip of paper in the groove and rotate it 360 degrees to remove any dirt from the lens barrel. If these techniques don’t work, then the lens motor could be faulty and will need to be replaced. Use this guide to replace the lens barrel.
No light is given off by the flash.
The flash will only turn on if it is raised. This has to be done manually by pressing the button near the flash on the left side of the camera. If the flash is required but not raised, the camera will display a message to raise the flash.
If the camera has insufficient charge, it will not turn on the flash in order to conserve the batteries. Check the battery charge by powering on the camera and checking the battery power level on the bottom left of the screen. If the power level is low, replace the batteries and try the flash again. If the above procedures don’t work then the flash unit is probably damaged and has to be replaced.
The display shows an image which is hazy and not well detailed
Using a a lower resolution could result in images appearing less detailed than they would otherwise be. Powering on the camera, using the menu button and navigating through the list to the resolution, will show the selected resolution. Select one of the top three higher resolutions to have a clearer picture.
A scratched lens will distort the light entering the camera and result in poor image quality. Check for scratches on the outer lens surface. Any scratches will result in the lens having to be replaced.
Poor image quality can also result from a defective sensor. Drops and general use can cause the image sensor to develop malfunctions. A malfunctioning sensor has to be replaced. Use this guide to replace the image sensor.
*It is worth noting that some cameras suffer from barrel distortion, where the photo has an almost almost curved effect from one edge to the other. This flaw is not due to the sensor but more due to the combination of the lens and image sensor used. Barrel distortion is usually corrected using software after the photo is taken, and not necessarily by an easy physical replacement of a component.
