Do you know what's wrong with this camera?

[bjcuizon]

Hi, we have this Sony DSC-WX300 Point and shoot camera

and it has been acting strangely for a couple of years now.
Every time I take a photo in normal light, the image turns out to be always overexposed. It is set to "intelligent auto" and no manual settings have been changed. (as it should just decide for itself what to choose.) Here is a sample photo of the overexposed image:

Image properties:

However, if you take a video, it just seems to work normally. By the way it also has a snapshot feature where you can take a snapshot photo while taking a video (i.e. it just takes the frame from the video as you press the shutter). Here is a sample photo of the snapshot:

Below is an image for comparison taken by my Nikon D3200. (it is near enough to what I see in my naked eye)

As you can see the video snapshot is close enough to the Nikon camera's photo. Which means its Ok for video only.
So does anyone know what the problem is with the Sony DSC-WX300  (or might know how to repair it)?

DISCLAIMER: I am not advertising Sony or Nikon here. These are the brands of the cameras I happened to have.
Anyway, Thanks very much if you can help.

[stmdude]

No idea, but if you change your exposure _bias_, it should compensate for the issue, and still allow you to use fully automatic modes.

Also, the bias doesn't change the actual aperture-size (just the EV compensation on the CCD), so it won't screw with your depth-of-field either.

[Kilrah]

Could be stuck open aperture. It computes proper exposure with some stop down, but when taking the shot the aperture doesn't close like it should resulting in overexposure.

You should be able to confirm that theory by shooting in Aperture priority mode and manually forcing aperture full open, exposure should be correct. Then close aperture in steps, if the guess is right the pictures should come out increasingly overexposed.

[tautech]

It's partly the way you've composed the shot....more sky sets the aperture wider.
But there might be some settings you can change too........RTFM. 

Can you update firmware on these cameras ?

[Harb]

If you are shooting in RAW, the camera will record files with no in camera affects like contrast etc etc.....it will shoot a washed out looking frame that contains all the data, as the chio see's it..........you are then expected to process the photo in software to get it looking good.....its a method of retaining detail in the file, and processing back in post.....most pro's work this way.
In video mode the raw setting is bypassed and it will shoot with internal processing enabled, so the picture looks good again.
try it in Jpeg Mode and auto and see how it goes.

[Muttley Snickers]

I have a very similar Panasonic camera and prior to buying it I watched a Youtube repair video where it showed that they were prone to dirt, dust and other crap being dragged back into the optics and delicate mechanism every time the lens retracted, I bought it cheap at a clearance just as a backup camera but have seen where some of these camera types are better suited as aim and chuck rather than point and shoot.   

[bjcuizon]

Good evening guys. Sorry for the very late response to your replies as I was really busy today with some school work. I already tried to change the settings by switching the mode  knob but still no good. Anyway I'll update you tomorrow if I can find the factory reset. Got to go to sleep
Again, Thanks for all your replies.

[voltz]

Does the camera have an Exposure Compensation setting?. That would effect stills but not video. Check that.

[IanMacdonald]

The fact that it's using a relatively fast shutter but wide-open iris may be a clue.

Mechanically stuck iris or aperture priority set in software might be the cause.

[bjcuizon]

No idea, but if you change your exposure _bias_, it should compensate for the issue, and still allow you to use fully automatic modes.

Also, the bias doesn't change the actual aperture-size (just the EV compensation on the CCD), so it won't screw with your depth-of-field either.

So I already tried to change the EV / exposure bias setting and it would work but it is still noticably bright and some details of the image are washed out even in the early morning.
Pic #1's exposure is set to 0/neutral...and this is in the early morning.
Pic #2's exposure is set to -2.0 (the lowest)
I've tried all the different modes and nothing seems to work.

It's partly the way you've composed the shot....more sky sets the aperture wider.
But there might be some settings you can change too........RTFM. 
Can you update firmware on these cameras ?

I wanted to RTFM but I don't have the manual now so I'll try ro find it on the net.
..And I don't think you can update the firmware of this camera.

This is where I'd start too. Do a factory reset and press the button.

So in the menu, there is an "initialize" button..does it work the same way as factory reset?
Thanks.

Pics coming up soon.

[PA0PBZ]

I wanted to RTFM but I don't have the manual now so I'll try ro find it on the net.

Here you go, all the languages you could ever wish: https://www.sony.nl/electronics/support/res/manuals/4455/44559355M.pdf

[bjcuizon]

Here are the pics. As I said above, pic1 has neutral exposure while pic2 has the lowest exposure possible.
It is also kind of annoying cause when I set the exposure to its lowest, and I turn the thing off, it just resets to its original state when turned back on.
I also attached an image of my relatively dark lab...I tell you, its really dark in the bench without lights turned on, yet the camera still makes it bright with some details washed out.(its neutral exposure though.)

[Armadillo]

What if you change your ISO to something higher like say 200~300. Just to test the camera internal timing on ISO.

[nidlaX]

Look into your lens and move the camera from dark to light conditions while in auto. You should see a small iris stop down.

[nidlaX]

Look into your lens and move the camera from dark to light conditions while in auto. You should see a small iris stop down.

A 4mm lens at f3.5 has an aperture of 1mm. At F8 it will be 0.5mm. You might see it but I'd still get the callipers out.

They are tiny, but if you put the zoom lens in the telephoto position, it will appear magnified.

[bjcuizon]

So in the menu, there is an "initialize" button..does it work the same way as factory reset?
Thanks.

From a scan of the manual @PA0PBZ kindly posted I would say "Initialize" is a factory reset back to the out-of-the-box setup. But if after an initialise it doesn't give a decent exposure of a normal outdoor scene then the camera is broken.

How about a closeup of your leucadendron.

https://us.en.kb.sony.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/39713/c/65,66/p/40096,40097,40555,74022/

Alright, so I initialized the camera and it restored to its default setting. All the presets and/or settings have been erased but the overexposing of images is still happening.
I will upload a close-up photo of the leucadendron soon.

Look into your lens and move the camera from dark to light conditions while in auto. You should see a small iris stop down.

A 4mm lens at f3.5 has an aperture of 1mm. At F8 it will be 0.5mm. You might see it but I'd still get the callipers out.

I looked into the lens while in telephoto mode and the iris gets smaller or bigger when focusing. Sorry, but what do you mean by "stop down" @nidlaX?

[nidlaX]

I looked into the lens while in telephoto mode and the iris gets smaller or bigger when focusing. Sorry, but what do you mean by "stop down" @nidlaX?

Interesting! Stop down is just a photography synonym for making the aperture / iris smaller. If it is widening the iris while focusing, then narrowing it after, then we can probably rule out a mechanical issue with the iris.

Also, some Google searches reveal that this issue seems to be widespread among Sony point and shoot cameras from this era.

[BurningTantalum]

I have a FujiFilm F770 EXR with EXACTLY the same issue. The video is fine.
I tried everything under the sun, most of which has been suggested on here, but eventually gave up and tossed it in the 'Too Hard' cupboard. A shame as it was a very (for me) expensive camera.
BT

[Kilrah]

Did you read/try this?

Could be stuck open aperture. It computes proper exposure with some stop down, but when taking the shot the aperture doesn't close like it should resulting in overexposure.

You should be able to confirm that theory by shooting in Aperture priority mode and manually forcing aperture full open, exposure should be correct. Then close aperture in steps, if the guess is right the pictures should come out increasingly overexposed.

[bjcuizon]

I'll try it later as it is still dark in here. Thanks.