Dead digital camera

December 15, 2005 10:17 AM

I have a Sony digital camera DSC-F505V that suddenly will not power on (and yes, the batteries are charged and in proper working order). Any suggestions on potential cures?
posted by Todd Lokken to technology (11 comments total)

Have you tried a new battery? Perhaps the existing one no longer holds enough juice to power the camera up. If it's not the battery, sounds like a dead camera.
posted by pmbuko at 11:17 AM on December 15, 2005

Yeah, how do you know the batteries are in proper working order? Do you have an AC adaptor that you can plug into the camera to verify whether it powers on w/o reliance on batteries?
posted by agropyron at 11:19 AM on December 15, 2005

I had a Sony camera with the same thing. If you're trying to use it with the stock battery it came with, it's probably dead. From what I was told at the store I bought it from, this is common.

Side note: You may want to change your email contact in your profile. ;)
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 11:22 AM on December 15, 2005

Rechargeable batteries have an overload protection fuse in them, so they can just suddenly die. Other than that, there's not anything I can think of short of a fried circuit board.
posted by cillit bang at 11:31 AM on December 15, 2005

My F505V came with an AC adapter cable that plugs directly into the battery slot. I'd use this cable to verify that that the camera is still functional. If it works with the adapter, then the problem is either your battery or battery charger. If the camera won't power up when plugged into the adapter, then your camera is probably dead
posted by cnelson at 11:41 AM on December 15, 2005

Thanks for the suggestions so far; however, I should point out that I know it's not the battery as I have 4 of them I use, and they are all not dead. So, I'm positive it is the Camera. I haven't tried cnelson's suggestion yet, but I will do so and let you know if it works.
posted by Todd Lokken at 12:12 PM on December 15, 2005

Have you checked the Sony support website? I had a Sony camera with a battery charging problems, and it turned out to be a known and documented problem for the model. I sent it to back to the company, and they repaired and returned it in less than a week.
posted by hooray at 12:26 PM on December 15, 2005

I did check the website, but the only info it had for me was I could send the camera back to them and have it fixed for $175. It really isn't worth it for that price.
posted by Todd Lokken at 12:53 PM on December 15, 2005

Use a flashlight to look into the well that holds the battery, and make sure that the contacts haven't become dull, obstructed, misshapen, broken off, fallen out, or otherwise failing to mate with the contacts on the batteries.

Try pressing the battery in with your thumb (without closing the door), and see if it will power up. If so, then the door's not holding the battery in with enough force, which probably means a spring or part fell off the door.

I'm assuming here that, if you're filing an AskMe, you're uncomfortable with opening the thing up and tinkering with it.

Froogle says they're go new for around $450, and the Sony repair price quote mechanism says they'll repair it for $171., though I've heard horror stories about Sony's repair department.
posted by Orb2069 at 1:02 PM on December 15, 2005

Every horror story you've ever heard about Sony repairs is probably true, I've sent 3 back. The original repair quote will turn out to be for basically looking at it, you will receive an estimate later for a lot more money because, "Oh, you need parts!" Parts are expensive and never seem to be included in the original estimate. Parts also seem to be handcrafted in some country populated by people with tiny, very deft fingers, and they take forever. Eventually, they are likely to tell you they have lost the blueprints or something and parts are no longer available.
posted by unrepentanthippie at 6:46 AM on December 16, 2005

Just an update (in case anyone happened to come back to this)--I wound up replacing it by buying one on e-bay. $80.
posted by Todd Lokken at 9:45 AM on January 21, 2006