Dead/Hot Pixel test

[fpw]

I just got my new G2! I want to test it out.

I downloaded the Dead/Hot pixel tool from http://www.starzen.com/digicam/download.htm . How could I take a shot with the lens cap close? On the readme.doc comes with the download, it said "Make a lens cap shot. Close the lens with your lens cap, also make sure to close the viewfinder so no light can get into the camera."?? Please help me out!

fpw

 

[April Joy]

I believe you take the lens cap off. Turn the camera on so the lens comes out, then shut out light by putting the lens cap over the lens and take the photo.

I think you get a lens cap error when booting up because the lens can't come out.

I have yet to try it. I think I'll do that right now.

I just got my new G2! I want to test it out.
I downloaded the Dead/Hot pixel tool from
http://www.starzen.com/digicam/download.htm . How could I take a
shot with the lens cap close? On the readme.doc comes with the
download, it said "Make a lens cap shot. Close the lens with your
lens cap, also make sure to close the viewfinder so no light can
get into the camera."?? Please help me out!

fpw

 

[fpw]

Hi April,

Do I have to turn off all the light and take the pictures in the dark? I did turn the camera on and let the len came out, then putting the lens cap over the lens to take the photo in the room.

fpw

I think you get a lens cap error when booting up because the lens
can't come out.

I have yet to try it. I think I'll do that right now.

I just got my new G2! I want to test it out.
I downloaded the Dead/Hot pixel tool from
http://www.starzen.com/digicam/download.htm . How could I take a
shot with the lens cap close? On the readme.doc comes with the
download, it said "Make a lens cap shot. Close the lens with your
lens cap, also make sure to close the viewfinder so no light can
get into the camera."?? Please help me out!

fpw

 

[fpw]

It won't work! How can you take picture with the len cap cover over the lens? There are no picture and nothing showing on the display. Anyone knows what is the correct way to take the pictures for testing dead/hot pixel?

fpw

I think you get a lens cap error when booting up because the lens
can't come out.

I have yet to try it. I think I'll do that right now.

I just got my new G2! I want to test it out.
I downloaded the Dead/Hot pixel tool from
http://www.starzen.com/digicam/download.htm . How could I take a
shot with the lens cap close? On the readme.doc comes with the
download, it said "Make a lens cap shot. Close the lens with your
lens cap, also make sure to close the viewfinder so no light can
get into the camera."?? Please help me out!

fpw

 

[April Joy]

What won't work?

I take the lens cap off the camera, then I turn the camera on and set it to Tv or any setting but the movie one. I flip the LCD around and snap it to the back. I take the lens cap and set it on top of the now extended lens (it doesn't snap on, you just want to shut out all light), cover the viewfinder with my finger and SNAP take the photo.

The photo is supposed to be all black with no spots.

I read the DOC file included on the zip that you posted and I believe I took it properly.

It won't work! How can you take picture with the len cap cover
over the lens? There are no picture and nothing showing on the
display. Anyone knows what is the correct way to take the pictures
for testing dead/hot pixel?

 

[Rick64138]

I just got my new G2! I want to test it out.
I downloaded the Dead/Hot pixel tool from
http://www.starzen.com/digicam/download.htm . How could I take a
shot with the lens cap close? On the readme.doc comes with the
download, it said "Make a lens cap shot. Close the lens with your
lens cap, also make sure to close the viewfinder so no light can
get into the camera."?? Please help me out!

fpw

Just take a picture of a solid black smooth object. (I used my checkbook cover & my television exterior) Take this in the raw format with superfine compression. If you have one a white pixel will definetly stand out.

 

[fpw]

What is the difference setting on the G2 I can use for doing this test? I got 0 dead/14 hot pixel on most of the results. I turned to AV mode and then took the picture in the dark room, then turned to P mode and took the picture, then TV mode and took it. I think I didn't do it right. Do I have to set AV, TV or P mode with difference/additional ISO, shutter speed and aperture settings?

fpw

I just got my new G2! I want to test it out.
I downloaded the Dead/Hot pixel tool from
http://www.starzen.com/digicam/download.htm . How could I take a
shot with the lens cap close? On the readme.doc comes with the
download, it said "Make a lens cap shot. Close the lens with your
lens cap, also make sure to close the viewfinder so no light can
get into the camera."?? Please help me out!

fpw

Just take a picture of a solid black smooth object. (I used my
checkbook cover & my television exterior) Take this in the raw
format with superfine compression. If you have one a white pixel
will definetly stand out.

 

[Dan50177]

While checking the archives would have answered all of your questions, I will give you the skinny anyway:

Turn on cool camera (not having been used or hooked up to a charger for a couple of hours), set shutter priority to 1 sec (noice reduction kicks in at 1.3 sec), set format to RAW, set ISO to 50, go into a dark room, hold lense cap over lense, shoot picture.

After that, set ISO to 100, 200, and 400 & repeat for each one.

Now convert the images to TIFFS and run them through the Hot Pixel tester. 0 hot at 50 is expected, 0 hot at 100 is good, 0 hot at 200 is better, 0 hot at 400 is best (and rare). If you find a cluster of hot pixels (or dead pixels) that show up at every ISO, no need to get too bent out of shape. Check to see if you can see them in your day-to-day shots. If you can, then you might want to consider getting them fixed. If not, then don't sweat it. My first G2 had a cluster that I could see, even at shutter speeds as fast as 1/100th, so back it went. The one I got from Dell has 0 hot throughout all ISO's, so I am happy.

Hope this helps...

 

[fpw]

Dan,

Thank you very much!! I'll try your suggestions tonight.

fpw

While checking the archives would have answered all of your
questions, I will give you the skinny anyway:

Turn on cool camera (not having been used or hooked up to a charger
for a couple of hours), set shutter priority to 1 sec (noice
reduction kicks in at 1.3 sec), set format to RAW, set ISO to 50,
go into a dark room, hold lense cap over lense, shoot picture.

After that, set ISO to 100, 200, and 400 & repeat for each one.

Now convert the images to TIFFS and run them through the Hot Pixel
tester. 0 hot at 50 is expected, 0 hot at 100 is good, 0 hot at 200
is better, 0 hot at 400 is best (and rare). If you find a cluster
of hot pixels (or dead pixels) that show up at every ISO, no need
to get too bent out of shape. Check to see if you can see them in
your day-to-day shots. If you can, then you might want to consider
getting them fixed. If not, then don't sweat it. My first G2 had a
cluster that I could see, even at shutter speeds as fast as
1/100th, so back it went. The one I got from Dell has 0 hot
throughout all ISO's, so I am happy.

Hope this helps...

 

[fpw]

I ran the test twice. Do you think I have to return and exchange another G2?? Please advise.

First test:

ISO 50: 10 Hot 0 Dead - use Shutter Speed Priority AE Tv, Shutter Speed 1 second, Aperture Value 2.5 (automatically set for you), Flash ON
ISO 50: 13 Hot 0 Dead - use the same settings as above, Flash OFF

ISO 100: 9 Hot / 0 Dead - use Shutter Speed Priority AE Tv, Shutter Speed 1 second, Aperture Value 2.5 (automatically set for you), Flash ON and Flash OFF have the same results

ISO 200: 23 Hot / 0 Dead - use Shutter Speed Priority AE Tv, Shutter Speed 1 second, Aperture Value 2.5 (automatically set for you), Flash ON and Flash OFF have the same results

ISO 400: 127 Hot / 0 Dead - use Shutter Speed Priority AE Tv, Shutter Speed 1 second, Aperture Value 2.5 (automatically set for you), Flash ON
ISO 400: 316 Hot / 0 Dead - use the same settings as above, but Flash OFF

Second test, the camera completely cold:

ISO 50: 10 Hot 0 Dead - use Shutter Speed Priority AE Tv, Shutter Speed 1 second, Aperture Value 2.5 (automatically set for you), Flash ON
ISO 50: 13 Hot 0 Dead - use the same settings as above, Flash OFF

ISO 100: 9 Hot / 0 Dead - use Shutter Speed Priority AE Tv, Shutter Speed 1 second, Aperture Value 2.5 (automatically set for you), Flash ON
ISO 100: 14 Hot / 0 Dead - use the same settings as above, but Flash OFF

ISO 200: 18 Hot / 0 Dead - use Shutter Speed Priority AE Tv, Shutter Speed 1 second, Aperture Value 2.5 (automatically set for you), Flash ON

ISO 200: 24 Hot / 0 Dead - use Shutter Speed Priority AE Tv, Shutter Speed 1 second, Aperture Value 2.5 (automatically set for you), Flash OFF

ISO 400: 25 Hot / 0 Dead - use Shutter Speed Priority AE Tv, Shutter Speed 1 second, Aperture Value 2.5 (automatically set for you), Flash ON

ISO 400: 28 Hot / 0 Dead - use Shutter Speed Priority AE Tv, Shutter Speed 1 second, Aperture Value 2.5 (automatically set for you), Flash OFF

For the tests I set the Shutter Speed to 1 second, use Shutter Speed Priority AE Tv mode, held the lense cap on the end of the lense, and shot it in a dark room. I ran the test twice to be sure. The camera was completely cold (hadn't turned it on in a couple of hours, though it was hooked up to the charger) and I was shooting in RAW and converting to TIFF's for the test. Am I missing something, or do I need to send it back? I really like everything about it except the results of this test.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated -
fpw

While checking the archives would have answered all of your
questions, I will give you the skinny anyway:

Turn on cool camera (not having been used or hooked up to a charger
for a couple of hours), set shutter priority to 1 sec (noice
reduction kicks in at 1.3 sec), set format to RAW, set ISO to 50,
go into a dark room, hold lense cap over lense, shoot picture.

After that, set ISO to 100, 200, and 400 & repeat for each one.

Now convert the images to TIFFS and run them through the Hot Pixel
tester. 0 hot at 50 is expected, 0 hot at 100 is good, 0 hot at 200
is better, 0 hot at 400 is best (and rare). If you find a cluster
of hot pixels (or dead pixels) that show up at every ISO, no need
to get too bent out of shape. Check to see if you can see them in
your day-to-day shots. If you can, then you might want to consider
getting them fixed. If not, then don't sweat it. My first G2 had a
cluster that I could see, even at shutter speeds as fast as
1/100th, so back it went. The one I got from Dell has 0 hot
throughout all ISO's, so I am happy.

Hope this helps...

 

[cf64844]

Just follow the steps stated in the readme.doc....
1. take off the cap and turn your camera on (then the len come out)
2. turn to Tv mode

3. use the direction button, i.e. left or right arrow on the omni selector, to select the shutter speed
4. select 1/30sec
5. turn off the lights
6. softly cover the len by your cap and hope it still

7. use your thumb and other figer to cover the viewerfinder, both back and front (step 6 and 7 are to ensure no light will get into the CCD of the camera)
8. take the shot
9. repeat with 1sec, 3sec and 15sec, etc.

remember to set your image quality to RAW and convert to TIFF format using the software came with the package.

Hope this help.

Here is my question using the test program...what threshold setting should we use to test out our G2 (for both dead and hot pixel test)??? Anyone suggestion?

I just got my new G2! I want to test it out.
I downloaded the Dead/Hot pixel tool from
http://www.starzen.com/digicam/download.htm . How could I take a
shot with the lens cap close? On the readme.doc comes with the
download, it said "Make a lens cap shot. Close the lens with your
lens cap, also make sure to close the viewfinder so no light can
get into the camera."?? Please help me out!

fpw

Just take a picture of a solid black smooth object. (I used my
checkbook cover & my television exterior) Take this in the raw
format with superfine compression. If you have one a white pixel
will definetly stand out.

 

[fpw]

I ran the test twice. Do you think I have to return and exchange another G2?? Please see the results and advise.

Setup in the tool-
Threshold for hot pixels setting: 60
Threshold for dead pixels setting: 250

First test:

ISO 50: 10 Hot 0 Dead - use Shutter Speed Priority AE Tv, Shutter Speed 1 second, Aperture Value 2.5 (automatically set for you), Flash ON

ISO 50: 13 Hot 0 Dead - use the same settings as above, Flash OFF

ISO 100: 9 Hot / 0 Dead - use Shutter Speed Priority AE Tv, Shutter Speed 1 second, Aperture Value 2.5 (automatically set for you), Flash ON and Flash OFF have the same results

ISO 200: 23 Hot / 0 Dead - use Shutter Speed Priority AE Tv, Shutter Speed 1 second, Aperture Value 2.5 (automatically set for you), Flash ON and Flash OFF have the same results

ISO 400: 127 Hot / 0 Dead - use Shutter Speed Priority AE Tv, Shutter Speed 1 second, Aperture Value 2.5 (automatically set for you), Flash ON

ISO 400: 316 Hot / 0 Dead - use the same settings as above, but Flash OFF

Second test, the camera completely cold:

ISO 50: 10 Hot 0 Dead - use Shutter Speed Priority AE Tv, Shutter Speed 1 second, Aperture Value 2.5 (automatically set for you), Flash ON

ISO 50: 13 Hot 0 Dead - use the same settings as above, Flash OFF

ISO 100: 9 Hot / 0 Dead - use Shutter Speed Priority AE Tv, Shutter Speed 1 second, Aperture Value 2.5 (automatically set for you), Flash ON

ISO 100: 14 Hot / 0 Dead - use the same settings as above, but Flash OFF

ISO 200: 18 Hot / 0 Dead - use Shutter Speed Priority AE Tv, Shutter Speed 1 second, Aperture Value 2.5 (automatically set for you), Flash ON

ISO 200: 24 Hot / 0 Dead - use Shutter Speed Priority AE Tv, Shutter Speed 1 second, Aperture Value 2.5 (automatically set for you), Flash OFF

ISO 400: 25 Hot / 0 Dead - use Shutter Speed Priority AE Tv, Shutter Speed 1 second, Aperture Value 2.5 (automatically set for you), Flash ON

ISO 400: 28 Hot / 0 Dead - use Shutter Speed Priority AE Tv, Shutter Speed 1 second, Aperture Value 2.5 (automatically set for you), Flash OFF

fpw

Hope this help.

Here is my question using the test program...what threshold setting
should we use to test out our G2 (for both dead and hot pixel
test)??? Anyone suggestion?

I just got my new G2! I want to test it out.
I downloaded the Dead/Hot pixel tool from
http://www.starzen.com/digicam/download.htm . How could I take a
shot with the lens cap close? On the readme.doc comes with the
download, it said "Make a lens cap shot. Close the lens with your
lens cap, also make sure to close the viewfinder so no light can
get into the camera."?? Please help me out!

fpw

Just take a picture of a solid black smooth object. (I used my
checkbook cover & my television exterior) Take this in the raw
format with superfine compression. If you have one a white pixel
will definetly stand out.

 

[Ryu]

At least you don't have any dead pixels. I have one, in which the Dead Pixel Test program didn't notify me about but I can see it in the pictures. Maybe I'm not doing my testing right?

It's normal to have hot pixels. The higher your ISO, the more hot pixels you will get. Are you able to see the hot pixels in your photos? You may want to do a search in the forums for "hot pixels". This issue has been talked about numerous times at this site.

Setup in the tool-
Threshold for hot pixels setting: 60
Threshold for dead pixels setting: 250

First test:

ISO 50: 10 Hot 0 Dead - use Shutter Speed Priority AE Tv, Shutter
Speed 1 second, Aperture Value 2.5 (automatically set for you),
Flash ON

ISO 50: 13 Hot 0 Dead - use the same settings as above, Flash OFF

ISO 100: 9 Hot / 0 Dead - use Shutter Speed Priority AE Tv, Shutter
Speed 1 second, Aperture Value 2.5 (automatically set for you),
Flash ON and Flash OFF have the same results

ISO 200: 23 Hot / 0 Dead - use Shutter Speed Priority AE Tv,
Shutter Speed 1 second, Aperture Value 2.5 (automatically set for
you), Flash ON and Flash OFF have the same results

ISO 400: 127 Hot / 0 Dead - use Shutter Speed Priority AE Tv,
Shutter Speed 1 second, Aperture Value 2.5 (automatically set for
you), Flash ON

ISO 400: 316 Hot / 0 Dead - use the same settings as above, but
Flash OFF

Second test, the camera completely cold:

ISO 50: 10 Hot 0 Dead - use Shutter Speed Priority AE Tv, Shutter
Speed 1 second, Aperture Value 2.5 (automatically set for you),
Flash ON

ISO 50: 13 Hot 0 Dead - use the same settings as above, Flash OFF

ISO 100: 9 Hot / 0 Dead - use Shutter Speed Priority AE Tv, Shutter
Speed 1 second, Aperture Value 2.5 (automatically set for you),
Flash ON

ISO 100: 14 Hot / 0 Dead - use the same settings as above, but
Flash OFF

ISO 200: 18 Hot / 0 Dead - use Shutter Speed Priority AE Tv,
Shutter Speed 1 second, Aperture Value 2.5 (automatically set for
you), Flash ON

ISO 200: 24 Hot / 0 Dead - use Shutter Speed Priority AE Tv,
Shutter Speed 1 second, Aperture Value 2.5 (automatically set for
you), Flash OFF

ISO 400: 25 Hot / 0 Dead - use Shutter Speed Priority AE Tv,
Shutter Speed 1 second, Aperture Value 2.5 (automatically set for
you), Flash ON

ISO 400: 28 Hot / 0 Dead - use Shutter Speed Priority AE Tv,
Shutter Speed 1 second, Aperture Value 2.5 (automatically set for
you), Flash OFF

fpw

Hope this help.

Here is my question using the test program...what threshold setting
should we use to test out our G2 (for both dead and hot pixel
test)??? Anyone suggestion?

I just got my new G2! I want to test it out.
I downloaded the Dead/Hot pixel tool from
http://www.starzen.com/digicam/download.htm . How could I take a
shot with the lens cap close? On the readme.doc comes with the
download, it said "Make a lens cap shot. Close the lens with your
lens cap, also make sure to close the viewfinder so no light can
get into the camera."?? Please help me out!

fpw

Just take a picture of a solid black smooth object. (I used my
checkbook cover & my television exterior) Take this in the raw
format with superfine compression. If you have one a white pixel
will definetly stand out.

 

[ADSinger]

At least you don't have any dead pixels. I have one, in which the
Dead Pixel Test program didn't notify me about but I can see it in
the pictures. Maybe I'm not doing my testing right?

I just packed up my G2 for return to Epperson Photo. I found a cluster of nine bad pixels. The test program called them "hot", but I had them at every shutter speed, so to me that's "dead". I guess they had some luminosity so they were reported that way, they had some slight color on a black shot, but they showed up as white dot on an 8x10 print. Other than that, the camera was perfect, focus was never a problem. I'll miss it while waiting for the replacement. A plug for Epperson, I called, told 'em, they said ship it back, we'll pull another off the shelf and save it for you. They'll pay for shipping too. Nice folks.
alan.

 

[fpw]

What is the "cluster"? I ordered mine from pictureline.com. I know they will do the exchange for me. I'll call in Monday to find that out.

I am wondering how many time do we have to do the exchange until there are 0 dead/0 hot pixels from the G2 testing??

fpw

At least you don't have any dead pixels. I have one, in which the
Dead Pixel Test program didn't notify me about but I can see it in
the pictures. Maybe I'm not doing my testing right?

I just packed up my G2 for return to Epperson Photo. I found a
cluster of nine bad pixels. The test program called them "hot", but
I had them at every shutter speed, so to me that's "dead". I guess
they had some luminosity so they were reported that way, they had
some slight color on a black shot, but they showed up as white dot
on an 8x10 print. Other than that, the camera was perfect, focus
was never a problem. I'll miss it while waiting for the
replacement. A plug for Epperson, I called, told 'em, they said
ship it back, we'll pull another off the shelf and save it for you.
They'll pay for shipping too. Nice folks.
alan.