Problem with blurriness on same section of every photo

[^MtnMike^]

I have a Canon S3 IS camera, and I've noticed lately that the top-center and top-right (or top-left depending on the orientation of the camera) of every photo I take is blurry. At first I assumed it was just a smudge on the lens, but after cleaning it twice the problem persists. And I can't see any obvious mark/blemish on the lens.
Looking through old pictures taken with the same camera I noticed that the problem has been there for a while, although it has become noticably worse recently (photos from about 6 months ago show some blurring in the same areas, those from a few weeks ago, major blurring).

This photo was taken recently, and shows the extent of the problem (large photo):
http://www.mcschell.com/IMG_6662.JPG
The region to the right of Lincoln, all the way across to Little Haystack and beyond is extremely blurry. This problem is the same on every photo, regardless of camera settings and subject distance.

When taking zoom shots the problem isn't as bad - at full zoom (x12) it isn't there.

Any idea what could cause something like this?
^MtnMike^

 

[David Metsky]

Either there's a problem on one of the inner lens elements or something is out of alignment.

 

[DougPaul]

Dave's suggestion seems reasonable. A loose sensor is another possibility. Has the camera been dropped on something hard or otherwise subject to an impact? (Of course, a part simply could have come loose without help, too.)

I'd get a repair estimate, but with a P&S, it may be more cost-effective to just replace it.

Doug

 

[ALGonquin Bob]

With a lens as long as that on the S3 (12x optical), it could have taken a hit and been knocked out of alignment. Take a close look at the profile of the lens from all angles to see if the lens seems to be straight (or slightly crooked) - it would be especially noticible at maximum telephoto.

 

[skiguy]

You may also have a dirty CCD. You can buy kits to clean them yourself or have it sent out to a repair house. The latter usually cost more but is safer as it is a bit tricky to do.

http://www.google.com/search?q=ccd+...ox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7SUNA

 

[ALGonquin Bob]

The S3 does not have interchangeable lenses, so it's not likely that dirt found its way onto the sensor. More likely that some mild impact knocked the lens out of line - or maybe it's just a defect in the camera.

 

[DougPaul]

You may also have a dirty CCD. You can buy kits to clean them yourself or have it sent out to a repair house. The latter usually cost more but is safer as it is a bit tricky to do.

Dirt on the sensor shows as specks. Grease (or some such) could cover an area, but would also have a defined edge. This problem has a smooth gradation from in-focus to out-of-focus. IMO, it is much more likely to be an out-of-alignment optical element. (Zooms have precision moving parts. It wouldn't be all that hard for one or more to get out of position due to wear, an impact, or just defective mechanics.)

The S3 also does not have removable lenses. Harder for dirt to get in, even harder to get inside to clean it.

Doug

 

[WinterWarlock]

It is likely a defect or damage to the sensor - the trick will be to show it as the former so you can get some help. For me, the item of note is that the problem shows up in the upper corner - often times, internal heat generated from the sensor electronics will show up as higher noise, and it almost always shows in the readout corner. One thing to look at might be to separate the RGB images, and look at the green layer - if it's thermal noise you'll really see it there, if it's damage, it should show in all layers.

 

[Grumpy]

This seems to be an important comment indicating the problem does not lie on the sensor or at the image plane, but somewhere in the lens system:

... When taking zoom shots the problem isn't as bad - at full zoom (x12) it isn't there. ...

The giveaway is that the image defect is more pronounced at the wide end of the zoom range. It probably is more pronounced, as well, at smaller lens openings. This is the effect we would see with a water drop or water mark or fingerprint on a lens.

If the front element of the lens is clean … I would dismount the lens (if it could be dismounted, as on a SLR camera body) and check the rear element, doing whatever cleaning is needed. If the front and rear elements are clean, the indicator is that something is amiss internally in the lens system.

The localized blurred-image problem is reported to have worsened over time. This indicates something more than a water spot or fingerprint on a lens surface.

A real internal possibility is growth of fungus or mold on a lens element. Another possibility would be delamination or bond failure in a complex lens element (built using two or more pieces of glass, cemented together). Either of these would have a tendency to grow worse over a period of time.

G.

 

[^MtnMike^]

Thanks for the replies. Not sure if this is another clue, but while taking test shots of text and graph paper today I noticed that the barrel distortion is much more pronounced in that upper right corner (vs. the other 3 corners).

I guess it's time to start looking for a new camera.
^MtnMike^

 

[WinterWarlock]

I would have thought that as the lens rotated to focus, the blur would move relative to the sensor...

 

[DougPaul]

I would have thought that as the lens rotated to focus, the blur would move relative to the sensor...

Depends--some designs do, some don't. Or some elements rotate and some don't.

(Also applies to adjusting the FL, too.)

Doug