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DPChallenge Forums >> General Discussion >> Did I fry my camera?
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 05/25/2005 06:33:21 PM · #1
My camera worked fine yesterday for the Granular challenge. The last pictures I took were OK.

Today it rained and was extremely humid. This was probably really stupid, but I put it in a baggie and went outside because there's this grasshopper that I've been wanting to photograph. When I processed the images I noticed the horizontal lines. They are worse on some (possibly the later ones). The camera also seemed very warm after I used it. Did the humidity or temperature difference from inside to outside killy my camera?

Can anyone offer me hope for saving this thing?

See pictures for the lines I described.

Thanks!
Roxanne

Lubber

Message edited by author 2005-05-25 18:37:31.
 05/25/2005 06:42:02 PM · #2
Roxanne, have you let the camera settle down in the house for a few hours and tried to snap a few pics?

the temp and humidity changes can have some small side affects, but usually only on the lens (some fogging or dewing) and this could cause the affect.

James
 05/25/2005 06:44:32 PM · #3
Originally posted by jab119:
Roxanne, have you let the camera settle down in the house for a few hours and tried to snap a few pics?

the temp and humidity changes can have some small side affects, but usually only on the lens (some fogging or dewing) and this could cause the affect.

James


I agree.

Oh, and great shot BTW.
 05/25/2005 06:47:13 PM · #4
It hasn't been a few hours yet. But I will definitely do that. I hope that's all it is. I'm getting hooked on these challenges and learning about photography.

How does one protect their camera when going into damp or humid environments? I live in Florida and it's either blazing sun or raining here.

Thanks again,
Roxanne
 05/25/2005 07:10:32 PM · #5
Well I don't know too much about the workings of the cameras now a days.. But after my friend dropped my last camera, I took it into best buy to see if I could exchange for a new one with my replacement plan. Told the guy I didn't know why, but the pictures were coming out not focused almost every shot.

He then said well its been really hot and humid here. This happens alot.

I live in florida too. Must have something to do with it.
 05/25/2005 07:26:03 PM · #6
I don't know too much about the workings of cameras, but if it's any help with the photos you've just taken, Neatimage seems to make those lines much less visible - at this size anyway. Maybe it will work on the full image. It does take some of the detail out of the leaves, but isn't too bad on the bug. If you try using it on selected areas only (using layers?), it may work out.

Love the photo, by the way. I've never managed anything close to that good with bugs. Must keep trying.
 05/25/2005 07:44:50 PM · #7
Perfectly gorgeous grasshopper! The lines look a bit like thermal noise to which all image sensors are susceptible. But it may just be the colors in the scene exacerbating a characteristic the camera has always had. If the problem persists after the camera cools down and dries out, then I would suspect the latter. Photograph a plain sheet of white paper with good lighting. In post processing, increase the contrast and reduce the brightness to see if the lines are fixed pattern noise produced by the sensor, then duplicate the experiment with a black subject and low light. If the patterns become very distinct (and repeatable) then it is an inherent characteristic of the sensor. Most sensors will exhibit some fixed pattern noise and some random noise under extreme conditions, and yours may be perfectly normal.
 05/25/2005 08:19:13 PM · #8
Originally posted by GinaRothfels:
I don't know too much about the workings of cameras, but if it's any help with the photos you've just taken, Neatimage seems to make those lines much less visible - at this size anyway. Maybe it will work on the full image. It does take some of the detail out of the leaves, but isn't too bad on the bug. If you try using it on selected areas only (using layers?), it may work out.

Love the photo, by the way. I've never managed anything close to that good with bugs. Must keep trying.


I've been wanting to get Neatimage. I guess I'll try that. I was able to clean one up with the blur, smudge and clone tools in PS.

If my camera is OK, I'll just take more pictures of him later. Those Lubber grasshoppers are slower than snails and usually stay on the same bush their whole life (Great models).

Thanks everyone for the praise and helpful suggestions. After my last two challenge entries, I was beginning to wonder if I could take a decent picture.
 05/25/2005 09:50:34 PM · #9
Hi Roxanne,
I hope your camera is OK. That is a great shot of the grasshopper.

I had a scare while I was in Costa Rica. On our drive to an adventure I noticed that my camera was all fogged up. I freaked out. I was afraid my camera was a goner. I took the lense off and it dryed out and has worked OK since. It was very humid there and it rained every afternoon. I was staying in a tent and I guess it was just too humid for the camera.
With fogged lense.

After it dryed out. (you can see how humid the air is)

Good luck with your camera.
 05/25/2005 10:02:21 PM · #10
Did you shoot through the baggie? Maybe those lines were just from the texture of the plastic? I'm no expert, but perhaps just an idea to consider.
 05/25/2005 10:07:07 PM · #11
greatandsmall

It might be that their was moisture and condensation in the camera from being in the bag....
 05/25/2005 10:40:37 PM · #12
Originally posted by jpochard:
Did you shoot through the baggie? Maybe those lines were just from the texture of the plastic? I'm no expert, but perhaps just an idea to consider.


I cut a hole for the lense to stick out of the baggie. The camera got noticeably warm. In retrospect, it makes perfect sense. The baggie held in the heat, which caused the moisture coming through the hole to condensate. This was a terrible idea!

I can't wait until morning to do a test shot. I really appreciate all of your suggestions.
05/25/2005 10:44:56 PM · #13
Great shot, but damn is that one bug that I just wanna forget! WOW!
I LOVE all of natur, but have a bit of arachnaphobia. If thats how ya spell it?

05/25/2005 11:08:49 PM · #14
One time my camera went from very cold to very warm humid temp and it took a day before the flash stop going off every time a took a shot whether it was up or not.
05/26/2005 01:08:53 PM · #15
Originally posted by ElGordo:
Perfectly gorgeous grasshopper! The lines look a bit like thermal noise to which all image sensors are susceptible. But it may just be the colors in the scene exacerbating a characteristic the camera has always had. If the problem persists after the camera cools down and dries out, then I would suspect the latter. Photograph a plain sheet of white paper with good lighting. In post processing, increase the contrast and reduce the brightness to see if the lines are fixed pattern noise produced by the sensor, then duplicate the experiment with a black subject and low light. If the patterns become very distinct (and repeatable) then it is an inherent characteristic of the sensor. Most sensors will exhibit some fixed pattern noise and some random noise under extreme conditions, and yours may be perfectly normal.


Thanks ElGordo.

I did your test and got nothing on the black. On the white there is a gray smudge on every image (same spot). Are those burned pixels? Also noise around the perimeter.

The good news is that the horizontal lines are gone, and in a picture I took today, I can't see any problems. I think I can live with the smudge until I can afford a DSLR. Better to learn this lesson on my Canon Powershot A80!

Here are links to the test and an unprocessed, high-res image. Does anyone notice problems with it?

Test



Bromeliad
 05/26/2005 01:28:23 PM · #16
Glad you camera is OK! The smudge is more likely a surface blemish on the sensor cover plate, like a fingerprint left by a careless worker during assembly. My old Fuji has several of those and some more distinct spots as well, just poor quality control at the factory.
 05/26/2005 01:30:23 PM · #17
Lines or no lines, that's the ugliest grasshopper ever.
 05/26/2005 01:55:05 PM · #18
Originally posted by greatandsmall:
Did I fry my camera?

I asked myself the same question when I took this shot...

05/26/2005 02:32:25 PM · #19
Originally posted by GoldBerry:
Lines or no lines, that's the ugliest grasshopper ever.


I beg your pardon. That's Miss Grasshopper USA!

Miss Grasshopper USA

Pretty Funny Ken. Looks like we've been spending too much time in PS

Message edited by author 2005-05-28 10:50:16.
 05/26/2005 02:38:02 PM · #20

05/26/2005 02:39:32 PM · #21
LOL
 05/26/2005 02:40:22 PM · #22
My Digital Rebel book recommends placing the camera in a sealed baggie and then putting it outside for a while, to let it adjust. If you don't let it adjust first, condensation will form, and I believe it says that the condensation can hurt the camera if you use it before it dries out. So far using the baggies has worked fine for me, although it requires a little bit of forethought to make sure I have the camera adjusted and ready when I want it.

Hope everything turns out okay. :)

~SavannahJames

05/26/2005 02:42:13 PM · #23
Thanks Savannah. I will try that next time. I'm just so happy I didn't ruin it.
 05/26/2005 02:42:54 PM · #24
Strange, my Digital Rebel book recommends putting it in a sealed baggie with some breadcrumbs or ground crakers mixed with herbs and spices.

...oh, wait - that's my Digital Rebel Cookbook! Sorry for the confusion. Hope you never take any advice from me anyway. :)
 05/26/2005 03:43:56 PM · #25
FWIW:
I've gone shooting with my camera in a light rain. Used a large freezer bag. Cut a hole just big enought to squeeze the lens thru, and put a rubber band around that to seal. Taped the bag down on the camera where there was available area. Cut a hole to allow me to use the viewfinder, and held the camera thru the open end of the bag. No problems and I took no other steps to allow it to aclimate.

Hope that helps.
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