Digital cameras 101

[Urmi]

this is my first time on this message board, so if i am repeating another topic, so sorry, i'm just desperate to know what i am doing wrong with my digicam baby.

i bought this Pentax Optio S4i in May 2004. Its 4 mp, with 3x optical zoom...and other specs i cant think of right away!

when i bought it and began using it i was able to use it without any problems.the pictures were coming out good, the flash was going off(or not)when i wanted,etc.

now, (even) with the battery completely charged and the pictures are taken in adequate lighting and i (seem at least) to be depressing the button all the way down, this is what happens:

start the night with taking about 7 pictures somewhat without close time proximity, then i either turn it off, or i review the pictures, then i might change it to video and shoot some time, then i turn it back and take about 7 more pictures. i switch it off and it stays off for some time, i turn it on and try to take more stills but the flash doesnt go off. i check the battery(still full), there is enough memory (256 mb card and lotsa space), its not wet(with any spilled liquids),it hasnt been dropped/sat on, the flash setting is auto/manual/red eye reduction, still the same result: no flash discharge, the picture is dark and the moment(s) is lost. barely when the night has started does my camera refuse to cooperate.

i am stumped as to what i am doing wrong. i even sent it in for repair by the manufacturer and after a (torturous) 6 weeks i got it back but still its doing it.

please help me or at least direct me to what i am doing wrong or badly or...what even!!

i would appreciate any help whatsoever :-/  

[Deb]

Hi Urmi and welcome to the Q&A Board! We're glad to hear from you.

Here's what I'd suggest ... let's "reset" your camera back to its default parameters. To do this select MENU > SETUP > RESET. Any camera setting modifications you might have made will be reset back to the camera's default settings thereby eliminating any configuring snafus.

Next, go take some shots that would require flash. If your flash still doesn't go off, then there might be an issue with your batteries (even though the indicator says they have a full charge). Take your batteries out and look at the battery contacts. Are they clean? Are they making good contact with the battery points? If that checks out ok and you still aren't getting the flash to go off, then go ahead an insert brand new batteries. Let us know what happens.

[Urmi]

thanks for the prompt reply...

i tried all that you told me...reset it, checked the batteries (the contact points and overall it seemed clean)...took pictures like how i did earlier without having changed any of the white balance and such settings... i had it shoot on auto/red eye reduction etc flash, so far so good.  i even took 30 secs of video, changed the mode back to regular pic taking and it worked fine.

then i changed the white balance and poof the flash stopped discharging. tried changing it back to auto white balance, not cooperating. i reset it again (is it bad to do that?) and nope, same thing.

it seems it might be the battery. where do you suggest i purchase a new battery (have had this one since about a year now) as this uses only pentax (rechargable) li-ion battery D-L18 (i think) ?

all this points me to believing that its the camera and not really me. kinda happy that i can use and i kno how to use it, but it saddens that the camera is going kaputy  

[Deb]

Don't fret. Though it does sound like a battery issue, all isn't lost. Your camera is more than likely just fine.

Your battery requires 100 minutes to fully charge. Cold temperatures will cause it to lose its charge even if you aren't using it. If you store your camera in a cold place like a poorly heated closet, or out in the car in the winter, it would lose its charge.

Batteries have a life expectancy too. You stated that your camera was purchased in May of 2004 so it shouldn't be suffering from old age quite yet.  Yet the specs do say that if the operation of the camera becomes shorter and shorter and the battery still says it's fully charged, the battery needs to be replaced. That does seem to be the case here.  Bummer! You should be able to find your battery (Pentax rechargeable lithium-ion D-LI8 battery) at either your local camera store or online. I did a search and it looks like you can get one for around $35.

[ShutterbugGail]

I agree with everything that Deb has said, a lot of good information there. But before running out and buying a new battery, I highly recommend you contact Pentax tech support once again just to make sure there is nothing wrong with the camera, which may still be on warranty. They should have tested out the battery.

If the problem turns out to be with the camera, then you're stuck with a battery that you've used. You may have difficultly returning it. Some of these batteries can be expensive, even if you buy them at a discount place such as:

http://www.sterlingtek.com/index.html

http://www.batteryspace.com/

[ShutterbugGail]

One other thought.

Have you tried chaning the flash mode to forced flash (called Flash-on, on your digicam) to see if it works after you change the white balance?

[Urmi]

those are really good suggestions...at least i am not completely dejected!!

i have talked to the local camera place where i got the digicam from and reiterated my problem to the guy along with the battery thing that you also suggested. he was also pretty much stumped. He did say that i can get it in and have them try it out in the store then and there to see if there are the same problems, but it will act like anything mechanical/electronic: when you use it it misbehaves, you bring it into to have it looked at and it wont misbehave and the tech/store person will look at you like you are stupid, you go back with assurances that it wont happen again, but it does again doing its own thing.

He did suggest this tho: that i leave it in the store and have them try out the camera over a few days to have the pics taken under almost the 'same conditions' (like crazy 7-14 in almost one sitting!)

i am leaning on doing this instead of calling pentax as they might not regard the query for some excuse or the other, or will give me suggestions of things that i have already done on my own or that you guys have suggested, or will be like "send it in for repair "...

sorry i've just had too much caffeine i think ( you gotta love coca-cola!!) and i am frustrated that there isnt a quick fix for this

thanks for your suggestions and replies tho...this communication has made me love listservs/ email support lists/ online forums even more!!! keep it up!

[Urmi]

just after posting my reply i saw the suggestion of the forced flash thing.

i tried that even after changing the white balance, but the picture was still dark (ie no flash)

*sniff*  

[ShutterbugGail]

just after posting my reply i saw the suggestion of the forced flash thing.

i tried that even after changing the white balance, but the picture was still dark (ie no flash)

*sniff*  

Urmi,

The suggestions we give at Digicamhelp have helped many, many people. When all is said and done though, we are not trained tech support personnel.  But I can't help but wonder if there is something wrong with the electronic circuitry; if somehow when you switch to white balance something gets stuck which effects the flash.

If your local camera shop is willing to take a look before sending it into Pentax, then I'd go that route too. In fact, they probably can determine if it's a battery problem without you having to order a new one at this stage.

Please let us know how it works out.

[Deb]

Hi Urmi, taking your camera to the place where you purchased it from and letting them try it out for a bit sounds like a dandy idea. They can put it through its paces. Do let us know what they find out.