Digital cameras 101

[rhinorick]

I have an Olympus c3020-zoom. (my old camera)

It started putting spots on all my photos ... as if pixels were set to "always on", or "burned on", for lack of a better explanation.  It started out with orangish spots, and now some blue ones have appeared also.  Always at the same place on every photo.

I was told by Olympus that I need to replace the sensor.

Well, I replaced the camera instead.

But I would like to know what caused those spots so I can prevent it from happening to my new camera.

Olympus has been no help in that area.

Can anyone help me?

Thanks.

[bdery]

Hi!

Those spots are most likely what tech people call "hot pixels", pixels on the CCD that are damaged and always send the same information to the processor. "Dead pixels" are pixels not sending any information anymore. Mainly, age causes this. There is no real way to prevent it, that I know off.

[rhinorick]

Thanks for the info bdery.

I'm glad to know it wasn't something I did to cause it.  Although, if it were, I could prevent it next time. :-P

Thanks.

Just a side thought ... could too much exposure to the sun cause anything like that?  I read here on this site that too much direct sunlight can harm a camera just like the eyes.

Just wondered if the two could be related.

[bdery]

Just a side thought ... could too much exposure to the sun cause anything like that?  I read here on this site that too much direct sunlight can harm a camera just like the eyes.

I think it could cause it. After all, a pixel is nothing more than a light-absorbing material, and if it absorbs too much light, it could possibly get damaged. But I won't claim to be an expert on this subject.

[rhinorick]

Good point.  Thanks.

I will try to keep from exposing my new camera to too much direct sunlight.