Sony a6000 Lines in pictures / Banding

[panos_adgr]

Hello friends.

 

2 months ago I bought mhself a brand new sony a6000. After a couple of months of use and about 1400 shots I noticed one day that in my pictures on the top of the frame lines appearing. They look like banding noise and they appear from the middle of the frame and up. They are not very visible but when i push dehaze in Photoshop (+25) they appear. When i extremely push dehaze they become very visible. 

 

I have also other digital cameras like nikon d7200 - d90 and i never had such a problem. I pushed some shots from the other cameras but nothing appears.

 

In a6000 is visible in raw files and sometimes i can see them in my a6000's lcd depending on the scene. They appear even in normal exposures without burned highlights and with iso 100. They are horizontal.

 

Could i be having a defective sensor?

 

I'll upload some examples shortly after.

[panos_adgr]

Example picture.

 

 

100% crop as is.

 

 

100% crop and +100 dehaze.

 

[panos_adgr]

And another example.

 

 

100% crop as is 

 

 

100% crop +50 dehaze

 

 

100% crop +100 dehaze

 

[panos_adgr]

Am i exaggerating or is it normal for a6000? 

 

Does anybody of you has a similar experience?

[Username]

Looks like routine noise typically

revealed thru heavy handed PP. 

[panos_adgr]

Well I wish it is.

 

The thing is I'm worrying that I have banding issues and I ve read a lot on this issue concerning the a6000.

 

And it is true about the heavy pp.

[Guest Jaf-Photo]

A6000 has this issue. I was annoyed when I replaced my clean NEX-7 with a banding A6000.

 

But it is managable if you disable e-shutter and stay low on ISO. Also try to avoid using dynamic contrast, presence and those types of cheap processing functions. If you use curves to set contrast, the banding won't be magnified.

 

If I get visible banding, I find the NR in DxO Optics can reduce it.

[panos_adgr]

A6000 has this issue. I was annoyed when I replaced my clean NEX-7 with a banding A6000.

 

But it is managable if you disable e-shutter and stay low on ISO. Also try to avoid using dynamic contrast, presence and those types of cheap processing functions. If you use curves to set contrast, the banding won't be magnified.

 

If I get visible banding, I find the NR in DxO Optics can reduce it.

Well I'm about to give my camera to service...

 

It is visible even on the lcd of my a6000 in some cases... I feel very angry for it. It doesn't hapen all the time. What do you mean by avoiding dynamic contrast? Is it a function of the camera? You mean DRC?

 

I'm not using anything. Only e-shutter and shoot in raw. But I've done some test and saw that either e-shutter is on either is off i get the same result....

I have another 2 cameras of anoother brand and the raw files I'm getting are free of these problems.

 

It is sad for sony who provides sensors to other brands to have cameras with infant problems for the age and development of digital sensors and cpus....

[Guest Jaf-Photo]

Dynamic contrast is a processing function. It increases the difference between areas of varying brightness, especially in the mid-range. It also amplifies the appearance of defects in the photo, such as lines or sensor spots. Presence, dehazing etc has similar effects, maybe even worse by adding sharpening.

 

I've never had lines even remotely as bad as in your examples. But I do take care by using low ISO, mechanical shutter and balanced processing.

 

I can't view your camera settings but there could be a variety of reasons for coloured noise patterns in clouds. This can be amplified in raw conversion and processing. I used to get colour noise in photos of breaking waves, but that went away when I ditched the e-shutter.

 

If your camera is still under warranty, it may be worth handing it in for service.

[dbmiller]

What I would try is:

1. Search the web for RAW samples from the A6000
2. Find one that is a shot similar to what you have been processing
3. Run the RAW through your editing technique and see if the banding shows up

If no banding shows up on the RAW that you got from the web, then your sensor is at fault.

 

If banding still shows up, we still don't know enough to know what is going on. It could be that Lightroom's dehaze function is creating the banding. Since you claim to not get it with files from other cameras, it might be LR doesn't handle Sony RAW files well enough.

 

Can you try another RAW processor and see if you can duplicate the banding? I took a couple of cloudy skies from some of my images and tried to overprocess them with Capture One. I couldn't get anything like what you have shown.

[panos_adgr]

Hello and thanks for the replies!

 

What I have done until now is:

 

I have checked the raw files of my a6000 with 2 different personal computers and 4 different processing softwares (dxo, photoshop, sony memories, phase one) and the problem is the same everywhere

 

I have made test with raw and jpeg and the problem is there

 

I have tested it with e-front curtain and without and the problem is there

 

I have desabled all drc and correction settings and the problem is there

 

With iso 100 and the problem is there

 

I have checked raw files across the internet and the problem was ;only i rare samples that i found but not in the level I'm experiencing.

 

I have made comparisons of same scene shots of my a6000 with my nikon d7200 and d90 and nikon files all completely clean.

 

And I'm experiencing the problem with very light processing.

 

 

Any way. My a6000 is already delivered to service spot. And i own it only for one and a half months.... 

[Guest Jaf-Photo]

Would you share exif for both images?

 

The problem is more prominent in the second picture. In the first picture, the banding is a little more visible than I would normally get. But I've never had anything near the second picture.

 

Also, I'm wondering about the lens, considering the black top corners, which is where the banding is. Was it the 16-50 or did you use a filter, hood or adapted lens?

 

I'm just antivipating the possibility that the camera comes back with no fault found.

[panos_adgr]

I'm not using any filters or something else. The black corners are from tbe lens.But rhe lines have nothing to do with the lens.

 

About the camera coming but with no fault is a fact that I also think of... Maybe I'm strange. My other cameras give perfect files and that is a strong fact for me. The a6000 is known that has banding issues all over the web but not that type of my case. My camera will be send abroad for check in a specialised sony spot.

 

I'll share the exif as soon as I find out how to export it.

[Guest Jaf-Photo]

I'm not using any filters or something else. The black corners are from tbe lens.But rhe lines have nothing to do with the lens.

 

Actually, several Sony mirrorless cameras are sensitive to the angle of the light hitting the sensor. Using wide angle lenses or large apertures will in fact make the banding worse on A6000.

 

There is no doubt that A6000 has banding but as I mentioned, there is a number of hygiene factors that can reduce it as well as improve IQ generally.

[panos_adgr]

Actually, several Sony mirrorless cameras are sensitive to the angle of the light hitting the sensor. Using wide angle lenses or large apertures will in fact make the banding worse on A6000.

 

There is no doubt that A6000 has banding but as I mentioned, there is a number of hygiene factors that can reduce it as well as improve IQ generally.

If you have any experience on how can I take the most out of an a6000 I would be glad to know.

[Guest Jaf-Photo]

If you have any experience on how can I take the most out of an a6000 I would be glad to know.

 

What I have been writing above. Use mechanical front shutter and low ISO. Use small apertures when using wide lenses. Avoid post-processing functions that artificially accentuate details and dynamic contrast. Also, strong backlighting can bring about banding.

 

I still curious about your lens these, because there's something funny going on. 

[panos_adgr]

What I have been writing above. Use mechanical front shutter and low ISO. Use small apertures when using wide lenses. Avoid post-processing functions that artificially accentuate details and dynamic contrast. Also, strong backlighting can bring about banding.

 

I still curious about your lens these, because there's something funny going on.

 

Thanks for the advice. I hope that service will solve the problem. About the lens well it looks like indeed something is strange.

[panos_adgr]

Hi!

 

My camera is back from service and axtensive checks.

 

It is fine with no problem said the service. My sample files were altered excessively and this why lines showed up.

 

Well that's it.

 

The truth is that the lines show up after increasing dehaze in acr beyond +50. I also went back my photos and noticed that the lines do not appear in all the pictures.

 

After a deep search in the internet I found out that a6000 has this symptom sometimes. Somebody wrote that he replaced his a6000 and had the same thing again.

 

It is said that is created by the contrast af detection lines or something like that whatever, in some occasions of direct strong light.

[jamesgjt]

Well I'm about to give my camera to service...

 

It is visible even on the lcd of my a6000 in some cases... I feel very angry for it. It doesn't hapen all the time. What do you mean by avoiding dynamic contrast? Is it a function of the camera? You mean DRC?

 

I'm not using anything. Only e-shutter and shoot in raw. But I've done some test and saw that either e-shutter is on either is off i get the same result....

I have another 2 cameras of anoother brand and the raw files I'm getting are free of these problems.

 

It is sad for sony who provides sensors to other brands to have cameras with infant problems for the age and development of digital sensors and cpus....

press the fn key and disable the last 2 things may help (DRO set to off or auto and disable creative style)??? looks like post processing problem to me as well...  

Bought the camera last year and been taking over 1500 pictures within 15 days on my trip to Japan and HongKong and this never happens to me..... well, I have to say that the above picture looks like taken by my phone with HDR on.... lol

[Guest Jaf-Photo]

That's what I wrote above but I think you were right to check the camera while it's still under warranty.

 

I got some lines in the beginning, especially with a 50/1.4 lens, but nowadays I have no problem.

 

Those contrast-enhancing functions do more harm than good so practice using curves to get the right contrast,

[panos_adgr]

Well in the examples I posted I have overdone in it. Generally the problem does not occur always.

 

I'm also using curves sometimes but I mostly use clarity and dehaze and this is why the banding shows up when it is present.

 

Anyway I love this little camera and I want to use it full time! :-)

[panos_adgr]

Here is my sony a6000 photo collection from flickr.

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/panos_adgr/sets/72157680440114914

 

They look fine. I think that I'm exaggerating a bit....

 

 

 

press the fn key and disable the last 2 things may help (DRO set to off or auto and disable creative style)??? looks like post processing problem to me as well...  

Bought the camera last year and been taking over 1500 pictures within 15 days on my trip to Japan and HongKong and this never happens to me..... well, I have to say that the above picture looks like taken by my phone with HDR on.... lol

 

 

Thanks for the advice!

 

I never use DRO setting. I don't use it all even with my other cameras.  

About creative style it is true that for the last month I had been using creative style 'standard' with +2 sharpness. Now I've turned it to simple 'standard' with no custom adjustment.

 

I still use e-front curtain as I haven't noticed any changes or differences between on' and off'  raw files.

press the fn key and disable the last 2 things may help (DRO set to off or auto and disable creative style)??? looks like post processing problem to me as well...  

Bought the camera last year and been taking over 1500 pictures within 15 days on my trip to Japan and HongKong and this never happens to me..... well, I have to say that the above picture looks like taken by my phone with HDR on.... lol

 

[panos_adgr]

Hello again.

 

It has been 3 months since I started this thread about banding issue (or streaking effect as i found out that some people call it). 

 

I'm still having this problem with my camera and it is noticable in almost all cases. I seems it has become a bit more intense. 

After Sony's answer that this is something that can occur when shooting in extreme conditions, I have the following comments to add.

 

The problem with my camera occurs in 90% of pictures I'm taking regardless of lighting situations. Indoor, outdoor with light source in any place around me...

I have complained to Sony Greece (My country) and there is absolutely no response, support, or care. They just send an email with case number.

CSI Poland (oficial service for hard cases for my region) Checked the camera and sain is ok to have this issue as it is stated 'in specification' by Sony due to Sony;s response concerning my case that was quoted by CSI to them. (By the way the guys in Poland are polite and willing despite the fact that solution to my problem has not been found). 

 

I've made to times a complaint essay to Europes Customer Support manager and I have no responese. 

I've made a complaint essay to CEO Japan with the communications of my case Quoted but still no responnse.

 

In my country and regional forum there has been a lot of debate in my case and we compared files of my camera (a6000) versus other a6000 cameras and mine appears to have a problem in comparison with others. I got sample from friends of mine that their a6000 appears no issue.

 

Sony in my case is absent solution wise. 

 

And I wonder....

 

I didn't ask for a replacement (But I should do it from the beginning)

I just asked for a solution. Maybe a re-calibration, or a sensor replacment or something to get rid of this banding problem.

From many threads and research I've done on this issue I've found several cases of sony a6000 banding cases that have to do with cmos exmor batches of a6000 that had this problem. I'm of the unlucky guys.

 

Sony in knows it and accepts it as in specification... This is to bad. It is to bad for a leader in electronics, and seller of cmos sensor to produce batches of sensors leaving quality control as is, with these problems.

 

In my opinion is not fare to say to clients that this is in specification.

My case is of insignificance for Sony's yearly turnaround and numbers. But for me spending 600euros was of great significanse.

 

I feel very sad and upset that I do not have a solution.

[panos_adgr]

Here are a few samples of my camera a6000.

 

If you try to apply dehaze, sharpening, contrast or clarity it becomes mor visible....

 

 

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/vsp1421ktf2w6y3/DSC00730.ARW?dl=0

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/r2yuiwfdq1xw8ph/DSC00859.ARW?dl=0

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/x9l6xbfc9e2387f/DSC00858.ARW?dl=0

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/nqa8ojnjjg8l2yi/DSC00851.ARW?dl=0

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ek7xtetkdban813/DSC00850.ARW?dl=0

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/25h1ebjb82wi4ap/DSC00849.ARW?dl=0

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6c84iqg8wn9rv3u/DSC00571.ARW?dl=0

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/dxvdbj190a8ivdc/DSC00749.ARW?dl=0

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/2smbhl3e2wp92i5/DSC00043.ARW?dl=0

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/sh4cdek6epqj08b/DSC00042.ARW?dl=0

 

 

 

And below is a sample of an a6000 arw file that I found in a review available for download and test which is flawless whatever process you apply or whatever you do.

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6ig93i4w3sd1m87/RAW_SONY_DSC_ILCE-6000.ARW?dl=0 

[Guest Jaf-Photo]

In the normal picture, I see no banding. In the funky pictures, I see a lot of banding.

 

There is always a faint banding from the physical structure of the sensor. That faint banding can be amplified by over-processing.

 

That's probably what happened in the funky pictures, right?