balso Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 Hi everybody! I have just bought a GH4 and noticed some sensor spots (they are more distinct by f22 and they gradually fade away until they vanish at about f11). They look like dust spots but they aren't since they remain at the same positions and they won't go away with a blower or sensor cleaning. I guess it's not a big deal but I'm wondering if anybody else has come across sth like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy lee Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 when you stop down to f22 you get internal reflections in the lens and ghosting of the apperture , this can look worse if there is dirt on the sensor too. I get similar spots if I stop down to f22 OR you could have dead pixels on the sensor - I had to return my first Panasonic g6 as it had dead pixels straight out the box - this was more noticeable when stopped down to f22 so zoom in on your image if the spots are square then its dead pixels if they are dark blobs its apperture ghosting at f22 - this happens even on very expansive lens SO outside use heavy NDS - I stack Tiffen NDs up to ND 24 in bright daylight so I keep a narrow DOF lens dont work at their best at f22 so avoid f22 ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balso Posted June 6, 2014 Author Share Posted June 6, 2014 Thanks, Andy. They are round so I guess they are not dead pixels. It's good to know. I don't normally shoot at f22 but, as I said earlier, it takes them all the way to f11 to completely vanish. I've just found out that some people used to have the exact same problem with the GM1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian Posted June 7, 2014 Share Posted June 7, 2014 Even at f/11 you are already beyond the diffraction limit of the GH4 sensor (and you have a f/22 DOF equivalent at f/11). I'd avoid going higher than f/8. The DOF is already very big by then and you'll be loosing sharpness due to diffraction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balso Posted June 8, 2014 Author Share Posted June 8, 2014 Guys, thanks for your time and feedback but what I am actually asking is whether this is normal behavior from the sensor or not. If it isn't and such dark blobs do not appear in other GH4s between f22 and f11 then perhaps I should better replace the camera. I haven't noticed them in other occasions, only in clear skies but since I'm shooting a lot of yachts and horizons it might become a problem for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy lee Posted June 8, 2014 Share Posted June 8, 2014 if you are not happy just send it back for a new one - I had to return my G6 with dead pixels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavemandude Posted June 15, 2014 Share Posted June 15, 2014 I have 4 spots on my GH4 that won't go away. I was using it with the aperture on auto and shooting video so I don't know what the aperture setting was. Swapped lenses out and the spots were still there. Used my GH2 in same shooting situation using the same lens and no spots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Southcote-Want Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 I have the same problem. (See the pic) Really irritating. It's not the lens because I have changed out the lenses and it's still there. I contacted Panasonic/Lumix to ask what to do. They had this to say. " Thank you for your inquiry. We regret hearing that your product is not operating properly. Based on the information you have provided, we recommend the product be sent to our Customer Service Center in McAllen Texas. In accordance with the warranty, the product will be replaced with a reconditioned model. If out of warranty then a fee will apply. Please send a copy of the original sales receipt (if under 1 year warranty) along with a letter to explain the problem. Also include your contact information and the camera with all accessories that came with the camera except any carrying cases and SD cards to:Panasonic Customer Service Center4900 George McVay Dr.Suite B Door #12McAllen, TX 78503For more information on any applicable fees please contact the Panasonic Customer Call Center at 1 (800) 211 7262. Our hours of operation are Monday thru Friday 9 A.M. to 9 P.M. and Saturday ? Sunday 10 A.M. to 7 P.M. Eastern Standard Time. We hope this information is helpful to you. Thank you for contacting Panasonic. " This is kind of BS because I don't want a refurbished one... I have only had it for a few weeks. If I wanted a refurbished GH4, I would purchase one. But I wanted a new one so I forked over 1700 + lens!!! I'm going to try to take it back to the camera store where I purchased it hopefully they can swap me for a new one. Don't get me wrong, I love the camera... but so far the customer support hasn't been very good. Maybe quality control isn't what it use to be. Maybe I'm over reacting? I don't know. Hopefully, Panasonic/Lumix will get this fixed or figure out a way to illiminate this from happening. I have read a few forums where people had similar issues with their GH3. Good luck to anyone who has the same problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dahlfors Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Have you guys tried different lenses? I've had similar smudges turning up on shots - and it's always been some minor dirt on lenses when the smudges look like that. (spots on sensor have been smaller, sharper dots) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeys Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 It's a dust spot alright. Fact of life. Try using a blower on the sensor and see if you dislodge it. There is no way to prevent this from totally happening, short of buying a fixed lens camera with minimal moving parts. Take care when changing lenses: Don't face them upwards, don't take too long, and always shield with your body against wind blowing at the camera. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavemandude Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 It's not a dust spot, that would have been easy to fix. Sensor cleaning function in the camera doesn't help either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunyata Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Could you record at a high iso against something very low light w/o any lens on at all to confirm? We're isolating the fpn noise with the BMPC by recording with the cap on at 600 ASA, but it takes about 150 frames averaged to isolate the pattern. Some dead pixels - or way off - always show up too. At the end of the video you can see the single pixel spots: http://vimeo.com/97086596 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeys Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 It's not a dust spot, that would have been easy to fix. Sensor cleaning function in the camera doesn't help either. I was commenting on Nick's problem, since he had a picture to show... you're right that different spots can mean different things, but his from my experience looked like a dust spot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavemandude Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Mine looks exactly like his but I have 4 spots. Pixel refresh function didn't help either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunyata Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Seems like an obvious suggestion but have you tried dustbusting the sensor, physically? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavemandude Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Yep, didn't help. What about sensor brushes, are they safe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael1 Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 When you guys see these spots are they always in the same location, even after changing lenses? Michael Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavemandude Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Yep, different lenses same spots. I just ordered a wet cleaning sensor kit so I'll see how that goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeys Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 Yep, didn't help. What about sensor brushes, are they safe? Yes, but effectiveness varies. What did you get in the end? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavemandude Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 Photographic Solutions Sensor Swab Type 2 (12-Pack) http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/242758-REG/Photographic_Solutions_SS2BOX_Sensor_Swab_Type_2.html Eclipse Cleaning System Solution by Photographic Solutions http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001F1Q8ZY/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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