Thu Aug 2, 2012, 03:56 PM

Denninmi (5,558 posts)

Help with digital camera lens - cloudy film INSIDE -- what to do??? Updated 08/13/2012

Last edited Mon Aug 13, 2012, 06:30 PM USA/ET - Edit history (1)

Question -- my digital camera, just a cheap Kodak point and shoot, I paid around $100 for it about 3 years ago -- seems to have developed some kind of cloudy film INSIDE of the lens. I used it to take pictures a week or so back around twilight, and they came out blurry/cloudy, I thought I had used the wrong setting for the light conditions. I tried taking some more photos yesterday in bright light, and I now see that the lens appears to have some kind of film or dirt INSIDE of it, or otherwise has become marred or defective. I cleaned the outside of the lens with lens cleaner, thinking it was just dirty, but that wasn't the problem.

I don't think it opens in any way.

Any thoughts, or is it just toast?

12 replies, 1564 views

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12 replies	Author	Time	Post
Help with digital camera lens - cloudy film INSIDE -- what to do??? Updated 08/13/2012 (Original post)	Denninmi	Aug 2012	OP
Not a DIY job	Stevenmarc	Aug 2012	#1
Kind of what I figured.	Denninmi	Aug 2012	#2
Could it be moisture from high humidity?	RC	Aug 2012	#3
I've heard tell	handmade34	Aug 2012	#4
That might work	Stevenmarc	Aug 2012	#6
Sounds like fungus	Major Nikon	Aug 2012	#5
very possible.	canonfodder	Aug 2012	#7
According to the OP, it's been there a week	Major Nikon	Aug 2012	#8
Did see that.	canonfodder	Aug 2012	#9
Thanks, all.	Denninmi	Aug 2012	#10
Cool, all is well. Enjoy, but now you have to post pictures of a cat.	rDigital	Aug 2012	#11
Beer time!	canonfodder	Aug 2012	#12

Response to Denninmi (Original post)

Thu Aug 2, 2012, 04:08 PM

Stevenmarc (4,182 posts)

1. Not a DIY job

You need to contact Kodak support:

http://support.en.kodak.com/app/home/selected/true

and see if its actually worth the trouble to fix it.

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Response to Stevenmarc (Reply #1)

Thu Aug 2, 2012, 04:22 PM

Denninmi (5,558 posts)

2. Kind of what I figured.

Probably would cost as much or more to have it repaired than just buy a new one. It's a couple of years old. I think I saw the same model on sale after the fact for about $20-$25 less than I paid, which is the way it goes.

Thanks.

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Response to Denninmi (Original post)

Thu Aug 2, 2012, 10:15 PM

RC (21,628 posts)

3. Could it be moisture from high humidity?

If so, it should go away on it own when it dries out.

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Response to RC (Reply #3)

Fri Aug 3, 2012, 01:13 AM

handmade34 (9,487 posts)

4. I've heard tell

that putting a camera in rice will help absorb moisture?

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Response to handmade34 (Reply #4)

Fri Aug 3, 2012, 10:11 AM

Stevenmarc (4,182 posts)

6. That might work

If you dropped your cell phone in the toilet, it happens, but rice is a tad dusty and P&S have a lot of moving parts near the place where you least want to introduce a plethora of particulates.

Now if you can get your hands on a few of those silica bags that are always packed with your electronics that would be a safer way to go.

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Response to Denninmi (Original post)

Fri Aug 3, 2012, 10:02 AM

Major Nikon (9,674 posts)

5. Sounds like fungus

If so the repair cost will almost certainly be more than the camera is worth.

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Response to Major Nikon (Reply #5)

Fri Aug 3, 2012, 10:42 AM

canonfodder (147 posts)

7. very possible.

An example photo or two would help.
I'm drifting more toward condensation due to the problem just showing up.
If it is fungus, the camera is shot.
If moisture, a couple days of drying may correct it.

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Response to canonfodder (Reply #7)

Fri Aug 3, 2012, 10:51 AM

Major Nikon (9,674 posts)

8. According to the OP, it's been there a week

Had that not been the case I might guess condensation also.

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Response to Major Nikon (Reply #8)

Fri Aug 3, 2012, 04:25 PM

canonfodder (147 posts)

9. Did see that.

If the camera is subjected to regular temp/humidity changes, it hasn't had a chance to dry.

From the OP, it seems the problem covers the entire frame.
This is why a couple of examples would help.
Fungus tends to be spotty, condensation has even and wide coverage.

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Response to Denninmi (Original post)

Mon Aug 13, 2012, 06:38 PM

Denninmi (5,558 posts)

10. Thanks, all.

I'm the OP.

Yes, it WAS just condensation inside the lens. How, why it got in there I don't know?

Based on the replies here, I actually took the camera to my basement and hung it directly over the hot, dry air being discharged from my de-humidifier. I just left it there about a week.

Now it's perfectly fine.

BEFORE drying it out - this is what I was getting, very blurry.