UKH

I've got a Panasonic TZ30 digital compact camera which is working perfectly fine, except for 1 issue.

It seems to have developed a small, fuzzy shadow just off-centre of any pictures taken with it - only really noticeable on shots with a plain background to most people, but if you know what you're looking for, then it's noticeable on other pictures, too.

The camera is about 10 years old, so I suspect it's somehow got a bit of dirt in the lens - I don't "think" it's an issue with the image sensor.

Normally, I'd just shrug, write it off against age and buy a newer replacement, but I've got a full model-specific dive housing for this one, which wouldn't be cheap to also replace.

Anyone got any idea on how much it might be to have it cleaned / whether it really is worth it and I should bite the bullet and get a new one?

I do now also have a Nikon Coolpix W300, which is an underwater camera, but it doesn't have the depth, optical zoom and a couple of other things that the Panasonic does.

TIA

What about getting a secondhand one off ebay or such? There will be plenty of perfectly good ones out there at low value due to modern cameras being better and the bottom falling out of the market due to smartphones.

Sounds like dust on the sensor. If you set the aperture (put it in A mode, and you should be able to alter the f value) to as high as you can, and take a picture of plain white wall, does it show up really clearly?

Edit to add: I presume you've given the lens a good wipe?

I agree it sounds like the sensor. As a matter of interest, why the high f number?

Simple, you get a better picture of the dust and hairs!

https://exposureworks.co.uk/sensor-dust-and-dirt/

Since posting, someone else has made that suggestion. I'll look around, but I figured it's an old model, so not many left around.

There’s loads of second hand ones. Buy one, then why not experiment cleaning the sensor of your old one?  Possible total failure, but nothing to loose. A total fiddle to get to the sensor, but you can by swab cleaning kits very cheaply. 

I know that I'll get shot down... but you mean "buy swab cleaning kits".

Yup. Cheap as chops. 

ed. I meant chips. 

Set up a saved search for TZ30 and the equivalent designation in other jurisdictions so you get notified the moment one is listed.