20 Most Recent Epson PhotoPC 3100Z Digital Camera Questions & Answers

It is probably having trouble with the capacity of the memory card. Memory cards have grown enormously in capacity in the last couple of years, and even relatively new cameras may not be able to cope with the memory size of the newest cards.

You don't say what type of memory card you have. "SD" cards larger than about 1GB are actually SDHC cards. SD and SDHC cards fit the same slots, but they are slightly different electrically. Many cameras won't work with SDHC (high capacity) cards. SDHC is not backwards compatible.

This something you will have to contact a local camera shop for repair.They normally do not carry your exact part always due to the low % they may see but may order one for you.I would almost bet they will want at least $50(+or- $10) for repair.If they will not order the part for you,you will need to contact Epson at the link below.If it does require a screwdriver,normally the cameras have small screws and you need what is called a jeweler's set of screwdrivers.Not to worry though.They are very common,you may have seen them but not know it.They are the tiny screwdrivers,usually a set of 4 or 5 of them with a clear plastic top part to see them,usually at many major stores like K-Mart,Walmart,etc. although most of the employees do not seem to know their real name.Just go to the tools section and look.The person there,and maybe a few English speaking stock people may know the real name.Or I guess the old where are the teeny tiny screwdrivers at could work too I guess.They usually are there.If they are not there then they likely do not have them because they are not likely in the camera deparment even though that is the most common use other than jewelry.I have never seen them there and ocassionally ask just to see if they know when I see a different employee not asked yet or at a new store and when I ask for jeweler's screwdrivers where do they send me?Please do not buy the set where there is one screwdriver with changeable tips.Those are normally dollar store types.The 4 separate packaged ones should only be $3-$4,depends where you live,and are much better built.A friend bought the changeable tip one,ruined the main screwdriver part,which made all the tips useless anyway.I bought the multi-set years ago because i mess around with alot of my own electronics and even if you may not,they are very hady in the strangest situations.One example is I had to pry something open but it was so tight/narrow,what ended up working after about 20 mins. of everything else?Good luck! Greg
If you need more help just comment here and I get an autolink to your post right away.
http://www.epson.com/

http://uscamera.com/vk9076.htm

Epson will not supply parts to anyone but recognized repairers. The reason is obvious, they guarantee the work by their licenced techs and do not support DIY for fear of ending up in courts if someone sues for additional damage caused by the DIY the repair. or has some accident as a result of attempting a fix on their product, be it a camera , printer or other product.
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I phoned the Olympus people for replacement parts 800-622-6372 and they shipped me a replacement battery door assembly for my Stylus 1010 camera. I only paid shipping.

I had one of these cameras, and all I can say isd that it was a joy in every respect. Fast accurate focus, feature normally seen on much more expensive cameras, build quality etc. The 3.1mp sensor gives photo's of high quality up to A4 site. I have an a3 phto taken by mine on our lounge wall!n Value? well, I'd pay up to £80 depending on its condition. If you do decide to buy it, make sure you see a photo produced by it in your presance if possible. Good luck with it!

I would use hi capacity rechargable batteries, perhaps 2700maH batteries, and also check that the battery contacts are clean and grease free

The 3000Z does not have AF assist, and I assume the 3100Z does not have one either.

I have a 3000z, and have not noticed any problem with flash sync with even the fastest speed.

The aperature error is due to the fact that the lens in not a constant aperature design. The settings on the LCD are assuming you are at full wide angle setting. As this lens moves towards telephoto, the aperature changes about 2/3 of an f-stop due to the mechanical movement of the lens elements. So a manual setting of f4.0 at full telephoto will be more llike f5.0 in reality. It is too bad Epson could not make the mechanical aperature adjust to compensate, but every nice feature costs something. I have not had any issue with the shutter speed changing. One guess is that the camera has shutter speed/aperature combinations that it can't achieve due to mechanical limitations, so it chooses the available combination. Another is that it wasn't in manual mode, but rather aperature priority mode and the final adjustments changed the speed.

I have a 3100z and you are right that alkaline batteries do not last long. The thing to do is buy a couple of sets of NiMH rechargable batteries and they last much longer. I,ve just been on holiday and had no problems at all with the batteries. (Although the camera does not give much warning when they need replacing).

Try the PROGRAM MODE-SPORTS setting. this will keep the shutter speed reletively high unless there is little light. Or use APERTURE PRIORITY MODE with an f2.0 to f2.8 to keep shutter speed high. If pictures were blurry when it went to AUTO then the light had to be low for the camera to select a low shutter speed. If using flash use forced or auto flash not slow sync. Also set ISO to 400 which is >>>. If inside use a larger external flash as the one on-camera is only good for about 10ft. if more than 10ft. away set focus to manual infinity so you don't have to wait for the camera to focus. Hope this helps.

I think that to use this nice camera as a "web-cam" is really a wastage!

This fine camera should take the best photos I owned, even compared with my Canon D-SLR.

My experience is - NOT to set to other modes, BUT using the "Auto" Mode only!

Of couse, my other experience is very sweet when using an external flash unit (any common brands).

Its Hot-Shoe is the second reason I bought this camera! The first one being its Lens aperture of F2.0-2.5!

Only one reason - you have to change a new set of batteries!

Your batteries have been deterioriated because their internal reisitance have been increased.

I don't think you will find any major difference in quality with Epson's 3000 or 3100 compresssion compared to Canon's. I use the 3000z and shoot in low compression giving a file size about 850k - 1000k.