Panasonic DMC-LC1 Camera help, Black Screen

Camera to PC connections for downloading pics are so troublesome that pros never do it that way....they always use a card reader....you should too. Once you do, you'll never go back.

? Try reformatting card. Lower volume first.(?)

Did your friend use the "safely remove hardware" function when removing your card from her computer? That could corrupt your card if she didn't. Try this...take your card to a store like Walmart that has a Kodak picture kiosk. They can usually read everything on a card. There, you can print the pics or even make a cd of them. Afterwards, format your card in your camera.

You should be upload pictures using a USB cable even if you do not have the additional sofware. Once you plugged in your camera, it may take a few minutes for the computer to register a new device and you should be able to view pictures using the Vista popup or in my computer from the "new device"

Go to Desktop/MyComputer/Pana(or it may say USB Drive, or DCIM, and click on this external drive Icon.
You are now looking at the camera contents as if it were just another file folder on your PC, and behaves the same way.

You will find your pics in a sub-folder under a master folder, common for all camera file structures, named DCIM. You can drag and drop individual pic (jpg) files or whole pic subfolders from the camera to a place on your PC, usuallly Documents/Pictures.

You can do all other folder/file operations on this Camera Folder/Pic files you can do with those that exist on the PC like;cut, past, delete, rename, etc etc.

When you take you next first pic from your camera, after moving or deleting a pic subfoler under the Camera's DCIM master folder, the camera automatically creates another subfolder. Each subfolder holds 999 pics. The camera will atuomatically create a second, third, etc subfolder for pics 1000 to 1999, 2000 to...etc.

Hi,

I have a Panasonic DMC-FZ7, and there is one setting that I know of which will cause two images to be recorded:

#1. Open both photos in the computer and check the ending of the file name. One of them will say ".jpg" or ".jpeg" and the other photo will say ".tif" or ".tiff".

#2. If this is the case and you want smaller, compressed pictures, turn off the TIFF setting in your camera. It should say how to do this in the user-manual.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Found my reply helpful? Please write a review on your Panasonic DMC-TZ5 here:
http://www.photographyreview.com/mfr/panasonic/8-10-megapixel/RVF_412070_6446crx.aspx

I don't have a solution to the first part of your dilemma (why it won't playback) but I do have a solution for deleting the file.  On your camera are "hidden" file folders.  When you connect your camera to your computer, you probably only see two folders (that's all I see for my DMC-LZ8).  But there are more, and your undeletable picture/video is in one of these folders.  Find the folder and you'll find the file.  Delete it from your camera using the computer to do the command.  Problem solved.  Okay, so how do you find the hidden folders?  I have a Mac, so my process was this:  1) Connect camera to computer; 2) Select/open camera icon (looks like "volume disk"); 3) From top Finder bar, select File then Find;  4) Select the camera volume to limit your search to the camera (not HD or other external hard drives you may have connected to your computer); 5) Select "Kind" and in the next dropdown button "Folders".  Voila.  Happy searching.  My hidden "undeletable" video files were in a folder called "100_PANA".  I selected them then moved them to the Trash.  Be sure to eject your camera properly (don't just turn it off or disconnect it).
Good luck.  I hope this helps.
PS - My theory is that this occurred after an upload to my computer got unexpectedly disconnected before everything finished loading or else the camera got disconnected from the computer incorrectly even if the upload had already finished (see above comment to eject camera properly).  In either case, the blank/black screen, unviewable but "there" on the camera taking up memory photos/videos problem happened to me, too.  The above actions resolved it for me.

Contact Panasonic - there is a widespread problem with CCDs in the last 3 or 4 years - keep pressing them for free repair as is your due with faulty goods, even outside the warranty period.
See the following link:-
Widespread CCD problems in consumer imaging productsCCD Sensor Problems in Consumer Imaging Products .... Given that the Leica DIGILUX 2 is a variant of Panasonic's Lumix DMC-LC1 design, it isn't surprising ...
www.imaging-resource.com/badccds.html - 51k - Cached - Similar pages

If you can see images in play mode, previously taken pics, then check to see if iris is opening and closing, could be seized vanes on iris motor. Tap on the lens(just not on the glass) repeatedly, this might help jog the vanes open. remove batteries, reinsert them after an hour, or a cup of coffee. If it persists press the reset button . all your settings will be cleared. Check to see if there's a second internal battery used for function memory, if there is, remove that one too for a while. Sounds a lot like the global CCD sensor problems that most manucturers had last year, but I don't remember anything regarding panasonic in that context. Use your warranty if valid Good luck

I shied away from several cameras through various reasons, quality problems.... 8 mp pushing the limits... steep learning curve and so on. The LC1 allows you to get started with excellent results by using auto, so you don't miss any shots and you can introduce yourself gradually in to manual without the frustration of less than acceptable shots. Set all settings to 'A', initially use spot metering, aim at your subject, half depress shutter button for the camera to focus, fully press to take the photo.