Dead Pixel or Dust?

[jazztronikk]

Hi everyone,

I found this nasty bright pixel on multiple photos of mine. Also notice the blue vertical line that goes right through the pixel. In each photo the bright green pixel is located at exact same spot. Could this be a dead pixel? What does that mean in terms of my camera and what can be done to fix this?

-Andy

[Julian Thompson]

I am not an expert but as I see it that would be a dead pixel.

I think there are 2 options - one is that you have a new sensor and the other is that Leica 'map' the sensor to get rid of it. I don't fully understand this second option but if you do a search (or wait a while for someone more knowledgable!) you will learn about it.

Either way I believe your camera must go back for service.

[Venkman]

Your sensor clearly shows a line - the hot pixel is just a bonus

Contact Leica customer service by email, send this photo with it and they will arrange everything else, unless you're in the US, which would probably mean that the cam has to go through NJ first.

They will exchange the sensor and some electronical components.

[Hans Roggen]

Originally Posted by Venkman

Your sensor clearly shows a line - the hot pixel is just a bonus

Contact Leica customer service by email, send this photo with it and they will arrange everything else, unless you're in the US, which would probably mean that the cam has to go through NJ first.

They will exchange the sensor and some electronical components.

Do they do this free of charge?

[mboerma]

Originally Posted by Hans Roggen

Do they do this free of charge?

They did in my case. Fast and quick service. Pickup and delivery at my home in Amsterdam. Search for "Darn line" and you'll find an extensive thread about this.

[LeicaMSeattle]

You have a pixel that is confused in the areas of underexposure. They will fluoresce either green, blue, or red under low light conditions when the camera is set to ISO 640 and greater. The white line is a writing error stemming from the pixel. I just experienced this again recently without the white line, since having Leica replaced the sensor earlier this year. Be sure to include files of your photographs when you return your camera so that the technicians can do an analysis of your camera's sensor.
They replaced the sensor on my camera which was out of warranty at no charge.

[sfokevin]

Originally Posted by LeicaMSeattle

You have a pixel that is confused in the areas of underexposure. They will fluoresce either green, blue, or red under low light conditions when the camera is set to ISO 640 and greater. The white line is a writing error stemming from the pixel. I just experienced this again recently without the white line, since having Leica replaced the sensor earlier this year. Be sure to include files of your photographs when you return your camera so that the technicians can do an analysis of your camera's sensor.
They replaced the sensor on my camera which was out of warranty at no charge.

Do you possibly work in Seattle for Microsoft Tech Support?... "You have a pixel that is confused"...

[LeicaMSeattle]

Originally Posted by sfokevin

Do you possibly work in Seattle for Microsoft Tech Support?... "You have a pixel that is confused"...

No, I don't work for Microsoft, but I have had extensive conversations with Mark Brady at Leica in N.J. and this is pretty much his explanation for this occurance. They replaced the sensor on my M8 already this year. I'm afraid that the sensor is not up to the low light qualities as the sensor used in DSLRs like the D700.

[photoshutter]

It is a dead pix with line, I just received my Leica from NJ, and, yes, they replaced CCD.

[Dougg]

Does Leica USA in New Jersey change the sensor there, or is the camera sent on to Solms for this? And how long does this repair generally take?

I had the vertical "blue line" problem but without the hot pixel, sent it through my dealer to NJ about a month ago, along with a CD with a couple of DNG samples of the line, and a 100%-scale cropped TIFF with orange arrows indicating the position of the line.

[jaapv]

It happens to all sensors, Leica is not immune. The Digilux 3 has an inbuilt sensor mapping facility. If you want to use the camera for a while before having it fixed, use this software to map the image in your computer: Pixel Fixer | Hot pixel removal utliity
It will also extract jpg files from the DNG. Practical if you forgot to go DNG+JPG when shooting.

[delander]

Originally Posted by jaapv

It happens to all sensors, Leica is not immune. The Digilux 3 has an inbuilt sensor mapping facility. If you want to use the camera for a while before having it fixed, use this software to map the image in your computer: Pixel Fixer | Hot pixel removal utliity
It will also extract jpg files from the DNG. Practical if you forgot to go DNG+JPG when shooting.

Hi Jaap, have you used this?

Jeff

[sfokevin]

If you regularly use Lightroom - It seems that you could create a Preset of the spot removal tool to correct the dead pixel...

[gwelland]

Btw, I've found that LR will often de-mosaic out some hot pixels when it renders a 100% preview. I don't have any with my M8 but I do have one on my D3x and LR removes it (Nikon Capture NX does not).

Just a thought ...

[khiromu]

I have one hot pixel, but the software (capture one) automatically removes it when I develop DNG to JPG. That doesn't mean the problem is solved, but at least I don't see it on my final output.

[jaapv]

Originally Posted by delander

Hi Jaap, have you used this?

Jeff

I have it on my computer,Jeff, but I had no cause to try it out yet

[Venkman]

Originally Posted by Dougg

Does Leica USA in New Jersey change the sensor there, or is the camera sent on to Solms for this? And how long does this repair generally take?

All questions that Leica themselves can answer best.

[Dougg]

Well, with the passage of a little time, answers have appeared... My dealer, PopFlash, sent my M8 to Leica USA on June 4, and received it back on July 3. The sensor had been replaced and two upgrades were applied; shutter and frameline mask, apparently all done in New Jersey. I hope to see it tomorrow and get reacquainted.