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Today I discovered that my camera has started to save pictures like this: bad stripes But, when I use the camera viewfinder, everything looks fine, both via LCD and via the EVF. I thought it could be the SD card, but it happens also with the internal memory.

What can be, a broken sensor? But, if it is broken sensor, why does the LCD live view work fine?

Between the last "normal" photo and the first "striped" photo the camera did not take any shock, it just sat on a shelf for six months.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ What kind of camera are you using? \$\endgroup\$
    – tenmiles
    Commented Jul 10, 2013 at 22:04
  • \$\begingroup\$ Basically is a Nikon P&S with an EVF and grip to look professional \$\endgroup\$
    – Magnetic_dud
    Commented Jul 10, 2013 at 22:13
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    \$\begingroup\$ If the image looks fine in live view (especially when zoomed all the way in), then it is unlikely the sensor is damaged. This looks like some kind of data corruption, possibly a JPEG that cannot be fully read, but which used pyramid packing or something like that (i.e. the first layer or two of image detail can be read, but the rest is unreadable.) I'm stretching a bit...I've never seen this particular kind of "corruption" before...but I can't imagine the sensor is bad if Live View works. \$\endgroup\$
    – jrista
    Commented Jul 11, 2013 at 0:44
  • \$\begingroup\$ If you have another SD card, try on that one. It looks like file corruption to me too, so one way to find out is to swap cards. Could still be a hardware fault in the camera, but swapping cards will at least eliminate that as a source (or prove it). \$\endgroup\$
    – Joanne C
    Commented Jul 11, 2013 at 2:14
  • \$\begingroup\$ I tried with no SD card at all (the camera has a small internal memory for demo, like for 6 pictures), and I still get the problem \$\endgroup\$
    – Magnetic_dud
    Commented Jul 11, 2013 at 7:02

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Given all the information you've provided in your follow-up comments, I think we can rule out a damaged SD card, and conclude that something in the camera itself is malfunctioning.

While it may not be the actual sensor that's damaged (it may actually be the CPU or internal memory), nonetheless the camera needs to go in for repair or replacement.

Take it to a service centre. If under warranty, they may replace it. Otherwise, if you take it to an authorised repair centre, they may be able to swap the logic board out.

Though in this case it may not be worth it. Your camera is essentially a point&shoot camera that approximates an SLR in size and weight only. You could upgrade to an actual SLR for a surprising low amount these days, for example a Nikon D3100, and get 4 times the image quality immediately, along with faster focusing and less shutter delay.

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