Hi all. I just purchased the Canon SD850 IS camera for my wife and have taken maybe 50 pictures with it. She uses it as a point and shoot camera. On two photos I have come across a white circle on the images. According to Canon's website, this is a normal occurrence when the flash is used in a low light situation. Canon has an example posted.
The spot on the right looks identical to the spot on my images. I am surprised that this is normal. (according to Canon's site) I have two Nikon digital cameras and never had anything like this. Can anybody confirm this known Canon flaw? Thanks in advance for your response.
It looks like flash ghosting to me. Check to see if there is dust on your lens.
In simple terms what's happening is the bright flash of light from the flash is reflecting [refracting?] on the dust/imperfections on the lens and then sending that light onto the sensor, creating those hot spots.
It happens with all cameras from time to time and is not a defect.
-Drew
The world gives me subjects, I just arrange them in a viewfinder.
If you encounter the same spots (exactly the same size and location) on every picts, then it could be a lens dirt problem. Although those should actually be dark spots rather than white since the flash would probably create shadows rather than reflections.
However, if it only appeared on this particular pict, I assume that it could be dust or particles floating around the room. You get a lot of this situations when doing flash photography on dusty areas like on the beach, or during snow rains, etc.
There was a long discussion about these white spots in some camera forum. I can't remember if it was this one or another one. The consensus was that these were dust refletctions when using a flash that is situated close to the lens. Unfortunately it is "normal" for some cameras. It only happens when using a flash right?
I got the same type of spots when using my SD500 flash at a dusty campsite. All the other daytime shots from the trip were fine.
The outdoor camping shot is very much different that the linked picture in the OP. The camp shot is obviously dust (with many translucent reflections). The interior shot has essentially solid white dots - only 2 of them and much larger - which are not reflections of dust in the air, and I doubt from dust on the lens.
I think I can count 8+ other more translucent spots on the orig pict. Anyway, we may as well wait for a reply from Tom70 whether any of our comments count . you there Tom? Can you post other picts with the same problem?
Yes, I am here!. Just very busy. Thanks for your responses. I have used this forum in the past and it has been extremely helpful.
Canon did state that the white speck is not a camera defect and is something that can occur in low light situations where the flash is needed and there is dust around. I am only surprised because my two previous Nikon digital cameras have had about 20,000 pictures taken between the two of them and I NEVER saw this even once. I have seen it 3 times now in 60 pictures and it can ruin a picture. All three pictures were indoor shots. I will double check the lens for dirt, but i think its just something I would have to live with. I surmise that Canon is more susceptible to this issue, at least based on my own equipment.
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. you there Tom? Can you post other picts with the same problem?
