Digital cameras 101

[Chris_Downing]

My great Olympus C-990 seems to now want to take all images over exposed.  It's as though I've set some sort of override and the auto exposure is now permenantly set for an inside shot.  It totally over exposes outside.

Am I doing something dumb or is this what happens to 5 year old cameras?  It's been brilliant up to no with no problems at all (includuing being dropped a few days after I bought it!!)  I feel like if I could reset it like a palmtop all would be well - but there isn't a reset button - or is there?

[Deb]

Hi there Chris. Yep, you should be able to reset your camera to its default settings. Take a look in your manual for instructions (if you still happen to have it). The reset is most likely in your setup menu.

(I'll look for an online manual in the meantime.)

[ShutterbugGail]

Here's a listing of manufacturer websites where you can download camera manuals:

http://www.digicamhelp.com/digital-camera-manuals/where-to-download-a%20digital-camera-manual.htm

Hopefully, yours will have a reset button. If not, try keeping the batteries out of it for a couple of days.

[Chris_Downing]

Well I've been right through the instruction manual and  and found I could do some other things I didn't know - but no reset instructions.  I guess I'll try the idea of leaving the batteries out for a few days and see what happens. :-/

[Deb]

Hi Chris, let's try to do this manually. You mentioned that all your images are overexposed? Too bright? Do me a favor and check your EV settings. It should be set to 0. Is it?

(BTW, I checked and the C-990 instruction manual is no longer downloadable through Olympus UK. I went ahead then and put in an email support query. We'll see what they say.)

[Chris_Downing]

Yes the EV is set to 0.  This seems to be a failure of the auto exposure setting  - I can get a near perfect picture in an indoor room and hopeless in the sunshine.  The auto exposure seems to be working for the LCD screen but switches off to take the picture.

[Deb]

Hmmmm ... do you mean that the LCD image view looks normal pre-exposure (or post-exposure)? If it looks fine pre-exposure, that could indicate that your aperture is functioning. I wonder if your shutterspeed isn't adjusting. You said earlier that indoor shots look fine. Your speed would need to slow down to take those properly which, if stuck at that slower speed, could result in overexposed outdoor images.

Can you take manual mode photos? How do they turn out?

[Chris_Downing]

OK....the settings menu I have only allows me to adjust for a 'night-time' half second exposure within the flash options - which interestingly when I take one like that it looks just like the over exposed pictures I'm stuck with.  Or I can adjust the ISO between 100-400.  At 400 it's even more over exposed and at 100 less and as I turn inside the room I can take an almost OK picture of the room - and adjust that exposure with the ISO setting so the camera seems to be operating with either the apature set open - but unlikely as it seems to adjust on the LCD viewfinder OK - or the shutter is stuck to something like a half second open.

[Deb]

Hi Chris. Just heard back from O Support re: how to reset the C-990 to its default settings. They say to "please remove the batteries for more than 24 hours." Go ahead and give that a whirl. I'll keep my fingers crossed for good luck.  

If the problem continues after resetting the camera, then it may be a mechanical issue. That would be a bummer! I'd suggest you contact Olympus Support and see what they say. The UK site lists the C-990 in their "archived product" list. Here's their web address for support ...
http://www.olympus.co.uk/consumer/208_1636.htm

(By the way, digital cameras have come a long way in the past 5 years. If yours requires a repair, and the cost is high, you might be better off to buy a new camera.)

[Chris_Downing]

Yes I agree - the C-990 cost about £300 five years ago and with a bit of inflation that's about £350 now - and the equivalent now costs £66.  I can't see myself getting this repaired if it doesn't reset -I'll get another camera pretty much the same.  I find that 2 to 3 MP and 3x tele seems all I need.  But a 10x and 5MP would be nice and still less than half the price of this camera 5 years ago!!  I'll stay in touch and tell you what happens in the next 24-48hrs.

[Deb]

Good luck, or happy shopping ... which ever the case may be.