How to Remap the Canon 40D

There is an undocumented feature in Canon digital SLR cameras that allows you to remap pixels. This can be used to remove "hot" pixels.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Canon digital SLR
• Camera body cap

1. Test your camera for hot pixels. Hot pixels are bright spots that show up in every picture in the same place. They are most visible in long exposures and near-black images. Shoot a series of pictures, gradually increasing the ISO, with exposure times in several seconds, with the lens cap on the camera.

2. Study the pictures, determine if you have hot pixels, and decide if they're a problem. If they only show up in a 30-second exposure at 3200 ISO, then they likely won't interfere with normal shooting.

3. If you have annoying hot pixels, then remapping the camera might get rid of them. Start by removing the lens and putting the camera body cap on instead.

4. Press the Menu button, and find Manual Sensor Cleaning. This option locks the mirror out of the way so that dust and dirt can be blown off of the sensor chip.

5. With the cap still on the camera, run the Manual Sensor Cleaning process for about thirty seconds, and then cancel it. This should remap your pixels and eliminate any hot pixels.

6. Put your lens back on the camera, and shoot another set of test pictures to compare against the first.

Tips & Warnings

• This technique doesn't always work. It's an undocumented feature, so it's possible that some Canon models have it and some do not.