Z90 Sensor Burn-in? at DVinfo.net

Bill Ackerman · January 15th, 2018, 02:42 PM

This following is from a customer review at B&H for the Z90:

"Like all new SONY video cameras, out of the box - the sensor produces a large amount of color noise. I recommend hooking the camera to power, point it at a white wall, defocus, and leave on for a couple days. This will burn the sensor and camera in nicely, try it!"

For real? Thanks!

Cliff Totten · January 15th, 2018, 03:20 PM

Huh?.......that's weird.

Thats going to send the hour meter way up. Remember, B&H will only take a return back if it has. less than 10 hours.

Robert Young · January 15th, 2018, 05:56 PM

Wow- I've used Sony video cameras for 25 years and never seen "... out of the box, a large amount of color noise..."
Have I been missing something all these years??

Christopher Young · January 15th, 2018, 09:52 PM

What! I think this is a hang over urban myth from the old tube camera days that has been perpetuated by someone.

This takes me back to the 70s and 80s. We used to do this if we had a 'burn' on a Saticon or Plumbicon tube camera. With those cameras if you got strong direct light such as the sun or a studio light or sometimes even a hot sun reflection of a car windscreen you could get a mild burn on the tubes. Every shot after that would show a slightly darker spot or streak in the picture at the position where the burn took place.

Basically the phosphors on that burn spot had been exhausted more than the rest of the tubes surface. The solution was exactly as above. Point the camera at an evenly lit white wall in the sun for however many hours it took to erase the burn marks. Even used the big white side of an OB van for the same reason. After a few hours the rest of the tube's phosphor would burn down to the same level as the burn spot and the phosphor surfaces of the tubes became even again. Result, no more burn spot or streak. Mind you it would knock some good hours off the working life of the tubes.

Never ever heard of this on CCD and CMOS sensors though in all my time in the broadcast industry. There is a new myth every day. You wouldn't be dead for $$$s would you? You would miss all this :)

Chris Young
Sydney

January 15th, 2018, 02:42 PM	#1
Bill Ackerman Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Rio Chango, Brazil Posts: 112	Z90 Sensor Burn-in? This following is from a customer review at B&H for the Z90: "Like all new SONY video cameras, out of the box - the sensor produces a large amount of color noise. I recommend hooking the camera to power, point it at a white wall, defocus, and leave on for a couple days. This will burn the sensor and camera in nicely, try it!" For real? Thanks!

January 15th, 2018, 03:20 PM	#2
Cliff Totten Trustee Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 1,197	Re: Z90 Sensor Burn-in? Huh?.......that's weird. Thats going to send the hour meter way up. Remember, B&H will only take a return back if it has. less than 10 hours.

January 15th, 2018, 05:56 PM	#3
Robert Young Trustee Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Coronado Island Posts: 1,472	Re: Z90 Sensor Burn-in? Wow- I've used Sony video cameras for 25 years and never seen "... out of the box, a large amount of color noise..." Have I been missing something all these years?? __________________ Bob

January 15th, 2018, 09:52 PM	#4
Christopher Young Trustee Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 1,528	Re: Z90 Sensor Burn-in? What! I think this is a hang over urban myth from the old tube camera days that has been perpetuated by someone. This takes me back to the 70s and 80s. We used to do this if we had a 'burn' on a Saticon or Plumbicon tube camera. With those cameras if you got strong direct light such as the sun or a studio light or sometimes even a hot sun reflection of a car windscreen you could get a mild burn on the tubes. Every shot after that would show a slightly darker spot or streak in the picture at the position where the burn took place. Basically the phosphors on that burn spot had been exhausted more than the rest of the tubes surface. The solution was exactly as above. Point the camera at an evenly lit white wall in the sun for however many hours it took to erase the burn marks. Even used the big white side of an OB van for the same reason. After a few hours the rest of the tube's phosphor would burn down to the same level as the burn spot and the phosphor surfaces of the tubes became even again. Result, no more burn spot or streak. Mind you it would knock some good hours off the working life of the tubes. Never ever heard of this on CCD and CMOS sensors though in all my time in the broadcast industry. There is a new myth every day. You wouldn't be dead for $$$s would you? You would miss all this :) Chris Young Sydney