hi there! i believe that your camera has a low charged battery that could interfere with the performance.that said my DMC-ZS3 zoom does not close and when battery low the image gets fuzzy.yes, the mode gets turned off easily while in my pocket.
@kernow62 – awesome! I can’t believe you worked this out. I have the lever problem on my ZS5. Applying the pressure works as a temporary fix for me – in a few minutes the lever is stiff again, but at least I know what causes the problem. Thanks.
I’ve bought this same camera twice now because I use it so much that I wore my first one out. BUT!!! Geekdotcom IS CORRECT!! The Mode Dial is a HUGE problem and it happened constantly on both of my cameras! I can’t tell you how many times it stopped me from taking a one of a kind photo because I accidentally moved the dial when shooting. When other people use my camera to take a pic of me and friends, it almost always is something that hinders them! We’re not haters, just telling facts!
im thinking about buying a camera, which one is better, the zs3 or the zr3? whats the main difference between the two? which one would be better for making youtube videos?
Oh yeah, one other issue, the battery door, “you move it with a little bit of force, a millimeter” and it opens! Wow. Yeah so it’s a bit of a problem……
This is actually a phenomenal camera. The lever acts like it’s “gummed up” like someone with something sticky on their fingers touched it and the owner didn’t even know it happened. I can’t advise you as to what to do but if-it-was-mine I’d hold it upside down and spray it lightly with a good electronic cleaning spray from a computer tech supply. A product like that might be all that RadioShack is good for anymore.
@CA5CADA Google AVCHD converter. You just convert the files to .avi or .mov or whatever you like. Don’t pay for a program that does it, there is “freeware” that does it.
@pwrlifter69 Hi there, do you have the same problem? —–> Not soo good. If you download movie to computer then edit it by deleting out a section of the movie, it will show bad vertical stretching in the movie if played back on windows media player or if you try to post the editied version on youtube. You cannot edit the movie clips if you want to play back on windows media player or to post on youtube.
My mode dial is nice and tight and really clicks into place. I also have no problem with the zoom lever, although I had a Lumix LX1 that did have the problem. It took about 10 seconds to fix. Simply squeeze the camera between the on/off switch and the zoom lever, the top plate will move slightly and the zoom lever should now spring back normally. The spring isn’t strong and any friction will cause it to stick, this slight friction between the lever and top plate is the cause.
The problem im having is recording in AVCD i have a red version of this camera and I find it awesome…but I cannot get my AVCD files from the camera to my PC cos my PC is not NTSC…wtf is with that? Any solutions or any help would be appreciated
Loose Mode Dial Problem: I can tell you one other serious flaw with the mode dial without having touched this camera cuz my old Canon S410 had the same problem.
And, that is when you slidddddeeeee the camera back into the protective carrying case it will often move the mode dial to some random position. With my old Canon that was usually the video mode. So, I’d end up taking a picture that was a 5 sec video clip which looked stupid.
why is that when I record under the motion jpeg mode I’m only allowed to shoot 10 minutes with a 8gb sd card? I can shoot a lilttle over an hour with the avchd lite mode, but my pc doesn’t read it…is there a program for this? thanks
why is that when I record under the motion jpeg mode I’m only allowed to shoot 10 minutes with a 8gb sd card? I can shoot a lilttle over an hour with the avchd lite mode, but my pc doesn’t read it…is there a program for this? thanks
why is that when I record under the motion jpeg mode I’m only allowed to shoot 10 minutes with a 8gb sd card? I can shoot a lilttle over an hour with the avchd lite mode, but my pc doesn’t read it…is there a program for this? thanks
why is that when I record under the motion jpeg mode I’m only allowed to shoot 10 minutes with a 8gb sd card? I can shoot a lilttle over an hour with the avchd lite mode, but my pc doesn’t read it…is there a program for this? thanks
i had the exact same issue with my ixus 700 and i manage to fix it easily.still i had to reach the inside of the zoom button and put a little flexible piece of metal back in its place .
October 21st, 2011 - 20:13
hi there! i believe that your camera has a low charged battery that could interfere with the performance.that said my DMC-ZS3 zoom does not close and when battery low the image gets fuzzy.yes, the mode gets turned off easily while in my pocket.
October 21st, 2011 - 20:13
@kernow62 – awesome! I can’t believe you worked this out. I have the lever problem on my ZS5. Applying the pressure works as a temporary fix for me – in a few minutes the lever is stiff again, but at least I know what causes the problem. Thanks.
October 21st, 2011 - 20:54
I’ve bought this same camera twice now because I use it so much that I wore my first one out. BUT!!! Geekdotcom IS CORRECT!! The Mode Dial is a HUGE problem and it happened constantly on both of my cameras! I can’t tell you how many times it stopped me from taking a one of a kind photo because I accidentally moved the dial when shooting. When other people use my camera to take a pic of me and friends, it almost always is something that hinders them! We’re not haters, just telling facts!
October 21st, 2011 - 20:56
im thinking about buying a camera, which one is better, the zs3 or the zr3? whats the main difference between the two? which one would be better for making youtube videos?
October 21st, 2011 - 21:47
Oh yeah, one other issue, the battery door, “you move it with a little bit of force, a millimeter” and it opens! Wow. Yeah so it’s a bit of a problem……
October 21st, 2011 - 22:42
This is actually a phenomenal camera. The lever acts like it’s “gummed up” like someone with something sticky on their fingers touched it and the owner didn’t even know it happened. I can’t advise you as to what to do but if-it-was-mine I’d hold it upside down and spray it lightly with a good electronic cleaning spray from a computer tech supply. A product like that might be all that RadioShack is good for anymore.
October 21st, 2011 - 23:23
@CA5CADA Google AVCHD converter. You just convert the files to .avi or .mov or whatever you like. Don’t pay for a program that does it, there is “freeware” that does it.
October 21st, 2011 - 23:33
@pwrlifter69 Hi there, do you have the same problem? —–> Not soo good. If you download movie to computer then edit it by deleting out a section of the movie, it will show bad vertical stretching in the movie if played back on windows media player or if you try to post the editied version on youtube. You cannot edit the movie clips if you want to play back on windows media player or to post on youtube.
October 22nd, 2011 - 00:21
People really don’t like to see bad comments made about their beloved $400 cameras…
October 22nd, 2011 - 00:48
My mode dial is nice and tight and really clicks into place. I also have no problem with the zoom lever, although I had a Lumix LX1 that did have the problem. It took about 10 seconds to fix. Simply squeeze the camera between the on/off switch and the zoom lever, the top plate will move slightly and the zoom lever should now spring back normally. The spring isn’t strong and any friction will cause it to stick, this slight friction between the lever and top plate is the cause.
October 22nd, 2011 - 01:48
The problem im having is recording in AVCD i have a red version of this camera and I find it awesome…but I cannot get my AVCD files from the camera to my PC cos my PC is not NTSC…wtf is with that? Any solutions or any help would be appreciated
October 22nd, 2011 - 02:23
does the zr3 or the zr1 have the same problem as this one with the zoom being stuck or the dial being to easily spun?
October 22nd, 2011 - 02:43
this guys doesnt know hwat he is talking about this camera is really good!!!
maybe his shit was bad luck!
October 22nd, 2011 - 03:29
the dial doesnt do that on mine , maybe your is a return that has been rebuilt badly
October 22nd, 2011 - 03:52
@CarlyUTube This camera has been out for a while (the videos is a year old). Check out the ZR3 or ZS7.
October 22nd, 2011 - 04:07
What is relatively new ? Is the warranty any good?
October 22nd, 2011 - 05:06
Loose Mode Dial Problem: I can tell you one other serious flaw with the mode dial without having touched this camera cuz my old Canon S410 had the same problem.
And, that is when you slidddddeeeee the camera back into the protective carrying case it will often move the mode dial to some random position. With my old Canon that was usually the video mode. So, I’d end up taking a picture that was a 5 sec video clip which looked stupid.
October 22nd, 2011 - 05:10
It’s not really a problem…
October 22nd, 2011 - 05:16
why is that when I record under the motion jpeg mode I’m only allowed to shoot 10 minutes with a 8gb sd card? I can shoot a lilttle over an hour with the avchd lite mode, but my pc doesn’t read it…is there a program for this? thanks
October 22nd, 2011 - 05:23
why is that when I record under the motion jpeg mode I’m only allowed to shoot 10 minutes with a 8gb sd card? I can shoot a lilttle over an hour with the avchd lite mode, but my pc doesn’t read it…is there a program for this? thanks
October 22nd, 2011 - 05:33
why is that when I record under the motion jpeg mode I’m only allowed to shoot 10 minutes with a 8gb sd card? I can shoot a lilttle over an hour with the avchd lite mode, but my pc doesn’t read it…is there a program for this? thanks
October 22nd, 2011 - 05:41
why is that when I record under the motion jpeg mode I’m only allowed to shoot 10 minutes with a 8gb sd card? I can shoot a lilttle over an hour with the avchd lite mode, but my pc doesn’t read it…is there a program for this? thanks
October 22nd, 2011 - 05:59
Thank you for the advice.
October 22nd, 2011 - 06:56
i had the exact same issue with my ixus 700 and i manage to fix it easily.still i had to reach the inside of the zoom button and put a little flexible piece of metal back in its place .
October 22nd, 2011 - 07:18
this GEEK never heard of defective items