Problem with my Polaroid a520 digital camera.....?

Question

It is still practically new.... I the first set of batteries had gone dead. I put new batteries in, and it will not turn on. And it's not just those batteries. I tried a different set too. Please help!!!

Thanks!

Answer 1

Bog standard Duracell / Energiser / Philips / Panasonic disposable batteries are next to useless in modern digital cameras. The worst I ever tried when I first got my camera was a set of Philips "Longlife" batteries. Damn things wouldn't even turn the camera on 30mins after I'd put them in and walked to the place I wanted to take a picture of.

Most experts recommend you use High Capacity Rechargable batteries instead:
http://www.steves-digicams.com/nimh_batteries.html

If those don't make your camera work, it'll most likely be a send camera to manufacturer's service centre job.

Answer 2

Yeah, I had a problem with a Polaroid camera too, I got it for my Mom for Christmas, every time we plugged it into the printer, it would either display "USB Error" or Lockup, I tried different cables, I tried reloading the firmware and it still would not work. Eventually it got to the point where it just started randomly printing all the pictures on the memory card every time it was connected.

So, word to the wise, and we both learned the hard way, don't buy Polaroid cameras. It seems both of us have had issues with them. In lieu of the a520 which I believe costs about $100, I recommend the Panasonic LS2S which is currently on sale at J&R for $120, http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=4089953

I don't know if you can still return the camera or not and if it was a gift, see if you can. Many stores have an extended holiday return policy, around these parts most store accept 14 day returns until January 8 and 30 day returns until January 25th for any purchase that was made in December (regardless of the exact date). I returned the camera and got credit back for it (instead of exchanging it in store and swallowed the restocking fee). Than Panasonic LS2S is superior in every single way to your camera and the i639 which is the Polaroid I got my Mom (which never worked correctly).

You can also make sure you are inserting the batteries correctly according to the polarity... (just a thought, nothing more).

If the Panasonic LS2S isn't your thing, Steves Digicams can point you in the right direction, http://www.steves-digicams.com/

Answer 3

Before you panic, make absolutely sure that you are NOT

1) mixing batterys (Alkaline - NON rechargeable)

if you are, then I suggest you get a voltage meter and check the individual voltage on each battery before putting the batterys back in the camera

2) Make absolutely certain the batterys are inserted correctly,
I work behind a counter in a camera store, and once in a while
I too make this mistake by going to fast and not paying attention.

3) Cleaning the Battery Contacts
if the voltage is absolutely, unquestionalby good on each of the batterys, and they are absolutely put in correctly, the next thing to try is cleaning the contacts with a little rubbing alcohol & Qtip

I recommend Rechargeable batterys over alkalines, which will save you a small fortune over the months and years to come.

Answer 4

If you're using an AF film SLR, your first step should be the same company's DSLRs for lens/flash compatibility (Minolta AF lenses fit Sony). No DSLR is cheap, though, despite all of them being much the same.