# Broken digital camera - help? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 22, 2003, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broken-digital-camera-help/196837 "2003-08-22T02:14:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Garnet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de0a6/32.png) [@Garnet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garnet)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broken-digital-camera-help/196837/1 "2003-08-22T02:14:09Z")
I have a year-old Sony DSC-P51 digital camera which has stopped working, and is prohibitively expensive to send in for repairs, even under warranty. It seems to be in working order, except that when you’re in picture-taking mode, the screen shows only black (actually black with static, if you look closely). I can display pictures already on the memory card, but any new pictures I take end up all black, so it’s apparently not just a problem with the preview or a defect in the screen. I’ve already tried resetting the camera, recharging and changing the batteries, turning the power on and off, switching modes, etc. Sony online tech support and Google have been unhelpful. So, has anyone here come across this problem and fixed it? (I know, it’s a long shot :() Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broken-digital-camera-help/196837/2 "2003-08-22T03:04:50Z")
I don’t have an answer to your problem, but you may want to register and ask [here](http://www.mavican.nu/phpbb/) on the Main Board. The people on that forum know a lot about Sony digital cameras. I think a couple people who post there also do repairs at a much cheaper price than what Sony charges. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broken-digital-camera-help/196837/3 "2003-08-22T03:33:28Z")
Wait, why is it expensive to repair under warranty?? This makes no sense to me at all. If it’s under warranty, it should not cost you a dime. ---
**Author:** ![Garnet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de0a6/32.png) [@Garnet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garnet)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broken-digital-camera-help/196837/4 "2003-08-22T04:13:30Z")
**Q.E.D.** : The Sony warranty, for whatever reason, only covers parts. They charge for labor on repairs no matter what - thus, if I were to send it in to be fixed, I’d still be out $140. Might as well buy a new camera at that rate. ---
**Author:** ![abby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@abby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abby)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broken-digital-camera-help/196837/5 "2003-08-22T07:37:46Z")
Garnet, might want to try [www.dpreview.com](http://www.dpreview.com), the forums there are very comprehensive. Otherwise, you do get what you pay for, I am sorry to say. abby ---
**Author:** ![Garnet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de0a6/32.png) [@Garnet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garnet)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broken-digital-camera-help/196837/6 "2003-08-22T19:12:49Z")
Thanks for the links, everyone; unfortunately the general consensus appears to be that my camera is beyond hope. Stay tuned for my next GQ: “Blood plasma donations: Going rate?” … just kidding. Mostly.