Bad Pixel

From MyOlympus

This section was taken from Richard Ociepka who explained the phenomenon in the [yahoogroup]. It should apply to all digital cameras.

Dead Pixels are pixels that are always off and produce a black pixel in your photo.

Stuck Pixels are pixels that are always on and produce a white pixel in the photo.

Hot Pixels turn on to their full state during long exposures, and can produce white, red, orange, green and yellowish green pixels in longer exposures. The longer the exposure the more visible the hot pixels.

Noise is the created as the CCD heats up during multiple shots or long exposures. Noise increases with a higher ISO and long exposure.

To test for a dead or stuck pixel, simply shoot a white and black card in normal light. Dead pixels will show as black against the white, and stuck pixels will show as white against the black.

Olympus may replace the sensor if pixel mapping won't cure your problem and there are too many bad pixels. I don't know how many bad pixels there would have to be for them to fix the problem. Call and ask.

Pixel Mapping http://www.olympusamerica.com/crm/oneoffpages/crm_pixelmapping.asp

http://www.olympus-europa.com/consumer/dslr_D-SLR%20Reliability%20Title.htm

See page 183 in the reference manual for the E-300.