Dead pixels

Dean Gill · March 3rd, 2007, 04:40 AM

btw, does anyone know this service menu procedure?
this masking procedure was rather simple with my previous JVC and Panasonic cameras.
My problem is that I travel by plane with my camera and I get one or two hot pixels each time I fly accross the Atlantic. When shooting on location I'm miles away from any Sony service facility so being able to mask a hot pixel is quite essential to me. I know there are a few efficient masking software such as Digital heaven, but I'm a bit afraid this could somehow alter the overwhole picture quality.

Simon Wyndham · March 3rd, 2007, 06:19 AM

If you have problems with dead pixels, get Sony to replace the unit. I was told by one of the main Sony representatives that there is no reason at all why anyone should have to put up with a problem like this on a new unit and it should be taken care of by Silver Support etc. Black balancing is a bodge fix.

Alister Chapman · March 5th, 2007, 05:39 AM

Black balancing 3 times in a row activates the pixel masking operation and will mask any dead pixels on a Sony Pro camcorder. There is a limit to the number of pixels that can be masked, not sure how many on the XDCAM's.

Ivan Snoeckx · March 5th, 2007, 07:11 AM

How does it come that there are so many dead pixels with these XDCAM HD's? Is this because of a bad production?

Peter Newsom · March 5th, 2007, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ivan Snoeckx

How does it come that there are so many dead pixels with these XDCAM HD's? Is this because of a bad production?

I was wondering the same thing. Doesn't inspire confidence.

Matthias Koehler · March 5th, 2007, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ivan Snoeckx

How does it come that there are so many dead pixels with these XDCAM HD's? Is this because of a bad production?

This is a statistical problem. Many pixels = many problems. Quite simple.

Matthias

Dean Gill · March 5th, 2007, 03:38 PM

I'm a little bit worried. When I got my new camera three weeks ago, I immediatly noticed a hot pixel visible at 0db.
After a call to the local Sony dealer I did 3 black balances and the pixel disappeared. However, by putting the camera on the frame accumulation mode I could see the hot pixel was still there.
Pushing the accumulation to 64 frames, several pixels (8 hot pixels) were clearly visible.
2 days ago, while shooting the total moon eclipse I noticed a new star in the night sky, the hot pixel was again visible at 0db.
I tried the accumulation mode and was horrified to see more than 20 hot pixels at 64 frames.

Ivan Snoeckx · March 5th, 2007, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean Gill

I'm a little bit worried. When I got my new camera three weeks ago, I immediatly noticed a hot pixel visible at 0db.
After a call to the local Sony dealer I did 3 black balances and the pixel disappeared. However, by putting the camera on the frame accumulation mode I could see the hot pixel was still there.
Pushing the accumulation to 64 frames, several pixels (8 hot pixels) were clearly visible.
2 days ago, while shooting the total moon eclipse I noticed a new star in the night sky, the hot pixel was again visible at 0db.
I tried the accumulation mode and was horrified to see more than 20 hot pixels at 64 frames.

You are really scaring me! :-(

Do other HD cameras like DVCPRO HD and HDCAM also have these problems?

Greg Boston · March 5th, 2007, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean Gill

I'm a little bit worried. When I got my new camera three weeks ago, I immediatly noticed a hot pixel visible at 0db.
After a call to the local Sony dealer I did 3 black balances and the pixel disappeared. However, by putting the camera on the frame accumulation mode I could see the hot pixel was still there.
Pushing the accumulation to 64 frames, several pixels (8 hot pixels) were clearly visible.
2 days ago, while shooting the total moon eclipse I noticed a new star in the night sky, the hot pixel was again visible at 0db.
I tried the accumulation mode and was horrified to see more than 20 hot pixels at 64 frames.

Did you try black balancing while in frame accumulation mode? But yeah, if it came back at 0 db, you probably need to get the camera serviced or replaced.

-gb-

Dean Gill · March 5th, 2007, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Boston

Did you try black balancing while in frame accumulation mode? But yeah, if it came back at 0 db, you probably need to get the camera serviced or replaced.

-gb-

No, I didn't. Actually, today I brought the camera to the local Sony service center.
I let you know as soon as I get the camera back.

Greg Boston · March 5th, 2007, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean Gill

Actually, today I brought the camera to the local Sony service center.

I think that was a wise decision on your part, Dean. And yes, please let us know what Sony determines.

I know it's no fun having your new baby in sick bay. Mine had to go in for a shutter issue, but Sony took care of it promptly.

Best of luck,

-gb-

Nick Hiltgen · March 6th, 2007, 03:15 AM

I can't say 100% sure for dvcpro HD but I'm positive HDCAM has semilar issues, in fact I don't belive it's linked at all to the VTR device, I think that it's more linked to the Material used for ccu. I was once told CCU's are made by an organic material (I'm not really sure if that's true, or what it means even if it is) and that's why lit pixels pop up. I think though, 1920x1080x3 (chips) is something like 6 million pixels, for 20 to show up is awful but in the scheme of things it's an error rate of .00000322 to 1 which is I guess a pretty high tolerence.

Carlos Osterling · March 19th, 2007, 08:27 PM

I just purchased an XDCAM and used it for a few hours. Today I got a big monitor, and to my surprise, I found a white pixel in dark areas, not visible on the small screen monitor. Will they fix the camera? or replace it? I want this unit replaced, I don't want it back with more problems. Any suggestions? Thank you.

Dean Gill · March 20th, 2007, 02:04 AM

I had a hot pixel issue with my new F330 and Sony replaced the cam. However, when I switched the new cam on and tried it on a big full hd monitor, a red pixel was clearly visible.
I guess I'll have to live with it...

Bruce Hinton · January 9th, 2008, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alister Chapman

The pixels are not normally "dead". What you are seeing is pixels that have a higher output for a given amount of light than perhaps they should. They show up more in frame accumulation mode because the the error is accentuated by time. In normal use you wouldn't see the difference. Almost all CCD blocks will have hot pixels. Leave a camera on for a few hours and turn up the gain and your almost sure to see some. Most manufacturers only regard a pixel to be a problem when it shows up at 0db gain at a standard frame rate/shutter speed.

It is thought that taking CCD's on aircraft flying on polar routes (transatlantic for examle) can lead to increased pixel failures due to the way the earths magnetic field concentrates solar radiation and other solar matter near the poles.

Most broadcast cameras have very good pixel masking circuits that can correct for hot pixels. This isn't a Sony specific problem and affects both video and stills cameras.

I am an Engineer in Australia with large medical company that has just released a true HD (1920x 1080i) 3 CCD camera for endoscopic surgery. I have tested several heads, and have seen obvious hot pixels in approx 30% of heads. Some are so obvious that they are visible even from cold (room temp 24c). I reported this to US manufacturer who sent me production files/images for these heads. These show that all hot pixels had been masked successfully during manufacture. The correction was carried out at 50C.
Either radiation (gamma at 35000ft, or high level Xray used in Customs), or some ageing effect must be producing these hot pixels. Does anyone know mor about this serious problem?

March 5th, 2007, 05:39 AM	#18
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	Black balancing 3 times in a row activates the pixel masking operation and will mask any dead pixels on a Sony Pro camcorder. There is a limit to the number of pixels that can be masked, not sure how many on the XDCAM's. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

March 6th, 2007, 03:15 AM	#27
Nick Hiltgen Trustee Join Date: May 2003 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 1,427	I can't say 100% sure for dvcpro HD but I'm positive HDCAM has semilar issues, in fact I don't belive it's linked at all to the VTR device, I think that it's more linked to the Material used for ccu. I was once told CCU's are made by an organic material (I'm not really sure if that's true, or what it means even if it is) and that's why lit pixels pop up. I think though, 1920x1080x3 (chips) is something like 6 million pixels, for 20 to show up is awful but in the scheme of things it's an error rate of .00000322 to 1 which is I guess a pretty high tolerence. __________________ I have a dream that one day canon will release a 35mm ef to xl adapter and I'll have iris control and a 35mm dof of all my ef lenses, and it will be awesome...

March 19th, 2007, 08:27 PM	#28
Carlos Osterling Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Weston, Florida Posts: 34	Got a dead pixel too! I just purchased an XDCAM and used it for a few hours. Today I got a big monitor, and to my surprise, I found a white pixel in dark areas, not visible on the small screen monitor. Will they fix the camera? or replace it? I want this unit replaced, I don't want it back with more problems. Any suggestions? Thank you. __________________ Carlos Osterling www.cine3.com

March 3rd, 2007, 04:40 AM	#16
Dean Gill Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Geneva - Switzerland Posts: 30	btw, does anyone know this service menu procedure? this masking procedure was rather simple with my previous JVC and Panasonic cameras. My problem is that I travel by plane with my camera and I get one or two hot pixels each time I fly accross the Atlantic. When shooting on location I'm miles away from any Sony service facility so being able to mask a hot pixel is quite essential to me. I know there are a few efficient masking software such as Digital heaven, but I'm a bit afraid this could somehow alter the overwhole picture quality.

March 3rd, 2007, 06:19 AM	#17
Simon Wyndham Trustee Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Malvern UK Posts: 1,931	If you have problems with dead pixels, get Sony to replace the unit. I was told by one of the main Sony representatives that there is no reason at all why anyone should have to put up with a problem like this on a new unit and it should be taken care of by Silver Support etc. Black balancing is a bodge fix.

March 5th, 2007, 07:11 AM	#19
Ivan Snoeckx Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Belgium \| Europe Posts: 441	How does it come that there are so many dead pixels with these XDCAM HD's? Is this because of a bad production?

March 5th, 2007, 03:38 PM	#22
Dean Gill Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Geneva - Switzerland Posts: 30	I'm a little bit worried. When I got my new camera three weeks ago, I immediatly noticed a hot pixel visible at 0db. After a call to the local Sony dealer I did 3 black balances and the pixel disappeared. However, by putting the camera on the frame accumulation mode I could see the hot pixel was still there. Pushing the accumulation to 64 frames, several pixels (8 hot pixels) were clearly visible. 2 days ago, while shooting the total moon eclipse I noticed a new star in the night sky, the hot pixel was again visible at 0db. I tried the accumulation mode and was horrified to see more than 20 hot pixels at 64 frames.

March 20th, 2007, 02:04 AM	#29
Dean Gill Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Geneva - Switzerland Posts: 30	I had a hot pixel issue with my new F330 and Sony replaced the cam. However, when I switched the new cam on and tried it on a big full hd monitor, a red pixel was clearly visible. I guess I'll have to live with it...