FS7: Stuck Pixel? But not in recorded media.

T

TMHiggins

Member
Hey everyone,

Running into what looks like a stuck pixel on my viewfinder and external monitors (in the same exact spot), but it doesn't show up on my recorded media anywhere. I've tried black balancing in the camera, but it still shows up in the viewfinder and my SDI outputs. I've had my FS7 now for 4 years and it has well over 1200 hours on it so it could be something wrong, but since it doesn't show up on my recorded media I thought it seemed odd.

Just curious if anyone else has ran into a similar issue and if there was a fix.

Thanks!
 
Hard to believe that it doesn't record ?!?
Checking playback at full or expanded resolution in an NLE?
I assume you're checking it with the lens capped and stopped down fully...
In the VF and on the monitors does it get brighter/darker when you gain up or down?
Sometimes VF/monitor peaking will make it more obvious/visible as compared to looking at recording if it's not too bright.
 
I've checked it in Premiere, Catalyst Browse and even pulled a screen grab into Photoshop (with lens cap on and stopped all the way down), so I had a completely black image and expanded to the point where I could see the pixels one by one. Still nothing.

I'm stumped with it going downstream and in the viewfinder, but not in the actual media. I'll see if I can upload some images of the viewfinder and then a recorded image.

It does not get brighter or darker when I gain up or down - it remains constant.
 
Checked again - this time a little more scientific :) I put the dead spot of my VF on a corner of a picture and checked it with my Odyssey and SmallHD. The pixels of all three were barely off from one another on the picture frame. Just barely. So turns out it's just dead pixels in pretty much the same exact spot on all of my smaller monitors and VF.

Thank you!
 
Sorry, no answers here. Most of the pixel issues I've run across over the years have exhibited a brightening/darkening effect when gaining up or down a considerable amount.
One last question to better understand -- have you recorded the camera output to an external recorder? -- Of course if it's something in the output signal then the external recorder will record it.

...and yet another thought -- if you go into a different scan size (such as for Super 16) does it move?
 
Everything's all good! No pixel issue on the camera sensor after all.

It turned out that my VF, SmallHD, and Odyssey all have similar dead pixels in just about the same area. Which makes sense why nothing was showing up in recording. My AC and I were stumped when we first noticed it on a job and it looked like they were all in the same exact spot. Turns out there just the slightest bit off.

Thank you though! Appreciate it.
 
Wow 1200+ hours. I've had Sony sensors die of multiple pixel death well before that. That camera is destined for the hall of fame.
 
JCummings said:
Wow 1200+ hours. I've had Sony sensors die of multiple pixel death well before that. That camera is destined for the hall of fame.
Click to expand...

Maybe you have been a bit unlucky.. my f5 is close to 2000 hrs and Ive never had a dead pixel that Ive noticed.. but the camera regularly gives up the do APR message .. which I usually do..
 
My cameras spend a lot of time on long flights and I've been told that can cause issues over time. Flying coach seems to exacerbate the problems...
 
I can't verify whether this is true, but I've heard speculation that many pixel issues are caused by gamma radiation (from the sun) and that while in the upper atmosphere there is likely to be a higher gamma radiation level than at lower altitudes on the ground. If true, this would explain why airline travel might not be good for your sensor's health.
So much for wild speculation...
I have two clients that each own multiple Sony PDW cameras.
One of the clients keeps 4 of the cameras at their New York office and does primarily local shoots with them. Those cameras almost never need even a long black balance -- virtually no pixel issues. These cameras have been in fairly constant use for many years (I won't guess the usage hours, but it has to be well over 10,000 hours per camera -- and yes, the drive mechanisms have been replaced on most of them) -- but with no real pixel issues.
The other client has 6 cameras (same model PDW) but at least half of their jobs require airline travel with the cameras. Basically the cameras are about the same age as the other company's, though with much lower usage hours. But this company seems to be plagued constantly by bad pixel issues. One or more long black balances have become part of the normal setup process on their shoots, and occasionally that won't even take care of all the bad pixels. and one of the cameras needs to go into the shop (and occasionally actually needs a replacement sensor block.)
So based on my experience with these two companies I wouldn't rule out airline travel as being a factor...
 
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