Fuzzy Spot in SD450 Pictures

[klipsch41]

Hello everyone,

I'm new to this forum, but I have a couple of questions regarding my SD450. It has been taking pictures fine for the past 2 years, but suddenly this weird fuzzy dark spot has been appearing in the lower left corner of my pictures. It shows up on both the preview LCD as well as the pictures themselves. I have cleaned the lens itself, so I don't think it's something located on the lens. I've tried to use compressed air to blow air around the lens to see if there was anything like dust inside, but not sure if that actually did anything.

Below are two example pictures where you can see the spots in the lower left corner. They are just pictures against a cream colored wall in my room.

http://lh6.google.com/klipsch41spam/R9t3OB7m-BI/AAAAAAAAADU/F-BLoKRO50g/s400/IMG_0001.JPG

http://lh5.google.com/klipsch41spam/R9t3Px7m-CI/AAAAAAAAADc/dRyY0AXmitc/s400/IMG_0002.JPG

http://picasaweb.google.com/klipsch41spam/SD450SpotProblem/photo#5177863309577615394
Also on another note, I remember being able to do the panorama/photo-stich mode on my camera, but for some reason I can't locate that particular mode anymore. Anyone know where I can access this mode?

Thanks in advance !! !:D
http://picasaweb.google.com/klipsch41spam/SD450SpotProblem/photo#5177863309577615394

[Aweitzel]

id like to say dirt or dust on the sensor. But its not a slr, so im not even sure if that possibal.
if you can, ask canon. Maybe the will let you send an example and explian it better.

[JustShootin']

Like, Aweitzel, it Sure looks like dust on the sensor to me also, though that usally only happens with SLR cameras.


Gary

[Jon]

Given the DoF of a PowerShot, it could, conceivably, be on the lens.

[klipsch41]

Given the DoF of a PowerShot, it could, conceivably, be on the lens.

I thought of this as well, but I have repeatedly cleaned the lens using a lint-free microfiber cloth and glass cleaner I use to clean my glasses. I have also used KimWipes with the same glass cleaner to no avail, the fuzzy spot is still there. :confused: I have to say it's quite frustrating as I love the pictures the SD450 takes for being a Point-&-Shoot.

[Jon]

I'd be concerned it may be on the inside. Whatever it is, it's within the camera so probably unreachable to mere mortals :{)#

[klipsch41]

I'd be concerned it may be on the inside. Whatever it is, it's within the camera so probably unreachable to mere mortals :{)#

Since this is a Canon aimed forum, are there any Canon reps here that would know what steps I could take to try & get this problem solved? I think I tried to submit a query through the Canon website, but so far no response.

[Jon]

There should be a phone number on there for support. I know there is on the Canon US website, but you don't say where you are. The SD450's old enough that it's out of warranty so you'd be faced with paying for the repair. You might try getting some kind of blower and sending a few puffs of air into the lens workings to see if that shifts the spot. Service would almost certainly involve disassembly of the lens mechanism, so you'd be looking at something on the order of 2/3 the cost of a new camera.

[Old man Don]

I'm just guessing here from a background of working with military night visions but the spot looks familiar in this respect, I would suspect this to be a possible breakdown in the light sensors we referred to as 'honeycombing".
i'm not sure what the CCD composite is but alot of them are constructed on honey comb design. One single spot then surronding spots begin to lose senstivity. Did you check previous pictures to look for smaller more subtle defect in the same region? If you find this you may be witnessing the history of the honeycomb breaking down.

I'm sorry for you as as it really looks like you are probably stuck with 2 options, an expensive repair bill or forced replacement. All other above assesments and advices are so valid, it's just that there is really no do-it-yourself probability in the solutions.

Good luck!

[klipsch41]

I'm just guessing here from a background of working with military night visions but the spot looks familiar in this respect, I would suspect this to be a possible breakdown in the light sensors we referred to as 'honeycombing".
i'm not sure what the CCD composite is but alot of them are constructed on honey comb design. One single spot then surronding spots begin to lose senstivity. Did you check previous pictures to look for smaller more subtle defect in the same region? If you find this you may be witnessing the history of the honeycomb breaking down.

I'm sorry for you as as it really looks like you are probably stuck with 2 options, an expensive repair bill or forced replacement. All other above assesments and advices are so valid, it's just that there is really no do-it-yourself probability in the solutions.

Good luck!


I've checked photos that were about a week earlier from when I first noticed the spot, and I wasn't able to find any blurring or spot. I guess this started appearing during my vacation down in Florida.

Could it possibly be a grain of sand or something that got lodged in between the sensor? I did try as much as possible to avoid getting sand near my camera, but especially with all that fine sand down there, a couple of grains could have possibly gotten their way in there? The only thing I don't get is that if it was sand, wouldn't it completely block out the light? & I've shaken my camera as well, if it was sand, wouldn't it move/shift? I'm sort of confused.

I guess I am sort of looking for a new camera (a similar small point & shoot w/ IS this time :)), but being a college student, any extra expense isn't exactly what I'm looking for :confused:.

[Old man Don]

I'm sorry I don't know. Yes it could be a grain of sand lodged anywhere in the focal lengths of your lens to the image plane.
Again, not so much help as empathy for you.