DMC-FZ8 blur/blob - dust on CCD??

[katiep]

Help! I am being driven to distraction by a small grey blur that appears on all of my pictures. It is clearest against plain backgrounds and comes up on the LCD screen and the photos. When you zoom in and out the blob stays the same size which I pressume means that it isn't on a lens?
From looking on the web my thoughts are that it is a tiny bit of dust on the CCD?? I have downloaded a manual with thoughts that I might try to clean it but am starting to think that this might be a bad idea! It looks like you have to take nearly all of the camera to bits to get to the CCD.

Any advice would be appreciated- I know that I should probaly just put up with it but it seems such a shame. I know I could also get it repaired but am guessing that it will be about £100 which makes me think that I should just use that money to get a new camera??

Thanks for any advice.

Katie.

[Damien_Demolder]

Hi Katie

I have had the same problem. I suspect it is dust on the rear element of the lens unit - mine only really showed when the lens was zoomed out.

It needs a service to clean it off, as the lens and sensor are housed together. Contact Panasonic (0844 844 3875) to find out how much it will be.