Does my camera have the swine flu?

[MickeyWanaBe]

Since you guys were so helpful with my last camera problem let me run this one past you...

Christmas morning my camera started taking green pictures. I don't think it was drop or anything happen out of the ordinary. I have a Sony Cybeshot DSC-P150.

When I took this picture the LCD flickered and had lines through it. I thought it might be the screen, but I can scroll back through and review the pictures and they all still show up fine. You can see the lines in the picture.

The next pictures I took turned out like this.

Then Moday I had to take a picture of DS after his disagreement with a tree during sledding. And it appeared to be fine.

Yesterday and today when I tried to take a picture it was back to green.

Has anyone else had this problem or know what it might be?
Why is my camera feeling a little green?

Edited to add: Setting were not changed between the pictures. Just point and shoot. Turning the flash on or off also doesn't change the green results.

 

[MICKEY88]

check your white balance setting...

 

[MickeyWanaBe]

check your white balance setting...

Thank you fro your response.
I just checked the white balance. It is a point and shoot so there isn't a whole lot I can change.

On auto mode, which is what I use the WB is set to auto and it can not be changed. If I switch it to a manual setting I can change the WB, but it doesn't seam to affect the green-ness.

The real time view on the screen appears to be fine. The image turns green when I push the shutter button halfway to focus. It looks like how the picture comes out. ...if that makes sense.

DH suspects the ccd. We have a spare camera at home that we bought on ebay broken (the lens won't retrack) to replace the LCD on ours a couple years ago when it was damaged. He said he can try swaping it out if possible, but he doesn't know what else to try.

 

[zackiedawg]

It's definitely the sensor...it's on the way out...sorry to say.

I've been through that same process on my old Canon S100, and later my old Sony F717. Sometimes it drops more dramatically, from perfect to dead all at once, but most of the time it starts going slowly...lines in the shot, or predominant colors like blue or green filling in everywhere (it was actually pink on the Canon - anything white ended up pink).

Fortunately for some Sony owners, there was a long recall for sensors covering many models, where Sony would replace the sensor for free if it failed in this manner. You had to call them to go over the problem, they would verify over the phone if it was a warrantable issue (based on your description), then send you a packing receipt via UPS to send the camera to their repair center. My F717 was fixed and returned in 6 days. Your P150 is old enough to be within the covered model years, so I'd check with Sony if they still have the sensor replacement warranty, and if your camera falls within the range.

Otherwise, if not covered, then you can try something a little more brave like swapping the sensor with the other camera (assuming your husband has some knowledge or ability with microelectronics or computer boards). Failing that, you may have to hunt for a new camera.

 

[MickeyWanaBe]

It's definitely the sensor...it's on the way out...sorry to say.

I've been through that same process on my old Canon S100, and later my old Sony F717. Sometimes it drops more dramatically, from perfect to dead all at once, but most of the time it starts going slowly...lines in the shot, or predominant colors like blue or green filling in everywhere (it was actually pink on the Canon - anything white ended up pink).

Fortunately for some Sony owners, there was a long recall for sensors covering many models, where Sony would replace the sensor for free if it failed in this manner. You had to call them to go over the problem, they would verify over the phone if it was a warrantable issue (based on your description), then send you a packing receipt via UPS to send the camera to their repair center. My F717 was fixed and returned in 6 days. Your P150 is old enough to be within the covered model years, so I'd check with Sony if they still have the sensor replacement warranty, and if your camera falls within the range.

Otherwise, if not covered, then you can try something a little more brave like swapping the sensor with the other camera (assuming your husband has some knowledge or ability with microelectronics or computer boards). Failing that, you may have to hunt for a new camera.

Wow! Thank you so much for this information!

DH has just check and the our camera does not fall under the recall. He is going to try to swap out the sensor. He has taken it apart and fixed it before. He builds computers so has some electronic knowledge. He has even fixed 3 or 4 of the cameras for my coworkers swaping out parts. He is my own personal Geek Squad!

I have also started the search for a new p&s. There are a couple threads on the boards I will have to read up on which p&s is the best. I have always had and loved my Sonys. I now have a Canon DSLR. DH mentioned maybe trying a Canon p&s this time, but I am hesitent. My MIL has one and I hate it! But maybe she just doesn't have the right model... I will have to check into it.

Thanks again! This board is the BEST!

 

[GrillMouster]

Yeah, I'd say the camera is dying. It's like you're shooting through green celophane. On the first picture you can see where a fraction at the top of the frame looks fine, then as you go down you see a whole bunch of individual green lines across the frame(like someone drew very close lines on the picture using a green sharpie and a ruler). That's what convinces me that it's a problem with the sensor or computer, not just a white balance issue.
Rather than paying to fix it I'd get a whole new camera.

edit: just read your post about DH trying to replace the sensor himself. Let us know how it works out.

 

[MickeyWanaBe]

edit: just read your post about DH trying to replace the sensor himself. Let us know how it works out.

He will be tearing into it tonight to see what he can do. We have to get it fixed or get a new one asap. We leave for a ski trip out west in 30 days and I don't feel comfortable taking the DSLR out on the mountain everyday. Maybe one day... This will be DS4's first trip snow skiing so no camera is not an option.

 

[MickeyWanaBe]

I spent the time patiently waiting and playing with the nifty fifty!

That's the sensor in his hand.

HE DID IT! He's my hero! But now I don't get a new camera...

 

[AbbysFamily]

WOW... Impressive photo set! I'm amazed that a) he was able to take i apart so well and b) you had more of the same to steal parts from!

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

Yeah, I'd say the camera is dying. It's like you're shooting through green celophane. On the first picture you can see where a fraction at the top of the frame looks fine, then as you go down you see a whole bunch of individual green lines across the frame(like someone drew very close lines on the picture using a green sharpie and a ruler). That's what convinces me that it's a problem with the sensor or computer, not just a white balance issue.
Rather than paying to fix it I'd get a whole new camera.

edit: just read your post about DH trying to replace the sensor himself. Let us know how it works out.

A bit ot- but can one take a picture through celophane to get a certain colored shot? It could be fun to play with (or at least fun to enterain my child care kids who LOVE my camera)

 

[JoeDif]

WOW... Impressive photo set! I'm amazed that a) he was able to take i apart so well and b) you had more of the same to steal parts from!

For sure.....usually if I do something like that I always have extra parts when I finish

 

[MickeyWanaBe]

WOW... Impressive photo set! I'm amazed that a) he was able to take i apart so well and b) you had more of the same to steal parts from!

He IS an amazing man! He took my parents' laptop apart Monday night becuase the screen backlight kept going off. There were lots more screws and pieces with that and when he was finished he had no spare parts left. The replacement to fix it is on the way!

We had the spare camera to steal parts from because he smashed my camera in the tailgate of the car while we were on vacation at Disney in 2006. It completely smashed the LCD and the metal housing, but I was still able to use it and take pictures the rest of the trip just couldn't review or change any settings. He felt bad for breaking my camera so as soon as we got home he found one on eBay that wasn't working. The shutter button didn't work and the lens wouldn't retract, but the housing and LCD were good. He got it cheap because it wasn't working. He swapped out the damaged parts and it has been going good ever since.

The spare parts are getting pretty sparce on extra camera, but I am sure there are still some old broken ones on eBay... I always thought he should buy two broken cameras and make one good one and then resell it.

 

[GrillMouster]

A bit ot- but can one take a picture through celophane to get a certain colored shot?...

Sure, it's your camera; You can do anything you'd like with it.
Actually, back in the film days we'd use color-correction filters on the camera to compensate for color casts in various lighting conditions. Now with digital we just change the white balance or fix it in post. We'd also use the colored filters for special effects (I also use white balance and gelled flash to do the same now). Some colored filters were very useful for black & white photography to control contrast. You could use readily available celophane, but you'll lose a stop or more of light and because the material isn't optically clear the image quality will degrade. Give it a try and see how you like the results.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

Ok, I understand what your saying. what sort of speical effects would one use a colored filter for? Im using a simple P&S right now (cause I cant afford to upgrade) but I love to try any new techiniques I can. I shot a panaoramic shot last week in the rain! (without a panaoramic setting)