[jeff]

I've recently noticed in pictures taken with my coolpix 990 that i get a tiny green dot in the images, i've attached a zipped image so you can see what i mean, it's under the rear end of the sandpiper (you've gotta look closely).

Is this normal?

Is it anything to worry about?

Once i adjust my images in photoshop etc, it usually disappears, so is not a problem in that sense, just currious as to what might be causing it in the first place or if everyone gets that dot.

Cheers

Jeff

[scampo]

It seems that one of the pixels on the capture device in the camera might be faulty - and I'm pretty certain there's nothing you can do about it practically except via a bit of cloning using PS, or send it back to Nikon for expensive corrective surgery. I think such things were more of a commonplace years ago. I know my old laptop screen had a couple of pixels that acted very similarly (although the technology is rather different).

BTW - I did wonder whether a >1mb file isn't a bit large for a general website such as this - I guess it will be using up a fair bit of bandwidth.

[Andy Bright]

Yep, sounds like a dead pixel (though I'm not downloading a 1mb file on my dial-up to look)...I've had one from day one with my cp4500, not worth losing any sleep over.
We don't encourage big downloads as it does eat up bandwidth, though I'm not sure many are going to bother to download this one. A bit more concerned about attaching non jpg's

[scampo]

Yes, despite the trust I naturally had in Jeff's posting, my nature told me to scan it before I opened it as zip files from the Web are, I am told, potentially dangerous.

[mickporter]

I have downloaded and checked it and can't see the green spot. If it occurs on all your pictures and is always in the same relative position then its a dead pixel.

I use a camera transfer software called Cam2PC, which in the full version has a dead pixel fixer. I can't tell you how it works exactly cause I have never used it. Obviously its only a software fix, but something similar may be available for free by a search on the web.

As for downloads, it is always wise to check every download whatever the extension with a good virus checker. It is possible to disguise the real extension by a bogus fake one. Also some picture formats and html can contain harmful code. Never ever open a file without checking. Recently there have been a spate of bogus emails in the UK suposidly from people you recognise. The files use your address book to replicate names that you would consider safe and send viral attatchments that you may be fooled into opening. Beware!!!!

[scampo]

It's odd really - if you open a file with MS Word, it automatically checks for viruses and will refuse to open an infected file. You'd think the zip software would do the same; it can't be too difficult, can it? I'll look into the Winzip options to see if that can already be done - it'd certainly be a good selling point.

[jeff]

Originally Posted by scampo

It's odd really - if you open a file with MS Word, it automatically checks for viruses and will refuse to open an infected file. You'd think the zip software would do the same; it can't be too difficult, can it? I'll look into the Winzip options to see if that can already be done - it'd certainly be a good selling point.

Thanks for all the replies, i've cropped the part of the picture that has the 'dead' pixel and enlarged a bit so you can see it :-)

I can't believe people are still on dial-up these day ;-)

If it's only a dead pixel, i'm not gonna worry about it too much, it usually disappears when i adjust my images (at least i don't seem to spot it anymore) or as you say i can use the clone tool to remove it.

Can't see anything wrong with attaching zip files though, please explain.

[mickporter]

Originally Posted by scampo

It's odd really - if you open a file with MS Word, it automatically checks for viruses and will refuse to open an infected file. You'd think the zip software would do the same; it can't be too difficult, can it? I'll look into the Winzip options to see if that can already be done - it'd certainly be a good selling point.

They would never be able to keep up with the influx of virus's. For some reason or other some people think its fun to infect as many computers as possible with a virus or trojan. Most of which are linked to some sort of pornography or worse. Some can damage your computer or at best delete vital or irreplaceable files. It ruins what is otherwise a fantastic rescource.

I also would not rely on Word to delete all macro virus's. It will detect anything it suspects as being dodgy, but lots could slip through. You must be running good quality virus software. I would reccomend the Kasparsky Anti-Virus program. It has never let me down. Others reccomend Norton but I know several people and companies that have been let down by it.

[jeff]

Originally Posted by mickporter

They would never be able to keep up with the influx of virus's. For some reason or other some people think its fun to infect as many computers as possible with a virus or trojan. Most of which are linked to some sort of pornography or worse. Some can damage your computer or at best delete vital or irreplaceable files. It ruins what is otherwise a fantastic rescource.

I also would not rely on Word to delete all macro virus's. It will detect anything it suspects as being dodgy, but lots could slip through. You must be running good quality virus software. I would reccomend the Kasparsky Anti-Virus program. It has never let me down. Others reccomend Norton but I know several people and companies that have been let down by it.

Yep, i run Kaspersky Anti-Virus Software as well, it'll check your zip files for viruses.

[mickporter]

Originally Posted by jeff

Thanks for all the replies, i've cropped the part of the picture that has the 'dead' pixel and enlarged a bit so you can see it :-)

I can't believe people are still on dial-up these day ;-)

If it's only a dead pixel, i'm not gonna worry about it too much, it usually disappears when i adjust my images (at least i don't seem to spot it anymore) or as you say i can use the clone tool to remove it.

Can't see anything wrong with attaching zip files though, please explain.

I don't think its the actual zip file itself, although as already been argued, many people would be too wary about downloading a file which they were not sure about. Its the physical size of it that is the problem. The board here will have a limited bandwidth, which is shared by all. They are more than generous by allowing all members to upload and store pictures here. The bigger the file the more bandwidth it takes, the more space is used up and the more it costs. I was told off earlier on about posting pictures that were too big and took up too much bandwidth. There is a physical size limit.

Even if the zip file is being stored on your computer at home or another website and being linked to it still uses bandwidth from here whenever someone downloads it. Thats why Andy will complain.

They may also not like others linking to other webspace either. Most forum hosts prefer to control links to ensure that no one can inadvertantly or otherwise link to some malicious source, what could either steal bandwidth from here or log into a backdoor of the site. Lots of pirates distribute there software that way, by using bandspace from other hosts, like leeches.

[jeff]

Originally Posted by Andy Bright

A bit more concerned about attaching non jpg's

Mick, yep i get the size of the file suggestion and appologies for eating too much bw and to the others on dial-up, but i think Andy suggested he was concerned about attaching non jpgs.

[mickporter]

Originally Posted by jeff

Mick, yep i get the size of the file suggestion and appologies for eating too much bw and to the others on dial-up, but i think Andy suggested he was concerned about attaching non jpgs.

Because of the security risks involved. It could be a trojan or timebomb, that could risk this boards security.......................