Wont turn on

Mine just rolled over a couple of hours ago.

I've had it in bits, but due to the mechanical construction it's difficult (and hazardous, there's a big capacitor for the flash-tube in there, with lots of volts in it, even after removing the batteries!) to probe with batteries in to see where the power is/isn't going.

The external supply isn't going to help at all. The charger circuit in the camera proper simply does not exist, the positive pin on the external socket connects almost directly to the batteries.

There is a small lithium cell inside, which in my camera was pretty-well done-for. (1.3v, and leaking.) But replacing that with a fresh cell made no difference.

My prime suspect is the transistor that switches the power in/out, but exactly where it is or what type it is I'm unsure, but it's going to be a type good for a couple of amps or so. That probably means a bipolar type is out of the question, I certailnly don't see any candidates for a high/medium current bipolar on the card anywhere. So it's probably a mosfet.

Also there's a lot of circuitry there that looks suspiciously like switching regulators. I would expect to see this sort of thing, as the voltage from the batteries is dead wrong for most IC's, and old style analoge regulators would waste power, and probably run quite warm. Ahain, the transistors driving the switching circuits are suspect!

If anyone's 'scoped one of these out while it was working, it would be useful. Or even better, if someones got a schematic for the power circuits, they would be really useful!

Looking around on eBay etc, it would appear the an awful lot of digitals just plain stop. Given the amount of current required for the sensor, and LCD I would guess they all suffer from overstressed regulator circuits, and power switching transistors. (It can be quite easy to design unreliable switching regulator circuits!)

Then again, that might not be accidental.

Unless anyone has any specific technical data on this model, it's going to be very hard to diagnose this fault!

Firstly whoever gave "silly Girl" a score of Poor should be ashamed of themselves. I considered it a correct answer to the problem given. People giving advice on this site do so of their own free will, for no charge and hardly ever a thankyou. We aren't issued with magic wands and if the advice we give doesn't magically make your camera work you can hardly hold us responsible. Giving a score of 2 (Poor) is an insult and a slap in the face. Where's your decency.

Secondly it would almost appear that camera manufacturers got together many years ago and decided that all cameras built should only last as long as the warranty. For the money you pay for them most should last at least 5 to 10 years but they keep churning out different cameras but with the same faults built in. Manufacturers want you to keep going back for more. That's today's technology, they don't want you to buy anything which will last, they'll go out of business so they keep adding more bells and whistles hoping you'll return when the last camera you purchased from them dies it's predetermined death.

There are very few cameras available that don't have faults. The P92 is just one of them. Too expensive to throw away and far too expensive to have repaired. Maybe we should return to film at least the cameras were reliable.

I now leave my soapbox.

I have a good DSC-P92 unit that i had for the last 3 or so years.

i was able to use it last around May 2006. but on June. I had problems trying to power it on when in CAMERA or VIDEO mode but have no problems trying to power it on in PLAY or SETUP mode.

It does the same thing (power off) when you turn it on in PLAY but then switch to CAMERA mode.

I've tried all the solutions that has been suggested so far but none worked. until i figured it seems to be a power draw problem. since it works fine in PLAY mode but not in CAMERA mode. the difference is, CAMERA mode needs the lens motor to work in conjunction with all the other functions at the same time. hence the larger power draw.

the short of it is... as with any other electronic device that uses batteries. the terminals get corroded or coated with gunk (similar to car batteries)

in my case. what i usually do is i use a pencil eraser (the one that sits on top of the pencil, mongol usually is best) and erase the terminals. usually it is good enough. but in this case. i also had to make sure the terminals are in a good raised position (for solid contact) and i also gently scraped the terminals with a screwdriver for good measure.

after that. it worked liked new.

by the way. make sure you are using a NEW good topped up, rechargeable battery. sometimes the old batteries just wont do it no more.

Hope this helps everyone.

You should use NiMH batteries. Regular alkalines sometimes just don't cut it, even though they sell them with alkalines on many cases.

Have you tried it with the AC adapter? if it doesn't work with external power, then it's something for the lab.

Good luck

ok. my sony cyber-shot P92 is no longer turning on. though it was my fault, but it´s not.

i went to a sony rely fix store today and met two guys with the same problem, with diferent cyber-shot models. it seems some kind of alimentation border has just broken. it would cost me +/-80bucks. no way.
(i´m from Brazil, it here was R$180,00)

what is sony thinking? my camera doens't have 2years and simply stop working?! i hope they fix it for free!

i have the exact same problem... also just over a year old... help!

Problem is there is a small magnet by to the right of the HP logo that activates the switch when slid this magnet get too weak after time need to take slide off and replace magnet

I tried this from one of the issues posted, true enough is you need to get the better batteries, try this it actually work!!!.
Rub inside of battery contacts of camera with eraser, a new eraser (like butt of pencil) both inside and out. (did not work) :(
If that does not work use regular printer paper (IT WORKED!!!!) :) Just thought I pass on some awsome advice I got my camera back!!

I rubbed printer paper on the battery terminals too and then put the battery back in.. VOILA!!! That is the most random, rad trick ever! My camera works again. Thanks!

This worked like a charm..I tried new copper top batteries. I tried new energizer batteries. I tried other new alkaline batteries and all the time I had a new pack of energizer rechargeable batteries but was just to hard headed to think new alkaline batteries would not work. I charged the energizer AA 2500 mAh batteries for about 10 minutes..PRESTO.. IF YOU ARE A SILLY GIRL that makes me a DUMB GUY..

I have the same issue. I put in fresh batteries and stil wont turn on. It flashes the green light for like 3 seconds then flashes a red light.

I'VE IMPROOVE AN DC ADAPTER AND THEN MY CAMERA WONT TURN ONN!!!!HOW MUCH WILL COST THE REPARATION

I had the same problem, here is how I fixed it: Make sure batteries are fully charged, Open the cover of memory compartment, the red LED is flashing, it means that there is a reading error. I reset the camera (under the output connection cover), took off the memory chip, and replaced with a spare one, then it powered on and prompt to date/time set up. Let me know if this works for you. John