Camera or memory card issue?

A friend took some photos while hiking last summer and was asking me to help identify an issue. My initial reaction when I saw these photos was that it's a memory card issue, but I'm not sure so I thought I'd get some other opinions. I believe the camera was a Canon A400. He said that some of the photos on the card came out fine, but there were about 8 corrupt photos scattered among the good ones.

Thanks,
Steve

Any ideas?

seattlesteve said:

Any ideas?

Click to expand...

The first and third resemble images I've had recorded on a failing card.
The second doesn't look like summer! hope that helps, gkl

gkl said:

seattlesteve said:

Any ideas?

Click to expand...

The first and third resemble images I've had recorded on a failing card.
The second doesn't look like summer! hope that helps, gkl

Click to expand...

Thanks, and you're right, it doesn't look like summer. They hiked the Cascade trail which runs across various elevations, thus the snowpack in some photos and not others.

That last picture looks like a classic Sony sensor failure image. I had that something very similar happy to one of my Sony cameras and had it fixed free of charge. The sensors in question were used in lots of other cameras (ie, Canon, etc.), not just Sony cameras. Looks like the Canon A300 was one of those that were affected, not sure about the A400. Unfortunately I think that the time period for the recall has expired. There's more information at the following link:

http://news.digitaltrends.com/news-article/8651/faulty-sony-ccds-fail-in-dozens-of-cameras

Thanks Sean, that was very helpful. I'll pass on the article to my friend.

It does not seem to be very difficult to get a spare memory card and test the camera with it.

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Your second and fourth pictures look like mine did, when I had sensor problems. Canon issued what they call, "CCD Image Sensor Advisory". I've had 3 cameras repaired free of all charges under this advisory. All were repaired quickly, with shippng paid both ways. That's why, if it were me, I would check with the Canon service center. The A400 is not in the list of models covered, but that could have changed, and it never hurts to ask.

Read more about the advisory at:

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=PgComSmModDisplayAct&keycode=2112&fcategoryid=221&modelid=8776

The following contact information was copied from their site.

U.S. residents are kindly directed to contact the Canon Customer Support Center for further assistance at 1-800-828-4040. Support hours are Monday thru Friday - 8:00 AM to 12:00 midnight; and Saturday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM (all times EST). Alternatively, if electronic support is preferred, please send your email to [email protected]