Problems with powershot

[sabie]

hi,

I've been using a powershot a20 for 3 years now,
Till now it was performing superb
In the last two weeks I had some problems:

symptoms:
-it takes a photo, but the result is a totally black picture (in daylight)
-it tries two use the flash in daytime (when there's really no need for that)
-it does not use the flash but produces a quite overexposed photo (almost white)

When this happens I tried to switch off-on the cam or tried to change to shooting mode (manual, panorama picture).
These could help in most of the cases, but sometimes it was really a pain in the ass to got that working

What would be the problem? Is it the light metering? Or the CCD?
How can this be solved?

I enclosed two pictures which are taken the same place the same day but one of them is ok, the other is not acceptable.

Thanks for help

Best regards,
Sabie


Examples:
http://www.freeweb.hu/hanwag4s/bad_version.JPG
http://www.freeweb.hu/hanwag4s/ok_version.JPG

[stopbath]

I am not sure of the workings of the A20, but it seems like the method of figuring out the exposure is wonky. It sounds like this little baby needs some help.

Have a qualified technician look at it (Canon or one of it's authorized depots) and get an estimate. It may be worth while repairing, or it may be worth while to upgrade to a newer camera.

[stduc]

I had a similar problem with my A20. See this old post (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=12048#59894) of mine. I decided it didn't owe me anything and I bought an A70. I haven't regretted the decision. The A20 is still useful for taking slideshows to people who only have a TV as the A70 is much fussier about image formats.