Digital cameras 101

[presyesc]

Hello,

Got my new PENTAX X70 today and am experiencing a problem I haven't encountered before. Every few shots, the picture turns out rediculously fuzzy and pixelized. Also, on almost every shot, there is a purple hue bordering the left side of the picture. This purple hue also shows up on the LCD display. I'm in auto mode. Any help on this would be great, Thank you

[ShutterbugGail]

Hi presyesc and welcome to the Q&A Forum!

It's a brand new model and no service advisories have been issued to date that I can find. However, it looks to me like there may be a problem with the sensor. If you can't eliminate the problem by resetting your camera or formatting your memory card (or trying a new one), call Pentax tech support to have them determine the problem. If it's a faulty sensor, the company should replace the camera at no cost. Whatever it is, repair should be covered under your warranty.

Here's information about service advisories and some of the reasons they are issued:

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

[presyesc]

Thanks for the quick response. I did a reset to no avail. I will give Pentax a call tomorrow. Do you think it would be wise to get a replacement or refund? I was thinking about getting a comparable Nikon P90 instead. Thanks

-Preston

[presyesc]

I thought I would post another strange photo I took,

[ShutterbugGail]

Do you think it would be wise to get a replacement or refund? I was thinking about getting a comparable Nikon P90 instead.

I personally wouldn't be happy if a new camera I bought had a major glitch upon opening the box. Doesn't give me a lot of confidence in a company. At the same time, the fact is that it could happen with any manufacturer.

The cameras are very similar but the Nikon has a few additional features that you may consider worthwhile:

It has a 3" LCD instead of a 2.7" LCD. The Nikon's LCD tilts, which many people find useful for macro and close-up shots. It also has a faster continuous shooting mode (15 fps vs. 11 fps).

The dimensions and weight of both cameras are about the same, though the ergonomics may be different. It would be nice if you could hold a Nikon and see how it compares to the Pentax.

Here is a side by side comparison which may help you decide:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=nikon_cpp90%2Cpentax_x70&show=all

I'd read some user reviews before making a final decison.

[ShutterbugGail]

I thought I would post another strange photo I took,

You gotta be kidding. Did that really come out of the camera or was something edited? I've never seen anything like it.

[presyesc]

No joke, these images are real.

Thanks for that cross-comparison. I looked over the P90 however some of the reviews concern me, especially about image quality. I have a lot of researching to do to find a suitable replacement. Can you think of any off the top of your head that would be good candidates that I could add to my list? I really appreciate your help.

[ShutterbugGail]

I'm a big fan of the Pansonic FZ superzooms. I also have owned and liked the Canon S2, and would buy a Canon superzoom again. They are entirely different ergonomically and the Canon S cameras are much heavier than the FZ (some prefer the extra weight).

[bdery]

I have never, ever seen such a pattern on an image before. As Gail said, I would ask Pentax about it.

I can personally say that my own Pentax DSLR has worked flawlessly for over a year, so I would not discard the brand off-hand. No manufacturer is without fault, I've had serious problems (and also a lot of fun) with a Canon P&S, and battery issues with a Nikon (and also a lot of fun, and several years of good service).

My point : Go with the camera that has the features and ergonomics you like, whatever the brand. Accidents happen.

I'll be interested to know what Pentax say about this particular issue. I'm guessing the sensor is completely faulty (most P&S sensors are made by Sony, for the record).