Horrible wavy line patterns

Dear All

I was wondering if anyone can help me with a problem I am having with my K10D

I get horrid wavy lines in darker areas, mainly towards the blue end of the colour spectrum

Here is a classic example:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14639832@N07/1499915371/

If you enlarge it you should see wavy line patterns in the water

Tried to use different processing software (Bibble & Capture One)
Use Sandisk Extreme III cards- at it appears to affect images on both of them.

I can only assume its an in-camera problem.

Anyone else get this, and how did you fix it?

Any assistance welcome, thanks

Do you see the wavy lines within the RAW files viewed at 100% before exporting them to JPEG?

If so, then it looks too regular to be anything but electronic interference noise to me.

When you have those shots, are you using a fully charged Pentax battery or a third-party battery with a different spec?

If it's easily repeatable it would seem to me that it might need to go to Pentax for investigation. But I'm no expert by any means.

: Er, aren't these ripples? Can't see anything myself on this image, any bigger examples?

Dan

Looking at the large version dowloaded from Flickr, blown up, I think I can see some wavy line patterns in the noise. The noise level is high anyway.

Sorry to plug Silkypix yet again, but you might get better results with that. There is a free trial version.

Try both these pictures- downloaded especially to show the problem, so please accept they are just snaps and not representative of my normal work.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14639832@N07/2321827693/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14639832@N07/2321827135/

They do show in the RAW PEF version when run through either Bibble or Capture One software.

I only use Genuine Pentax battery, which is normally fully or well charged. I did think it might have been my DBG2 grip, but the pic of tower bridge is from before i owned the grip and that also shows the problem.

TBH I've tried the Silkypix that came with the K10D and found it hideously user unfriendly. I dont believe that Capture One software would be that noticeably worse than the Silkypix

The effect is just visible, but not easy to see at the size available.

Is it visible on both RAW and JPEG captures or just RAW? I'm wondering if it is some sort of moire-like effect, but what is causing it is something else. Maybe high ISO, noise reduction, faulty SD card, faulty SD card reader, faulty cable if camera attached dorectly to computer....

So quite a few things to check out before the camera goes back to Pentax.

Do you have a filter on the lens? If so, take it off and repeat the experiment.

The software that comes with the K10D is not Silkypix Developer Studio. It is based on Silkypix's engine but the user interface is totally different, nothing like it at all: hideous, I agree. Silkypix has a vastly larger and better and wonderful user interface!

I don't know Capture One - but there's always the chance that one program could deal with a particular problem better than another. Silkypix is good at cancelling false colour noise.

I have not seen these wavy lines on any of my pics. Maybe you have a camera fault or bug.

Silkypix is reviewed in the new edition of AP, out on Tuesday.

Okay, I definitely see them now! I use Capture One and ave never seen anything like that in any of my images, so I think you can discount it being a RAW processor problem, especially as you're getting it from two different programs.

Have you got another computer you could try it on? Thinking it might be a memory problem, or perhaps the graphics card? These do seem to throw up some odd things now and again.

Failing that, as John said, are these visible in jpegs shot in camera? (As opposed to jpegs converted from Raws). If so, I would think that it would be a camera problem. See if you can see the wavy lines on the camera monitor.

Dan

Fair enough to discount the problem being caused by the RAW program, but it's possible that another program might do a better job of removing or disguising the effects.

But of course you need to work out what the problem is in the first place in case the camera needs repairing or replacing.

Right

I've tried shooting both JPEG and RAW at various ISO's using various lens and even on the K10D's own screen you can see the wavy lines.

Now I am convinced it is a camera problem, some kind of current leakage or electro-static interference bleeding into the sensor. It does seem to be more noticeable on the right hand edge of the image.

Guess I need to speak to Pentax, not happy seing as its 13 months old and has taken just under 2000 shots

It's guaranteed for 2 years so no worries about getting it fixed, assuming you are in Europe. Edit your profile and tell us where in the world you are. Just the country will do.

Update for those who might want to know.

Rang Pentax, and they think I have a CCD fault, so its going back to them for them to look at. I'll let you know what happens then. Guy seemed pretty knowledgeable which was a plus.

Very pleased to hear that they give a 2yr Guarantee, especially as I did it the right way and bought mine from a UK Dealer. Saves me having to argue all the "fit for purpose" stuff.

Had to remove the two pics from Flickr as they were depressing me, GF is taking me to Robin Hoods Bay this weekend and gonna have to borrow an Ixus 70 from her......erm, no grads, no Raw processing, It just feels wrong!!

Anyway thanks for all the input so far

Further Update

Sent camera in last Friday - 23rd May

Got it back yesterday -30th May all fixed, CCD problem sorted.

What makes it even more impressive is that Monday was a bank holiday here in the UK, so a 3 day repair...wowser!!

I shall certainly be returning my feedback form full of glowing praise

I was thinking recently about selling up and going Canon, but they guys at Pentax have just changed my mind.