Digital cameras 101

[stalemate]

hi I just purchased a sony dsc-p200, i am not sure whether it is faulty or it is just me being stupid.

Basically the problem is that it is taking very inconsistent photos. I did a test shoot - taking 5 identical photos. Each one came out different ranging from undserexposed to grossly over exposed to almost pure white saturation.

I have not really touched the settings, but what worries me is that the results are not 1 common prob, ie they are all too dark, it is literally pot luck what the picture looks like,


any help advice or comments would be really welcomed


thanks peeps

[bdery]

Hi stalemate and welcome!

We'll need to know a bit more before we (or I, at least) can give an opinion. Here are some questions:

1-did you use a tripod to make sure all the shots were the same?
2-Did the light source change between your shots? What is your subject?
3-What mode are you using? Auto? A scene mode?
4-How is the metering mode set? Spot, evaluative, center-weigthed?

If it's user error, it might be that the metering is not done properly or that something is fooling it. The camera could also be at fault, and telling us more about the issue will help us help you.

[ShutterbugGail]

Try resetting the camera.

Also, if your camera has an automatic Bracketing mode, make sure you didn't inadvertently switch it on. It will give you a range of exposures just like you described.

[stalemate]

ok i am sorry in advance as i am an amateur, but i will be as specific as possible.

I took the photos within seconds of each other.
I did not use a tripod
the camera was set to automatic
iso was 100
i had a play with the white balance but apart from that all settings wer ethe same
i reset the camera and the same thing occurred


on my camera there is a varying power on the flash (from what i can see) i assume this is directly linked to what it decides is the most appropriate amount of flash required.

it is this that is changing on each photo, in other words soemtimes the flash is really powerfull sometimes the flash is a small quick light flash (thus producing under exposed results)

I included the little flash issue as some one might uinderstand what setting i potentially could change to fix it

if you need any info just ask, the camera is at home at the moment so if you need specific details i will provide them a little later....

[stalemate]

the mode is not on spot it is on multi/auto


i did change it but the reuslts were pretty similar on spot focus

[stalemate]

i took the photos in my bedroom, 5 pointing identically at my desk, a few at my wardrobe and some more at my bed

[ShutterbugGail]

Let's narrow this down a bit more.

When you take photos outside in good light, do you have the same problem or is it only for inside photos?

Also, don't forget to try resetting the camera.

Let us know.

[stalemate]

outside photos are fantastic in daylight,

i have not tried it in dark outside as i only got it today,


inside is the problem (so far)

i used to have a pentax optio s5i, which, while the pictures were nothing special always produced consistent clarity indoors, i am guessing the sony is superior free from technical fault or user stupidity,

[stalemate]

i have reset the camera.


one thing i might add, i took a photo in pitch black this morning and half were dark and the other half were like a torch facing directly into the lens

[ShutterbugGail]

Hmmm, it sounds like there may be a problem with the flash if you're getting photos that extreme.

If I were you, I'd call Sony. The camera is a very good one from what I read and the only problems I found concerning the flash:

- a little uneven at wide angle, with some falloff at the corners and edges of the frame.

- at telephoto, flash distribution is only slightly uneven.

[ShutterbugGail]

btw, a small in-camera flash will never be effective in total darkness. Have you tried taking photos in more normal low light? If so, are they any better?

[stalemate]

interesting, i went into a highstreet camera shop, her verdict,  there is a fault with the camera causing under/over exposure

[bdery]

interesting, i went into a highstreet camera shop, her verdict,  there is a fault with the camera causing under/over exposure

That's certainly a possibility. One thing that strikes my mind is that maybe, maybe your hands block the flash when it fires. That could cause underexposure. It wouldn't explain overexposure, though, so I doubt this is the problem.

As Gail said, I'd call Sony to ask them about it. If you just bought it, it's still under warranty. Maybe the store will even replace it for you.

A last possibility : have you checked the batteries? If they're new or faulty, they might not always deliver the same output, and this could give you problems. On some cameras, the flash is the first thing disabled if the batteries are failing, that could explain it.

God luck!