Did I just get a dud Canon?

Dolby

Dolby

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I bought a Canon SX110 IS in February last year. Pictures and everything was perfect on it and I was really happy with quality.

It started messing up in December by selecting weird settings in 'auto' mode (95% of my shots) - every picture comes out dark and looking absolutley terrible. Most the 'scenes' seem to do the same. I've tried everything to fix it and my last attempt is this firmware hack (as I can't seem to find official Canon).

My question is did I get a dud perhaps? Are they generally a decent brand?
 
The same thing has happened to me on two separate Canons but that's because I dropped them (yes, both - I am that clumsy).

I only dropped the one very recently so I will have to see if the problem isn't going to go away but my first Canon eventually took pictures correctly in Auto mode again, although I am not sure what I did to fix it.
 
You sure you haven't changed exposure composition or something? If you make a change it remains even on auto mode.
 
It should at least have 1 yr warranty - oops, that means today is the last day, at least you can argue that it is a Sunday when you take it in tomorrow.
 
My last two canons had dead pixels on videos and images straight out of the box. I moved to Kodak but will gladly give an Sx1 a chance if I get the money for one.
 
lws said:
The same thing has happened to me on two separate Canons but that's because I dropped them (yes, both - I am that clumsy).

I only dropped the one very recently so I will have to see if the problem isn't going to go away but my first Canon eventually took pictures correctly in Auto mode again, although I am not sure what I did to fix it.
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Dropped it once more?
 
I haven't dropped it ... I did reset settings, but nothing yet :/ What I've done is remove the batteries and backup battery for today and will try tonight.

My next option is firmware and the last is buying a new camera :( *sigh*

I like the new Canon upgrade to mine, but worried it suffers with this issue too.
 
How much can I sell my dud Canon for? If at all :/
 
Dolby said:
How much can I sell my dud Canon for? If at all :/
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I take it the attempts did nothing to fix it. Sorry to hear about that.

In my case, it turns out that there was nothing wrong with my current Canon, just that I should REALLY get around to reading the instruction manual (which I just don't have the time for). My friend showed me how to play around with one of the settings (something to do with selecting a point instead of average lighting, I think it was compensation levels) and now it's right as rain.

So is it possible that if the SX110 has some sort of intelligent contrast correction (like my G10), it might be miscalculating?
 
Yea - nothing worked.

Got back from work and put the batteries in (even took out the backup) so it was straight from the factory. Managed to get that CHDK firmware on - but didn't do anything either. I'm thinking that it is definatley miscalculating - as if I play with the manual settings (which I don't quite understand), I get a very decent picture. (if I'm home in the light tomorrow, I'll post a few example). I honestly thought it was a software/firmware issue.

I'm going to be looking at something in the same league again (maybe the SX110 successor) - as after googling, it doesn't seem to be a common problem and I was unlucky :( Also want to learn/understand a little more about what I'm getting ... so there may be a few amateur posts in the sub section ;)
 
Why not try other brands or are u a Canon fanboy? The Panasonic FZ35 is an excellent choice and there are some good oly out there, search the market & expand your horizons!!!!!!
 
I will - Canon, from what I understand, has always been the best in a particular price segment though? Well, my segment anyway ... which is 1/3 of your lense prices ... hehe.

Every review puts it at excellent and highly recommended
 
Rouxenator said:
My last two canons had dead pixels on videos and images straight out of the box. I moved to Kodak but will gladly give an Sx1 a chance if I get the money for one.
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You moved to Kodak form Canon?!??

Rather get the Sony HX1 it's better than the Canon.
 
For me it is the most important to have a camera that uses standard memory (SD/MMC) and AA batteries. Exposure times are also very important as it sub R4k pricing. That leaves me with Kodak pretty much.
 
Rouxenator said:
For me it is the most important to have a camera that uses standard memory (SD/MMC) and AA batteries. Exposure times are also very important as it sub R4k pricing. That leaves me with Kodak pretty much.
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Well yeah if you want cheap then Kodak is the way to go.

I prefer a lithium ion battery, and the MSPRO card doesn't really bother me... Also the Sony's screen is nicer.
 
Many screens are nicer than the Kodak's - but Canon has those nice flippy screen that I absolutely love. I got a used S3 for my wife just to have a flippy screen canon again. Used a S1 from when they came out in 2004 up until late 2007. Did about 36000 pics with it before the bad pixels got annoying.

Sony (to me) feels like they make the devices as after thought to sell things that uses their formant of memory :p

Ek sou-nie 'n sony koop.
 
My dad has the Sony H20 and is happy with it. Moved from Canon film slr.

The Canon S90 is also very nice.
 
This is the sad news about the joys of "cheap" photography to the masses. Disposable cameras. You owned the nicer model of these. I am on my 3rd Canon point and shoot beater and have come to accept that sooner or later it will croak too, so I resorted to buying the one that fits my minimum requirements.
 
HammerDown said:
This is the sad news about the joys of "cheap" photography to the masses. Disposable cameras. You owned the nicer model of these. I am on my 3rd Canon point and shoot beater and have come to accept that sooner or later it will croak too, so I resorted to buying the one that fits my minimum requirements.
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What do you do to your cameras? I've still got all of my cameras and as far as I can tell they all still work.
 
I have no faith in the build quality of the Canon power zooms. The IXUS is solid and DSLRs are solid .. but their powerzooms seems very flimsy. I have a SONY thats been battered and bruised, shoved around on travels overseas and it still works 100%. Just because its cheap it doesn't mean its "disposable".
 
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