Hot take: should we be using sensor swaps to fix cameras or is that a trap? I hit 50 dead pixels on a single job and it changed my mind

3 comments

3 Comments

Used to think sensor swaps were a waste of time, but after trying to clean a stubborn spot on a Sony a7III that just wouldn't go away, I gave in and swapped the sensor... totally fixed it with zero dead pixels after. That job where you hit 50 dead pixels sounds like a nightmare though, I had 12 on a Fuji once and that was enough to make me reconsider the whole "just clean it" approach. Now I keep a few spare sensors for the common bodies in my kit, saves me so much headache and reshoot drama.

garcia.tyler10d ago

Does swapping a sensor mess with the factory calibration on those Sony bodies?

karen_roberts411d ago

Keep a log of serial numbers and which sensor went in where, that saves your butt when a swap causes issues a month later. Also make sure you're grounding yourself properly during the swap or you'll just trade dead pixels for new ones. Doing 50 in one job means you definitely dodged a bullet by swapping instead of trying to clean that mess.