TZ1 Exposure Problems

[Leanne]

I recently bought a TZ1 and am having problems with exposure. Every photo I take comes out really dark, both indoor and outdoor photos. I've tried adjusting the exposure, the flash and used different modes. So far the only somewhat decent photo I came up with was taken in "Beach Mode". The problem seems to be worse if I use the zoom. Has anyone else experienced this or have any suggestions????

Thanks!
- Leanne

Edited: One more thing I noticed while playing around just now is that my photos seem to come out better with the flash Forced OFF or on Slow-Sync. I'm assuming that's due to the shutter speed being at 1/8 versus 1/30 with the flash forced ON or on Auto. At least this is the case with indoor shots.

[John_Reed]

I recently bought a TZ1 and am having problems with exposure. Every photo I take comes out really dark, both indoor and outdoor photos. I've tried adjusting the exposure, the flash and used different modes. So far the only somewhat decent photo I came up with was taken in "Beach Mode". The problem seems to be worse if I use the zoom. Has anyone else experienced this or have any suggestions????

Thanks!
- Leanne

Edited: One more thing I noticed while playing around just now is that my photos seem to come out better with the flash Forced OFF or on Slow-Sync. I'm assuming that's due to the shutter speed being at 1/8 versus 1/30 with the flash forced ON or on Auto. At least this is the case with indoor shots.Or outdoors in the evening? It sounds like you're limited by the lower limit on shutter speed. You can make this as much as 1 second if you bump up the "SLOW" setting in the record menu, but there you risk blurring your photos due to camera shake. Try using Auto ISO if you're not already, and set your EV bias at 0, if not on the + side, if you're experiencing dark results. Personally, I almost ALWAYS leave the flash in the "Forced off" mode, as I prefer natural lighting, even at slower shutter speeds.

[djotai]

Hi Leanne
You mean if you shoot a street scene in the Simple mode outside in full daylight, with the sun behind you, it comes out dark ?
Make sure the Exposure compensation is at 0. Is there still a problem ?
if so kindly post a pic. This should'nt happen.
Djotai

[JAS]

Hi, I purchased the TZ1 two weeks ago, it was the black version avalible online only. At first I was fairly pleased taking most of the pictures outdoors. When I started to use the camera indoors is when the problem arouse, a little worse then yours. In the auto setting I would take a picture and it would look great, with out touching a setting or moving the camera I would wait for the flash to reset and take another picture, it would be dark. Wait for the flash to refresh take another picture, perfect. After seeing the problem I started to run tests. I would take around 20 to thirty pictures with out moving the camera or changing settings and 50 to 75% would come out ok, the other were either over exposed or under exposed. I used many of the different scene settings also and the same thing would happen. I didnt mess with any of the manual settings feeling that I shouldn't have too. There was a noise issue also. The camera that the TZ1 replaced was a Coolpix 5200, I like the fact that there are settings I can change but it should work in Point and Shoot!
I returned the camera today and ordered another TZ1, hoping this was defective. I will follow up on this when I get the replacement

[djotai]

Jas
What you're describing indeed seems to be a malfunction. The replacement should solve this - my camera syncs 100% of the time so we know it CAN do it.
Leanne's problem seems to be of a different nature though.

Djotai

[vinny514]

I bought the TZ1 a month ago, it's my first digital camera. Indoor pictures are terribles. I tought i was doing something wrong, but i read the manual several times and speak with many people who knows how.When I take the same picture 10 times, i get 10 different results every time. The worst is indoor pictures, even with the flash forced on, I get dark picture 50% of the time, 30% its way over exposed and a get OK picture the rest of the time. I have tried every thing. I hope it's a defect, because i have tried other cheap camera wich were doing much better than this... After reading this thread, I'll also try to go to the place a bought it to get it replaced. It's unacceptable.

Jas, you seem to have the same problem, I would be pleased if you could tell me if the replacement worked for you.

thank you

[JLV]

Be sure to press the shutter half way. Pause, then press it the rest of the way. Give the camera time to set focus, shutter, aperture, and ISO. Don’t jab.

[vinny514]

I went yesterday to the shop, explained my problem and let the guy try it. He think it's a problem with the flash accumulator or something... I'll pick it up in 3 to 4 weeks. I hope it will solve my interior photos problem.

I will let you know by that time.

[JAS]

Hi,

I have had my replacement TZ1 for a little over a week now, it is FANTASTIC. I have taken many pictures indoors and outdoors and they all are well exposed, and very sharp. I think the first TZ1 had multiple problems besides dark and light pictures, even the pictures that had the right exposure were noisy.

If people are having any kind of exposure problem or noise issue return the camera and get a new one. Mine was shipped from Circuit City and was not packed well so that may have been what damaged it. Although the second was also shipped and not packed very well and seems to be fine.

I purchased 2 Transcend 2GB 150x SD cards from newegg.com, they work great in the TZ1. $42 each, great deal!

[VanJ]

Hello Guys,

I own the TZ1 about 2 weeks now, I am satisfied with this camera, but now I start to get the problem with the dark pictures when using a flash. :(
The problems is about the same as described above, so I'll just add some pictures. They have been resized, but I kept the original EXIF info in it. You can see the details. The two photos were taken with the same setup. Actually it was a problem to get the correct picture, as almost all pictures taken now are bad. The good one was the first one after I powered up the camera.

[djotai]

vanj
I'm sad to inform you that IMO there's no duobt - this is a malfunction. Return it immediately and get a replacement.

[John_Reed]

Hello Guys,

I own the TZ1 about 2 weeks now, I am satisfied with this camera, but now I start to get the problem with the dark pictures when using a flash. :(
The problems is about the same as described above, so I'll just add some pictures. They have been resized, but I kept the original EXIF info in it. You can see the details. The two photos were taken with the same setup. Actually it was a problem to get the correct picture, as almost all pictures taken now are bad. The good one was the first one after I powered up the camera.
...then your camera is defective. Please check your technique, just be SURE you're not covering the flash output, or dangling the lens cap in front of it, or the like? Otherwise, hit the "Return" key!

[prashanthsharma]

hi,

My TZ1 just started acting up like this a couple of weeks ago.

I just shot a response from panasonic saying they are not aware of this problem. How do you know they are aware of it and that they are dealing with it ?

I would like to know what you did to fix this promlem. I would also really appreciate it if you could point me to the other forums that you refer to.

Thanx,
Prashanth

[VanJ]

Howdy guys!

so I did finaly run throught the guarantee process defined by te laws of my country. Generaly, you have 2 years guarantee for all goods in EU. However my one get faulty just after 2 weeks. So I had to give it authorised repair centre to repair it. They must do it in 30 days. As, in my case, they were unable to do it, even with assistance of Panasonic centre, I have the right now, to get another camera of the same type, or the money. As I was satisfied with the TZ1, and beside this problem, I like the cam, I decided to ask for another one. But, as I am afraid the new one could also get this problem, I wanted to know, what is the rate of this failure among the other users. So I have posted another thread with polling question, to get at least some idea about the rate.

[tim11]

If you put the camera on P mode with the flash on and then make sure you don't obstruct the lens or flash, you should at least have some sort of image to look at. If it comes totally blacked out or white out then your camera has that by now well known flash problem.