I've got a Minolta Dimage XT (http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/XT/XTA.HTM) camera and the screen has packed in on me :mad:
It's only 16 months old so i'm not too impressed.
I can see all the settings on the screen when i turn it on but other than that the screen stays black.
If i take a picture using the viewfinder it just comes out black.
Is there anything i can do to get it working again without having to sell a Kidney on ebay?

[EDIT] I can sometimes get the camera to work if i zoom all the way in and out a few times.

Doesn't sound too healthy... The fact that you can't just use the viewfinder to take pictures suggests that it's not simply a screen failure. If it sometimes fixes itself by zooming, maybe there's a dodgy connection somewhere? It could possibly be repaired, but to be honest cameras are so cheap (and repairs so expensive!) you'd probably be better off just buying a new one. Somewhat of a guess though, I'm not a camera repair man :)

If you do end up getting rid, sell the camera on ebay rather than your kidney. I've seen things like phones and cameras go for what seem silly amounts when advertised clearly as not working - I guess someone who knows what they are doing might well be able to repair and make a profit on it.

Ebay was my first thought rich951 but i've never used ebay's services before (yes there are 1 or 2 of us left ;) ). I'll be starting a new thread on that in due course.

The camera has decided to give it one last go and has been working all night. I know it will be dead in the morning though :?

Maybe if i sell enough on ebay i'll be able to buy one of those new Panasonic cameras with x12 optical zoom *prays*

Vidster, our digital camera used to suffer from 'black' screen. One day I got a bit annoyed with it and pressed the screen quite hard with my thumb. It's worked fine ever since - for the last year or more.
Might be worth a try - nothing to lose.....:)

I might just try that Draggletail :thumbsup:

Contact the authorised repair agent first. It may be a batch problem, or something they've seen happen to a few of those already - so they may be able to give you a vauge estimate over the phone :thumbsup:

(I used to work on a service desk handling camera repairs ;) )

England
Konica Minolta
Photo Imaging (UK) Ltd
Unit 7
Tanners Drive Blakelands
Milton Keynes MK14 5BU
ENGLAND
Phone: (44) 1908 200400

http://www2.konicaminoltaeurope.com/cgi-bin/db4web_c/db/minoeu/custsupp/repair_stage.d4w?language=english

Tech support via e-mail (http://www2.konicaminoltaeurope.com/cgi-bin/db4web_c/db/minoeu/custsupp/contact_tech_support1.d4w?language=english)

sounds like a loose connection from the ccd, shame it's out of warranty.

Nice one Strix :thumbsup:

Originally posted by Cyclone
sounds like a loose connection from the ccd, shame it's out of warranty.
That's why I thought the 'big thumb' option was worth a try :nod:
Nowt to loose :)

Originally posted by Cyclone
sounds like a loose connection from the ccd, shame it's out of warranty.
No point talking in Swahili Cyclone :hihi:

I tried what Draggletail said. The screen changed lots of lovely colours but nothing else happened :?

I think it'll have to go on ebay in the next couple of weeks if i don't get any joy from my email to them :rolleyes:

Did you try dropping it on the floor?

Sometimes things fix themselves if you drop them from about worktop height.

Sometimes things break if you drop them from a height :thumbsup:

Originally posted by Strix
Did you try dropping it on the floor?

Sometimes things fix themselves if you drop them from about worktop height.

Sometimes things break if you drop them from a height :thumbsup:
It's funny you should say that Strix :heyhey:
It has now had the screen compressed from every conceivable angle. I 'accidently' smashed it against the desk, then clumsy old me managed to drop it several times from various heights :rolleyes:
The little blighter still refuses to work :rant:
I'll give it one thing though! It's an incredibly strong little camera. The metal case does a great job and when i tried twisting the case (a tip from my laptop troubles), i had no chance at all!

Have you reduced it down to an insurance claim yet then? :)

Thats it... Go and put ideas into my head! :suspect:

Originally posted by vidster
No point talking in Swahili Cyclone :hihi:

I tried what Draggletail said. The screen changed lots of lovely colours but nothing else happened :?

I think it'll have to go on ebay in the next couple of weeks if i don't get any joy from my email to them :rolleyes:

the ccd being the electronics behind the lens that actually capture the image.
If the pictures that get taken and the display screen just show black then most likely no image is making from the ccd into the rest of the electronics.
Poking at the screen at the back is not likely to achieve anything except more damage.

I think i mis-described the screen problem slightly :blush:
The screen is mostly black. There are white lines of various width flashing across the screen all the time and if i zoom right in on a computer screen i can sometimes just about see a very blurred image.
I still think it's knackered though :hihi:

Sounds like a loose wire some where.Take it to bits and have a look or spray it with whatever the digital equivalent of WD40 is.
There is a guy in Aussie land on dpreview fuji forums who has posted tutorials on how to dismantle fujis and diy them.He is/was jkirk@oz.I have not been on fuji forum for a long time,but he may still be around.The principle will probably be much the same.
PS if it is out of warranty that is.

Originally posted by Cyclone

Poking at the screen at the back is not likely to achieve anything except more damage. [/B]

:nono: Would not recommend 'poking' the screen, Cyclone. No more than of firm press with the humble thumble :D

Worked fine on mine :)

Originally posted by Draggletail
:nono: Would not recommend 'poking' the screen, Cyclone. No more than of firm press with the humble thumble :D

Worked fine on mine :)

as the actual pictures taken are also bad it's clearly nothing to do with the screen though.