Do I have a "dead" pixel? **UPDATED**

[ColleenG]

When I view my RAW files there is a bright green dot in the same place on every picture. When I convert them to JPG it is gone and shots that I originally did in JPG don't seem to have it. I've had the camera (Canon Rebel T1i) just a month. Is it worth dealing with fixing it if it is a dead pixel?

[YesDear]

sounds to me like it could be a great big speck of dust? Do you know how to check for that?

[Gdad]

It sounds like a hot or dead pixel. On my first dslr I sent it off for dead pixels and Nikon 'mapped' them out- which means they just program the camera so that pixel is the same as the pixel next to it (not like they replace the sensor.) It got another one later and the warranty had expired so I just left it. I shoot in RAW and when I open the file CS3 it does the same thing anyway. I have a few on a few cameras now but don't really worry about them too much.

[seashoreCM]

If you go back to raw format and the offending pixel, just one in that spot, is there again, chances are it is indeed a dead pixel. The conversion to JPG, particularly if the compression ratio is high* to reduce file size, might blend away the offending pixel in some shots. A speck of dust would produce a spot several pixels wide.

For just a few dead pixels and shooting in raw format, it is usually not a big deal to patch them out with Photoshop or something like that.

*Some cameras offer a menu choice of "fine" or "superfine" that trades off between smaller file size and more precise preservation of picture detail.

Digital camera hints: http://www.cockam.com/digicam.htm

[ukcatfan]

I do not know what RAW software you are using, but on mine (Bibble) I can save the default image setting to include healing spots. I have eight hot pixels that I have mapped out myself. It leaves no trace of where they were.

[ColleenG]

sounds to me like it could be a great big speck of dust? Do you know how to check for that?

I'll have to check the manual. I've seen something about dust deletion.

[ColleenG]

I do not know what RAW software you are using, but on mine (Bibble) I can save the default image setting to include healing spots. I have eight hot pixels that I have mapped out myself. It leaves no trace of where they were.

I've just been using the software that came with the camera. The spot is in the exact same spot when I check the coordinates of it.

[ColleenG]

So I did the dust deletion thing and I still get in the same spot that green dot. Dead pixel? Should a 1 month old camera have dead pixels? I've probably taken about 2000 shots with it. Mine is the camera that started counting at 3600 something out of the box for the file numbers. I tried all the things recommended here to get the actual shutter actuatuions but none of them worked. I asked the guy at the camera shop where I got it and he really didn't have an answer. Is it worth the agrevation of going back to the shop and having it rectified? If it's not a brand new camera I'm really peeved cuz that's what I paid for. And as you all know our toys are not cheap!

[YesDear]

If it were mine and month old, i would ask for a new one.

[ukcatfan]

If it were me, I would call and schedule a time to meet with the store manager. Explain to him/her about the file count and the hot pixel then flat out ask for a replacement. In many cases being courteous but firm and direct will get you what you want. You just have to be sure to not make them defensive about the situation, so it is not a good idea to threaten them with reports to corporate, the BBB, etc. Save that tactic as a last resort to use after you have already given them a couple opportunities to make it right.

As for dealing with Canon directly, I have heard conflicting stories. Some say that it will be taken care of. Others say that they claim a certain percentage of hot/dead pixels is normal and would not be covered under warranty. It never hurts to ask them though if you get nowhere with the store.

[ColleenG]

Thanks. I'll see what the shop can do. DH is off this week so maybe I can have him go with me. He's good at handling these kind of situations. He just doesn't know any of the technical camera stuff, not that I'm any expert. I'll let you know what happens. In the meantime we are going to NYC tomorrow to take the kids to the Intrepid Sea and Air Museum. Can't wait to play there. It's such a big ship. I hope I can get a good shot of the whole ship.

[oregondaddyof2]

Awaiting the shots of the ship.... :surfweb:

[ColleenG]

I still have to process them. I'll try to get some up tonight. I haven't even looked at them yet.

[wenrob]

If it were me I'd get that camera back to where you bought it asap. It's supposedly new and you've come across two issues that seem to indicate that it's not. You're under warranty, take it back and ask for a new one. I doubt you're going to get much argument. This is just something you shouldn't hesitate about IMHO.

[ColleenG]

UPDATE So DH took my camera back to the photo shop today and told them we were NOT happy with the fact that it started counting at 3760 and had a dead pixel/hot spot/ whatever you want to call it. So they gave him a new one. This one started counting at 0001. Yeah!! BUT, it has 2 spots showing up now. One is green (as was the original camera) and the other one is red. I can't imagine it is dust straight out of the box. Even the kit lens is a new one, and it was all packaged really well. No doubting it had been taken out of the bag and bubble wrap.

Sooo, do I bring this one back to or is it normal to have these spots? Just like the other camera, I don't see them when I convert to JPG, so I assume they wouldn't show up in a print. At least a 4x6 print.

What should I do, besides scream? :scared1:

[YesDear]

i would take back immediately and take a memory card. take a picture and check for dead pixels in the store. Trust me they have a way to check!

[Kyen]

Try calling Canon directly. I haven't had a problem dealing with them

[Pea-n-Me]

I'm sorry you keep having problems.

I'd bring it back again and probably buy elsewhere. (Do you have credit card protection?)

Selling me a used camera under the guise of being a new camera would have been the kiss of death for them as far as I'm concerned. :mad:

[ColleenG]

So it is not normal to have these spots? They seem so tiny and you don't see them in JPG, but I don't want something that is defective when it is brand new.

[ukcatfan]

It is normal for them to appear over time, but not normal to have them right out of the box. I have to agree that you should get your money back. Something just does not seem right with that shop. Then you could always get a different brand like Pentax or something... :stir:

[seashoreCM]

Note that some companies (I don't know which) consider one or two dead pixels near the middle or several near the edges to be normal and they won't allow an exchange or return for that reason.

[BomaGreg]

I'm not sure about your particular model, but my Canon XSi had a dead pixel within a month or so of owning it. I stumbled upon a fix for it by doing a Google search... There are people who argue that it's not really a fix because it's not listed in any tech manuals or the camera's manual itself. All I know is that I did it, and it was gone just like advertised. I haven't had any dead pixel problems since, so it's definitely worth looking into if you get a chance.

Here's the steps for the XTi (which I think were the same ones I used for the XSi) if you want to give it a shot. Like I said, whatever it does, it certainly worked for me!

http://www.somelifeblog.com/2008/02/dead-or-hot-pixel-on-my-rebel-xti-how.html

1. Put on a lens on your camera and set your camera to take RAW+L (raw & jpeg) photos on your camera.
2. Go into a dark area and take a few photos with varying ISO and shutter speeds
, possibly even going as long as ISO 1600 with a 30 second shutter speed.
3. After you take the pictures press the menu button, the right arrow button and go to the "Tools 2" setting, far right. Now select the "Sensor cleaning" setting -- generally set to "Sensor cleaning:Auto". Click on it and select "Clean now". The sensor cleaning takes a few seconds. Wait 30 seconds.
4. Take another pictures in RAW+L (raw & jpeg), compare the pictures to those take in #2. Your hot or dead pixel should be gone.

[ColleenG]

DH called Canon this morning and they said there should not be hot spots, or dead pixels straight out of the box. So we called the camera shop and they said to bring it in and they would take care of it. Tomorrow I will stop over there and see what they have to say. So far they've been good about dealing with the problem.

[BomaGreg]

Pretty much everything I've read said that it's pretty common to have one or two right out of the box. They typically test for them, then map the areas before it ships from what I understand, and they occasionally slip by QA. But, yeah. You buy a new camera, you want it to be perfect. Especially when it's a super expensive one. :-)