20D already has dead (white) pixel. what to do?

[Adam Hicks]

Shot 719 photos this weekend at the drag races and noticed that there is a white pixel on every one towards the upper left of the image. Perfectly clear pixel missing. What should I do? Is this considered 'acceptable' by Canon or should I have it replaced?

THanks!
Adam

[drisley]

That is definately covered under warranty.
Weather or not it's acceptable is up to you.
Personally, I wouldnt accept it. If it's easy to exchange, then definately do it. If not, or if you have to send in to Canon for warranty and wait a long time, then that will be a tougher decision.

[Adam Hicks]

Yeah that's the problem... is sending it to Canon. I use it a LOT, I've probably shot about 1,800 shots in the last 2-3 weeks, and need it for some upcoming events.

The spot didn't show up until I used a little USM action which made it very obvious on some shots. Now I can find it on any image, but it's really noticable when USM is used.

In this shot at 100% you'll see the dot right below the 'R' in racing on the blue shirt...

http://www.golilm.com/images/texasdriver/_IMG_2415.JPG

[Perfect_10]

Yeah that's the problem... is sending it to Canon. I use it a LOT, I've probably shot about 1,800 shots in the last 2-3 weeks, and need it for some upcoming events.

The spot didn't show up until I used a little USM action which made it very obvious on some shots. Now I can find it on any image, but it's really noticable when USM is used.

In this shot at 100% you'll see the dot right below the 'R' in racing on the blue shirt...
......


Trouble is .. now you know it's there it'll bug the crap out of you .. if you haven't had the camera long .. I'd want a replacement.

BTW .. nice photo.

[Andy_T]

Tough call, I feel your pain.

I would maybe rather grudgingly accept it than be without a camera for a longer time.

which shop did you buy it in? Maybe they exchange it (although I would doubt that). Can't hurt to ask, however.

You might also ask Canon if they are willing to give you a discount for it. After all, it'll cost them a lot to exchange the sensor with a new one. Might as well get a discount on your next L lens and accept the dead pixel...

Best regards,
Andy

[Adam Hicks]

Yeah I'll have to figure something out. I bought it recently (obviously!) since it's a 20D, and it's extremely minor, not even 1 second of cloning to fix, but I will fix it eventually. I think these things have a 1 year warranty? if so I'll just take care of it during the dead of winter when motorsports events have slowed down a bit.

And Perfect_10 thanks for the compliment.. I have about 719 images from this event, and had a lot of fun standing 3 ft. from these crazy beasts, everything from turbo imports to 8,500 hp drag cars. Not my normal event but it was an experiece! I have some more of these at 8.2mpixel at http://www.golilm.com/images/texasdriver if you're interested. Just about 16 random shots...

Adam

[JLS Photo]

Boy, even when you told us where it was, it took me a while to find it.

Personally, and this is just for me, I think I'd rather live with it than go without my camera. I was cameraless for 2 1/2 weeks between selling my 10D and getting the 20D--it stunk. :)

For any web posting, unless that area is perfectly clean of detail, no one will notice. For printing, I'd just clone it. If you want, make it a part of your sharpening action.

Neat picture by the way.

[robertdrake]

I had a hard time finding it Adam. Don't think most people would be able to find it without a map :) Apparently, it isn't hard for Canon to mapout dead or hot pixals, so if its troubling, you should let them do it.

[Adam Hicks]

Ok well I'll just verify the warranty period and take care of it next year when it's not as busy. I can borrow a DRebel for a little while, but boy will it be tough losing the speed and AI Servo for that period of time!

Thanks guys,
Adam

[robertdrake]

If you bought the camera on a credit card, you get an extra year of warranty service (by the card company), at least, most cards here offer that (Canada). So, you could wait two years, if you wish.

[Jon]

Canon may not consider one pixel to be outside acceptable limits. With LCD monitors, which have fewer sites than the 20D's sensor, 10-12, or a cluster of 4-6, are commonly (by the manufacturers) considered the threshold, although they may fix/replace if you make enough of a fuss over fewer.

[iof]

download the test program from here:

http://www.starzen.com/imaging/deadpixeltest.htm

and see if your problem is only one pixel. If only only one pixel is dead, maybe I could accept it, but I would not wait very long before resolving this. IMO Canon would be more willing to replace a new cam than one that is several months old.

[Andy_T]

Apparently, it isn't hard for Canon to mapout dead or hot pixals.

That sounds interesting, I haven't heard about it so far.

How does it work? Is there a logic in the camera that tells the dead pixel to take the colour of the surrounding pixels, when a picture is taken?

Then you could bring in your old Canon camera for de-dead-pixeling.
Or is it called pixel revival :lol:

Best regards,
Andy

[robertdrake]

Apparently, it isn't hard for Canon to mapout dead or hot pixals.

That sounds interesting, I haven't heard about it so far.

How does it work? Is there a logic in the camera that tells the dead pixel to take the colour of the surrounding pixels, when a picture is taken?

Then you could bring in your old Canon camera for de-dead-pixeling.
Or is it called pixel revival :lol:

Best regards,
Andy

My "understanding" is that the sensor actually has more pixels than the rated amount, so they just turn the hot or dead one off and turn on a working one. Someone told me these sensors always have hundreds of dead and hot pixels, they map them out before shipping them. Works much the same way as mapping out bad sectors on a hard drive.

[Adam Hicks]

Ok well to answer some questions and guesses... I talked to Canon support and they said that if the bad pixel was in an area that is obvious (which I suppose is subjective) that they would replace the sensor. He gave me the information and ticket number to mail the camera to Canon's repair facility in Irvine, CA to be repaired and said it would take 10-14 days for them to repair it + shipping time.

So they were willing to take care of the problem no questions asked, and I told him I'd provide the TIFF file I used to find the exact location of the bad pixel (thanks iof!) It was only one pixel, and since it's white and near the top of the screen, it would be lost in the sky on outdoor shots. I'm not too worried about it right now, but I'll probably mail it in around February or so.

Adam

[jgbeam]

I suppose it could be worse - dead center - but sooner or later that pixel is going to ruin the otherwise perfect picture (I still haven't shot mine :lol: ). Go for the new cam. If not possible, get it fixed ASAP.

Jim

[Adam Hicks]

I suppose, but it's about 1/10 of a second to clone out a single pixel. So I'm not too worried about it... maybe I could make a photoshop action that clones the pixel next to it into it. That would be cool and I could batch process my images. At least until I go get it fixed....

Adam

[drisley]

Yes, Adam, it's very easy to make an action to clone it.
That would be the best IMHO.

[rickm]

maybe I could make a photoshop action that clones the pixel next to it into it.
Adam I'd call it "Adam's Fix" and sell the action on Ebay. :D

[Adam Hicks]

hmmm sell my CS action on ebay... I'll tell you what, if someone else happens to have a dead pixel in the same location out of 8.2million+, I'll hand deliver the action on CD :)

Adam