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So What is Hot Pixels?

Hot pixels are the individual pixels that sensitive to light more than necessary and there are hot pixels on every CCD or CMOS. Even i didn’t notice before hot pixels were there since the first day i bought my camera, and knowing that there will be hot pixels in the sensor even if i buy the most expensive digital SLR, is what made me feel better. So if you have the same problem don’t worry you are not alone.

Before finding an article about hot pixels, i asked to a few successful photographers about their opinion about the problem after i described under which conditions Hot Pixels appear. Then i unfortunately found out none of them really know what it is and this is the main reason why i’m writing this article. Here are the answers i get;

• “They are dead pixels there’s nothing you can do with it.” <- Most disappointing answer
• “Probably there are dust on your sensor.” <- Dust appear as BLACK dots on the picture. It gets more visible if you use high f values. Certainly dust doesn’t look red or blue on your picture.
• “I never took pictures at night so i don’t know.”

These people are the photographers who took thousands of pictures during their career, so how come they didn’t see the hot pixels on their pictures? It is normal, even the hot pixels are always there on the same spot, they are not visible in many conditions. So this is why these photographers didn’t see them before (It is not their fault.)

Which Conditions Makes the Hot Pixels More Visible?

• First of all they are tiny, for that reason they are not visible enough most of the time
• High f values (narrowed aperture) (F 20)
• High ISOs (ISO 1600)
• Low-Light environment, night etc. (They are visible especially on darker backgrounds)
  
• Long Exposure Times (30 sec.)
  

Under these conditions hot pixels appear in every DSLR camera. Some sensor types have more hot pixels than others. As far as i know CMOS sensors have more Hot Spots on them than CCDs.

What Makes Hot Pixels Increase in Number?

• Heat; keep you camera away from heat.
• Radiation; I don’t think you worry about Hot Pixels and your camera in this condition. Also keep away from radiation.

How to Get Rid of Hot Pixels?

Actually, there is no way to get rid of them, so just ignore them. There are multiple software solutions to this problem. Use clone stamp tool of Photoshop etc. They are tiny pixels and they are gone with a simple touch. Don’t be worried because of them…

Thanks…

Thanks to Ken Rockwell for informing me about the hot pixels, and ease my worries.

We are living in a digital age and quality of digital cameras are getting better when their prices getting cheaper. If you are planning to buy a compact camera go ahead and buy a digital one because owning a compact film camera is costly and requires more effort; buying films, printing them, wait to see the pictures etc. And there are no significant differences between the pictures that you take with a compact digital camera and a compact film camera. In addition; you don’t have to buy films, you don’t have to print them (you can view them on your pc, tv etc.) and you don’t have to wait to see the pictures also you can adjust contrast, brightness, color tones (sephia, black and white) even you can add fancy backgrounds , text etc. Because of all that reasons, i believe that buying an compact digital camera will save your money and time furthermore you’ll have greater options on your pictures.

SLR Cameras (Single Lens Reflex)

Situation is a little different with the SLR cameras; however nowadays digital SLRs or D-SLRs are preferred more by photographers, film SLR cameras still have their advantages from some aspects and they are still desirable. Which one is best? It is hard to answer because; some features of D-SLRs makes them more useful and practical yet some sides of film cameras still better than D-SLRs. What are these advantages and disadvantages? Let’s see;

Advantages of Digital SLR Cameras

• They are economical; if you have a DSLR you don’t need to buy film, of course you have to buy a memory card but you can re-use it thousands of times. Also you don’t have to print your pictures to see them, you can view them on your personal computer.
• They are practical; DSLRs let you choose ISO/ASA (values that show film’s sensitivity to light) values by using their menu which means you don’t have to change films for different light conditions. You are all set by pressing couple of buttons. They immediately show you the pictures and let you delete the ones you don’t like.
• They offer greater control on your pictures; Most of the digital SLR cameras have options that let you change the contrast, sharpness, brightness, color balance etc. In addition digital pictures let you easily make necessary adjustments, changes and retouches after loading them on your computer.
• They give you more practicing chance; Since you have no film cost for every single picture you take, you can try as much as you want, until you get the right shot.

Advantages of Film SLR Cameras

• Better Quality; biggest advantage of film cameras is the quality of pictures. Films still can reach higher megapixels than even most expensive digital camera sensors (CCDs). Film is better at showing details and because of that film is better for large prints.
• They are cheaper; buying a film SLR camera will cost less to you the buying a DSLR. If you don’t have much budget and you want to start to photography, you can easily buy one.
• They are lighter.
• Feelings; if you believe that putting more effort and spending more time on your pictures make them more valuable to you, and also if waiting to see outcome of your work makes you excited and adds some magic and surprise to your work, film cameras are best for you. (This part is totally subjective, different people have different opinions about that. In my humble opinion, spending your effort and time to improve yourself in photography is much desirable than spending your time on just print and view your pictures.)

Disadvantages;

• Film camera’s advantages are disadvantages of digital cameras. Vice Versa

It is really hard to keep our lenses clean no matter how careful we are. Actually the problem is not cleaning the lens, the problem is cleaning the lens properly and without damaging the lens. Do not clean your lens with ordinary clothes; to not deform the special layer on the lens it is important to know the right cleaning tools.

Air Blower

Air blower is a simple air pump that blows air from a thin pipe. It helps you to clean the dust on lens or on sensor (if you are using Digital SLR) without touching it. There are types that have brush on them so you can also sweep the dust out of lens. But i think having blower and brush separately is better because hairs of brush will definitely reduce the air pressure, thus creating a less powerful blow. You can also use blower for the dust inside your camera so this is a useful tool, get one.

*When you are using a blower inside your camera, you may move the dust from somewhere else in your camera, directly onto your sensor. And believe me you don’t want to deal with the dust on the sensor. Dust will appear all of your pictures with high f values. It is hard to get rid off and if you scratch it , it will cost you quite much…

Wash Leather

Wash leathers are basically animal skins that are used for for cleaning and polishing. You can use them for cleaning your lens or filter. However it loses its antistatic feature after couple of uses, because there’s no chemical on wash leather. That means instead of cleaning the dust, it may carry the dust on it and leave them on your lens. So be careful with these…

Antistatic Clothes

These are like wash leathers but there are two main differences that makes them better. First antistatic clothes carries a chemical on them which prevents the dust hang on to your lens, even if there’s dust on your lens after cleaning it with antistatic cloth you can easily blow it out with air blower. The second; they don’t lose their antistatic ability as fast as wash leather does. Keep it in a bag away from dust and do not leave it under direct sun light (chemical vaporizes under direct sun light). And throw it away as it gets dirty, antistatic clothes can not be cleaned or washed.

Air Spray

Air spray are based on same principle with air blower but air spray creates much more air pressure than blower. It is basically compressed air in a can, just like a deodorant (of course it has no chemicals inside, only air). Some say it lefts stains on lens if you apply it too close, so be careful with it. It is mostly advised to use air spray for removing the dust on the body (not sensor) and rings of lens , but not directly to lens or sensor of D-SLR’s.

Lens Cleaning Liquid

Lens cleaning liquid is a special solution that removes dirt and oil (that your hand leave on lens when you touch it). Especially it is hard to get rid of oil on lens but you can do that easily with lens cleaning liquid. Apply the liquid on lens and wait for until lens dries. You can use cleaning swabs to apply it on lens or you can just use the spray lens cleaning liquid.If you are using cleaning swabs (two cotton headed straws) there are two things that you have to be careful; first try not to leave any cotton pieces on lens and second which is more important than first; check for any plastic pieces coming out of the cotton tat may scratch your lens. If you are using spray just do not spray it all over the camera (it can harm plastic parts) , use it just on lens and let lens dry.

Optical Tissue

Thin fibres for single use that have chemicals on them to clean lenses and filters. Do not use them more than once because optical tissues loses their sensitivity and chemicals on them moreover they may left some particles of fiber. Just throw them out after using once.

Lens Pen

An equipment specially designed for cleaning dust on lenses. There’s antistatic brush at one side and lens cleaning pad on the other. There’s also reservoir for chemicals inside the pen which prevents brush losing its antistatic ability. It is highly effective against dust but not so useful against oil and finger prints on the lens. When choosing a cleaning pen; try to buy ones that have soft and quality brushes.

Some Extra Tips

• Use a filter; using an UV filter will help protecting your lens and has not so much effect on your photos (but try to choose quality ones). When using a filter you will be cleaning the filter instead of your lens and as you know lenses are a lot more expensive than filters so even if you scratch the filter, you will not be sorry as much as you scratch the lens.
• Use lens caps; while you are carrying your camera inside your bag a cap will keep your lens safe and clean
• Face the camera down when changing lenses; that way you will decrease the risk of letting the dust enter inside your camera

Still if you believe that you are not experienced enough to clean your lens or sensor (especially be careful about sensor) please take your camera to authorized service of your camera’s brand. Because making a mistake may cost you a lot of money.

Note : The article above is informative, please clean your sensor or lens with your own risk. Ermany Photography is not responsible for unexpected and unwanted results of your actions (such as scratching your lens or sensor.)

*(More cleanly we are not responsible for any damage you have done to your camera, lens or any equipment you have.)