Pixel burn out? at DVinfo.net

Will Lau · January 3rd, 2004, 12:23 AM

I just noticed a strange white dot burned into all my footage near the center of the screen. I couldn't see it with the camera's lcd but discovered it while I was editing and the footage was on a dark backgound. Looks like several pixels burnt out or something. Can this actually happen? Is the ccd screwed? Is this a replacement or a repair? Damn, I'm not very happy about this... :(

Geoff Pepos · January 3rd, 2004, 02:03 AM

Will,

I hope it's something as simple as just a tiny spot on the lens, or a filter if you were using one. If the apeture was small then the DOF would be enough to show a spot.

If not, I know that LCD makers generally have a "tolerance" for the acceptable number of "bad" pixels. I'm sure that most cameras (all brands and flavors) have at least a few and we just don't notice them amongst the compression artifacts or the stunning performances of the talent. ; )

My still digicam has a function to "map the LCD"...real meaning: it turns off the signal from the bad ones it finds. The JVC doesn't have one in our "user" menus. (But, i'm sure it's in there in the "service" menus and/or tables hidden in the depths of the camera.)

Either way, You can clean up the spot in post fairly easily especially since the spot would be in a consistant location...unlike the unfortunate spontaneous "zit" on the lead actor's nose.

be well,

G.

Will Lau · January 3rd, 2004, 02:18 AM

I looked at it closely and it's bright and very noticable. I hoped it was some dust spec or something. Now what is the ccd made of? Is it also made with the same tech as an lcd? if so I have heard about the "acceptable allowance" of burn out, but I don't know if I want to use this camera anymore. Now that I know it's there, it's gonna drive me nuts!! Does anyone know if this is a ccd thing? Can ccd's be easily repaired or replaced?

thanks!

Frank Granovski · January 3rd, 2004, 05:43 AM

Will, I'd get it repaired or replaced straight away, assuming your warranty is still active.

Lynne Whelden · January 4th, 2004, 08:08 PM

My JVC 500 camcorder has some dead pixels and they have a protocol for erasing or at least minimizing such spots. With DV resolutions the pixels have to be really wide (several in a row) to be noticeable. With HD, probably a single pixel burn-out is going to stick out like a sore thumb. Call the tech dept. or Ken Freed to find out what to do. My guess is you can get the block replaced. Good luck!!!!

Barry Green · January 4th, 2004, 11:47 PM

My friend has an HD1 and it has a dead pixel. Not on the LCD panel or viewfinder, it actually burns a constant-on green pixel right into the footage.

Stephen L. Minor · January 7th, 2004, 04:42 AM

It's called a stuck on pixel. the camera has a error correction chip thats suppose to mask errors in the image. Call JVC support, they'll have you send in the camera and realign the CCD. takes about a week.

Will Lau · January 8th, 2004, 01:05 AM

Thanks for all the info guys! Off it goes back to Japan (yeah that's where I got it from) I hope the image will look as good as a new unblemished camera, don't know if I should demand a replacement or just have them repair it.

Thanks again everyone.

January 3rd, 2004, 12:23 AM	#1
Will Lau New Boot Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Vancouver Posts: 13	Pixel burn out? I just noticed a strange white dot burned into all my footage near the center of the screen. I couldn't see it with the camera's lcd but discovered it while I was editing and the footage was on a dark backgound. Looks like several pixels burnt out or something. Can this actually happen? Is the ccd screwed? Is this a replacement or a repair? Damn, I'm not very happy about this... :(

January 3rd, 2004, 02:03 AM	#2
Geoff Pepos New Boot Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Agoura Hills, CA Posts: 19	Will, I hope it's something as simple as just a tiny spot on the lens, or a filter if you were using one. If the apeture was small then the DOF would be enough to show a spot. If not, I know that LCD makers generally have a "tolerance" for the acceptable number of "bad" pixels. I'm sure that most cameras (all brands and flavors) have at least a few and we just don't notice them amongst the compression artifacts or the stunning performances of the talent. ; ) My still digicam has a function to "map the LCD"...real meaning: it turns off the signal from the bad ones it finds. The JVC doesn't have one in our "user" menus. (But, i'm sure it's in there in the "service" menus and/or tables hidden in the depths of the camera.) Either way, You can clean up the spot in post fairly easily especially since the spot would be in a consistant location...unlike the unfortunate spontaneous "zit" on the lead actor's nose. be well, G. __________________ Geoff Pepos Rhythm Films

January 7th, 2004, 04:42 AM	#7
Stephen L. Minor Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: L.A., CA Posts: 35	It's called a stuck on pixel. the camera has a error correction chip thats suppose to mask errors in the image. Call JVC support, they'll have you send in the camera and realign the CCD. takes about a week. __________________ -S

January 3rd, 2004, 02:18 AM	#3
Will Lau New Boot Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Vancouver Posts: 13	I looked at it closely and it's bright and very noticable. I hoped it was some dust spec or something. Now what is the ccd made of? Is it also made with the same tech as an lcd? if so I have heard about the "acceptable allowance" of burn out, but I don't know if I want to use this camera anymore. Now that I know it's there, it's gonna drive me nuts!! Does anyone know if this is a ccd thing? Can ccd's be easily repaired or replaced? thanks!

January 3rd, 2004, 05:43 AM	#4
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	Will, I'd get it repaired or replaced straight away, assuming your warranty is still active.

January 4th, 2004, 08:08 PM	#5
Lynne Whelden Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: williamsport, pa Posts: 604	My JVC 500 camcorder has some dead pixels and they have a protocol for erasing or at least minimizing such spots. With DV resolutions the pixels have to be really wide (several in a row) to be noticeable. With HD, probably a single pixel burn-out is going to stick out like a sore thumb. Call the tech dept. or Ken Freed to find out what to do. My guess is you can get the block replaced. Good luck!!!!

January 4th, 2004, 11:47 PM	#6
Barry Green Barry Wan Kenobi Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,863	My friend has an HD1 and it has a dead pixel. Not on the LCD panel or viewfinder, it actually burns a constant-on green pixel right into the footage.

January 8th, 2004, 01:05 AM	#8
Will Lau New Boot Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Vancouver Posts: 13	Thanks for all the info guys! Off it goes back to Japan (yeah that's where I got it from) I hope the image will look as good as a new unblemished camera, don't know if I should demand a replacement or just have them repair it. Thanks again everyone.