Digital cameras 101

[Bud]

I was taking pictures of cars in a parade with my Sony DSC-F717 and something went wrong with the images.  I was using the fully automatic setting, at the highest resolution (~2.2 MB per image) under bright sunlight (behind me; I was facing north) and snapped about 300 pictures—most of which are terrific.  However, for no apparent reason that I can figure out, something went wrong—maybe I inadvertently pushed some button and activated a special effect, but I need help to get back to the nominal mode of taking pictures.  The battery is at full strength and there are no filters added to the lens (other than the UV filter which is always installed).

Pictures 1-183 turned out just fine, but pictures 184 and 185 and the last five images are covered in White.  They are not overexposed, the image is just fine (under the white), but it looks like a white (opaque) cover is put over the image.  Pictures 183 and 184 were of the same car and were taken only six seconds apart.  183 was fine; 184 was not.  185 and 186 were also shot only six seconds apart and 185 is covered in white but 186 is as sharp as ever.

Let me explain one other thing: when I scroll through images in the camera, when a good image is first displayed, it is a bit blurry for about three seconds but then snaps to crispness—this is normal.  However, when one of the bad images is displayed, it shows-up first as an image that has a thin covering of white over the image (kind of like a think fog) but at the three second mark, it image is nearly obliterated by a thick whitewash.  On some of the images the think whitewash looks like very fine Venetian blinds in the closed position (horizontal lines that are mostly white but have some dark stratifications running through them).

I pushed the tiny reset button near the memory card in hopes that that would correct some faulty setting.  Nothing happened except to erase the internal clock setting.  

One other strange thing is that despite the whitewash over still photos, when I take a video, it looks perfect.  I don't know what this whitewash-over-the-photo condition is, but it makes the camera useless for photos.  

Can you think of what it might be?  I really like the camera and want to use it this summer while we are on vacation.  I can't use it in this condition.

Help, please!

Bud

[bdery]

Hi, and welcome!

First, concerning the effect you see when viewing your images in the camera (the change after 3 seconds) I don't think it's related to the problem per se, that's probably because, when first displaying the image, the camera uses only part of the file for a quick display, then it loads the whole file, and that's probably why you see a change on-screen.

Now, about your problem, it's hard to tell without samples. does it look like the images are over-exposed, or is it something else? Does it happen with every shooting mode? In every lighting situation? Does the white wash only show in the camera, or also when you display your images on a computer screen?

Tell us more and we'll try to help. You might want to contact Sony, however, as it MIGHT be that the CCD has become faulty. That's sad, if it's the case, because the F717 was a fine camera.

[ShutterbugGail]

Sorry to hear about the camera problem. A couple of thoughts come to mind.

It doesn't really sound like you inadvertently hit the wrong button because the problem presents itself inconsistently: the opaque white cover, the Venetian blind effect, etc.

I believe the DSC-F717 is about five years old and my best guess is that the camera sensor may be going. The only way to know for sure is to call Sony or a digital camera repair shop.

If your camera is in need of repair, here is information about deciding whether to repair it or not:

http://www.digicamhelp.com/camera-care/repair/