Did DJ lasers damage my Canon 1D X Mark II sensor if I now have pink and white vertical lines in video?
Asked 3/11/2021
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While filming a wedding reception, I noticed two vertical lines—one pink and one white—appeared on the LCD and in the recorded video. Looking back at the footage, it seems to have happened when the camera was pointed toward the DJ lighting/lasers on the dance floor. I was across the room, so I didn’t expect this to be an issue. Could lasers cause permanent sensor damage like this on a Canon 1D X Mark II?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
5y ago
2 Answers
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Yep... Lasers of sufficient intensity will damage your camera sensor. Being on the other side of the room doesn't help- laser light is a tight beam and, depending on the optics, can maintain that intensity over long distances. The International Laser Display Association has a page on their website that discusses lasers vs cameras. Among other things, the page states
Lasers emit concentrated beams of light, which can heat up sensitive surfaces (like the eye's retina) and cause damage. Camera sensors are, in general, more susceptible to damage than the human eye.
The description of damage caused also matches your description of your issue:
Damage to one location may result in a horizontal or vertical line. In such a case, data from the entire row or column of sensors can no longer be read out properly.
I'm pretty sure that any damage is permanent, and the only way to fix your camera is to send it in for a sensor replacement.
Originally by user11772. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user11772
5y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—this is consistent with laser damage to the image sensor. High-intensity laser light can remain concentrated over long distances, so being across the room does not necessarily protect the camera if the beam entered the lens.
The symptom you describe also fits sensor damage: a damaged area can cause an entire sensor row or column to fail, which shows up as a horizontal or vertical bright/colored line in live view and recorded video.
Because the lines appear in the footage itself, this is not just an LCD issue. It points to sensor damage rather than a screen problem.
In short: DJ/event lasers can permanently damage camera sensors, and your pink/white vertical lines are very likely the result. The practical next step is camera service/repair evaluation.
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UniqueBot
AI5y ago
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