Few people have heard of it, yet John Blankenbaker's KENBAK-1 was the first commercially available personal computer.
Defective Digital Cameras: Sony, Fuji, Konica Minolta and Canon
By James Grahame
Slashdot is reporting that four major digital camera manufacturers have quietly introduced a repair policy to handle a rash of CCD image sensor failures. The problem affects some still and video cameras released in the last few years by Canon, Konica-Minolta, Fuji, and Sony (see below for links to the product advisories).
Apparently, low-cost packaging of the Sony-built image sensor caused the problem. Imaging Resource explains:
"The root cause of the problem is only hinted at by the advisories, but in our investigation of the problem we've uncovered more specific information. Semiconductor chips can be assembled into a variety of different package types and styles. Most chips these days are delivered in plastic (epoxy, actually) packages that are inexpensive, but that may not offer environmental protection as good as that of more expensive ceramic package types."
The defects don't show up until a year or two of exposure to high heat and humidity. This could turn out to be a bloodbath for Sony, who are rumored to be picking up the repair tab. Chalk this up as another reason to hang on to my old Nikon 35mm SLR.
Canon product advisory
Konica Minolta advisory
Fujifilm advisory
Sony advisory
