Does this look like a sensor problem?

Question

I have these tiny dots in a lot of my pictures. They look like tiny stars.

On this Nikon D60 I've tried cleaning the area where the shutter is (what's this called?) with a hand pumping duster, but they're still there. I can't see a single speck of dust.

Does it look like a stuck/dead pixel problem?

I am about to list this camera for sale and want to disclose the issue properly (unless you can help me remedy it).

Thanks!

Answer

Those do indeed look like stuck pixels, however I'm curious if they are always in the same place? A stuck pixel is always there, in the exact same spot, regardless of other picture detail. I would try taking a black exposure with the lens cap on, and see if any of those pixels light up. If none do over several exposures, then it might be some kind of bayer interpolation issue. If those specific pixels always show up in a black exposure, they they are indeed stuck pixels. Most modern DSLR cameras have a feature or the ability (it may be buried) to map and exclude stuck pixels from interpolation. Generally speaking, ignoring the pixel is better than including it in interpolation. I am not aware of any way to actually "unstick" a stuck pixel, and I have heard that sensors ship with pre-mapped stuck pixels every so often.

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