Keep getting bad C3030s...on my 5th one now!

Scott said:

Im taking an unofficial poll. By a raise of hands how many people have
acquired a C3030 have discovered things like unacceptable number of
"stuck pixels" or bad focusing or unexplained dark lines or curves in the
pictures?

Im on my 5th C3030 now and am getting a little tired of returning it for
a new one. Not to mention the friendly folks at the local camera store
probably shutter as I walk in the door with all my gear.

My thought is, for $1000 this camera should work without a hitch!

-Scott

Click to expand...

Scott, I saw your photo showing the curved black line, that is an obvious defect and needs to be rectified.

As far as "stuck" pixels, with 3.3 million pixels, does anyone have a "perfect" CCD? I noticed no noticeable burnt pixels on my 3030 until I did the test for low light noise and found a bright pink/red pixel in an inconspicuous place, but, after reviewing the couple of hundred photos I've taken with this cam, the bright pixel is in EVERY ONE of the photos. The point is, I NEVER noticed it until I started looking for it, it's that small. Easily corrected in any image editor, and for "snapshot" photos (family, birthdays, pets, etc.) it would never be an issue. However, should one expect, for $900, a camera with NO stuck pixels? I already have an RMA from buy.com to return it, but I'm wondering if I'll just end up with something even worse (2 or more stuck pixels, or a stuck pixel smack dab in the middle of the photo). Is there a 3030z (or Nikon CP-990 or any 3MP cam) with ZERO stuck pixels (on the CCD, not the LCD viewfinder) out there?

--geordie

You are right in thinking the odds are against getting a camera with fewer than one or two stuck pixels. I bought my 2020 in a camera store; they had two; I had the salesperson do the lenscap test on both. One showed two grey pixels; the other showed only one.

Note, however, that several people have reported cameras in which the stuck pixels are so numerous as to draw attention to themselves even when not looked for and even in daylight shots. Worse, a couple folk, at least, have had 3030s which initially showed no evidence of stuck pixels; then after a few days or weeks in they started appearing and multiplying. The Nikon forum has many more such horror stores for 990 purchases.

It would be nice if we could get a handle on the ratio of 3030s with serious defects vs ones without. Presumably such problems will be history in a few months.

If you have (as I did) hot spots at 1/100 second, you have a dead pixel.

If you start seeing pixels light up around 1-2 seconds, this is a consequence of the temperature and the technology. Sadly the "I paid a lot so it should be perfect" doesn't work here, currently these are the consequences of CCD technology, which makes these things affordable at all!

I will live with the latter, I swapped my 3030z because of the former.

I'm fairly sure my first 3030 was fine when I bought it so my one pixel went hot pink in the first week. Fingers crossed the replacement doesn't degrade.

Cheers,

Crash

I read all the repies, and one point has been neglected, When you test the camera in the dark you need to make sure it is set to ISO 100, for the shutter speeds mentioned. Just hoping my 3030z will be a good one, I will be purchasing it in a week or so!

The-dragonfly

Scott said:

Im taking an unofficial poll. By a raise of hands how many people have
acquired a C3030 have discovered things like unacceptable number of
"stuck pixels" or bad focusing or unexplained dark lines or curves in the
pictures?

Im on my 5th C3030 now and am getting a little tired of returning it for
a new one. Not to mention the friendly folks at the local camera store
probably shutter as I walk in the door with all my gear.

My thought is, for $1000 this camera should work without a hitch!

-Scott

Click to expand...

First Oly 3030z started "sticking" when going into wide tele mode (pushing the button forward it wouldn't "snap" back, so I had no control on when it stopped).

Now I have number two and there is a VERY bright green spot on every single picture in exactly the same place. I can only assume this is a "stuck pixel" issue, although from what I've been reading it usually shows as red. I'm a little worried. I love the camera, but it does scare you when within one month you have two that develop problems that are simply unacceptable...it sickens me to think that I can pay $1,000 (almost) for a camera and it has these issues. I hope number 3 works out, because I will definitely start losing faith.

Scott said:

Im taking an unofficial poll. By a raise of hands how many people have
acquired a C3030 have discovered things like unacceptable number of
"stuck pixels" or bad focusing or unexplained dark lines or curves in the
pictures?

Im on my 5th C3030 now and am getting a little tired of returning it for
a new one. Not to mention the friendly folks at the local camera store
probably shutter as I walk in the door with all my gear.

My thought is, for $1000 this camera should work without a hitch!

-Scott

Click to expand...

I sympathise Scott,

After so many times I would probably have sent a nasty letter to the manufacturer and decided to go with an alternate camera.
I bought a deffective C3030z from SSDONLINE, the DPREVIEW affiliate.
I am waiting for a replacement at the moment. The problem was with
the lens motor drives, they made a terrible nosie whenever I either zoomed
or focused, and had trouble focusing properly.

I am expecting to receive a replacement on Friday and I hope I can update
you with good news (mine at least!!).

I have exactly the same thoughts about quality control for a $1000 camera.

Good Luck with your next one

Si

Scott said:

Im taking an unofficial poll. By a raise of hands how many people have
acquired a C3030 have discovered things like unacceptable number of
"stuck pixels" or bad focusing or unexplained dark lines or curves in the
pictures?

Im on my 5th C3030 now and am getting a little tired of returning it for
a new one. Not to mention the friendly folks at the local camera store
probably shutter as I walk in the door with all my gear.

My thought is, for $1000 this camera should work without a hitch!

-Scott

Click to expand...

Keep us updated weither the replacement helped with the noise on the lens motor. Mine does the same thing (even though it focuses).

I also read on this forum that lots of other owners of the 3030Z hear a grinding noise when the lens goes in or out. Maybe Olympus will claim it to be a "feature".

If your problem gets fixed then I should try to also get a "quiet" version of the camera!

Yan.

si said:

I sympathise Scott,
The problem was with
the lens motor drives, they made a terrible nosie whenever I either zoomed
or focused, and had trouble focusing properly.

Click to expand...