What has happened to my camera?

[FlyingKiwiGirl]

Originally Posted by SwissJon

I read it that she got it cleaned.. To me that reads "Sensor cleaning" which is different that a full service.. No lubrification etc. Why it took 12 days I've no idea.

You're right SwissJon, it was meant to be serviced as well but I needed it for that wedding I was doing and after 7 days with no return date I was satrting to panic it wouldn't be back in time so they just did a sensor clean, I still didn't get it back until 5 days later. They send it to Sony in Auckland who "won't give a return date" according to my local camera shop. Either way it's not very good service because if you need a quote the camera then goes back to the end of the queue so it takes twice as long!

Thanks very much everyone for your suggestions, Richard I only have the one lens so can't try another, I've reset everything but still nothing.

Thanks for the clip Vincent, it doesn't appear to be that although it is searching for a focus but I think that is a secondary cause.

Hmm ....50k you say bhursey, well it's not up to there.Yet. But it probably feels like it to the camera. Although I do take reasonable care of my camera I do also give it a beating, it's a "workhorse" and has had quite a few unintentional knocks and bumps. It's also been taken into some harsh enviroments- read salt & sand, well I do live at the beach so what's a girl to do

Thanks SwissJogn & sk66, I took the lens off and looked inside. Trouble is while I've looked inside before I haven't really paid any attention to how the parts are placed when it is functioning so now I have no idea what should be where and if anything is stuck. But, comparing the manual's picture to my camera it does look like the mirror is stuck up; it's just an empty square "box" inside while the manual shows the mirror at the back on a 45o facing upwards. Hope that makes sense. And while I can see what looks like a little arm to the side I'm relunctant to touch anything and stuff it up further........I just had a lightbulb moment, I took a photo so you can see!



Thanks mosgood and JFSanders, I too think it will have to go to the shop but at least now I know a little more about what's going on. And it really does need a service.

[ceremus]

Yup, you're looking at the shutter curtain right there, which is normally obstructed by the mirror so the viewfinder has a line of sight through the lens. It's stuck in the flipped-up position for sure. Can't say whether you could get it unstuck yourself, I suppose it's probably wise to take it back to the shop to get it looked over.

[sk66]

Yup, stuck mirror.

You can just see the center edge of it at the top. A little nudge *might* free it, but definitely do not use any force.
There's actually two mirrors there, the one noted which is for the viewfinder and another one for the focus tucked just beneath it. If you decide to try to free it make sure you are freeing the larger mirror/ mirror carrier.

If it's stuck now and you are able to free it there's nothing saying it won't stick again very soon. Really, probably best to just get it repaired/serviced. I wouldn't want you killing it because of anything I said.

I don't think this should come back as any kind of major repair.

[FlyingKiwiGirl]

You guys are awesome!

Thanks Steve, knowing where to pull down from was great, I tried it and yes it came down without any resistance, well a little but I assume that it must be sprung loaded a bit, and settled back into place. But I took a photo and it stuck again, so I'm guessing there's grit or something in the hinge holding it up. It's off to be serviced tomorrow(it's a holiday here today) but thanks so much to everyone, your help was much appreciated. At least I know what the problem is and can explain it to the shop and not have the wool pulled over my eyes. Cheers!

[FlyingKiwiGirl]

Aaaarrrrrggggghhhhhhh..........................3 weeks at least! How will I survive!

And in answer to query, "how come?" there is only one Sony service centre in the whole of the country. Much the same for the other brands when I mentioned switching allegiance. And no favours for pros either they say, yeah right.

Oh well I best use this time to sort photos.