What has gone wrong?????

russiethestag · Dec 9, 2011

Hi everyone

I am a noob to this forum, and I'm starting with a question as I have no idea what to do from here......

I have a Lumix DMC-TZ3 that I have had for a few years, giving sterling service until the other day - when I switched it on, the viewfinder was giving strange flares and streaks, especially if there was a lightsource such as a table lamp - there was also a lot of purple colouring. I have attached an example of what the photos are like.

The display is fine as previously taken photos show correctly, so I'm guessing it must be something to do with the image sensor. My initial thoughts were the kids borrowed it and dropped it, but they say not.

I know it's old, and there are far better cameras out there, but I like it and I'm very familiar with it - plus it took great pictures.

Is it something terminal, or can a fix be done within reasonable price bounds? Could it be a DIY job, as camera shops are bound to ask a small fortune in which case I may as well buy a new one.

Any advice/observations gratefully received

Thanks, Russ

Pictorbski · Dec 9, 2011

I had the exact same thing happen to an old Nikon digicam of mine.... Image sensor went. You could probably buy a better camera for the price of a new sensor. Sorry

MLeeK · Dec 9, 2011

They only have a life cycle of so long and it seems you are at the end of yours. Sorry!

GeorgieGirl · Dec 9, 2011

I have a little Lumix and I love mine too. I hope it never, ever breaks.

russiethestag · Dec 9, 2011

Thanks for that - pretty much what I was expecting.......

I suppose as it is "cattled" I might as well take a screwdriver to it and have a nose inside - and pick a new camera of course! (maybe Santa still has time to load one on his sleigh)

bazooka · Dec 9, 2011

On the bright side, you now have a camera that takes some really trippy photos.

480sparky · Dec 9, 2011

You could easily set yourself up as a ghost hunter now! You can make some big bucks with a camera like that.

"See this right here? Yes, the bright spot.... That's your Aunt Edna!!!"

o hey tyler · Dec 9, 2011

Don't take it apart! Take more photos with it and call it "Modern art" or something!

480sparky · Dec 9, 2011

Five years from now, some noob will register on TPF, and their first post will be:

"I found this photo on-line, and I want to know how it was taken. Was it some special filter? Post-processing method?"

pgriz · Dec 9, 2011

Russ, I'm with the others. Do NOT fix that camera! It is taking ordinary snapshots and transforming them into ART. In fact, following up on Sparky's idea, you should send in this effect and sell it to Adobe. Call it the "Russ Transformation". Then stand back and watch the royalties flow in.

480sparky · Dec 9, 2011

pgriz said:
Russ, I'm with the others. Do NOT fix that camera! It is taking ordinary snapshots and transforming them into ART. In fact, following up on Sparky's idea, you should send in this effect and sell it to Adobe. Call it the "Russ Transformation". Then stand back and watch the royalties flow in.

Just in time for filling up the stockings for the photographers in your life: New! Adobe's Russ Transformations! Takes an ordinary snapshot from any digital camera and converts it to the new .gag (ghosts and goblins) image format. Easily identifies any ghosts, spirits, phantom, specter, poltergeist or banshee that might be lurking about!