Camera zoom problem ruining photos - help!

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daniellarrr

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Daniella
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Hi guys and girls,
Had a search for something like my problem but as I don't really know what it is I may have been looking in the wrong place. But I shall post here and hopefully someone can help!

I have a Panasonic DMC-FS45 point and shoot, great little camera and takes pretty decent photos. Until I use the zoom. When I zoom there seems to be this little thread hanging down from the top of the image, and a dot next to it. The pictures below show this.

8823289084

8823554342

http://www.flickr.com/photos/daniellarourke/8823289084/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/daniellarourke/8823554342/

It is the same whenever I zoom. Until I move from optical zoom to digital zoom, then it disappears. It is not there when I have not zoomed at all.

I have checked to see if there actually is a thread or a speck of dust on the lens and I can't see one, I had a clean with a cotton bud and it was still the same. The camera is only about a year old. Is it possible it's a crack or is there some way of fixing it? Please say there is, I'm on a once in a lifetime round the world trip and it's ruining all my photos!!

Hopefully someone clever can help,
Thank you,
daniellarrr
 
daniellarrr said:
Hi guys and girls,
Had a search for something like my problem but as I don't really know what it is I may have been looking in the wrong place. But I shall post here and hopefully someone can help!

I have a Panasonic DMC-FS45 point and shoot, great little camera and takes pretty decent photos. Until I use the zoom. When I zoom there seems to be this little thread hanging down from the top of the image, and a dot next to it. The pictures below show this.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/daniellarourke/8823289084/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/daniellarourke/8823554342/

It is the same whenever I zoom. Until I move from optical zoom to digital zoom, then it disappears. It is not there when I have not zoomed at all.

I have checked to see if there actually is a thread or a speck of dust on the lens and I can't see one, I had a clean with a cotton bud and it was still the same. The camera is only about a year old. Is it possible it's a crack or is there some way of fixing it? Please say there is, I'm on a once in a lifetime round the world trip and it's ruining all my photos!!

Hopefully someone clever can help,
Thank you,
daniellarrr
Click to expand...

Looks to me like dust/a hair on the sensor. In a dSLR you would just take the lens off and clean the sensor with a rocket blower, however, I doubt you can do that on a compact camera...
 
Judging by the clarity of the spots I would think this is on the lens assembly as sensor spots are too diffused to be clear like the photos loaded on flickr. The only options are, edit the spots out in photoshop, somehow blast the crud out with a can of compressed air (available in several camera shops) and consider a new camera if it's truly annoying you :)
 
I'd suspect it's on the sensor, and is that two other spots also?
I have successfully dislodged specks by sharply tapping the camera on a table top or similar when this has happened with mine.
Obviously this is not without risk but if option #2 is buy new camera not much to lose.
 
If budget allows, I would buy another cheap'n'cheerful camera for the remainder of your trip and chase Panasonic up for some recompense for the hassle and aggravation. Unfortunately crud can get into the works of non interchangeable lens cameras and is almost impossible for the user to dispose of.

All is not lost as far as the photos which have the thread and dust showing - it's a pain in the **** but not too difficult to clone out if you're half competent in Photoshop or any other image editing software that allows cloning.
 
I had the same thing on a Sony DSC-P200 of 2005 vintage. It wasn't there when supplied new, and obviously the problem built up over time as I carried the camera in my lint filled pocket instead of in a case. Well past the warranty period I was able to disassemble the camera, clean the sensor and reassemble successfully. It only needed watchmakers' screwdrivers to do the job. Probably a different prospect on a newer camera though. The only proper solution is going to be to have the camera apart and cleaned, and in future make sure it is protected in a dust/lint free case. These zoom lens mechanisms are not up to the task of securing against dust.
 
Thanks fr all your help, it's a shame but not a massive deal. Will have to stick with it as budget doesn't really stretch to a new camera, even at Indian prices. When the zoom isn't on you can't see it so I'm mainly jut moving closer to the subject to avoid it, seems to work okay!! Will give it a (careful) bash and see what that does, and report to Panasonic just to see what they say. Thanks again for your help!!
Happy photographing, daniellarrr
 
Stick with the footzoom then!

Enjoy the rest of your trip.
 
The same happened with my Panasonic TZ10 when I was in Laos. Got a DSLR the day after I got back :)
 
Hi. I agree with what others have said. Keep taking pics. Photoshop will take care of the problem fir now.
 
ACW said:
Do you store your camera inside a hoover?
Click to expand...

yes doesn't everyone. dam i have been doing it wrong for years. no wonder when i take my camera out its covered in half the cat and carpet:thinking:
 
itsme93 said:
yes doesn't everyone. dam i have been doing it wrong for years. no wonder when i take my camera out its covered in half the cat and carpet:thinking:
Click to expand...

I wish my Hoover could fit half a cat in it, might be a bit messy mind you...
 
ACW said:
I wish my Hoover could fit half a cat in it, might be a bit messy mind you...
Click to expand...

Yes my car is malting and everytime we empty the hover there is more cat hair in there than anything else :)

Bit seriously go the op I would just suggest getting a new point and shoot when you get back
 
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An old compact of mine (Kodak DC215) got so much crud in it that it became unusable. Always kept it in a case when not in use and never stored it in the hoover. So how come cameras get dust in when not stored in a hoover?
 
weybourne said:
An old compact of mine (Kodak DC215) got so much crud in it that it became unusable. Always kept it in a case when not in use and never stored it in the hoover. So how come cameras get dust in when not stored in a hoover?
Click to expand...

It seems some cameras are hoovers themselves and just suck the dust in. (5DC for example)

Either that or it gets up when your in bed and goes swimming in the hoover? Who knows :thinking:

Derailment aside:

@OP

Depending where you are at the moment it may be worth picking a new one (camera) up, it could well work out cheaper than getting one here in the UK anyway. If you plan on getting into photography seriously then DSLRs are easier to maintain yourself (better access to the sensor to clean etc...) and some good bargins can be had on second hand bodies and lenses. I appreciate the DSLR comment may not help you immediately, but it's worth bearing in mind for the future perhaps.
 
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