Canon: Red Line Showing In Pics - Quick Fix?

[CoP Luv]

I have a Canon Powershot SX100 IS and it is three years old. Recently, a thin, red line began to show up on the pictures. Since this camera does not have a viewfinder, it only shows up on the LCD when previewing or on the computer when downloaded. You can only see it in indoor pictures or night shots. Anything outdoors doesn't have it.

Is there any way to fix this or know what could be causing the problem?

I am going to Europe soon and would love to take great pics and NOT have a red line through all of them.

If I needed to get a new camera because it wouldn't be worth it to get it fixed, what would you suggest? I always thought that I would get a DSLR once this one went, but I don't think I am that advanced (or would want to invest) yet.

Not looking for a simple point and shoot or anything cheap "just to get by" for this trip since I would want something a little more advanced.

Thanks!

 

[zackiedawg]

If the red line is showing up in the actual photos, and it is a straight line (usually on the vertical or horizontal), often this is a sensor issue whereby a bank of pixels are blowing out or going hot - usually from a signal failure along that particular line of the sensor. Usually, this will be a line occurring all the way across the photo, not part-ways. It can be something that appears and disappears occasionally, but once it starts, it often is there to stay. There may be another explanation, but personally I've seen this before, and it was the beginning of the end for the sensor which ended up having more problems and eventually failing. I've seen others that just never got any worse than that one dead pixel line, but it also never went away, so the end result might be the same - you don't want a red line in your photos, so you still have to scrap the camera.

Hopefully for your sake someone will come along and say 'hey, it's a different issue and can be easily fixed this way!'...but I can only say that from what I've seen of such issues, it's a sensor problem and isn't something you can reset or fix without replacing the sensor or getting a new camera.

 

[CoP Luv]

If the red line is showing up in the actual photos, and it is a straight line (usually on the vertical or horizontal), often this is a sensor issue whereby a bank of pixels are blowing out or going hot - usually from a signal failure along that particular line of the sensor. Usually, this will be a line occurring all the way across the photo, not part-ways.

Thanks for your input. When I did some initial research, the sensor propblem was what I found but I was hoping that maybe it could be something else.

The straight line is very noticeable and then toward the middle of the picture/screen, it appears to fade out or maybe just get lighter as it continues across the screen.

 

[ukcatfan]

I am with Justin on this. I think it is toast. Check out the Canon G series.

 

[GrillMouster]

I had the same problem with my old D50. A red hot pixel that bled into a perfectly straight trailing from the middle of the frame down to the edge. My camera had a warranty, so I sent it in and they replaced the sensor (and cleaned the entire camera and did a full check-up).

If your camera is 3 years old it's likely no longer covered by the manufacturer's warranty. If you have a aftermarket warranty, have it repaired. I've read accounts where pixel remapping solved the problem, but that would likely cost a few hundred dollars through Canon Service. It would be cheaper to take advantage of the Canon Loyalty Program (see 2nd post at http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/hot-deals/849344/ ).

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

Ouch. Sorry to hear about your camera. I had a PNS do this to me a few years ago. Unfortunatley that means it's dead. Fortunately it means you can go get a new camera that is probably better than the one you had.

Good luck shopping.

 

[CoP Luv]

Thanks everyone. I went to look at a few cameras today and have narrowed it down to the following:

Canon Powershot 130IS
Canon Powershot SX230
Canon Powershot SX30

Thoughts, suggestions???

 

[Frantasmic]

I am sorry for your problem and sorry that the *experts* here didn't give you the quick fix you wanted. So, I am here to save the day.


Simply, you can now use that camera exclusively for red only photographs.

Sorry to make light of your problem and that your camera bit the dust. But, I see that all your replacement choices start with "Canon" so you ought to be good with any of those.

 

[SrisonS]

Last year, there was a pretty popular web posing of something similar happening on a Canon 5D. The laser from a concert damaged their sensor.

Sorry about your camera though.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Do a google search for "Canon Loyalty Program" and call and use this one as a trade for a new one.

 

[scattycat69]

Hi
I appreciate this is an old post, but I have encountered the same problem with my camera. However my question is more to can I 'fix' the photographs as the ones I took were a trip to New York with my son and hence I am desperate to try and make good of them.
Thanks in advance

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

I appreciate this is an old post, but I have encountered the same problem with my camera. However my question is more to can I 'fix' the photographs as the ones I took were a trip to New York with my son and hence I am desperate to try and make good of them.
Thanks in advance

Many photo editing software packages have a tool to remove scratches. This would be your best bet for repairing.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Do you have one you'd maybe post to let us see what it looks like?

 

[photo_chick]

Patch, healing and clone tools in photoshop can eliminate the line. It can be tedious and time consuming if the line is significant, but I think worth doing if the images are important to you.