Pictures now getting a blue tint/washed out

[GlenFar]

Hi, My sister has a Kodak EasyShare DX4530 Digital camera. She's had it I think for a couple years now, and it's been working great ... until now that is.

Now every picture she takes has a blue tint to it, and outdoor pictures are pretty much washed out. And note that the video mode looks fine - it's just still pictures that are affected. Any idea what the problem might be?

I've attached a sample image (taken outside) that she sent me.

Thanks,
Glen.

[Ronnoco]

Have you thoroughly checked all menu choices and adjustments? What does the photo info. that is recorded with the image indicate in terms of f stop, shutter speed, ISO etc.?

Ronnoco

[gigglingtomatoes]

it's time to get a new camera

[GlenFar]

it's time to get a new camera

Yah, that's kind of what I'm thinking too ... but hey, doesn't hurt to ask first right!

And unfortunately she's in Nepal right now, so doesn't exactly have a camera shop around the corner ... (either for taking a look at the current one or buying a new one).

[GlenFar]

Well it's fully automatic, so not a lot of settings you can change. I tried looking through the manual, but couldn't see anything that seemed likely (or even possible). There is an 'Exposure Compensation' setting, but it's a one-time deal (automatically resets when you change modes or turn off the camera). I had her try it anyway, and apparently it didn't help.

As for photo info - never even knew that stuff was recorded! Anyway, here's what it says:

F number: 2.8
Shutter speed: 1/128 sec (7.00)
ISO Speed: blank
Exposure mode: Auto exposure
Exposure index: 120
Exposure bias: F/1.0 (0.00)
Exposure time: 1/125 second
Flash used: None
White balance: Auto
Gain control: Low gain up
Image sensor type: One-chip color area sensor
Exposure program: Normal program
Scene type: Direct capture
Scene capture type: Standard

That's everything that looked like it might be relevant to me ... no idea what it all means! ;)

[SmartWombat]

I checked out the embedded EXIF information from his image, it doesn't look like my first guess was right - I thought you might have adjusted the colour balance.

It looks like the camera isn't working properly, rather then her settings.
Does an image look like this on the screen on the camera?


Original date/time: 2005:05:29 09:01:49 (the clock's wrong)
Exposure time: 1/125.00
Shutter speed: 1/128.00
F-stop: 2.8
Focal length: 8.0000
Focal length (35mm): 38
Flash: Not fired
Exposure mode: Auto (so it's not manual mode overexposure)
Image width: 160
White balance: Auto (so unless it's broken, it's not a WB problem)
Image height: 120
Orientation: Top-left
Aperture: 3.0000
Light source: Unknown
Exposure bias: 0.0000
Metering mode: Pattern
Exposure program: Normal (I guess htat means no + or - adjustment)
Digitized date/time: 2005:05:29 09:01:49
Modified date/time: 2006:05:31 12:58:13
Scene type: Photograph
User comment: "" ,00
Exposure index: 120.0000
Custom rendered: Normal
Scene capture type: Standard
Gain control: Low gain up (no extra gain on the amplifier, so there was plenty of light)
Digital zoom ratio: 0.0000
Contrast: Normal
Saturation: Normal
Sharpness: Normal

[GlenFar]

Does an image look like this on the screen on the camera?

No - on the screen it looks fine. And as I said, video images look fine too. That actually had me thinking it must be a setting at first too. But it just seems like the camera is too automatic - there are no settings to get wrong! (Which also implies there's no settings to correct it either ...)

[cyberlord]

HOw do you download the images to computer? I wonder if they are getting corrupt via transfer or by your graphics program (if you even use one).

[GlenFar]

Sorry, I think I confused you (easy enough now that I re-read that). When I said it looked fine on the screen, I meant before actually taking the picture!

[another view]

With that last piece of info, I'd vote for a new camera. Like Paul pointed out with your settings, everything looks OK there.

[GlenFar]

With that last piece of info, I'd vote for a new camera. Like Paul pointed out with your settings, everything looks OK there.

I also sent an e-mail to Kodak support, and they agree ... :cryin:
Not really surprised, but unfortunately it means she's without a camera for the next 6 months or so ... anyway, thanks everyone for trying to help!