troubleshoot my dsc f717

[wetclay]

Hello,
I'm new around here. I'm writing to find out if anyone knows what the problem is with my camera and if it's worth it to attempt to fix or should I just throw it in the trash.

I have a Sony DSC F717 camera that is approximately 2.75 years old. I have used this camera extensively and taken many shots with it. Over 8000 shots taken.

About 4 months ago the LCD and Viewfinder went black and I couldn't take any pics with it. If you pressed the button to take a pic it would take a pic of the black screen. I tried all settings and changed my memory cards to no avail.

I left the camera alone for a month and was looking for a new camera when I decided to look at the camera again. It powered up fine and worked fine up till last night.

Last night I was taken shots and and all of a sudden it started taken really bright (almost white) pics with horizontal lines through it. kinda like those ads of a year ago with the scan lines that were real popular. You can make out the subject but the pics are worthless.

If someone has some insight into this and can let me know if its worth it to fix it I would appreciate it. I did change memory cards and powered down numerous times and also removed the battery too.

if you need me to post a couple shots I can do that, just let me know.

thanks

[dogbrain]

I picked it up tonight to shoot a pic and received similar results -

If you learn what is going on, please let me know - I have email in to SONY now and will post here when I hear anything

Thanks

DB

[IShootCano]

I had recently encountered this same thing, this link may help you aswell.

esupport.sony.com/US/perl/news-item.pl?mdl=DSCF717&news_id=118

Note: You will need to copy and paste that link, for some reason this forum doesn't like links.

[dogbrain]

My lines are horizontal, not vertical - and it works perfectly in movie mode. Thanks, but that does not look like my problem at all.

[wiseguy]

Hello dogbrain,
Were you able to find any solution for the issue?

I have a DSC F717 and am seeing the pictures in black and white with horizontal lines on them. Everything looks perfect in:
1. video mode (shooting as well as preview)
2. while focusing for pictures (before clicking)

I chatted with Sony support and the guy said it may not be the CCD issue since the video is clear. I tried charging the battery completely, changing the memory stick, formatting the memory stick, resetting the camera while it was OFF, resetting the camera while it was ON (the support person suggested the last one) - nothing helped.

Any ideas or suggestions?

Thanks!!!

[dogbrain]

I sent my camera off to Tim Driver - still waiting to hear.

Tim agreed that it did not sound like a CCD problem. What freaked me was that the camera was working fine, had used it most of the day. When I got home and took off the photos, I took another one and that's when the problem appeared.\

I will post here after I hear back from Tim.

[egermaki]

Hello, everyone,
I had the same problem with my camera,and Sony did not help. I took it to the nearest authorized Sony repair shop (120 miles one way). They promised to look into it, and five days later, when I picked it up, the camera worked (and works) better than ever.
What they did:
"auto focus test, check recalibration and realignment
software download test, check and complete recalibration
general test, check, clean and repair all functions and systems"
The cost was: $58.01
I hope, this helps.
Good luck!

[shmooney]

I had this same problem and this is what I did.

1) Turn the camera off.
2) Open the battery door.
3) You will find a small reset button.
4) Stick a paper clip or pencil in the button and hold for about 3-5 seconds.
5) Turn your camera back on and your horizontal lines will be gone.

Hope this helps.

[dogbrain]

No, the reset button did not solve my problem.

I sent the camera to Tim Driver and he determined that even though vidoe was not involved, the camera was in the early stages of the CCD issue.

The camera is now at Sony for the CCD repair - I hope to be hearing from them shortly.

[ChuckyWds]

Hello everyone, I was in the middle of a job when my Sony DSC-F717 camera started doing the same thing. You should have seen me tryin to explain that to the brides parents....lol. Wasnt easy, My camera is about 3 years old and has been trouble free till now. Please let me know what they found out dogbrain, all short cuts to try and fix it myself failed


Thanx
Chuck

[dogbrain]

Sony repaired it free of charge. I received it just last week - the camera is back to working great!

[ChuckyWds]

Did they say what the problem was or caused by, was it a ccd problem?

thanx

[dogbrain]

they repaired it under the CCD program - no cost

[ChuckyWds]

Did you send it directly to sony, or did you go through a repair center. and if you sent it to sony did you use the address on the sony site?

Thanx

[dogbrain]

see IShotCano's post earlier in this thread for a link to the information