I have had my camera since december and just discovered a problem I have never seen before:

Sometimes, quite often, there is a disturbance in the image. It looks very similar to the rolling effect when recording with a 50 fps shutter in 60 Hz lights. Only this happens outdoors in daylight.

Here you can see a clip:

Rolling shadow problem EX1 By Ola Christoffersson On ExposureRoom (http://exposureroom.com/members/Kamrat.aspx/assets/ee11609497664304a58e51f4f9d6f6f7/)

I have not seen this before in the hundreds of hours of video I have recorded since I got the camera. It only showed up last week. Factors that could be involved here is my new Letus adapter and the fact that the camera has been to Sony for repairs and 1.11 firmware upgrade.

At first I though it was some kind of interference with my new Letus but to my big surprise it is still there when I take the Letus off.

It is coming and going and I cannot make out a typical scenario when it happens. It seems like it is starting after moving the camera or iris (maybe) and then settles down after a few seconds. I am not certain though!

I thought I'd ask you guys for help before I call Sony. Anyone seen anything like this? What could it be? Is the camera broken.

I should also add that it happens with shutter both on and off (180 degrees).

Ola,
I'm not sure how ofter you're seeing this issue, but based on that footage I would send the camera in to Sony along with a CD that has an this example footage.
This looks like it's something to do with the CMOS rolling shutter.

A dumb question, but is the Motion Stabilization turned on when this happens?

Ola, this is what I was seeing in my brand new EX3 just a few days ago (I posted a question about it "Rolling Shadow"). You've described it (and shown it) perfectly!

To make a long story short, to fix another problem I wound up using the "All Reset" button in the Others menu. Since I've done that, the camera hasn't had that problem.

Hope this helps!

A dumb question, but is the Motion Stabilization turned on when this happens?

It is off.

Ola, this is what I was seeing in my brand new EX3 just a few days ago (I posted a question about it "Rolling Shadow"). You've described it (and shown it) perfectly!

To make a long story short, to fix another problem I wound up using the "All Reset" button in the Others menu. Since I've done that, the camera hasn't had that problem.

Hope this helps!

That's very interesting. I will try that tomorrow! Thank you for your help.

Is the flicker reduction turned off? Depending on your region settings flicker reduction can cause flicker!

Is the flicker reduction turned off? Depending on your region settings flicker reduction can cause flicker!

Ah!! That could be it. I believe it is on automatic. I have been experimenting with it when filming 60 Hz computer monitors recently so I might have changed it. I will check tomorrow and let you know if that is it...

Since I had this same problem, I took this issue over the Sony Vegas forum to see if anyone there had experienced this same problem.

One poster said the "rolling shutter" effect could be discounted because the illumination is constant. She said it looked like a defect in readout, possibly confirmed if the All Reset fixed it.

She also said electrical interference causes such effects (radars particularly, and mobile transmitters) -- that can be checked by it being location dependant (unless it's your cell phone).

Another poster wrote that he had this with his EX1, in daylight as well as under lights. He said that turning off Flicker Reduction in the Camera Menu seems to have cured it.

I contacted the dealer (Alpha Cine) and they are looking into it. They even went so far as to contact Sony. Will post the answer as soon as I get it.

Ola, this is what I was seeing in my brand new EX3 just a few days ago (I posted a question about it "Rolling Shadow"). You've described it (and shown it) perfectly!

To make a long story short, to fix another problem I wound up using the "All Reset" button in the Others menu. Since I've done that, the camera hasn't had that problem.

Hope this helps!

May I know when you execute the "All Rest" button, will all the settings return to factory default? And will the profile setting be gone too?

Back to Ola's issue, I have also encountered this under indoor lighting, and my most recent encounter was during an outdoor shoot 2 weeks ago. As it was an imprtant shoot, I was panic and don't know what to do, then I quickly switched to full auto and the flickering went away. Switching back to manual mode and dod not see the flickering again. Strange!!

Actually indoor lighting is possible. We all know these CMOS rolling shutter based cameras can show this exact condition under older low-frequency fluorescent or HMI lights.

Ah!! That could be it. I believe it is on automatic. I have been experimenting with it when filming 60 Hz computer monitors recently so I might have changed it. I will check tomorrow and let you know if that is it...

That could be it. Flicker reduction was designed for shooting under flourescent lighting (non-production, i.e. crappy). If you want to shoot computer monitors use the ECS shutter mode.

when you execute the "All Reset" button, will all the settings return to factory default? And will the profile setting be gone too?



Yes, everything goes back to factory default.

I had the exact same problem, resolved it 100% by turning off flicker reduction.

May it be you cellular phone? I noticed when the phone is checking the cell, it is buzzing into my computer speakers from 3 to 5 feet away. My old CRT monitor was doing same rolling flicker because of my cell phone.

I can not test it myself right now but I suggest to put your cell phone close to the camera while recording, ring the phone, and check the recording to see if it had any interference or not.

thx,
Mike

I have the same problem, brand new EX1, I only used it twice before I got the firmware upgrade, then my next shoot this happens 3-4 times.

Have a look:
Sony EX1 Problems, please help! on Vimeo (http://www.vimeo.com/1789971)

It is NOT caused by the following:

- artificial light such LEDs, fluorescents or anything else, it was shot in only outdoor light.

- I did not mess the with shutter or any flicker reduction settings.

- It goes away on it's own as you can see at the end of the footage. It happened for about 20 seconds during a 35 minute interview as well when the camera wasn't moving and was in the same spot, light and settings.

I took it to Sony, they gave it back to me today and said there was nothing wrong with it.

Looks like they were wrong.

I hate intermittent problems!!!

Like I said, turn flicker reduction completely off. It's on by default, and will cause this.

May I know when you execute the "All Rest" button, will all the settings return to factory default? And will the profile setting be gone too?


Serena has answered the question. However, this is why you need to save and back-up your camera's settings. In the event of a All Reset, you simply re-install the settings file and you're ready to go!

Is the flicker reduction turned off? Depending on your region settings flicker reduction can cause flicker!

Of course Alister, you were right. Flicker reduction was set to ON. After turning it off the problem is gone!

I file like an idiot sounding of the alarm when I could have read the manual a third time...

Anyway - thank you everybody for your help on this issue. Hopefully this is a thread that will help others like me in the future!

Here is the answer I received from Alpha Cine (where I bought the EX3) in regards to this rolling flutter issue:

"My service guru tells me this is a problem that gets fixed at Sony. You should bring your camera in for my service guys to take a look at it and they will either give you a new camera or send it off to sony for a fix. Supposedly it's a bug where the shutter or the fake electronic frame divider is off."

The only problem is they are in New York and I'm in Miami.

Here is the answer I received from Alpha Cine (where I bought the EX3) in regards to this rolling flutter issue:

"My service guru tells me this is a problem that gets fixed at Sony. You should bring your camera in for my service guys to take a look at it and they will either give you a new camera or send it off to sony for a fix. Supposedly it's a bug where the shutter or the fake electronic frame divider is off."

The only problem is they are in New York and I'm in Miami.

LOL..
There is no problem.
Just turn OFF flicker reduction.

You can prove it yourself by turning it ON verses OFF.

LOL..
There is no problem.
Just turn OFF flicker reduction.

You can prove it yourself by turning it ON verses OFF.

So does this mean that Flicker reduction is not supposed to give this effect? Is it something that can be fixed? Or does Jay have a different problem?

So does this mean that Flicker reduction is not supposed to give this effect? Is it something that can be fixed? Or does Jay have a different problem?

Ola, I think from everything we've seen and read the past couple of days that we had the same problem. It also appears that it was simply a matter of turn off the Flicker Reduction. Why? I can't tell you, because I simply don't know. I didn't even realize it was on!

If the problem returns, we'll know it was more than a matter of turning off Flicker Reduction. At that point, my camera will be going back to Sony.

Ola, I think from everything we've seen and read the past couple of days that we had the same problem. It also appears that it was simply a matter of turn off the Flicker Reduction. Why? I can't tell you, because I simply don't know. I didn't even realize it was on!

If the problem returns, we'll know it was more than a matter of turning off Flicker Reduction. At that point, my camera will be going back to Sony.

That makes Sonys answer to you seem a bit strange though...

That makes Sonys answer to you seem a bit strange though...

Yes, I agree with you. However, I took that to be an "educated guess" on their part, not having the camera in hand to examine.

Can we ignore the empirical evidence? Your camera was doing the exact same thing mine was. Turning off the Flicker Reduction appears to have eliminated the problem.

Ola,

Your instincts and description are correct: "It looks very similar to the rolling effect when recording with a 50 fps shutter in 60 Hz lights. Only this happens outdoors in daylight".

EX1 & EX3 camcorders are shipped with the "Flicker Reduction" set to Auto. In some rare occasions, repetitive luminance changes when panning may falsly trigger the Flicker Reduction circuit ON. To eliminate the possibility of this phenomenom inadvertingly occurring: invoke the the camera menu and turn OFF the Flicker Reduce circuit.

If you are recording 50fps in USA (60Hz line frequency) set the shutter to 1/60th or invoke the Ficker Reduce function.

Juan Martinez
Senior Manager
Sony Electronics

Excellent information. Thank you, Juan, for straightening this out for us.

Much appreciated!

Thank you Juan.

Jay & Steven,

Thank you for your kind words... I am glad to be able to help.

Juan

Jay & Steven,

Thank you for your kind words... I am glad to be able to help.

Juan

May I just add how extremely valuable it is to have a Sony rep. following this forum and helping out. I am amazed at how well this forum can work sometimes and was almost moved to tears at how fast all you guys helped me sort out this problem!

May I just add how extremely valuable it is to have a Sony rep. following this forum and helping out. I am amazed at how well this forum can work sometimes and was almost moved to tears at how fast all you guys helped me sort out this problem!

Yes, it is very awesome having a sony rep posting regularly!

I think this problem just happened to me. I was using a rental EX-3 camera and saw a rolling happen in the viewfinder and then disappear. Shooting outside for a live event. Ruined a couple of shots. Came back searched the forum and find this thread. The camera was in Auto for Reduce Flicker which is kind of a joke since it created more problems than it fixed n this case. This is a very annoying bug has there been any firmware upgrade or solution from Sony as it is not clear how many people I would have to teach to make sure the Reduce Flicker menu setting should be checked before shooting?

Well I did point out right at the beginning that this was a flicker reduction issue, Yet it took Juan (thanks for your input Juan, it is appreciated) to get people to take notice.

I'm not sure but I think on the EX1 the factory default has been changed in the firmware. Certainly on all early cameras it was set to auto but I think the latest firmware has it set to off. This could explain the comment that sony have a "fix".

Whenever I do my EX presentations this is one of the key comments I make about setting the camera up. Switch it to off, leave it off. If you are shooting at say 50i/25P in a 60Hz country use the regular shutter set to 1/60th ( or 1/50th in 50hz countries). It's more controllable and won't give the strange flicker problems that the auto setting can.