Camera: ST-4000XCM 40710007 This weekend out testing a new laptop and all new capture software, TheSkyX sent the dec axis around into a knot, about 720 degrees. After straightening everything back out, I noticed I was getting nothing but dark images. The shutter wasn't opening. In an effort to get it unstuck, I believe I manhandled it badly. It started operating, but you could hear it, where it's usually silent. Now I believe it has scratched up the cover glass on the sensor, and probably has worse mechanical problems. And of course you can see the effect in the images, as attached. Could you help me out with a repair authorization? (Or should I just send it in?) Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA
Morris, It's awful hard to scratch the cover glass on the ccd. You took off the top cover of the camera and went inside?
Well that's encouraging. So what I suspect then is some lubricant or other material fouling the cover glass. I did not remove the cover. I'm not uncomfortable with doing that, but I never have. Do you suggest I open it up and have a look? Mojo
