LCD is dark and only has icons displayed. Can't view image to photograph.

Did you try pressing the display button several times? in both viewing mode and record mode? Cycle through all display modes, s you get used to the button, so it does not trow you off when it happens again.

It sounds like a problem with the lighting. Digital cameras like that aren't designed for ultra low light performance, so pictures will come out very dark and grainy. It's not a problem with the camera, it is merely a shortcoming.

Not really. Most cameras, including the P90, are designed not to show images not captured on that device (or at least the same model device). If it's a paper map, you could always try to photograph it. Photographing something off a computer screen is a little harder.

If camera shows Menu item or any on-screen display in LCD but no live view to take picture then it can be either aperture problem or defective ccd imager.
And if you do not see any display icon in LCD then of course LCD section is bad or LCD back light is Off for some reason. Try to see faint image in LCD if it is totally blank by pointing good amount of light with flash light or some thing.

In some of the KODAK models you can adjust the brightnedd of the LCD screen within the menu, Cam Settings. But without knowing the cam. model it is dificult to say werther your camera supports this feature.

Can you see images taken earlier from memory in view mode ?
Can you access the menu and see it displayed on the screen ?
If yes to both, then your CCD sensor most likely is defekt.

No DIY recommended.

I have a sony cybershot DSC-S650, the LCD was very dark and could not see anything except if I pointed it at a bright object, everything else worked ok. I could take pictures but could barely see them in playback as well.

I took it to Sony authorised repair outlet and was told the CCD was damaged, they charged me USD $55 to repair it (in Quito, Ecuador)

Hello cherdh,

To disable those blinking spots, just press the up or down cursor keys at the back of the camera while in playback mode. You will get three different views. One shows the EXIF data (Image data) as an over lay on your photograph. Press the button again to go to histogram mode, with graphs. Press it again to go to a mode where some image data is on the bottom of the display with no blinkies on the image.

Those blinking black spots are called highlights in a photograph. They indicate the areas where your photograph is over-exposed, i.e. where there is too much light and the colours are washed out. It can be a good tool to get a good exposure. Keep clicking with different settings till you get an exposure without those blinking spots.

I hope this helps.

Satdeep

This is in all probabilty a sensor problem. If the camera is young it may be exchangeable for another A repair is not likely unless it is one of those that have been recalled because of sensor problems. Canon Customer support will advise further

Dead Pixel Test This free utility enables you to easily test your digital camera for dead and hot pixels. http://www.starzen.com/imaging/deadpixeltest.htm