Jump to content

M8, dead pixels, dust and other nasty things


Leicamateur

Recommended Posts

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I just noticed a very bright pixel on some photos where definitely none should be, so I'm asking myself can that be a dead pixel?

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

 

You can hardly see it on this small photo but it's just to give you an idea and to see that there is a bright pixel where none should be. This bright pixel also appears on some other photos at the exact same spot.

 

On another photo I spoted something which first seemed as dirt on my computer monitor. After I tried to clean the screen with no result I realized it's coming from the M8.. again... or is it dust on the lens? Can it be? It is perfectly clean as far as I can see.

 

 

I also remember there were same sized "spots" on some other photos with a reddish colour but I deleted these already. Also some spots which shouldn't be on the photo. As I remember they appeared on dark/black backgrounds.

 

Which leaves me to believe that there is dirt on the sensor or dead pixels... on a 1 week old M8 :(

 

What are the safest / easiest methods to check if the sensor has dead pixels / dirt?

Can dead pixels be revived?

Link to post
Share on other sites

x

Well I did some 100% crops and I'm getting a little scared. On the b&w photo at 100% I can see a thin vertical line... is that a line of dead pixels? :(

 

b&w photo was ISO 1250. I can't remember what lens I used... could have been 90 cron pre asph. or CV 2.5/75... I'm not sure.

 

The sky photo was with CV 2.5/75. ISO 160.

I can't remember what aperture both were.

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

The sky shot is definitely dust on the sensor.

 

There seems to be one "hot/dead" pixel in the first shot, and maybe a line where I have shown. Pretty hard to see though.

 

I think you need to a/ clean the sensor and b/ experiment with some plain coloured backgrounds to see whether the hot pixel and line are noticeable under more even conditions.

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Link to post
Share on other sites

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I think you need to a/ clean the sensor and b/ experiment with some plain coloured backgrounds to see whether the hot pixel and line are noticeable under more even conditions.

 

Hmm... I just got the M8... shouldn't a new M8 sensor be clean? I didn't even use it a lot outsides as the weather is pretty bad at the moment. It basically has been used at home inside (the skyshot was made from the window) and the M8 is being kept in a drycabinet.

No need to say I always treat my equipment very carefully.

 

I will take some time to experiment Sunday afternoon and post the results.

Is Leica exchanging cameras with dead pixels / lines of dead pixels?

Link to post
Share on other sites

Is Leica exchanging cameras with dead pixels / lines of dead pixels?

 

I don't think they are dead (if my crude additions to your crop are correct), but they certainly aren't right.

 

Take it back, with these examples, or more if you have them, and ask for a replacement.

 

As far as the sensor dirt is concerned, this is inevitable, and easily cleaned by the user. This is not a reason to return the camera.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Guest sirvine

You should know how to clean your sensor if you're going to freak out about every tiny dot in your images. It's part of owning any digital camera. I think people can be a little too hysterical for their own good about these things.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Sirvine...

 

I'm not hysterical about every tiny dot... because it's not about a tiny dot but dust / dirt on sensor which is becoming easily visible on photos.

 

I took a series of photos on the white plain surface at ISO160 up to ISO2500 and from F2.5 up to F16.

There is LOTS of dust on the sensor which is very visible on this testphotos and is also visible on daylight photos I have taken before. I can see the dust on several other photos without enlarging them.

 

I am not new to photography and have a series of digital SLR cameras and I never ever had this kind of problem (dust on sensor). I use several DSLRs for years now, treating them normal and never had (on photos visible) dust on the sensor.

 

Now here we are.. paying a premium for a new M8 and right out of the box there is lots of dust on the sensor. Thanks Leica.

 

So I am basically complaining about getting a new camera which has a sensor with lots of dirt on it. That is not right, no matter what the camera costs.

 

As for the dead pixel thing and the line, I couldn't see the line on these test photos of the white surface. Unfortunately I don't have a plain black surface but I try to create one tomorrow with a piece of cloth.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I had the same issue with oil spots on the sensor of my new M8. You will need to clean it with wet swabs, there are quite a few posts in this forum about what to use and how to do it. It's probable that since it's new, you should be able to get the dealer to clean it for you - however there have been quite a few posts about poor 'professional' sensor cleaning experiences in this forum as well - so I prefer to do it myself.

 

People have speculated that it is shutter lubrication, and as such - there would be no way to prevent it getting onto the sensor unless Leica pre-used your shutter/camera quite a bit to work it out.

 

I cleaned mine once and I haven't really noticed the problem reoccur, however I tend to shoot with low iso and lens close to wide open, so that minimises the effect.

 

I have never noticed a bright pixel, however some people reported copper coloured spots on the sensor, which I think prompted a return - could have been a problem with the coating.

 

If there really is a bad pixel - I would definitely try to exchange the camera - there really is no way that should escape quality control imho.

 

David.

Link to post
Share on other sites

David,

 

I'll wait after I have done some test shots with a black surface. I found some other posts where people had lines of dead pixels also. I find that scary that cameras/sensors actually can pass QC like that.

 

I'll wait with the sensor cleaning, if there reall are dead pixels or lines of dead pixels I won't keep that M8.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Dust is a small problem compared to the vertical line- Do a search on this forum for "vertical liine" and you will see a number of us report the issue (as I did). The vertical line is most present at 640 iso and up but can be seen in lower iso during under exposure. Most have sent their cameras in for replacement. I tried to live it for awhile but eventually gave in and decided to get a replacement. About a month ago recieved a replacement from Leica NJ. It was a one week turnaround and I live on the opposite coast.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi,

People have speculated that it is shutter lubrication, and as such - there would be no way to prevent it getting onto the sensor
Exactly.

The first picture taken with my brand new M8 was full of dirt, as well as the second one, the fifty one, etc.

I had to clean the sensor regularly from greasy dirt. But now, with over 5000 picts on the counter, the sensor remain clean a long time. Just changing lenses is a main source of unwanted visitors.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Guest tummydoc

Does the M8 not have the facility to map out hot pixels, either automatically as other top-tier digitals, or through a menu-accesible sub-routine as does the updated Epson RD1-s?

Link to post
Share on other sites

When I got my first digital D-SLR, a Canon 1Ds, I was very stressed with all dustspots on my sensor. We tend to forget. Look through a heap of old negatives. Look at all the dust, scratches and unremovable spots. So, even with sensor dust the world is getting better.

 

What I do is that I check the sensor for dust spots by taking a few shots of a white sky at small aparture. If I can't see any the camera is OK. - There still might be some very small spots, but they will not be significant. I use only a rubber blower to remove dust. I never touch the sensor with anything. I do not use swabs or q-tips not even feathers touching the sensor (or rather the filter in front of it).

 

Then I regularly have my sensor cleaned at a Canon - or Leica, service/repairshops.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Dust is a small problem compared to the vertical line- Do a search on this forum for "vertical liine" and you will see a number of us report the issue (as I did). The vertical line is most present at 640 iso and up but can be seen in lower iso during under exposure. Most have sent their cameras in for replacement. I tried to live it for awhile but eventually gave in and decided to get a replacement. About a month ago recieved a replacement from Leica NJ. It was a one week turnaround and I live on the opposite coast.

Yes, the vertical line is a separate matter from the "sky sensor dirt," and the camera should be replaced. I had the same problem.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...