S230 and underexposure problem... (read on)

[S45_fornow...]

I have an S230 and I'm getting underexposed images intermittantly. Maybe like 1 out of every 10-15 shots is drastically underexposed to the point of being almost black. Sometimes I can take 20 or more images without a problem, but then it always happens again sooner or later. This happens mostly indoors when using flash, but the problem also happens occasionally outdoors with no flash and indoors with no flash as well. I can tell when the flash goes off that the image will be underexposed because the flash sound is not as crisp as it normally is, and well, it just has a strange, underpowered and incomplete sound when this occurs. This happens regardless of whether the battery is fully charged or not. I also have two batteries that are both brand new and it does it with both of them.

Does anyone else have this problem with their S230 or other Powershot digicam? I am very careful not to block the flash port with my hand/fingers, so that is not the problem.

Thanks for any feedback. I'm going to return the camera if it is defective, so please chime in with any comments.

[stopbath]

Make tracks to that store.

If you want to, you may use the original card and fill it with identical views (just keep taking shots of the same subject, not changing anything). When one or more of them turns up underexposed, you'll have a good case for returning the camera. (Exposure should be identical for identical scenes...)

[stopbath]

It might be a component that only fails when cool...

Hopefully they won't be out of stock too long.

[S45_fornow...]

You know I've just spent the last 1/2 hour taking pics and waiting for the camera to do its underexposure thing, and over 200 pics later it still hasn't done it. It's been doing it for the past 6 days and now nothing. I bought it on Amazon, and it needs to go out TODAY in order for the camera to make there by the 30-day return date. I guess I'll just send it back rather than get stuck with a camera that could be defective. Problem is, Amazon is out of stock for the S230...



More testing before the UPS guy gets here...

Now, I'm getting 1 out of every 50-60 shots where the image is blank. Much better than before, but its still happening.

Is it normal to get an occasional "missed picture" due to the processor making an incorrect exposure call, or maybe the memory card just farting as its being written to?

[stopbath]

No, it's not normal.

You should not expect a 'random' under exposure as that may well occur during a critical moment.

If at all possible, send the camera back with evidence on the 16meg card, but send it back anyways.

[S45_fornow...]

No, it's not normal.

You should not expect a 'random' under exposure as that may well occur during a critical moment.

If at all possible, send the camera back with evidence on the 16meg card, but send it back anyways.


Thanks. UPS just picked it up. I think I'll buy an S400 instead, they should be dropping in price after the press releases for the 2004 Canons come out.

[Tom W]

No, it's not normal.

You should not expect a 'random' under exposure as that may well occur during a critical moment.

If at all possible, send the camera back with evidence on the 16meg card, but send it back anyways.


Thanks. UPS just picked it up. I think I'll buy an S400 instead, they should be dropping in price after the press releases for the 2004 Canons come out.

Good move - I sold my S-230 for the S-400 and never regretted the move. The 3X zoom did it for me (plus, I had a buyer for the S-230).

[S45_fornow...]

No, it's not normal.

You should not expect a 'random' under exposure as that may well occur during a critical moment.

If at all possible, send the camera back with evidence on the 16meg card, but send it back anyways.


Thanks. UPS just picked it up. I think I'll buy an S400 instead, they should be dropping in price after the press releases for the 2004 Canons come out.

Good move - I sold my S-230 for the S-400 and never regretted the move. The 3X zoom did it for me (plus, I had a buyer for the S-230).

Great. If its anything like my S45, I won't be dissapointed. The smaller size is something that's important to me for my travels, otherwise I'd just use my S45 for everything.

[S45_fornow...]

Can't delete this post, so...

S400 here I come!