Stains on your K5d sensor poll

MrPetkus · 12-06-2010, 03:23 PM

Originally posted by falconeye

What is different with my K-5 (and the other images I see) is that there is a string of particles (in the upper left quadrant) which other cameras probably don't have. cf. image where I marked the stain positions in red.

That's what I've noticed with mine. A string of particles running horizontally near the center like so ........

janneman · 12-06-2010, 03:57 PM

Originally posted by blende8

One mini spot 10 x 10 pixels. Unremovable with Isoprop.
I do not consider this a problem.

But it is, it is four times larger than the K-5 shutter blur. 3 times that of K-7

janneman · 12-06-2010, 04:18 PM

382xxxx - yes
3820670 - no
3820688 - yes
3820888 - yes
38226xx - yes
3822724 - yes
3822871 - yes
3823812 - no
3823850 - no
3823862 - no
3823875 - yes
3823936 - no
3823993 - yes
3825xxx - yes
3827069 - yes
3828xxx - no
3830xxx - yes
3836407 - no
3839502 - yes
3842*** - yes
3842409 - yes
3842568 - yes
3849.. - yes
3849889 - no
3850... - yes ( a dot is a yes Blende)
3850011 - yes
3850025 - yes
38506xx - yes
3851607 - yes
3858324 - yes
3877*** - no
3889... - no
3889359 - yes
3890099 - yes
3894*** - no
3894706 - no
3900xxx. - no
(updated..... )

robgo2 · 12-06-2010, 04:43 PM

Originally posted by jhnpennington

Yes, but my point is that there are not many people showing that.
I very much suspect that a lot of the people voting YES simply have normal sensor dust

This is certainly a possibility, which raises an interesting question: If everyone tested their other cameras in the same way as they are now testing their K-5s, how many would find similar artifacts? The answer might be surprisingly high. I am not saying that there is not a genuine "stain" problem with some K-5s, but the actual prevalence may be far less than we are led to believe by threads such as this one.

Rob

elpolodiablo · 12-06-2010, 04:50 PM

Mine got one spot, serial 3851xxx

Bought it from Paxton's Sydney

**David** · 12-06-2010, 04:51 PM

I originally voted no, then with some additional pixel peeping the answer is definitely yes. Posted a sample image but it seems to be lost in Adam Land.

Serial No. is 3842407

Couscousdelight · 12-06-2010, 04:58 PM

It often looks like a splash on pics posted. Is is possible than it's a transparent liquid on the top of the sensor, or maybe between the AA & glasses layers. Could the liquid, be "cooked" by the heat of the sensor, then turn harsh and opaque ?

Rick Clark · 12-06-2010, 05:01 PM

Yes mine was stained in one spot at 7:O'Clock could not see untill f22 or higher.

ve2vfd · 12-06-2010, 05:20 PM

Originally posted by jhnpennington

I very much suspect that a lot of the people voting YES simply have normal sensor dust

Sorry, but we're not all newbs...

I can confirm like many others that the so called "dust" doesn't go away after a wet cleaning. If you check out the threads I quoted in the original post you'll see that some people have even had their sensor professionally cleaned to no avail.

Besides dust most often looks like dark spots whereas these stains look like clusters or strings of "cells".

I'm also surprised by the high numbers, but not THAT surprised...

Pat

fccwpe · 12-06-2010, 05:22 PM

No visible spots at f11 and ISO 160. Serial 385**** bought from Amazon last week.

Col · 12-06-2010, 05:25 PM

Originally posted by MrPetkus

That's what I've noticed with mine. A string of particles running horizontally near the center like so ........

Originally posted by allantois

Mine has a small row of marks similar to others which show up at high f values. There is a blemish on the sensor which is visible to the naked eye.
Obviously my concerns are that it might get worse and that if I wanted to sell it in a year or so the used value would be badly dented.

Serial number 38226xx

I bought it at the end of October from SRS Microsystems in UK They are a pentax dealer. I 'phoned today and they are waiting from a response from Japan. It seems that the problem has been acknowledged as a 'known issue' and they are waiting for intructions whether to replace or repair.

Very glad I bought from SRS. It is clear that customer satisfaction is very important to them.

Allan

My camera is showing a similar pattern, first UK batch s/n: 3820665
Also bought from SRS so I would appreciate being kept up to date as to the SRS position Allan.

Stretches about 1/5th of the sensor's width.

Oh and I've not used movie mode.

dgaies · 12-06-2010, 05:34 PM

It certainly appears that there are two distinct types of stains. 1) the long string of (typically) horizontal dots and 2) the single or small grouping of darker circles with a lighter outer ring (the ones that almost look like biological cells). I wonder if they are from the same contamination-source or if it's possible there were actually two different types of contamination.

iunknown · 12-06-2010, 05:58 PM

I have spent last 3 days to see whether any stains or dust on my K-5 sensor. After taking more than 25 shots (mostly at F22) with two lenses (43mm and 31mm), I found NO stains on my K-5 sensor. My serial number is 3823791. I bought the camera from my ever reliable local store (ABES OF MAINE - I live in Edison, NJ)

-iunknown

Jorge · 12-06-2010, 06:08 PM

Same problem here. I bought it at Adorama a couple of weeks ago and didn't notice anything.

I read that it could be noticeable at f/22 and, after trying it, I found a long string of dots just at the centre which is fairly visible from f/18 to f/22, and noticeable at f/14 but easily corrected on PP. I found another parallel line of dots just below this one, but it is almost unnoticeable even at f/20. I never use these apertures in real life, but as you might understand and don't feel exactly happy with them in a newly acquired 1,500$ camera.

I am looking forward to listening to Pentax on this issue. I am leaving the country next week (USA to Spain) for 4 months, so returning it to Adorama doesn't seem reasonable to me. ¿Does anyone know if the warranty is applicable overseas? ¿Has anyone experienced a similar situation to mine with International Warranty?

By the way, my serial number is: 3824126

andi · 12-06-2010, 06:09 PM

This is such a BS. Sorry guys.
First, all the sensors of all the existing cameras have stains/dust/whatever.
The highest used f stop is usually f11, nothing seen there.
And most of all, please show me those amazing photos affected by that colossal
issue because all I can see right now here is complains and BS, no pictures
what so ever. If your photography is so amazing and your absolutely perfect photos
suffer because of a few darker spots seen only at f22, please show us all
those great pictures, we'd love to see them.

View Poll Results: Is your K5d sensor stained?
YES - There are stains on my sensor	193	56.43%
NO - My sensor has no stains	149	43.57%
Voters: 342. You may not vote on this poll

12-06-2010, 04:18 PM	#63
janneman Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Netherlands Photos: Gallery Posts: 908	here we go again 382xxxx - yes 3820670 - no 3820688 - yes 3820888 - yes 38226xx - yes 3822724 - yes 3822871 - yes 3823812 - no 3823850 - no 3823862 - no 3823875 - yes 3823936 - no 3823993 - yes 3825xxx - yes 3827069 - yes 3828xxx - no 3830xxx - yes 3836407 - no 3839502 - yes 3842* - yes 3842409 - yes 3842568 - yes 3849.. - yes 3849889 - no 3850... - yes ( a dot is a yes Blende) 3850011 - yes 3850025 - yes 38506xx - yes 3851607 - yes 3858324 - yes 3877* - no 3889... - no 3889359 - yes 3890099 - yes 3894*** - no 3894706 - no 3900xxx. - no (updated..... )

12-06-2010, 04:43 PM	#64
robgo2 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Mexico Photos: Albums Posts: 1,125	How about testing some other cameras? Originally posted by jhnpennington Yes, but my point is that there are not many people showing that. I very much suspect that a lot of the people voting YES simply have normal sensor dust This is certainly a possibility, which raises an interesting question: If everyone tested their other cameras in the same way as they are now testing their K-5s, how many would find similar artifacts? The answer might be surprisingly high. I am not saying that there is not a genuine "stain" problem with some K-5s, but the actual prevalence may be far less than we are led to believe by threads such as this one. Rob

12-06-2010, 05:25 PM	#71
Col Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Stansted Essex Photos: Gallery Posts: 614	Originally posted by MrPetkus That's what I've noticed with mine. A string of particles running horizontally near the center like so ........ Originally posted by allantois Mine has a small row of marks similar to others which show up at high f values. There is a blemish on the sensor which is visible to the naked eye. Obviously my concerns are that it might get worse and that if I wanted to sell it in a year or so the used value would be badly dented. Serial number 38226xx I bought it at the end of October from SRS Microsystems in UK They are a pentax dealer. I 'phoned today and they are waiting from a response from Japan. It seems that the problem has been acknowledged as a 'known issue' and they are waiting for intructions whether to replace or repair. Very glad I bought from SRS. It is clear that customer satisfaction is very important to them. Allan My camera is showing a similar pattern, first UK batch s/n: 3820665 Also bought from SRS so I would appreciate being kept up to date as to the SRS position Allan. Stretches about 1/5th of the sensor's width. Oh and I've not used movie mode. Last edited by Col; 12-06-2010 at 05:44 PM.

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12-06-2010, 03:23 PM	#61
MrPetkus Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 387	Originally posted by falconeye What is different with my K-5 (and the other images I see) is that there is a string of particles (in the upper left quadrant) which other cameras probably don't have. cf. image where I marked the stain positions in red. That's what I've noticed with mine. A string of particles running horizontally near the center like so ........

12-06-2010, 03:57 PM	#62
janneman Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Netherlands Photos: Gallery Posts: 908	Originally posted by blende8 One mini spot 10 x 10 pixels. Unremovable with Isoprop. I do not consider this a problem. But it is, it is four times larger than the K-5 shutter blur. 3 times that of K-7

12-06-2010, 04:50 PM	#65
elpolodiablo Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,637	Mine got one spot, serial 3851xxx Bought it from Paxton's Sydney

12-06-2010, 04:51 PM	#66
David Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sandy Bay, Tasmania, Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 347	I originally voted no, then with some additional pixel peeping the answer is definitely yes. Posted a sample image but it seems to be lost in Adam Land. Serial No. is 3842407

12-06-2010, 04:58 PM	#67
Couscousdelight Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Frog-eaters country Photos: Gallery Posts: 357	It often looks like a splash on pics posted. Is is possible than it's a transparent liquid on the top of the sensor, or maybe between the AA & glasses layers. Could the liquid, be "cooked" by the heat of the sensor, then turn harsh and opaque ?

12-06-2010, 05:01 PM	#68
Rick Clark Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Provo, Utah Posts: 128	Yes mine was stained in one spot at 7:O'Clock could not see untill f22 or higher.

12-06-2010, 05:20 PM	#69
ve2vfd Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Montreal, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,433 Original Poster	Originally posted by jhnpennington I very much suspect that a lot of the people voting YES simply have normal sensor dust Sorry, but we're not all newbs... I can confirm like many others that the so called "dust" doesn't go away after a wet cleaning. If you check out the threads I quoted in the original post you'll see that some people have even had their sensor professionally cleaned to no avail. Besides dust most often looks like dark spots whereas these stains look like clusters or strings of "cells". I'm also surprised by the high numbers, but not THAT surprised... Pat

12-06-2010, 05:22 PM	#70
fccwpe Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Perris, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 380	No visible spots at f11 and ISO 160. Serial 385**** bought from Amazon last week.

12-06-2010, 05:34 PM	#72
dgaies Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Maryland / Washington DC Posts: 3,917	It certainly appears that there are two distinct types of stains. 1) the long string of (typically) horizontal dots and 2) the single or small grouping of darker circles with a lighter outer ring (the ones that almost look like biological cells). I wonder if they are from the same contamination-source or if it's possible there were actually two different types of contamination.

12-06-2010, 05:58 PM	#73
iunknown Inactive Account Join Date: May 2008 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 94	I have spent last 3 days to see whether any stains or dust on my K-5 sensor. After taking more than 25 shots (mostly at F22) with two lenses (43mm and 31mm), I found NO stains on my K-5 sensor. My serial number is 3823791. I bought the camera from my ever reliable local store (ABES OF MAINE - I live in Edison, NJ) -iunknown

12-06-2010, 06:08 PM	#74
Jorge Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 6	Same problem here. I bought it at Adorama a couple of weeks ago and didn't notice anything. I read that it could be noticeable at f/22 and, after trying it, I found a long string of dots just at the centre which is fairly visible from f/18 to f/22, and noticeable at f/14 but easily corrected on PP. I found another parallel line of dots just below this one, but it is almost unnoticeable even at f/20. I never use these apertures in real life, but as you might understand and don't feel exactly happy with them in a newly acquired 1,500$ camera. I am looking forward to listening to Pentax on this issue. I am leaving the country next week (USA to Spain) for 4 months, so returning it to Adorama doesn't seem reasonable to me. ¿Does anyone know if the warranty is applicable overseas? ¿Has anyone experienced a similar situation to mine with International Warranty? By the way, my serial number is: 3824126

12-06-2010, 06:09 PM	#75
andi Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 200	This is such a BS. Sorry guys. First, all the sensors of all the existing cameras have stains/dust/whatever. The highest used f stop is usually f11, nothing seen there. And most of all, please show me those amazing photos affected by that colossal issue because all I can see right now here is complains and BS, no pictures what so ever. If your photography is so amazing and your absolutely perfect photos suffer because of a few darker spots seen only at f22, please show us all those great pictures, we'd love to see them.