Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
12-07-2010, 07:00 AM   #1
Veteran Member
johnmflores's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Somerville, NJ
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 5,361
Real photos (not test shots) showing the "string of pearls" stains?

I'm in the market for a K-5 (or Panny GH-2, but that's another story) and want to get a sense for how the "string of pearls" stains is affecting photos.

No test shots please - there are other threads for that.

Real videos (not test videos) demonstrating the impact of the "string of pearl" stains appreciated as well.

Thanks.

12-07-2010, 07:41 AM   #2
Veteran Member




Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: SW Washington
Posts: 833
I have found a string of stains on my sensor under highly artificial testing conditions (f/22, blank surface, completely out of focus to obliterate any detail, ISO 80), but I simply cannot find any real world photo I've taken where I can even see them, even though I know exactly where to look.

At f/11 they are completely indistinguishable from normal sensor noise in all my photos, even at ISO 100 against a blue sky. Thus, I have no shots for this thread because the effect they have on my photos is 0.
12-07-2010, 07:45 AM   #3
Veteran Member
vievetrick's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Easthampton - Massachusetts - USA
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 5,183
Cannikin - I actually am happy to read this. I have been thinking about checking for the spots on my new K5 but now worried I will find them but if in real world I would never notice why should I go looking. BUT.... it is a bummer that they are there if there wether I know or not.
12-07-2010, 08:27 AM   #4
Moderator
Loyal Site Supporter
Wheatfield's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: The wheatfields of Canada
Posts: 15,902
I have spiders in my basement. I know for sure they are there.
I don't have to go look for them.
As long as they stay in the basement, I'm not too worried.
I can't believe how worked up people are getting about this.
Stuff happens. If it happened to you, there is this thing called warranty.
Get it fixed and move on.

12-07-2010, 09:06 AM   #5
Veteran Member
MrPetkus's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 387
John,
While I can easily identify the string o' pearls (SOP) it is not visible in *any* real-world shot I've taken. I suspect I would detect it under magnification in, say, an architectural shot with expanses of white walls or facade if taken at a small aperture. But I rarely shoot above f/16 due to diffraction effect.

Looking over test photos submitted by other forum members one can see cases where there is/are larger spot/s off-center frame that is/are obtrusive. IMO those are not cases illustrating the SOP and can likely be removed via home or shop wet cleaning.

My net conclusion is that, assuming the defect remains static and never worsens, I will not have issues.

What concerns me is:
1) Will the SOP worsen in time and present an issue?
2) Will the SOP lower its resale value? I can just imagine posting it for sale here and being asked about the stain. Certainly I'm not going to lie.
12-07-2010, 09:12 AM   #6
Veteran Member
MrPetkus's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 387
QuoteOriginally posted by johnmflores Quote
I'm in the market for a K-5 (or Panny GH-2, but that's another story).
As a sidebar, the GH-2 indeed looks fantastic. I'm getting it as soon as it's available. No DSLR on the market will touch it for video. And I'm guessing stills will compete at the K5/7D/7000 level. Wish it had a top LCD though.
12-07-2010, 09:15 AM   #7
Veteran Member
vievetrick's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Easthampton - Massachusetts - USA
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 5,183
QuoteOriginally posted by Wheatfield Quote
I have spiders in my basement. I know for sure they are there.
I don't have to go look for them.
As long as they stay in the basement, I'm not too worried.
I can't believe how worked up people are getting about this.
Stuff happens. If it happened to you, there is this thing called warranty.
Get it fixed and move on.
Well said

12-07-2010, 09:16 AM   #8
Junior Member




Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 27
While no "SOP" in the narrower sense, these here are supposedly stains that are impossible to get rid off. Doesn't look like dust to me either.
12-07-2010, 09:38 AM   #9
Veteran Member




Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Perth Australia
Photos: Albums
Posts: 1,514
even if you dont have spots in real world shooting conditions you should check for them and make sure you get it fixed before you warranty runs out or else your camera will be worthless 2nd hand.
12-07-2010, 09:47 AM   #10
Veteran Member
MrPetkus's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 387
That is unacceptable. I assume you're initiating a replacement?

QuoteOriginally posted by Rainer Dynszis Quote
While no "SOP" in the narrower sense, these here are supposedly stains that are impossible to get rid off. Doesn't look like dust to me either.
12-07-2010, 10:11 AM   #11
Pentaxian
panoguy's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Washington, D.C.
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 3,327
QuoteOriginally posted by WerTicus Quote
even if you dont have spots in real world shooting conditions you should check for them and make sure you get it fixed before you warranty runs out or else your camera will be worthless 2nd hand.
Since the camera will be "worthless" second hand, I offer to buy any K-5 with stains on the sensor for $1.00 US, each. Seller pays shipping.
12-07-2010, 12:29 PM   #12
Moderator
Loyal Site Supporter
Wheatfield's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: The wheatfields of Canada
Posts: 15,902
QuoteOriginally posted by panoguy Quote
Since the camera will be "worthless" second hand, I offer to buy any K-5 with stains on the sensor for $1.00 US, each. Seller pays shipping.
At some point, used DSLRs are worthless anyway. Buying a DSLR based on resale value is a fools game at best.
12-07-2010, 12:52 PM   #13
Zav
Pentaxian
Zav's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2009
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 1,371
What is this "string of pearls"?
12-07-2010, 01:03 PM   #14
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
germar's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: North Palm Beach, Florida
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 728
I think the upshot of what I'm reading here is that these K 5 "stains" are basically invisible in all practical applications of the camera. At least, no one can produce a real-world picture that shows the effect.

In other words, the whole thing is vastly overblown?

wow.
12-07-2010, 01:56 PM   #15
Veteran Member




Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: NY
Posts: 407
QuoteOriginally posted by germar Quote
I think the upshot of what I'm reading here is that these K 5 "stains" are basically invisible in all practical applications of the camera. At least, no one can produce a real-world picture that shows the effect.

In other words, the whole thing is vastly overblown?

wow.
You are right though some have reported it being visible at f11, the exception is macro photography where you tend to stop down to f22 or more in order to get better DOF. These tend to be a bit specialized in nature and the subjects tend to have a lot of contrast and detail which may mask the problem.

I am guessing if you took a light colored flower picture at these apertures they would show up.

The issue is though having spent $1500 on a camera do you expect it to have non cleanable dust sandwiched in the sensor array? I don't.
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
camera, dslr, k-5, k-5 ii, k-5 iis, k5, pentax k-5, photos, shots, stains, test, videos
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Showing "Lens" Info in EXIF Data twokatmew Digital Processing, Software, and Printing 4 02-24-2010 01:27 PM
"Test" shots with my new DA*60-250 f4 Lance B Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 15 06-18-2009 12:58 AM
Vivitar "Series1" 70-210 f/3.5 Test shots hinman Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 11 02-06-2008 09:04 PM
First "real" photos taken with the K100D seymop Post Your Photos! 2 11-28-2007 07:19 PM
String stabilizer "monopod" ve2vfd General Talk 3 10-16-2007 07:20 PM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 05:07 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top