[starchild]

Today I was out taking pictures with my Epson 650 camera, and horizontal lines started going across the LCD preview window. Changing it from VIEW to PLAYBACK didn't help. I could barely see in it (thought I could take pictures by using the actual viewfinder)

I'm not sure, exactly when it started, but at one point I had only 4 pictures left and changed it to a lower quality setting, to get more. But, I've done this before, without any problems.

I thought taking the pictures off, and/or changing the batteries might help, but it didn't.

The pictures came out fine.

I looked in the manual under troubleshooting and the closest thing is if there are lines or "noise" in the picture, it might be from flouresent lighting or low lighting.

Neither of which applies with mine.

I've looked through all the settings in the camera, tried adusting the brightness in the window, formatted the memory card, and tried it on all the qualities (1-4)

I've never had it happen before.

Do you think it could be some problem in the memory (called Flash Card) that slips in? I just leave it in, and take the pictures off directly from the camera (not using the usb cord the memory card can be slipped into for this).

I keep thinking it might reset itself. Also, I have more batteries in the charger, and will try them tomorrow, after they've charged for a longer amount of time.

Any ideas? (I know it's an older camera and not all that expensive and high pixel, etc. But, it's been working good for what I've been doing with it.)


~ Carrie

[kiwiguy]

If the pictures were fine, its not the memory card, or or the main camera electronics. Otherwise simple logic dictates that it would affect the picture. The image in the LCD does not come from the memory card. If you think about it, it cant. Until after the photo is taken the image isn't in the card.

It therefore is most likely to be in the LCD display circuitry only.

That narrows it down to one of 873 components...

[starchild]

In order words, I need a miracle?

It's not user fixable.

I can see it, a little, in spite of the lines. And I can use the viewfinder.

I guess it will do till I get smething better, which is my goal anyway. When I win the lottery...

~ Carrie

[RT]

Carrie, didn't you post not too long ago that you had just gotten that Epson?
I seem to recall you'd said that you just got it, one like your sister's? But my memory isn't what it used to be.
Do you have any warranty coverage?

My first digicam developed the same problem after 2-3 years, but it was a very cheap no-megapixel Polaroid. I tried new batteries, formating the card, several of things you mentioned, with no luck.
I took it by a local shop and was advised to return to Polaroid (out of warranty) if I wanted it fixed, but I could get a better new camera cheaper than fixing it.
So I saved up (and left plenty of Christmas hints )and finally got a much better one.

Epson's FAQs site offers not much help other than what you've already tried.

[kiwiguy]

But it was from ebay?

Perhaps this is why it was sold I wonder...

http://forums.techguy.org/showthread...hreadid=197422

[RT]

Ah! Thanks kiwiguy , I forgot it was from ebay.

No warranty, then.

[kiwiguy]

I would be tempted to try "percussive maintenance"

Also known as a "calibrated thump"

A sharp tap, as hard as you feel comfortable with, to the side of the camera with it turned off. There are likely to be some form of connectors to the display, they may need a bump to help the connection along.

Entirely at your own risk of course....

[starchild]

I already tried the thump (learned that from the old days when t.v.s had tubes). I don't think I tried it with it off, though.

I don't think the people selling it knew there was anything wrong, it's been working find since I got it. And I use it a lot.

Thinking about when it happened, we were in the car, my almost 5 year old grandaughter was taking pictures out the window with it (she's pretty smart and careful with it) She had her face right up against the LCD screen at one point (moisture from breath? Seems like it would dry out)

I checked it to see how many pictures were still on it, and there were 4. Figuring she didn't need it on the medium good setting, I clicked it to the low one. I'd done this before, changed settings (it has to be on to do this, to see it). Maybe I was supposed to set it to playback or something first?

Right after that she was looking in it and said "it's all lines". I turned it off, and thought when I got home and took the pictures off, changed the batteries, etc. it might straighten out.

I had read and looked things up a lot in the extensive manual, but there was so much, like switch it to this or that, first. (I just thought of this, but it's almost midnight and I'm too tired to look it up). I think I'd changed the settings with it in the VIEW mode before.

My daughter has one like it, she bought new around 3 years ago, and hers just died. No power. She just bought a Sony Mavica that saves on little cds, and liked it at first, but now is saying it's complicated to use and she doesn't like the cds for some reason.

Anyway, her Epson like mine is dead. Her boyfriend had been using it, and said he'd put in new batteries and still nothing. I asked her if he put in cheap store brand batteries because I tried that with my other camera (Kodak DC 3200) and it didn't even turn on (now I have recharables and a charger). She said she hadn't had a chance to find out or try better ones.

My point, I told her mine wasn't working right, she said she would send me hers (she was going to give me the memory card from it, anyway)

If she actually gets around to doing this, that one might have a simple to fix problem (like battery connections)

I can see why people want to buy new and better stuff all the time. Instead of having to keep trying to get things to work.

I'm getting my wish list ready for when I win the lottery (if there's anything left after taxes)

I wrote to Epson tech support (they have a form on their board for asking questions) and got back that by what I discribed it sounds like I need to bring it for service.

Actually, it still works find, just the LCD and I can sometimes see in that, even with the lines).

I keep thinking maybe it's something simple I'm not seeing, like the rechargable batteries have worn out (had them 1 1/2 years)

But, I have two sets.

I know, I could have worse problems (actually, I probably do

(just looking at it again, changed the batteries again, tried the THUMP therapy) noticed that it's worse on VIEW. Hardly any lines on PLAYBACK (which is good, because I can see the settings). I've tried these, like making the screen lighter or darker.)

~ Carrie