New Pentax K-x dust? Dead Pixel? HELP!

Treefrog · 02-05-2011, 02:56 PM

Hello,
I just purchased my Pentax K-X recently online (got it in this Tueday). I'm still new to dslrs so I thought I'd try taking photos with longer shutter speeds. After shooting a few photos I realized there was a black spot in my picture that seemed to be in the same spot every time. Me being the clean freak that I am went into panic mode and tried the dust removal and cleaned the lens (with the appropriated tools). Here is some images of the spot(s). The thing I don't understand is that it's visible when I have it at a certain shutter speed and it disappears in bright light. PLEASE HELP explaining to me what I should do and if there's a fix to this. I would really like to save myself the trouble of shipping it back.

Attached Images

patolds · 02-05-2011, 03:10 PM

Originally posted by Treefrog

Hello,
I just purchased my Pentax K-X recently online (got it in this Tueday). I'm still new to dslrs so I thought I'd try taking photos with longer shutter speeds. After shooting a few photos I realized there was a black spot in my picture that seemed to be in the same spot every time. Me being the clean freak that I am went into panic mode and tried the dust removal and cleaned the lens (with the appropriated tools). Here is some images of the spot(s). The thing I don't understand is that it's visible when I have it at a certain shutter speed and it disappears in bright light. PLEASE HELP explaining to me what I should do and if there's a fix to this. I would really like to save myself the trouble of shipping it back.

Gudday mate

Got a k-x meself and had a similar problem. Try pixel mapping, you'll find instructions in the manual (page 259?) under Correcting defective pixels... in Changing Additional Settings. That did the trick for me.

Cheers Paddy

Treefrog · 02-05-2011, 03:25 PM

I apologize for not mentioning that I tried the pixel mapping as well and it didn't help. Is it possible for it to be dust on the image sensor? I just have a hard time believing it considering I've barely used it and had it under a week.

**boriscleto** · 02-05-2011, 03:36 PM

The K-x gets dust on the sensor all the time. Get yourself a Rocket Blower and try to keep the front of the camera pointed down when changing lenses.

Treefrog · 02-05-2011, 03:42 PM

Originally posted by boriscleto

The K-x gets dust on the sensor all the time. Get yourself a Rocket Blower and try to keep the front of the camera pointed down when changing lenses.

Thing is, I never switched lenses or took the kit lens off till today (after seeing the spots). So a rocket blower should do the trick or should I try getting a replacement?

**boriscleto** · 02-05-2011, 03:48 PM

I would try a Rocket Blower, or equivalent, first. You're going to need one anyway.

JeffJS · 02-05-2011, 04:05 PM

It's dust and could have come from the factory that way. It isn't that unusual, even if you've never removed the lens. Neither the lens or the camera are sealed (assuming kit lens here) and dust can get sucked into the lens body just by zooming in and out. Do as suggested and get a blower. This isn't the first or last dust you'll see.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-dslr-camera-articles/121739-those-...ml#post1259109

Treefrog · 02-05-2011, 04:19 PM

Originally posted by JeffJS

It's dust and could have come from the factory that way. It isn't that unusual, even if you've never removed the lens. Neither the lens or the camera are sealed (assuming kit lens here) and dust can get sucked into the lens body just by zooming in and out. Do as suggested and get a blower. This isn't the first or last dust you'll see.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-dslr-camera-articles/121739-those-...ml#post1259109

I'll have to look into purchasing a blower and trying it out. Thank you for that tip, I really appreciate it. Just out of curiosity, is it normal for the dust speck to be more noticeable at slower shutter speeds and disappear in bright light? Like I stated before, I'm new to dslrs.

JeffJS · 02-05-2011, 04:28 PM

Originally posted by Treefrog

I'll have to look into purchasing a blower and trying it out. Thank you for that tip, I really appreciate it. Just out of curiosity, is it normal for the dust speck to be more noticeable at slower shutter speeds and disappear in bright light? Like I stated before, I'm new to dslrs.

Read the article I linked for you. Basically, the more stopped down your lens is (f16,f22, etc), the more likely you will be to see the dust. Since the dust is on the sensor screen, I've never quite understood why that is but it is. The only thing I can think of is the wider apertures basically drown out the dust making it less evident. Slow shutter speeds May make it more prevalent looking because Dust is not prone to camera shake. That is, when the camera moves with respect to your photo, so too does the dust. There of course will be some circumstances where you don't see it at all but in my experience, it doesn't just go away. It may Move slightly from photo to photo but as you've discovered, even that doesn't happen often.

Try running the dust shaker several times, checking in between each and see if it moves or disappears. If it Moves, the blower will definitely take care of it. It's a sad simple fact of dSLR life that no matter how careful we are, we must learn to deal with this minor inconvenience.

SpecialK · 02-05-2011, 06:11 PM

It will not be replaced for those isolated specks. Most manufacturer's have some minimum number of separate pixels or a clump of 3.

Tommot1965 · 02-05-2011, 06:23 PM

looks like dust to me..

Treefrog · 02-05-2011, 09:10 PM

Originally posted by SpecialK

It will not be replaced for those isolated specks. Most manufacturer's have some minimum number of separate pixels or a clump of 3.

Being new to dslrs, I didn't know that the sensor would come dusty out of the box. I'm used to new items that I purchase to be in perfect condition so this is a first for me. I'm going to order the rocket blaster but should that be enough? I'm reading articles and watching videos that state that brushes and such are needed to get a good cleaning and the rocket blaster is just the first step in the cleaning process.

JeffJS · 02-05-2011, 09:21 PM

Get the blower first and then worry about touch the sensor solutions when it's needed. The sensors are getting better and better at not holding dust of this type so unless you spit on the sensor, let rain get in there, it gets infested with sticky pollen, etc, you should be good to go with the blower.

KxBlaze · 02-06-2011, 01:06 PM

Looks like dust to me. Before you assume the worst you have to rule out the simple. Start with a rocket blower and go from there.

02-05-2011, 02:56 PM	#1
Treefrog Inactive Account Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 5	New Pentax K-x dust? Dead Pixel? HELP! Hello, I just purchased my Pentax K-X recently online (got it in this Tueday). I'm still new to dslrs so I thought I'd try taking photos with longer shutter speeds. After shooting a few photos I realized there was a black spot in my picture that seemed to be in the same spot every time. Me being the clean freak that I am went into panic mode and tried the dust removal and cleaned the lens (with the appropriated tools). Here is some images of the spot(s). The thing I don't understand is that it's visible when I have it at a certain shutter speed and it disappears in bright light. PLEASE HELP explaining to me what I should do and if there's a fix to this. I would really like to save myself the trouble of shipping it back. Attached Images

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
dead pixel on kx	mustangjoey	Pentax DSLR Discussion	7	01-13-2011 11:36 AM
Dead pixel on the Sensor?	zheric	Pentax DSLR Discussion	8	01-11-2011 10:14 AM
New Pentax K7 - Dead pixel in video	dutch	Video Recording and Processing	3	03-16-2010 03:47 PM
What counts as a dead pixel?	KansasHorizons.com	Pentax DSLR Discussion	7	03-11-2010 01:27 PM
Dead Pixel on *istD	Zarkon	Pentax DSLR Discussion	2	05-24-2009 08:50 PM

02-05-2011, 03:10 PM	#2
patolds Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Macedon Ranges, Victoria Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 300	Originally posted by Treefrog Hello, I just purchased my Pentax K-X recently online (got it in this Tueday). I'm still new to dslrs so I thought I'd try taking photos with longer shutter speeds. After shooting a few photos I realized there was a black spot in my picture that seemed to be in the same spot every time. Me being the clean freak that I am went into panic mode and tried the dust removal and cleaned the lens (with the appropriated tools). Here is some images of the spot(s). The thing I don't understand is that it's visible when I have it at a certain shutter speed and it disappears in bright light. PLEASE HELP explaining to me what I should do and if there's a fix to this. I would really like to save myself the trouble of shipping it back. Gudday mate Got a k-x meself and had a similar problem. Try pixel mapping, you'll find instructions in the manual (page 259?) under Correcting defective pixels... in Changing Additional Settings. That did the trick for me. Cheers Paddy

02-05-2011, 03:25 PM	#3
Treefrog Inactive Account Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 5 Original Poster	I apologize for not mentioning that I tried the pixel mapping as well and it didn't help. Is it possible for it to be dust on the image sensor? I just have a hard time believing it considering I've barely used it and had it under a week.

02-05-2011, 03:36 PM	#4
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,477	The K-x gets dust on the sensor all the time. Get yourself a Rocket Blower and try to keep the front of the camera pointed down when changing lenses.

02-05-2011, 03:42 PM	#5
Treefrog Inactive Account Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 5 Original Poster	Originally posted by boriscleto The K-x gets dust on the sensor all the time. Get yourself a Rocket Blower and try to keep the front of the camera pointed down when changing lenses. Thing is, I never switched lenses or took the kit lens off till today (after seeing the spots). So a rocket blower should do the trick or should I try getting a replacement?

02-05-2011, 03:48 PM	#6
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,477	I would try a Rocket Blower, or equivalent, first. You're going to need one anyway.

02-05-2011, 04:05 PM	#7
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	It's dust and could have come from the factory that way. It isn't that unusual, even if you've never removed the lens. Neither the lens or the camera are sealed (assuming kit lens here) and dust can get sucked into the lens body just by zooming in and out. Do as suggested and get a blower. This isn't the first or last dust you'll see. https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-dslr-camera-articles/121739-those-...ml#post1259109

02-05-2011, 04:19 PM	#8
Treefrog Inactive Account Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 5 Original Poster	Originally posted by JeffJS It's dust and could have come from the factory that way. It isn't that unusual, even if you've never removed the lens. Neither the lens or the camera are sealed (assuming kit lens here) and dust can get sucked into the lens body just by zooming in and out. Do as suggested and get a blower. This isn't the first or last dust you'll see. https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-dslr-camera-articles/121739-those-...ml#post1259109 I'll have to look into purchasing a blower and trying it out. Thank you for that tip, I really appreciate it. Just out of curiosity, is it normal for the dust speck to be more noticeable at slower shutter speeds and disappear in bright light? Like I stated before, I'm new to dslrs.

02-05-2011, 04:28 PM	#9
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Originally posted by Treefrog I'll have to look into purchasing a blower and trying it out. Thank you for that tip, I really appreciate it. Just out of curiosity, is it normal for the dust speck to be more noticeable at slower shutter speeds and disappear in bright light? Like I stated before, I'm new to dslrs. Read the article I linked for you. Basically, the more stopped down your lens is (f16,f22, etc), the more likely you will be to see the dust. Since the dust is on the sensor screen, I've never quite understood why that is but it is. The only thing I can think of is the wider apertures basically drown out the dust making it less evident. Slow shutter speeds May make it more prevalent looking because Dust is not prone to camera shake. That is, when the camera moves with respect to your photo, so too does the dust. There of course will be some circumstances where you don't see it at all but in my experience, it doesn't just go away. It may Move slightly from photo to photo but as you've discovered, even that doesn't happen often. Try running the dust shaker several times, checking in between each and see if it moves or disappears. If it Moves, the blower will definitely take care of it. It's a sad simple fact of dSLR life that no matter how careful we are, we must learn to deal with this minor inconvenience.

02-05-2011, 06:11 PM	#10
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,482	It will not be replaced for those isolated specks. Most manufacturer's have some minimum number of separate pixels or a clump of 3.

02-05-2011, 06:23 PM	#11
Tommot1965 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Perth Western Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,026	looks like dust to me..

02-05-2011, 09:10 PM	#12
Treefrog Inactive Account Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 5 Original Poster	Originally posted by SpecialK It will not be replaced for those isolated specks. Most manufacturer's have some minimum number of separate pixels or a clump of 3. Being new to dslrs, I didn't know that the sensor would come dusty out of the box. I'm used to new items that I purchase to be in perfect condition so this is a first for me. I'm going to order the rocket blaster but should that be enough? I'm reading articles and watching videos that state that brushes and such are needed to get a good cleaning and the rocket blaster is just the first step in the cleaning process.

02-05-2011, 09:21 PM	#13
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Get the blower first and then worry about touch the sensor solutions when it's needed. The sensors are getting better and better at not holding dust of this type so unless you spit on the sensor, let rain get in there, it gets infested with sticky pollen, etc, you should be good to go with the blower.

02-06-2011, 01:06 PM	#14
KxBlaze Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: California Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,602	Looks like dust to me. Before you assume the worst you have to rule out the simple. Start with a rocket blower and go from there.