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From: Whiskers on 21 Jan 2010 15:20
On 2010-01-21, DaveC <invalid(a)invalid.net> wrote:
> Olympus FE-20
> - - -
>> Are the pictures pale-looking even when you upload them to a computer?
>>
>> Has the camera previously produced acceptable pictures?
>>
>> Is the battery OK?
>>
>> Could be a fault in the exposure meter or in the 'firmware'.
>
> Wouldn't these faults be evident in the "viewfinder" mode (before taking the
> exposure)?

Not necessarily. In 'viewfinder' mode one set of 'firmware' routines
operates to put an image on the screen; in 'picture taking mode' a
different set of routines determines the 'exposure' settings and then
encodes the image for 'saving' to memory, probably doing some 'processing'
and then compressing the data to a JPEG file, for point-and-shoot cameras.
Then yet another set of routines comes into play when you look at the
saved image.

Any of those firmware routines can become corrupted, for example by
physical damage to the camera or exposure to electro-magnetic radiation
that's powerful enough to scramble the bits and bytes stored in the
micro-chips.

> When I aim the camera at light and dark subjects the camera
> compensates by "irising" up and down to give what looks to be a
> properly-exposed "preview" display. Only when the image is captured is it
> overexposed.

OK, so the firmware that processes compresses and saves the image, may
be faulty; or the firmware that calculates the exposure; or the hardware
exposure meter (if there is one, as such).

> Images downloaded and viewed on the computer are overexposed, identical to
> when viewed on the camera's display.
>
> This is a new-to-me camera (used) so I don't know the history.
>
> Battery icon is green (fully charged).
>
> It doesn't matter whether flash is on or off.
>
> Ideas?

You've got a duff one. A camera shop may be willing to 'look at it', but
don't hold your breath.

--
-- ^^^^^^^^^^
-- Whiskers
-- ~~~~~~~~~~
From: DaveC on 21 Jan 2010 15:40
> If the picture is consistently misexposed, then the exposure-compensation
> control (assuming the camera has one) should fix the problem.

Compensation doesn't fix the problem, it fixes the symptom. The problem
remains.

The compensation range on this camera is +/- 2 stops and this is not enough.

> If it doesn't, then the camera needs repair or replacement.

I'm asking questions to find out what the cause is. Repair options to be
considered after this is determined.

Thanks.

From: William Sommerwerck on 21 Jan 2010 15:40
> Any of those firmware routines can become corrupted,
> for example by physical damage to the camera or exposure
> to electro-magnetic radiation that's powerful enough to
> scramble the bits and bytes stored in the micro-chips.

It doesn't work that way. And if it did, the firmware would likely fail
altogether.


From: William Sommerwerck on 21 Jan 2010 15:48
>> If the picture is consistently misexposed, then the exposure-compensation
>> control (assuming the camera has one) should fix the problem.

> Compensation doesn't fix the problem, it fixes the symptom. The problem
> remains.
> The compensation range on this camera is +/- 2 stops and this is not
enough.

>> If it doesn't, then the camera needs repair or replacement.

> I'm asking questions to find out what the cause is. Repair options to be
> considered after this is determined.

If +/- 2 stops isn't enough to compensate, then the camera is either grossly
misdesigned, or it's defective. The "cause" is immaterial, as a properly
designed and operating camera should not show this problem (or symptom, as
you prefer).


From: hr(bob) hofmann on 21 Jan 2010 15:53
On Jan 21, 2:48 pm, "William Sommerwerck" <grizzledgee...(a)comcast.net>
wrote:
> >> If the picture is consistently misexposed, then the exposure-compensation
> >> control (assuming the camera has one) should fix the problem.
> > Compensation doesn't fix the problem, it fixes the symptom. The problem
> > remains.
> > The compensation range on this camera is +/- 2 stops and this is not
>
> enough.
>
> >> If it doesn't, then the camera needs repair or replacement.
> > I'm asking questions to find out what the cause is. Repair options to be
> > considered after this is determined.
>
> If +/- 2 stops isn't enough to compensate, then the camera is either grossly
> misdesigned, or it's defective. The "cause" is immaterial, as a properly
> designed and operating camera should not show this problem (or symptom, as
> you prefer).

Does the camera have an exposure setting in addition to the +/- two F-
stops? Do you have the instruction manual??
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