Samsung NV3 Flaw

[Andrew]

I have begun having problems with my Samsung NV3 when taking photos that involve white or near white surfaces reflecting bright light back at the camera. The white surface frequently shows up some thin multi-coloured horiztonal lines and there is often a lot of pink tones in the picture.

It does not matter whether it is digiscoping or not. I have attached a picture of a Magpie taken today to demonstrate the lines I refer to.

Am I right to think this is the unfortunate death of my camera and that I need to find the dosh for a new one? :C

[Andrew]

Fat lot of good BF is sometimes. Just read some rarity threads that have descended into drivel and yet no posts on this at all.

[john-henry]

Andrew, why not repost it in the Photography Forum.

good luck mate

John

[Andrew]

Thanks John, I have now been contacted with a kind offer of help and am trying to replicate the flaw with some sunshine today so I can have an idea of the settings where the problem occurs. I shall also test two different SD cards to see if that is the cause.

[JGobeil]

I suggest you contact Samsung for service - I think your camera is broken. Banding like this is not a problem with your camera settings.

[Andrew]

Hi Jules,

Thanks for advising me.

I have tried to replicate the banding in the last two days and no matter what I do or what settings I use, I can not seem to produce the banding. I shall try again next week when I am able to get out into the field to try and produce the banding effect to learn more about the cause to I can be further able to inform Samsung in a revised letter to the service department if neccessary.

It is always the same, when you decide to go to the doctor's the problem clears up.

I suspect it is under certain situations that it occurs such as a small area of glare or reflection in the whole picture as opposed to total reflection that produces it.

Cheers for now,
Andrew.

[Andrew]

The problem seems to have really gotten worse now so looks like the camera needs to go back to Samsung.

[Andrew]

I have registered online and submitted a request for repair. It was quite an easy and user friendly procedure and hopefully the camera will be repaired or replaced quickly and effortlessly. I shall keep you posted of any developments.

[Andrew]

I was advised of some procdures to see if the flaw was the camera or the SD card and now a reapair process has been initiated. Samsung are sending a postage pre-paid packaging for me to send the camera in for repair which is good service I think. Hopefully the problem will be fixed quickly.

A good tip for all cameras. The camera should have a small bit of memory in it. So if you start getting any kind of image quality issues then take a few pictures with the SD card in the camera and without. That way you can see if it is your SD card or not that needs replacing.

[desgreene]

Cheers Andrew. I've got one of these cameras. No problems so far, but useful info should any arise.

Hope you get a speedy resolution from Samsung.

[Derry]

please let us know what the repair document says they fixed,,

Derry

[Barred Wobbler]

On a loosely related topic, do not, repeat, do not fall into a large body of water with a Samsung NV10 in your fleece pocket. I tried it and the camera never recovered.

Anybody want a remote control?

[Andrew]

Will do Derry.

Advice taken on board Barred Wobbler! I am intrigued that the NV10 has a remote control as I am interested in the NV9 with it's similar construction to the NV3 so I wonder if that has such an option too. Thanks.

The postage pre-paid packaging arrived this morning which is prompt. I got in touch saying it was inconvenient for me to send it right now and they said the 'repair order' is with the relevant department and they are simply waiting for the parcel to come in so there is no set time frame to deliver it. I can send it when it suits me which is another sign of good service I think.

[Barred Wobbler]

The remote was one I bought earlier this year as an experiment. It works with both the NV3 and the NV10. I bought it to see if it was any good as a release for digiscoping. It took forever to arrive because the company was waiting for stock.

It would have been ok, but for some insane reason Samsung thought it would be a good idea to couple its use to a 2 second shutter delay. Just what you want when you're tring to digiscope something that's hopping around on the ground. I've never used it. PM me and I'll send it to you for nowt if you want it.

[Andrew]

That's a very kind offer! I have no need for one as I incorporated one of the old style cable releases into my home made digiscoping adapter. Works well. Thanks all the same.

[Barred Wobbler]

That's fine Andrew.

If anyone else (UK) wants it just let me know. It's redundant as far as I'm concerned.

[Andrew]

I sent off the camera using the postage paid packaging supplied by Samsung on Friday 2nd January and received it back the following Friday which is impressive timing.

The Engineer's report simply says "CAMERA FIRMWARE UPDATE & CAMERA CALIBRATE".

I hope this does the trick but I shall need a few weeks of usage to see.

[Andrew]

The problem has not been solved as I had half expected.

Yesterday whilst trying to digiscope a Scaup the photographs just vanished from my memory and the sensor just went awry and produced nothing but pink pictures like the attached shot of the ground until I switched it off and back on.

I have now got back in touch with the Online Repair Service but I fear this is the end of the camera and have no faith in Samsung being able or willing to fix it in this throwaway soceity.

[Neil]

Andrew,
I get pink banding on my Canon A650 when the sun shines into the optical viewfinder. Try covering it up with a piece of black material. Do you still get it when sitting in the shade?
Neil.

[Andrew]

Hi Neil,

Not sure. I think I probably do but I shall have to keep that in mind. It misbehaved today and the sun was shining towards me. Earlier with the sun behind me there was no such problems.

You mention one specific Canon camera. Is it the case that the problem does not apply to other Canon cameras you use? I ask as I have my eye on the Samsung NV9 but the problems with the NV3 put me off.

Cheers,
Andrew.