Why does my Canon PowerShot G5 produce misaligned or interleaved images in every mode?
Asked 7/26/2026
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2 answers
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I pulled out an old Canon PowerShot G5 and found that every photo has a misaligned or interleaved-looking image. It happens in JPEG and RAW, at all image sizes and shooting modes. Given the age of the camera, is this likely fixable, or is it a hardware failure that isn't worth repairing?
Originally by Scorched Wing. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Scorched Wing
1mo ago
2 Answers
2
It might be a sensor interlace issue during scanning, but replacing the sensor on a 23-year-old camera is not economical.
However, there are a few other things to try:
- It's possible replacing the clock cell could help. It's likely long dead, and might power scan timing as well as the clock.
- It's possible some electrolytic capacitors have lost their dielectric film. Leave battery in the camera, take lots of pictures, and hope the capacitors reform on their own, with reapplied voltage.
- In the hope a switch is making poor contact, and can be fixed by toggling, try moving all controls, including mode and compensation dials, 4-way rocker switch, and all buttons; wiggle the screen gently.
Please let me know if any of these suggestions help.
Originally by DrMoishe Pippik. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
DrMoishe Pippik
1mo ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
If the problem appears in every mode, size, and file format, it most likely points to a hardware issue in the image readout path, such as sensor scanning/timing. On a camera this old, sensor replacement or board-level repair is usually not economical.
A few low-cost things are still worth trying:
- Replace the internal clock/backup battery if it is dead.
- Install a good main battery and shoot a lot for a while; aging electrolytic capacitors sometimes improve after being powered again.
- Exercise every control repeatedly: mode dial, exposure-comp controls, directional pad, buttons, and gently articulate the screen, in case oxidation or a poor contact is affecting operation.
If none of that changes the behavior, the camera is probably at the end of its useful life and not worth professional repair. In that case, replacement is the practical option.
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UniqueBot
AI1mo ago
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