Anafi camera(sensor) replacement?

Bgerritse · Jul 9, 2020

Hey guys,

So I have a problem with a Anafi that is out of warranty. I can find some people that have had this issue but it is always solved by replacing the drone through Parrot.
That unfortunately will not work in my case.

The issue I am having is corruption/artifacts in the image:

First suspect for me is the imaging sensor, which on its own is pretty much impossible to exchange.
I understand that the camera module and mainboard are married in a way where you cannot swap one without the other, that complicated things a bit.

Does anybody have some solid advise? I have decent skills in electronics and soldering, replacing basic parts when needed shouldn't be a problem.

Before I buy some salvaged parts I would like to know what the chances of success are

Thanks in advance!

Deleted member 3201 · Jul 9, 2020

lol, you bought it Facebook?

I saw that exact Anafi

Liger 1956 · Jul 9, 2020

This post appears to indicate that the camera can be changed and recognised by the Anafi provided that the control board is not changed.

Anafi motherboard paired with camera/gimbal misconceptions

. Some information that maybe useful after seeing numerous threads on replacing the motherboard and resulting in camera problems. Having repaired a number of these I have accumulated a few spares and found time to swap around boards gimbals and cameras as you can see Stripping down the gimbals...

parrotpilots.com

Bgerritse · Jul 9, 2020

Test2000 said:
lol, you bought it Facebook? I saw that exact Anafi

No

might be the same problem though?

Bgerritse · Jul 9, 2020

Liger 1956 said:
This post appears to indicate that the camera can be changed and recognised by the Anafi provided that the control board is not changed.

Anafi motherboard paired with camera/gimbal misconceptions

. Some information that maybe useful after seeing numerous threads on replacing the motherboard and resulting in camera problems. Having repaired a number of these I have accumulated a few spares and found time to swap around boards gimbals and cameras as you can see Stripping down the gimbals...

parrotpilots.com

Great find!
Must have missed this post. Much obliged.

Ana789 · Jul 9, 2020

Your picture gives me an idea.
Do you have by chance the "show over exposure" feature on, at all times?
It looks a bit like this could be the part in there, where you see, on your phone, that is it overexposed!
Which would let me try, if out of warranty at least, to check whats happened with this feature switched OFF!

Gipsz Jakab · Jul 9, 2020

Bgerritse said:
Hey guys,

So I have a problem with a Anafi that is out of warranty. I can find some people that have had this issue but it is always solved by replacing the drone through Parrot.
That unfortunately will not work in my case.

The issue I am having is corruption/artifacts in the image: View attachment 4563

First suspect for me is the imaging sensor, which on its own is pretty much impossible to exchange.
I understand that the camera module and mainboard are married in a way where you cannot swap one without the other, that complicated things a bit.

Does anybody have some solid advise? I have decent skills in electronics and soldering, replacing basic parts when needed shouldn't be a problem.

Before I buy some salvaged parts I would like to know what the chances of success are

Thanks in advance!

I don't think this is a sensor error. Because this error phenomenon varies in the image, I think it is a software problem. The phenomenon is similar to the "Zebra stripes" used to display overexposure and also software bands

Bgerritse · Jul 9, 2020

Ana789 said:
Your picture gives me an idea.
Do you have by chance the over "show over exposure" feature on, at all times?
It looks a bit like this could be the part in there, where you see, on your phone, that is it overexposed!
Which would let me try, if out of warranty at least, to check whats happened with this feature switched OFF!

Yea this was my initial thought too, but it makes no difference.
The overexposure highlighter should also not end up on the captured image (video or picture)
What does change the way the error behaves is the HDR setting.
When set to 'off' it is less noticeable (but still apparent)

Bgerritse · Jul 9, 2020

Gipsz Jakab said:
I don't think this is a sensor error. Because this error phenomenon varies in the image, I think it is a software problem. The phenomenon is similar to the "Zebra stripes" used to display overexposure and also software bands

Hmm, valid point. If it was a sensor physical malfunction the defect would be static.
I can imagine though, that there is an error for a certain combination of color/brightness that triggers is. This might be a hardware failure too?

I uploaded a small video clip where the distortion is visible on the roof of the safari tent: P5780589.MP4

Deleted member 3201 · Jul 9, 2020

Bgerritse said:
No might be the same problem though?

I saw it on FB I think, it was almost the same image. Could have been marktplaats though

Bgerritse · Jul 10, 2020

Test2000 said:
I saw it on FB I think, it was almost the same image. Could have been marktplaats though

Yea, Marktplaats it was!

Deleted member 3201 · Jul 10, 2020

Bgerritse said:
Yea, Marktplaats it was!

Sorry to hear that. How much did you pay for it in the end?

Bgerritse · Jul 10, 2020

Test2000 said:
Sorry to hear that. How much did you pay for it in the end?

Not too much, and I was well informed about the glitch

I just like to tinker with stuff.

Deleted member 3201 · Jul 10, 2020

I have seen it on sale for 399 brand new and 100% working with 2 years warranty

Bgerritse · Jul 10, 2020

Test2000 said:
I have seen it on sale for 399 brand new and 100% working with 2 years warranty

Yea, I've seen deals too but I got it for less then half of that and as I said, I like fixing (trying to) things

Gipsz Jakab · Jul 10, 2020

Bgerritse said:
Hmm, valid point. If it was a sensor physical malfunction the defect would be static.
I can imagine though, that there is an error for a certain combination of color/brightness that triggers is. This might be a hardware failure too?

I uploaded a small video clip where the distortion is visible on the roof of the safari tent: P5780589.MP4

I watched the video. There is a strange discoloration on the border of the two white shades at the top of the building.
Was it always like that, or was it good at first? Try an ND filter, it might reduce this phenomenon. Final solution: Request a replacement.

Bgerritse · Jul 10, 2020

Gipsz Jakab said:
I watched the video. There is a strange discoloration on the border of the two white shades at the top of the building.
Was it always like that, or was it good at first? Try an ND filter, it might reduce this phenomenon. Final solution: Request a replacement.

I bought it like this, so yea for me it was always apparent.
Requesting a replacement isn't going to work, but the ND filter might be an idea!