White line across image

Jul 04, 2006

- Fine, do this then
Fall, 2005Background
In the first half of October, 2005, a number of digital camera and camcorder manufacturers issued service advisories involving a range of digital camera models (as well as some digital camcorders and PDAs that incorporate image sensors). In each case, the story was similar - CCD (image sensor) failures, particularly in conditions of high heat and humidity, led to cameras capturing images with either no picture at all, or with extreme distortion and severe purple or green color casts. An example of the latter symptom, courtesy of the Konica Minolta Europe website, can be seen further down this page. We first started hearing about this problem in late September and early October, 2005, with a significant increase in reader emails about it in the first week of October. The problem understandably caused considerable concern among our readers, with many wondering whether this was an ongoing problem that could affect current cameras.

Initial service advisories by Sony, Canon, Fujifilm and Konica Minolta were soon followed by announcements by Nikon, Ricoh, and Olympus. Affected cameras were all manufactured between 2002 and 2004, the underlying problems have apparently been found and corrected, so no cameras currently on the market are affected. (We are assured by sources that new cameras purchased today will not be affected by this problem. See the "What caused this problem" section at the bottom of this document, for a more detailed discussion of possible causes.)

We here at Imaging Resource did a little digging into the problem, and it appears that the problems trace to certain models of image sensor chips manufactured by Sony between 2002 and 2004. (Fujifilm has stated that they manufacture their own CCD chips, so it's not clear whether or not the problems with their cameras are in fact related to those of the other makers.)



What the problem looks like
The problem can take any of several forms, but all involve severe color shifts and/or severe distortions of the image. The images below show two examples (courtesy of Konica Minolta) of what the problem might look like, if your camera falls prey to it. In the early stages of the problem, the camera may still capture recognizable images, but with a washed-out appearance and a strong magenta or green tint.


(Images courtesy Konica Minolta)

(Image courtesy Tara D.S. Willgues)




What products may be affected?
Quite a number of products may develop this problem, including digital cameras, camcorders, and even PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) that incorporate an image sensor. The following is a list of affected models by various manufacturers that we are presently aware of. We will update this list as new information becomes available. We recommend that you check the site regularly for this and other breaking news.

Here are lists of the affected products, grouped by manufacturer:

Canon
Digital Cameras Camcorders
PowerShot A60
PowerShot A70
PowerShot A75
PowerShot A300
PowerShot A310
PowerShot S230 Digital ELPH / Digital IXUS V3 / IXY D320
PowerShot SD100 Digital ELPH / Digital IXUS II / IXY Digital 30
PowerShot SD110 Digital ELPH / Digital IXUS IIs / IXY Digital 30a
MV600i
MV630i
MV650i
MV700i
MV730i
MV750i
MV5i
MV5i MC
MV6i MC
ZR60
ZR65 MC
ZR70 MC
ZR80
ZR85
ZR90
Elura 40 MC
Elura 50

For repair instructions, visit the Canon USA support website. To read the specific service advisory for your model, use the pulldown menus to browse for your specific model, or simply type the model number into the box provided at the bottom of the page and click the "Search" button.
The Canon support website holds no forms or other needed documents, so you can save yourself some time (if you live in the US or Puerto Rico by just calling the Canon Customer Support line at 1-800-828-4040. Support hours are Monday-Friday 8am to 12 midnight, and Saturday from 10am-8pm. (All times EST.) Alternately, you can send email to: carecenter@cits.canon.com.

For your easy reference, here is a link to the original IR news story on the Canon advisory.




Fujifilm
Digital Cameras
Model Serial Number Range(s)
? FinePix A303 3JA4**** to 3JA5****
? FinePix F410 32A1****,
32A6**** to 32A7****,
32A9****

? FinePix F700
3JA4**** to 3JA5****
? FinePix S2 Pro 31A127**~31A143**
32A000**~32A039**
33A000**~33A007**
34A000**~34A004**
Serial numbers can be found on the bottom of the cameras. From the Fuji service advisor, the following applies to US customers:
IF SERVICE IS NEEDED:
Package the camera carefully using ample padded material to prevent damage in transit. Include your name, address and phone number with the shipment as well as a general description of the problem. Keep a record of the camera's serial number and shipment tracking number. Ship your camera to the Fuji Service Center noted below:

Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc.
1100 King George Post Rd.
Edison, NJ 08837
Attn: Camera Repair Dept./CCD Advisory

For your easy reference, here is a link to the original IR news story on the Fujifilm advisory.




Konica Minolta
Digital Cameras
DiMAGE A1
DiMAGE 7i
DiMAGE 7Hi
DiMAGE Xi
DiMAGE Xt
DiMAGE X20
DiMAGE S414
DiMAGE F300

The Konica Minolta support website has a PDF file posted on it that in turn links to a PDF service advisory form, and a Support FAQs area. We had difficulty following the links in the main PDF file from our web browser, so have reproduced both of them above. The most relevant one is the PDF service advisory form.
European Konica Minolta owners are referred to the Konica Minolta European support page.

For your easy reference, here is a link to the original IR news story on the Konica Minolta advisory.




Nikon
Digital Cameras
Coolpix SQ
Coolpix 3100
Coolpix 5700

There's a button on the Nikon USA Photography home page, labeled "Coolpix Service Advisory: 3100-5700-SQ" that displays information in a popup window. Here's a link to it in a standalone window: Coolpix Service Advisory. Here are links to other pages from the Nikon site, namely the Coolpix Advisory FAQs, and the Service Advisory Product Return Form.
For more details, read Nikon Europe's service advisory if you're a European customer, or Nikon Japan's service advisory if you purchased your camera in Japan.

For your easy reference, here is a link to the original IR news story on the Nikon advisory.




Olympus
Digital Cameras
Camedia C-5050 Zoom
Camedia C-730 Ultra Zoom

Olympus is distinguishing themselves by offering to repair affected cameras, even if they aren't displaying the problem yet. Their free repair policy is extended for up to four years from the original purchase date. They do ask that, if your camera is currently operating properly, you hold off on sending it in until after January 2006, due to the high volume of repair business during the holiday season. To determine if your camera is affected, call Olympus repair at 888-553-4448, Monday-Friday, 8am -10pm EST, or email to customersupport@olympus.com.
See the Olympus PDF file explaining the above for further info.

For your easy reference, here is a link to the original IR news story on the Olympus advisory.




Pentax
Digital Cameras
Optio330RS
Optio330GS
Optio33L
Optio43WR
Optio550
Optio555

Pentax USA have published a brief note on their Customer Care & Support homepage which refers customers to a separate PDF file for further information. This document pledges repair of the problem free of charge, regardless of warranty status, as long as the camera doesn't have other symptoms not described as part of the problem.

This PDF document in turn refers customers to a separate PDF form which must be filled in, and includes instructions on how to return a camera for service. The return address from the form is:

PENTAX Service Department
12000 Zuni Street ? Suite 100B
Westminster CO 80234

We couldn't find any details regarding the duration of the free repair offer, nor of serial numbers affected. We suggest you simply contact Pentax for clarification of these points.

For your easy reference, here is a link to the original IR news story on the Pentax advisory.




Ricoh
Digital Cameras
Caplio RR30
Caplio 300G
Caplio G3
Caplio G3 model M
Caplio G3 model S
Caplio ProG3
Caplio G4
Caplio G4 wide
Caplio 400G wide
Caplio RX

Ricoh US support took a little digging to track down. Ricoh Global issued the service advisory itself. Service centers for various regions around the globe are listed here. US, Canada, and South American service for Ricoh cameras is handled by:
C.R.I.S. Camera Services
Phone: 800-22 RICOH
Fax: 480-940-1329
www.criscam.com
Email: <ricoh@criscam.com>

We couldn't find any details regarding the duration of the free repair offer, nor of serial numbers affected. We suggest you simply contact C.R.I.S Camera Services directly to learn how to proceed.

For your easy reference, here is a link to the original IR news story on the Ricoh advisory.




Sony
Digital Cameras Camcorders, CCD-TRV models
Cyber-shot DSC-F717
Cyber-shot DSC-P10
Cyber-shot DSC-P12
Cyber-shot DSC-P2
Cyber-shot DSC-P31
Cyber-shot DSC-P32
Cyber-shot DSC-P51
Cyber-shot DSC-P52
Cyber-shot DSC-P7
Cyber-shot DSC-P71
Cyber-shot DSC-P72
Cyber-shot DSC-P8
Cyber-shot DSC-P92
Cyber-shot DSC-U10
Cyber-shot DSC-U20
Cyber-shot DSC-U30
Cyber-shot DSC-U60
Cyber-shot DSC-V1
CD Mavica MVC-CD250
CD Mavica MVC-CD400
CD Mavica MVC-CD500
FD Mavica MVC-FD100
FD Mavica MVC-FD200
CCD-TRV107E
CCD-TRV118
CCD-TRV128
CCD-TRV218E
CCD-TRV228
CCD-TRV228E
CCD-TRV318
CCD-TRV328
CCD-TRV418

CCD-TRV418E
CCD-TRV428
CCD-TRV428E

Camcorders, DCR-DVD models
DCR-DVD100
DCR-DVD100E
DCR-DVD101
DCR-DVD101E
DCR-DVD200
DCR-DVD200E
DCR-DVD300
DCR-DVD91E

Camcorders, DCR-TRV models Camcorders, DCR-IP models
DCR-TRV147E
DCR-TRV14E

DCR-TRV16
DCR-TRV16E
DCR-TRV18
DCR-TRV18E
DCR-TRV19
DCR-TRV19E
DCR-TRV22
DCR-TRV22E
DCR-TRV240E
DCR-TRV24E
DCR-TRV25
DCR-TRV250
DCR-TRV250E
DCR-TRV255E
DCR-TRV25E
DCR-TRV260
DCR-TRV265
DCR-TRV265E
DCR-TRV27
DCR-TRV27E
DCR-TRV33
DCR-TRV33E
DCR-TRV340
DCR-TRV340E
DCR-TRV361
DCR-TRV38
DCR-TRV38E
DCR-TRV39
DCR-TRV40
DCR-TRV40E
DCR-TRV460
DCR-TRV460E
DCR-TRV461E
DCR-TRV50
DCR-TRV50E
DCR-TRV740
DCR-TRV740E
DCR-TRV840
DCR-TRV940
DCR-TRV940E
DCR-TRV950
DCR-TRV950E
DCR-IP45
DCR-IP45E
DCR-IP5
DCR-IP55
DCR-IP55E
DCR-IP5E
DCR-IP7E

Camcorders, DCR-PC models
DCR-PC101
DCR-PC101E
DCR-PC103E
DCR-PC104E
DCR-PC105
DCR-PC105E
DCR-PC106E
DCR-PC107E
DCR-PC108
DCR-PC108E
DCR-PC115
DCR-PC115E
DCR-PC120
DCR-PC120E

Camcorders, DCR-VX models
DCR-VX2000
DCR-VX2000E
DCR-VX2100
DCR-VX2100E

Camcorders, DCR-HC models
DCR-HC14E
DCR-HC15
DCR-HC15E
DCR-HC16E
DCR-HC18E
DCR-HC20
DCR-HC20E
DCR-HC30
DCR-HC30E

CLIE Handheld Computer Models Professional Camcorders
(DVCAM format)
PEG-NZ90/G
PEG-NZ90/H
DSR-250 & DSR-250/P
DSR-PD150 & DSR-PD150P
DSR-PD170 & DSR-PD170P
DSR-PDX10 & DSR-PDX10P


As Sony is the original sensor manufacturer for all of the other manufacturers' products listed above (and given the vast array of products that they manufacture themselves) it should come as no great surprise that Sony has by far, the greatest number of affected products. This should not be taken as indicating any inherent deficiency in Sony products beyond the now discontinued sensors involved.
The original service advisory was posted on the Sony Asia Pacific Support site. The Asia Pacific post lists all affected models in a concise format. On the Sony US website, the advisories are only listed on the support pages for each individual product. To see the information for your product, go to this page, enter your model number and click "Search" to find all relevant information. If your product is one of those listed above, you should see a link (probably dated 10/3/2005) under the "Product Alerts" section, titled "Important Notice about your Sony Product."

Regardless, in the US, the story is the same (at least it is for all the products we checked): "From October 3, 2005 through October 2, 2007, Sony will repair, free of charge, affected products exhibiting the above-mentioned problem where it is caused by the image sensor device. Sony will also cover the cost of shipping and handling to service to correct this issue."

No service forms or mailing addresses are provided on the Sony US site. Rather, owners are instructed to contact the Sony Customer Information Services Center for further assistance at 1-866-703-7669.


For your easy reference, here is a link to the original IR news story on the Sony advisory.






What to do if you have an affected product:
In all cases, the manufacturers involved are offering free repair of affected products, even if the original warranty period has expired. If you have a product that displays the problem described here, you must contact the manufacturer to arrange for the repair. This is important. -- None of the manufacturers involved are contacting consumers to announce a blanket recall: It's up to the consumer to contact them to take advantage of the free repair service.



Can I send in a product on the list, even if it isn't showing the problem yet?
In most cases, the answer is unfortunately no. While all the manufacturers involved have offered to repair affected devices, even if they are out of warranty, only Olympus has so far offered to perform preventative service on units that aren't yet showing the problem. Depending on variations in the manufacturing process, the amount of use a product has seen, and (apparently) the environmental conditions in which it was used, it's quite possible that a product built around one of the affected sensor chips may never show the problem. On the other hand, a camera that's working fine today could easily fail next week. We highly applaud the approach taken by Olympus, of offering to repair affected units, even if they aren't currently exhibiting the problem.



If there are other problems with my product, will the manufacturer fix those at the same time?
Not for free. While it would certainly make sense to go ahead and have any other needed repairs performed while your product is once back at the manufacturer, the policy across the board has been that only the CCD repair will be performed for free. Any other needed repair or maintenance will be billed at normal rates.



Is there a time limit on the offered repairs?
Possibly. In most cases, the manufacturers involved have simply issued service advisories and said that they'll repair affected devices regardless of whether the original warranty had expired. Most manufacturers aren't specifying a time limit. Two exceptions are Olympus, who has set a time limit of four years from the date of initial purchase, and Sony, who has set a cutoff point of October 2, 2007 for their free-repair offer (at least, all the products we explicitly checked on Sony's US service website showed that time limit).



What if I've already paid to have a product showing this problem repaired, outside the warranty period?
In most cases, there's good news for you, provided you have a record of the repair and your payment for it. We don't have an exhaustive list of the policies of all the manufacturers involved, but many appear to be offering a refund of repair charges if non-warranty service was performed to correct this problem. Contact the manufacturer in question. If you have copies of the service records and proof of payment, there's a good chance that you can get a refund for the service expense.



Is it safe to buy a digital camera today? Is the problem fixed?
While we can't predict the future, it certainly sounds like this particular problem has been put to bed. Based on what we've heard from our industry contacts, the first inklings of the problem surfaced as far back as sometime in early 2004. Whatever its cause (see below for a range of theories), the issue apparently was researched and solved at a manufacturing level by March of 2004. Given the extraordinary impact that it had, it seems safe to say that manufacturers will be particularly vigilant that this particular problem doesn't recur. Beyond that, we feel that the responsible manner in which the industry is dealing with it bodes well for the future, should anything of similar scope occur again. We don't think there's any reason to have any hesitation in purchasing a new digital camera at this time.




What caused the problem?
If you have an affected camera, you probably don't care too much about what the underlying problem was, as long as you can get it fixed. If you're the technically curious type though, here's a synopsis of the information we've been able to assemble about the underlying cause.

Several different explanations for this problem have been put forward by various parties. Our own industry contacts indicated that the problem was caused by the use of epoxy chip packages for the failing sensor units, rather than more robust (and also much more expensive) ceramic packages. The environmental sealing of epoxy circuit packaging is generally not as good as that of ceramic packaging, and in the case of the failing sensors appears to have let moisture enter the chip cavity itself. This seemed to be a quite plausible explanation, but subsequently, two other possible causes came to our attention.

An article published by Japan's Nikkei Business Publications agreed that the sensors in question were sourced from fabs operated by Sony Corp., but provided a different reason for the failures. According to Nikkei journalist Naoki Asakawa, the problem was twofold: Changed settings on a wire bonding system resulted in weaker joints between wires and electrodes; and iodine-bearing bonding compound vaporized inside the CCD package which further decayed the joint surface. Nikkei reported that Sony removed the iodine compound from its CCD manufacturing process, and said that the company also introduced a test for bonding strength in March 2004.

Finally, an email from reader Paul Taylor pointed us toward another possibility. We've since heard from several readers that they were able to get failing cameras to work again for short periods, either by bumping or flexing the camera chassis. This is obviously something we do not recommend trying, as it could damage other components in your camera and lead to expensive repair bills. Still, given that little if any force could be transferred through the sensor package by these methods, it does hint at another problem coming into play in at least some cameras. Paul theorized that the zero insertion force (ZIF) connectors and flex cables inside the camera might not be providing sufficiently good contact, and mechanical action on the camera body could move the cables inside the connectors enough to temporarily improve the situation.

Regardless of whether the problem is one or more of the above, or something else entirely, the important thing to note is that the manufacturers are doing an admirable job of standing behind their products. In every advisory that's been issued to date, the company involved has stated that it will fix the problem regardless of warranty status of the affected cameras. Not only is this good news for customers who own affected cameras, but it is certainly encouraging for those consumers buying new cameras today and in the future. And to reiterate... We are assured that current and recent models are not affected by this sensor problem.