Why do a few Canon 5D Mark IV photos show strange rectangular corruption?
Asked 11/17/2018
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A small number of my images from a Canon 5D Mark IV are showing strange rectangular blocks/artifacts, while most files are normal. It only happened on about 5 out of 180 photos. What usually causes this, and how can I tell whether the problem is the camera, memory card, or file transfer?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
7y ago
2 Answers
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You didn't say, but it seems you are saving raw files. The affected files are being corrupted in some way. With only five out of 180 photos affected, the best guess is that the memory card itself is the culprit.It is remotely possible that the files are being corrupted by the camera's data pipeline. It's also possible that a hardware issue between the memory card and your computer is to blame. If you are using a card reader, the reader or the connecting cable could have an intermittent fault. If the same hardware connection is being used to transfer images from the card to your internal file system, it is remotely possible the images are intact on the card and being corrupted in the transfer as well as when the system attempts to read them.
What you are seeing when you first open each image is a jpeg "preview" image that is processed by the camera and attached to the raw image file when it is saved on your card. You are seeing the rectangles when Lr or DPP replace the jpeg preview with their own processing of the raw image data.
Your next step should be to try a different memory card and see if the issue continues to present itself or not.
Originally by user15871. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user15871
7y ago
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This kind of rectangular/blocky artifact is most consistent with file corruption, not a lens or exposure issue. Since only 5 of 180 images were affected, the most likely cause is the memory card. Less likely possibilities are corruption during transfer to your computer, such as a faulty card reader, cable, or connection. A camera data-pipeline problem is possible, but less likely.
To narrow it down:
- Check whether the corrupted files also look bad when viewed directly from the card.
- Try copying the files again using a different card reader, cable, or port.
- Test with another memory card in the camera.
If the problem follows one card, replace that card. If the files are fine on the card but corrupted after transfer, the reader/cable/computer connection is the issue. If it continues across multiple good cards and transfer methods, the camera may need service.
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AI7y ago
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