topic Re: R1 cluster of hot pixels in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

R1 cluster of hot pixels

obl918 — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 07:46:30 GMT

Canon R1 I've owned since Dec 2024. When I first got it I did some astrophotography with great results. I took lots of dark calibration images and the sensor was excellent.

Tonight I went out to take some new ones, first time doing this in over a year. Now I have a very noticeable white spot that is visible at just 2" at 1600 ISO in live view and pretty glaringly obvious in images.

The sad thing is, I hardly use the camera. It's for fun and occasional outings. It has not gotten much use. Running a sensor clean had the expected effect -- which is to say, no effect.

Am I correct in assuming I am just totally out of luck with this flagship camera?

Re: R1 cluster of hot pixels

Peter — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 09:51:28 GMT

Can you share some raw samples? Use a file host. The picture above and one at ISO 100 and 1/10 sec.

Re: R1 cluster of hot pixels

obl918 — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 13:36:30 GMT

Looks like the forum scrubbed that image bigtime. Here are some raw files:

Jan 2025 baseline — 2.5s, ISO 12800, 15°C — clean, no spot: https://filedump.vexelfire.com/-x7qKSw77EJ/088A6821_clean.CR3
Body cap, 15s, ISO 1600, 31°C — spot at its largest: https://filedump.vexelfire.com/-AMpQC97mhD/088A6018_clean.CR3
Body cap, 2s, ISO 1600, 27°C — spot visible even at 2s: https://filedump.vexelfire.com/-SjCRqQVKM2/088A6019_clean.CR3

Re: R1 cluster of hot pixels

obl918 — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 13:38:00 GMT

Sorry for not including a link to raw images. Here are three:

Jan 2025 baseline — 2.5s, ISO 12800, 15°C — clean, no spot: https://filedump.vexelfire.com/-x7qKSw77EJ/088A6821_clean.CR3
Body cap, 15s, ISO 1600, 31°C — spot at its largest: https://filedump.vexelfire.com/-AMpQC97mhD/088A6018_clean.CR3
Body cap, 2s, ISO 1600, 27°C — spot visible even at 2s: https://filedump.vexelfire.com/-SjCRqQVKM2/088A6019_clean.CR3

I am aware that the sensor temp is significantly cooler on the older image. I have no way of testing right now if the summer weather surfaced an existing problem or if this is actually new. Either way though, seems like a pretty bad splotch of hot pixels.

Re: R1 cluster of hot pixels

johnrmoyer — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 13:38:56 GMT

The "Sensor Cleaning" "Clean Now" menu will on some cameras map out hot pixels and improve the image. I do not have EOS R1, but on my EOS R5 and EOS 80D it seems to me to improve the image.

Re: R1 cluster of hot pixels

obl918 — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 13:56:56 GMT

Thank you for your reply. I did try that, but no change. I had Claude analyze the raw image and it's saying that the white spot is over 700 pixels maxed out, all right next to each other. The sensor cleaning may trigger a calibration but that level of heat is pretty tough to fix after-the-fact. They are so hot that stacking dark images for calibration doesn't remove them from the final image.

Re: R1 cluster of hot pixels

Peter — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 18:27:57 GMT

I have taken a look now. Burned by sunlight? Any marks on the sensor?

Re: R1 cluster of hot pixels

wq9nsc — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 19:52:10 GMT

I agree with Peter that is likely either sensor damage or a fault in the sensor or its readout/buffer circuitry. That isn't normal hot pixels.

This is a screenshot from DPP of a RAW image from my 4 year old 1DX III with the lens cap on and a 2 second exposure at ISO 1,600 with no noise reduction applied. A few random "hot" pixels but you should never see a grouping like that from normal hot pixel issues. And both of my 1DX III bodies have seen a ton of use in very rough conditions shooting sports.

The camera needs to go to Canon service for a checkup.

Rodger

1DX III ISO 1,600 2 second exposure.jpg

Re: R1 cluster of hot pixels

jrhoffman75 — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 22:28:16 GMT

when I power down my R6M3 I get a message to br sure to install my lens cap. Closing the shutter on shutdown is also an optional setting. Not something that beeded to be considered with DSLRs.

Re: R1 cluster of hot pixels

obl918 — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 22:52:56 GMT

For what it's worth, I have never taken this Camera out without a proper lens and cap. I baby this thing.

I suppose sensor damage is plausible, I just can't imagine when that would have happened.

Based on how I use this, and how ridiculously careful I am with it, I suspect a defect in the sensor. I'll have to arrange for service and see. Not looking forward to the bill for that!

Re: R1 cluster of hot pixels

jrhoffman75 — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 23:19:59 GMT

@obl918 wrote:

For what it's worth, I have never taken this Camera out without a proper lens and cap. I baby this thing.

I suppose sensor damage is plausible, I just can't imagine when that would have happened.

Based on how I use this, and how ridiculously careful I am with it, I suspect a defect in the sensor. I'll have to arrange for service and see. Not looking forward to the bill for that!

Not saying anything is your fault in your particular situation, but can anyone say with 100% certainty that they never set the camera down for a minute on a table facing the sun or some similar situation. Even in your house on an end table or a table in a restaurant facing the window or the seat in your car? I consider myself very careful, but I cannot make that absolute statement. Just like lasers at an event - it only takes an instant.

Re: R1 cluster of hot pixels

ebiggs1 — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 15:07:22 GMT

" Not looking forward to the bill for that!"

And neither would I because that is a stacked sensor and requires recalibration and alignment labor which could be almost as much as the sensor itself. I suspect you are looking at two grand (or more).

Re: R1 cluster of hot pixels

obl918 — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 20:44:47 GMT

My math says that a CPS Platinum membership probably pays for itself on a sensor replacement.

I'll find out for sure when they send me the bill.

Sending it in.

Re: R1 cluster of hot pixels

ebiggs1 — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 14:31:17 GMT

"My math says that a CPS Platinum membership ..."

Good for you! I was a Gold member for years and I loved it.

Re: R1 cluster of hot pixels

obl918 — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 19:56:03 GMT

In case someone else is curious about the cost of repairing something like this...

Labor $349.00
Parts $4,524.40

Minus 30% for CPS Platinum (so that paid for itself!) and also add local tax rates for the parts.

I imagine this is the most expensive part of the camera. 😑
Standard Overnight Shipping & Handling $35.00 100.00% -$35.00 $0.00

Re: R1 cluster of hot pixels

jrhoffman75 — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 21:33:23 GMT

Since they have gone over the whole camera maybe they would let you purchase CarePak.

Re: R1 cluster of hot pixels

ebiggs1 — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 17:02:38 GMT

"Labor $349.00"

I am surprised the labor isn't more much more. Glad you got it sorted though.

Re: R1 cluster of hot pixels

obl918 — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 17:53:34 GMT

Far as I can tell, they only offer that within 90 days of purchase. I can't find any information about buying it on a newly-serviced unit, but I will look into that option if they offer it to me, for sure.