Hot pixel? OMG is it fatal?

swag72

swag72

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Sara
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I think I have hot pixels on my 50D. I have just taken some pics with a black background. When I have begun to download them and look closer, I see in identical places on the background 2 red dots. Firstly I thought it was the computer screen. Zoomed in and there they are. Will post the pics once all downloaded.

So, initially, does it sound like I have them? If so, what do I do? If not, what other explanation is there for 2 red dots on my black backround? (I have checked the bground for marks - there are none, it was a 100% clean piece of black paper.
 
I had this problem before with a new 5d2. Is it as bad as this or just a couple of hot pixels? You should try doing a 30sec long exposure are varying apertures with your lens cap on.

Sometimes hot pixels change locations. If you're are not then they could be dead pixels. Do they show on short exposures?
 
That is exactly what I saw on the background. I had 2 in red. They were on 20sec or so exposures. So ............ What do I do with them? Surely I don't have to put up with it on a £850 camera? :eek:
 
Do you not have pixel mapping on the 50D? Would it work with this issue? I had a similar problem on my E-420 and a quick pixel-map sorted it out in a jiffy.
 
Not really worth worrying about surely - 2 tiny pixels out of what, 15 million?

They won't show on print. Forget about it.
 
In my manual it states "dead pixels displaying black or red etc, are not a malfunction and do not affect the image".

I personally think it should be perfect.
 
2-5 pixels is usually expected. Anything more then you'd be looking at getting it sorted. You can map out those pixels or you can use the noise reduction function and it'll hide them, I think Lightroom automatically removes them anyway.
 
I would take it back, when I spend that much on any new item I expect it to be perfect.
 
Unfortunately as there are documented tolerances, it's likely that they wouldn't do much for you if you took it back.
 
Syx said:
Unfortunately as there are documented tolerances, it's likely that they wouldn't do much for you if you took it back.
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Exactly - you could get another one with hot pixels in a different place.

And they can fail anyhow at a later date, or only show at certain ISOs.

I really think the OP should just learn to live with it - Lightroom 2 and most other raw convertors will map them out for you anyhow.

I would keep the camera, and possibly use it as a good excuse to get it serviced just prior to the warranty expiring - that way you'll get a nice checkout, and free sensor clean / body alignment too :)
 
Two pixels out of how many million?

Seems a big fuss over nothing tbh
 
puddleduck said:
I would keep the camera, and possibly use it as a good excuse to get it serviced just prior to the warranty expiring - that way you'll get a nice checkout, and free sensor clean / body alignment too :)
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Cunning :clap:
 
Cant pixels get stuck? vaguely remember hearing something like that, try taking a pic of something bright red to see if they reset themselves(might be a load of codswallop, it been a while since i read anything bout it)
 
I'd guess a fair majority of DSLRs will have a hot pixel or two, they are nothing to worry about and easily rectified in PP either automatically or using something like the clone tool. Like has been said 2 are within the acceptable limits, you just have to live with them unless there are lots all over the sensor unfortunately.

If camera manufacturers only sold cameras with no hot pixels you can bet your arse they'll be much more expensive as the manufacturing yield will be much less. If they get fewer usable sensors on a silicon wafer then costs will shoot up and be passed onto the customer.
 
fletch5 said:
Cant pixels get stuck? vaguely remember hearing something like that, try taking a pic of something bright red to see if they reset themselves(might be a load of codswallop, it been a while since i read anything bout it)
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I think you'll find thats more to do with display panels than with imaging sensors :thumbs:
 
thanks hyakuhei, knew i had seen it somewhere
 
hyakuhei said:
I think you'll find thats more to do with display panels than with imaging sensors :thumbs:
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I'll return with a link, I have seen a method that is said to work on stuck pixels on an imaging sensor.

No link but this is the text from FM -


This worked for me on a D300 that had 3 hot pixels. I set the menu to give me immediate access to the sensor cleaning, than placed the camera in BULB mode, pushed down the shutter for at least 20 seconds, then as soon as I released the shutter immediately went into sensor cleaning mode twice in a row. Strangely enough this mapped out the dead pixels....they were flat gone and not seen again. It's worth a try. Thus far I haven't seen any dead pixels on my D700.

I have not tried this myself, but several posters on the FM thread reported it working.
 
swag72 said:
Surely I don't have to put up with it on a £850 camera? :eek:
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chilliz said:
I personally think it should be perfect.
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CSB said:
I would take it back, when I spend that much on any new item I expect it to be perfect.
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Time for a reality check, guys.

What you've bought is a piece of consumer electronics. They're designed to pretty good tolerances, but we're talking about a handful of pixels out of 15 million. In other words, 99.99995% of the pixels are working fine. Chasing that last 0.00005% out of the error rate would put the costs up astronomically.

There's only one organisation on earth, as far as I'm aware, that has taken the pursuit of Zero Defects really seriously. That's NASA. Their hardware doesn't tend to be very cheap.
 
StewartR said:
Time for a reality check, guys.

What you've bought is a piece of consumer electronics. They're designed to pretty good tolerances, but we're talking about a handful of pixels out of 15 million. In other words, 99.99995% of the pixels are working fine. Chasing that last 0.00005% out of the error rate would put the costs up astronomically.

There's only one organisation on earth, as far as I'm aware, that has taken the pursuit of Zero Defects really seriously. That's NASA. Their hardware doesn't tend to be very cheap.
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:agree:
 
Very true, still if I just bought a camera with hot pixels I have to be honest, I think I'd be petty - take it back to the shop and get them to swap it. Let someone else be the "big guy" who isn't that fussed, A new camera for most guys is something we idealize, save for and work towards, we scrimp and save and borrow to buy them.

A few hot pixels isn't going to make any difference to the photos but I can't begrudge anyone buying a new camera and wanting it to be perfect.
 
I understand your comments Stuart, I really do. I accept that there is some degree of tolerance and that for 2 pixels out of however many million, it's not exactly deal breaking.

I'd like to say that I expect perfection - But look at my photos :D - So I'll live with it and maybe look at a service just before waranty:thumbs:
 
It's normal, I don't think I've ever had a new camera out of the box without at least a couple of hot pixels, and I've had a lot of cameras ...

They make no difference to the printed image.
 
StewartR said:
Time for a reality check, guys.

What you've bought is a piece of consumer electronics. They're designed to pretty good tolerances, but we're talking about a handful of pixels out of 15 million. In other words, 99.99995% of the pixels are working fine. Chasing that last 0.00005% out of the error rate would put the costs up astronomically.

There's only one organisation on earth, as far as I'm aware, that has taken the pursuit of Zero Defects really seriously. That's NASA. Their hardware doesn't tend to be very cheap.
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True, but say you paid the best part of a grand for a new body only to find hot pixels on the sensor within the first 28days of purchase, would you take it back and exchange for another one?

I had 1 hot pixel on my D300 when I bought it. It didn't affect my photos but given that I was well within my rights to exchange it for one that may be perfect I did and I got it no questions asked. I knew I probably regret not doing it when I come to sell my D300 one day.

Its a bit like saying if you bought a new lens that had scratches on the front element, would you take it back given that it doesn't really affect your photos? I know I certainly would!
 
SuperCNJ said:
True, but say you paid the best part of a grand for a new body only to find hot pixels on the sensor within the first 28days of purchase, would you take it back and exchange for another one?
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Due to the noted tolerances in manufacture, most places will not let you return or exchange an item if dead/hot pixels are the only reason. Where did you exchange yours?
 
Syx said:
Due to the noted tolerances in manufacture, most places will not let you return or exchange an item if dead/hot pixels are the only reason. Where did you exchange yours?
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Dixons. I think its at the discrepancy of the store manager or if the fault is something that is deemed "reasonable".
 
Gutted, none of the DGL group seem to be stocking much by way of DSLRs at the moment.
 
I do!
The "DGL group" is what I'm currently configuring at work. :bonk::lol:
 
A few hot pixels add a little colour to my lifeless, colourless photography. :lol:
 
StewartR said:
There's only one organisation on earth, as far as I'm aware, that has taken the pursuit of Zero Defects really seriously. That's NASA. Their hardware doesn't tend to be very cheap.
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:D

You forgot Carslberg!

Carlsberg don't make DSLRs, but if they did.....
 
I don't think manufacturers warranty cover dead sensor pixels or indeed blown pixels on your DSLR's LCD screen at the back.

I think DPP can clone out the blown pixels but it is pretty confusing, I have a couple of blown pixels on my 40D and hardly ever notice them in pictures. If they do show up I give em a quick clone stamp in photoshop.

To be blunt, don't worry about it. If you are getting to a point where a couple of dead pixels out of 15 million is cause for concern I woudln't even take my camera out of the box for fear of dropping it or getting a drop of rain on it.

Put it in perspective, don't worry about it.
 
foodpoison said:
...they'd make Canons
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Choose your post content:

1) Would Canon not have something to say about that?

2) I'm sure I'd prefer a camera that I shoot, not that shoots me.

:coat:
 
Sorry, Syx, you've confused me (granted, it's not difficult :)). To whom were you replying?
 
Syx said:
Choose your post content:

1) Would Canon not have something to say about that?

2) I'm sure I'd prefer a camera that I shoot, not that shoots me.

:coat:
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1) They'd have their arm round Carlsberg probably singing or something :)

2) When you're a good photographer you let the camera do the work :)

(I would just like to highlight that #2 does NOT apply to me ;))
 
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