DSLR issue

[Lons]

I have an old Canon 400d, well past it's sell by date but I bought it new and have several lenses so it occasionally comes out of the bag. I hauled it around RSA, Oz and all the other long hauls, got some great 'photos and used it a couple of nights ago to photograph the hares in our garden only to find there is a dead straight fine horizontal line, probably 1 pixel across every photo. These were taken through a d/g window but it's nothing to do with that either.

I've eliminated the usual, it's not the lens, memory card and done the in camera sensor cleaning etc. (haven't manually cleaned it), it's nothing in the settings and firmware up to date, same if I shoot in RAW so not a software conversion bug so I'm pretty sure in my own mind it's a sensor fault especially as the line is in the same place on every 'photo. I've cropped the last photo.

I'll drop into a camera shop later in the week but if it's the sensor it's not worth the repair cost so I'll look at maybe a newer body to accept the lenses. I'm not an enthusiast in any way as I use my 'phone now for most pics would don't want to give up the option of the DSLR or start down a different path or brand.

Opinions welcome before I take it in.

 

[Dr.Al]

Being a dead straight single pixel line, I'd be surprised if that's anything other than a sensor fault or sensor connection issue. It could be a poor solder connection to one pin on the sensor (whichever one corresponds to that line), which might be solvable with a soldering iron but I'd be surprised if it's easy to get at the PCB in order to try reflowing the solder joints.

 

[RogerS]

Get AI to remove it?

 

[Dr.Al]

Get AI to remove it?

I wouldn't know how to remove it

Al, who has grown to really dislike sans-serif fonts in the days of A.I.

 

[Mike]

The line looks like a sensor problem since you ruled out JPEG/RAW formats and the card. The 400d model is 20 years old this month and had a two year production run. The 450d replaced it in 2008.

It is unlikely that any Canon repair facility will have access to spare parts. Even if you were lucky enough to find a shop that had a spare sensor gathering dust on a shelf, the cost to replace it would likely exceed the cost of a used replacement body.

I sold all of my pro Nikon equipment in 2017 after the photography muse left me. I bought a Sony A7II and a few prime lenses to replace it, but have only taken it out of the bag twice. I use my iPhone for all of my photography needs now.

 

[Lons]

Yeah I don't know why I posted really as I'm already pretty sure it's not viable to fix but I'll take it in anyway as might get a discount on something if I decide to buy a body, especially if I include the kit lens which I never use as my go to lens is a reliable if unexciting 18 - 200 IS zoom. I bought the camera in 2007.

My granddaughter has recently bought a mint used 1200D from the shop complete with kit lens, bag etc for £180. If i decide to just not bother I'll give the lenses and some other stuff to her and sell the rest as spares.

 

[Accipiter]

COMMENT  EDITED:
I was totally looking at the wrong part of Bob's images and didn't realise it was the thin black line - I was distracted with the blurry/smear bits which I initially thought was the issue caused by reflections on the glass.

That looks a bit like a smear of some sort Bob... if so, the sensor clean via the camera menu won't clean it away.

Hope you don't mind () but I ran this through Google from doing the sensor clean "in camera" and also Google mentioned a "wet clean" using swabs. I'm guessing you haven't tried a wet clean?

These are screen grabs (photos) of my 'conversation' - along with responses to additional questions put forward by Google. To me it looks 'blue'ish' in colour and also 'blurry' - hence the replies along those lines.
REMOVED
If you're not willing to dry to do the wet clean someone at the camera place probably will. It's worth asking before discarding the camera body.

 

[Lons]

Thanks Frank

I haven't tried a wet clean and won't bother at this stage as I'm almost 100% certain it's a sensor pixel issue. The line is fine and distinct not at all blury and having done a little research since I first posted it's not an uncommon fault. Apparently one of the reasons can be if someone photographs a laser light show, I haven't but one of those things and it is almost 20 years old. I doesn't have a huge shutter count but has been lugged around thousands of miles of bush, coasts and mountains in very hot conditions.

The guy in the shop will almost certainly agree in which case it's not economical even if possible to repair, so I won't. If I end up actually scrapping it I'll carry out an autopsy just out of interest to examine it's internals.

Thanks for looking anyway.

 

[Lurker]

I’d have thought a secondhand replacement body could be had for not much money.
London camera exchange used to be very good.

 

[Pete Maddex]

Definitely the sensor, probably not worth fixing unfortunately.

MBP are good for second hand cameras

Pete

 

[Lons]

I’d have thought a secondhand replacement body could be had for not much money.
London camera exchange used to be very good.

My thoughts exactly Lurker and London Camers have a branch in Gosforth, Newcastle which is where I intended to go first and Wex have a branch 5 minutes from them. I sometimes meet up for a coffee with the my old golfing mates on a friday and they're very close to the golf club.

I hadn't heard of MBP Pete but will look them up.

 

[marineboy]

Bob - I can second the suggestion of MPB, I’ve bought and sold several cameras from them over the past few years and they are very good. I’d stay away from places such as WEX and LCE as they are rather more expensive for second hand gear.

I’ve had a quick look at their current stock and they have a Canon 5d mk2 in good condition for £204. I had one of these (bought new) about 12 years ago and it’s an enthusiast model (as opposed to beginner). It’s full frame and will take all of your EF lenses. Although it has a number of different creative modes you can just stick it on auto and it will produce excellent images.

 

[Accipiter]

Thanks Frank

I haven't tried a wet clean and won't bother at this stage as I'm almost 100% certain it's a sensor pixel issue. The line is fine and distinct not at all blury and having done a little research since I first posted it's not an uncommon fault. Apparently one of the reasons can be if someone photographs a laser light show, I haven't but one of those things and it is almost 20 years old. I doesn't have a huge shutter count but has been lugged around thousands of miles of bush, coasts and mountains in very hot conditions.

The guy in the shop will almost certainly agree in which case it's not economical even if possible to repair, so I won't. If I end up actually scrapping it I'll carry out an autopsy just out of interest to examine it's internals.

Thanks for looking anyway.

Sorry Bob... I hadn't realised it's that thin black line isn't it - not the 'blue'ish blurry 'smear' type bits I'm seeing... Doh . That line hadn't stood out to me... Maybe I should edit my post - and delete all those photos as they're not of any use... Sorry that I'd not seen the thin black line and it was the other bits that hot my attention. Obviously now I realise it's the glass...

 

[Lons]

Bob - I can second the suggestion of MPB, I’ve bought and sold several cameras from them over the past few years and they are very good. I’d stay away from places such as WEX and LCE as they are rather more expensive for second hand gear.

I’ve had a quick look at their current stock and they have a Canon 5d mk2 in good condition for £204. I had one of these (bought new) about 12 years ago and it’s an enthusiast model (as opposed to beginner). It’s full frame and will take all of your EF lenses. Although it has a number of different creative modes you can just stick it on auto and it will produce excellent images.

Thanks Nick I've had a quick look at all three websites. My son had a 5D and took some superb 'photos with it, he had it stolen from his car along with some pro L lenses and other stuff in manchester.
I didn't think the 5D acceptes EF-S lenses which is what mine are but probably wrong so i go and do a bit of research. My son is off on his jollies today so probably won't read any message I send.

EDIT
Just googled it and it doesn't so that's a shame as I would have been sorely tempted.

 

[AJB Temple]

The world has moved on. We have various full frame and L lenses, but for the type of photography we need now - which is videos and stills for Insta, FB and YT, (basically vlogging) just gone over to just released DJI 4P for about £600 including mic kits, tripod, battery handle etc. This does fully stabilised flim quality 4k video on the fly for £600. An earlier model almost as good, is £300 ish with all the extras. Auto fast upload to internet, pro sound, easy to edit, discreet, walk around. I would personally not bother with a DSLR, especially mirrored, at all these days.

 

[Lons]

If I can find a good one I might look at the 7D Mk2

 

[Lons]

The world has moved on. We have various full frame and L lenses, but for the type of photography we need now - which is videos and stills for Insta, FB and YT, (basically vlogging) just gone over to just released DJI 4P for about £600 including mic kits, tripod, battery handle etc. This does fully stabilised flim quality 4k video on the fly for £600. An earlier model almost as good, is £300 ish with all the extras. Auto fast upload to internet, pro sound, easy to edit, discreet, walk around. I would personally not bother with a DSLR, especially mirrored, at all these days.

You might not but I will keep my lenses and buy a DSLR thanks but no thanks.

 

[RogerS]

I asked ChatGPT to remove the black line in one of the shots. Took all of 45 seconds !

 

[Lons]

Thanks Roger, all isn't lost and I'm not in any hurry so that's certainly a temporary solution.

As I said in my initial post I want to keep my lenses if I buy a new camera so definitely tied in to Canon systems that accept EF-s without adapters and not interested at all in alternative systems.