Dropped Camera = Sensor Damage :(

[321estrellas]

Made an attempt to take photos of the meteor shower last night in my heavily light-polluted city. My Panasonic GF7 didn't fully lock into my gorillapod and caused my camera to drop onto my balcony floor. I attempted to stop the rolling with my foot but I ended up kicking it and it rolled some more. The horrors! Well, it could have been worse...it could have fallen off the balcony and it could have been my GX85 instead!

I turned it back on and I was greeted with a blue screen with random white lines. Tried some sensor cleaning and pixel refreshing and no dice.

Took some time taking photos with my GX85 and being extra careful this time...thankfully no accidents there. Went back to see how my crippled GF7 was doing and the screen now turned to white and black wavy lines. Kinda looks like the worst moire you would ever see.

I bought the GF7 second hand and did not have the receipt, not that warranty would cover accidents anyway as there were visible scuffs on the body due to the fall.

Feeling at a loss of solutions, I banged the camera with my hand and shook it in several directions. At some point, I was able to see through the lens again with a clear picture, but I would see some lines or glitchiness if I turned the camera upside down.

A bit more banging and voila...it stopped glitching out and all seemed normal again. I didn't want to stress it out even more so I think I'm just going to leave it at that.

Anyone experience something similar? Namely, bringing the sensor back to life? If so, has it stayed that way or does something eventually get dislodged again?

 

[LMNCT]

Are you sure it is the sensor and not the LCD?

 

[321estrellas]

Are you sure it is the sensor and not the LCD?

Yes because the menu looked perfectly fine.

 

[alcelc]

Made an attempt to take photos of the meteor shower last night in my heavily light-polluted city. My Panasonic GF7 didn't fully lock into my gorillapod and caused my camera to drop onto my balcony floor. I attempted to stop the rolling with my foot but I ended up kicking it and it rolled some more. The horrors! Well, it could have been worse...it could have fallen off the balcony and it could have been my GX85 instead!

I turned it back on and I was greeted with a blue screen with random white lines. Tried some sensor cleaning and pixel refreshing and no dice.

Took some time taking photos with my GX85 and being extra careful this time...thankfully no accidents there. Went back to see how my crippled GF7 was doing and the screen now turned to white and black wavy lines. Kinda looks like the worst moire you would ever see.

I bought the GF7 second hand and did not have the receipt, not that warranty would cover accidents anyway as there were visible scuffs on the body due to the fall.

Feeling at a loss of solutions, I banged the camera with my hand and shook it in several directions. At some point, I was able to see through the lens again with a clear picture, but I would see some lines or glitchiness if I turned the camera upside down.

A bit more banging and voila...it stopped glitching out and all seemed normal again. I didn't want to stress it out even more so I think I'm just going to leave it at that.

Anyone experience something similar? Namely, bringing the sensor back to life? If so, has it stayed that way or does something eventually get dislodged again?

It is not covered by warranty. Might better look for insurance compensation.....

 

[nucmanchh]

If trouble comes back in the near future - you can contact the credit card company u used to purchase and they'll cover. That is if you used a credit card. This happened to me a few years ago and the credit card covered the repairs

 

[Kung Pao Panda]

Made an attempt to take photos of the meteor shower last night in my heavily light-polluted city. My Panasonic GF7 didn't fully lock into my gorillapod and caused my camera to drop onto my balcony floor. I attempted to stop the rolling with my foot but I ended up kicking it and it rolled some more. The horrors! Well, it could have been worse...it could have fallen off the balcony and it could have been my GX85 instead!

I turned it back on and I was greeted with a blue screen with random white lines. Tried some sensor cleaning and pixel refreshing and no dice.

Took some time taking photos with my GX85 and being extra careful this time...thankfully no accidents there. Went back to see how my crippled GF7 was doing and the screen now turned to white and black wavy lines. Kinda looks like the worst moire you would ever see.

I bought the GF7 second hand and did not have the receipt, not that warranty would cover accidents anyway as there were visible scuffs on the body due to the fall.

Feeling at a loss of solutions, I banged the camera with my hand and shook it in several directions. At some point, I was able to see through the lens again with a clear picture, but I would see some lines or glitchiness if I turned the camera upside down.

A bit more banging and voila...it stopped glitching out and all seemed normal again. I didn't want to stress it out even more so I think I'm just going to leave it at that.

Anyone experience something similar? Namely, bringing the sensor back to life? If so, has it stayed that way or does something eventually get dislodged again?

Interesting story.

So, does the camera take pictures?

Any damage to the lens? BTW, what lens?

For me, I would use it now as a paperweight,

Good luck.

Lena

--
Like others here, I suffer from chronic GAS.
Gear Acquisition Syndrome.
a few hundred nautical miles SW : 17º 52S, 149º 56W

 

[321estrellas]

Interesting story.

So, does the camera take pictures?

Any damage to the lens? BTW, what lens?

For me, I would use it now as a paperweight,

Good luck.

Lena

Yes the camera takes pictures. It just captures whatever glitchy image that is showing on the LCD. I took a picture way later but haven't bothered to upload it.

No damage to the lens, which was the Rokinon 7.5mm fisheye. Thing is like a mini tank so I don't think there were scuffs even.

Not a paperweight yet but I won't be taking it as my only camera on special moments of photo opportunities. Like I said, I'm glad it wasn't my GX85!

 

[Impulses]

Are you sure it is the sensor and not the LCD?

Yes because the menu looked perfectly fine.

Pretty bizarre, never heard of a camera operating semi normally but the sensor flaking out. I wonder whether something physical damaged (seems like it'd be worse off) or if maybe a ribbon cable or solder point somewhere got busted. Sending it in for repair might run more than what it's worth now tho.

 

[edsperez]

My gx85 have the same issue as your other camera. Just an hour ago I am using it to shoot some pictures at home, then suddenly both the viewfinder and lcd display displays only vertical lines. The menu works fine. I'm wondering if you have your other camera repaired.

 

[rashid7]

similar thing happened to me w/ my GF7. No banging it... it just spontaneously returned to normal after a few months (I'd given up, but