What is the best internet forum on digital cameras?

Question

I have a problem with my Minolta Dimage A1 digital camera. All the pictures I take with the flash are all purple (before I reset the camera settings it was even worse: pictures taken without flash but with artificial light would also have a light purple tint). The white balance is on auto, the camera did not take a knock or anything, and I am told that the repair would cost the best part of the price of a new one. Also I live in London, does anyone know a photo shop where they have an interest in helping you rather than just selling you a new camera or telling you to send it off for repair? Many thanks for your help.

Hi there, I have now registered on amateurphotographer.com, thanks for the hint. I have tested all pre-set white balance measures in the menu, e.g. flash, daylight, tungstene, fluorescence, etc... I have also tried the custom setting using a white card. In fact the custom setting with a black card gives very similar results to a white card! Anyway all these tests give me slight variations on a picture where all the light colours are still dominated by purple. I have no idea what the problem is. Many thanks

Answer 1

2 things you can do - 1 get it repaired, 2 don't use auto white balance, it's not very good even when it works. Carry a small grey card with you or Expodisc to calculate accurate white balance.
In answer to the forum question, dpreview.com is by far the best

Answer 2

It sounds like you're shooting in an environment where "auto" white balance simply isn't doing the job. Many people mistakenly believe that "auto" is going to give them the best all-around results. It won't. The more manual you are in your work (that is, controlling the camera through manual settings rather than depending on the camera to evaluate the lighting), the better your results eventually will be. There's a learning curve and you're not going to get every shot the way you want it, but with discipline comes better results. What sort of results do you get with other "white balance" settings?

Let's assume for the moment that your camera is defective and the local camera shop is trying to sell you a new camera. Go to Minolta's website and contact their customer service department. Tell them what the problem is, what your experience with the camera is, etc. and see if they have any advice regarding repair. They can direct you to an authorized Minolta repair shop!

Answer 3

The first answer ignores the fact that Minolta no longer manufacture cameras and no longer have a service centre. I don't know whether you contact Sony (who acquired the rights to Konica-Minolta cameras) or whether repairs are no carried out by an independant. But I think what you have been told is right - the cost of repair will be nearly as much as the cost of a new camera. The price of digital cameras is falling almost daily and no one is really interested in doing repairs because of the complicated circuits etc involved. It's all part of our throw-away society.

If you want a forum, however, go to www.amateurphotographer.com, register, and ask your question there. Someone there is bound to know.