Help! I turned on my sony Z7U today, and I went to zoom in, while we were taping today, and the zoom stopped working. I tried several things, I took off the lens to make sure it was tighted. Double checked the servo switch, I even reset the camera incase it was a firmware thing. No change.

The sony quit zooming in. When I turn the camera on or off, it does not work.

Has anyone expereinced this? I am taking the camera in to a repair center quickly.

I am hoping for an answer from anyone. I have no idea why this occured out of the blue.

Thanks,

George

Did you use the rocker switch on the lens grip or the zoom control on the top handle? The one on the top handle can be switched off.

Also check the servo/manual zoom switch on the bottom of the lens handle.

Thanks for the replies.

The rocker arm and the handle grip both quit.

Also the servo/manual button is engaged.

In fact with the servo button on manual, the ring does not zoom
the lens either. It flat does not work.


I did drop it off for repair, and the tech mention a cable being detache subside the lens. I am hoping it is a simple fix. One thing I will mention is that I am soooo glad I purchased local, while they are fixing my camera, they are giving me a loaner.

Support local business!

I know if I purchased in NewYork I would be out $250 a
day to rent to cover my rear!

I am hope this is not a common problem for the z7u.

Geo

Since the lens won't zoom in either manual or servo mode I'm guessing it's mechanical; that there is a gear stripped in the zoom mechanism. It's only a guess. Please let us know what the actual issue is and good luck.

AAAHHHHH! $1800 Repair. Well not even a repair - Sony does not allow you to repair the lens according to the repair guy I went to which is a reputable Sony dealer and repair in Denver. Just a lens replacement part.

Out of no where the lens stopped working. Camera was not dropped, the repair guy said he did not spot any abuse or corrosion inside. Just flat out stopped functioning.

I am so disappointed! $5900 for this camera, for 2.3 years worth of use. I bought it local, with no extended warranty. (I don't even think they offered it) - so bummer! Would that extra $6-700 really paid off?

The upside is I do get use of Free rentals until my camera is fixed... that is $250 a pop!

Does anyone have any lens alternative ideas to use with this cam? I was looking at the Sony LA-100W Alpha Lens Adapter and wondering if that was a viable option.

Anyone have a broken Z7U they want to sell the lens off of?

I guess just better bite the bullet and get it fixed.

Geo... :-'"(

I don't like the lens of the Z7 very much. It's very sharp, but the handling sucks. Aperture ring without stops, unprecise focusing. So I would never pay to get it repaired. Instead, I'd try to bargain a good price for this lens: http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/private-classifieds/478062-mint-fujinon-th13x3-5brmu-lens.html . And you get the wide-angle as a very interesting extra + the superb finishing and ergonomics of a Fujinon.
But that's just me.

That would be a great lens, but you would loose the image stabilizer, a feature I find very valuable in the Z7's handycam form factor.

If you want OIS, either get another sock lens, or get the wide angle lens.

If you're OK without OIS, look into getting a used JVC HD100, pop the lens onto your Z7 & sell the body. I saw one on these forums a while back for sale for $1800. I was really tempted to buy the camera just for the lens at that price.

Quick question, did you normally keep the lens in servo mode? Could the zoom have gotten bumped a lot while in transit?

I'm wondering if it stripped the gears, maybe something like that could have happened.

Alpha adapter is probably not going to be a good move. I don't think there are many (if any) 12x4 SLR lenses out there. Hardly any SLR lenses will the zoom ranges we're used to in video. But if you're really interested, I would say look at the Mike Tappa / MTF Nikon adapter. There are a lot more Nikon lenses out there than Sony / Minolta.

Can anyone help me with the differences I would see without the OIS? I have spotted a good deal on a Fujinon TH16x5.5BRMU 1/3 . But really am fretting this whole situation. I am so disappointed in this camera lens!

We always kept the servo engaged. So it is possible that it could of been being bumped in my camera bag. But nothing of a huge forceful blow.

The weird thing is the camera repair guy said the lens is not even repairable. SONY BEWARE... what a bummer. they make you replace the entire lens barrel.

With the servo on I could zoom the lens, and the ring would move, but the lens would not zoom - the ring would move about a 1/8" and then stop. Then if I reset the zoom, and press it in again, it would move another 1/8" then stop. But the lens does not zoom.

The camera has been great up until now.

G~ /00\

Hi George

I've got both the Sony stock lens and the Fuji 16x 5.5, and the main difference is the Fuji is nowhere near as wide as the Sony at the widest zoom - I think it's more like a 50mm lens on a 35mm SLR camera, but conversely it is a fair bit longer at the tele end of the zoom - almost equivalent to 600mm on a 35mm SLR. It also has a wider maximum aperture - F1.4.

The OIS of the Sony lens makes a difference to me when hand holding - it is noticably smoother with OIS than without.

As an aside, I might get a second opinion about whether your lens is or isn't repairable - I've seen Canon and Nikon long lenses for stills camera repaired that have been dropped, soaked and damaged in unimaginable ways!

Hi Matt,

Thanks a bunch,

I am deliberating the investment into a Fuji or not. Your information is very very helpful. Do you like the Fuji lens, and what is your primary use for it? - How is the DoF at 1.4? Is it worth it?

I did call Sony, and the informed me to send the lens in for repair. The local repair guy is just missing the mark a little, apparently.

I am suspicious if the camera was left on in the bag with the zoom being pressed. I am thinking that it is quite possibly the answer to the mystery of the lens to quit working out of nowhere.

Man was it a sad day when I pulled it out of the bag and needed to shoot. - I had my 5d as a backup, and thankfully I came home with very good footage from that event.

The joys of owning a business! Is this where I wish I had bought an extended warranty? --- Such a gamble when you treat your gear with great care...

Thanks everyone for your input. Off to California with the lens!

George

Hi George, I should also have pointed out the Fuji lens is only manual focus. I bought mine relatively cheaply (£250 new) and use it for close-ups in a pseudo studio set-up for a handicraft web tv channel as it has closer focusing abilities than the Sony lens.

A slight disadvantage for me is that the LANC controller I have for the Sony lens doesn't work with the Fuji lens - it requires a special Fuji controller that plugs into the lens.

£250 Matt?!? If you see another one at that price, please let me know, especially if it is on this side of the pond.

To nit-pick your math a little, if the Sony (at 4.4mm) is 20% wider than the Fuji (at 5.5mm). So it would be like going from a 50mm to a 40mm lens on your Canon 5D. (But since 35mm is much more standard, you're example was a good pick.)

So George if you get a 0.7x wide angle lens on top of the Fuji you'll gain back the extra wide edge & then some. Plus I believe the Fuji is a 20x lens, which means you'll be able to zoom in over twice as far as the stock Sony lens.

Hey Good point Zach - Zooming in would be a plus - but I am dreading no OIS.

What thread is the fuji? I have some wide angles I do not se threaded for the vx series. Perhaps a stepup ring, but then will I have vignetting?

Totally Matt, if you could release your source - I would buy one of em for sure...

Thanks!

George

George and Zach,

I bought my lens off Ebay UK last autumn from a chap in London who had three new ones for sale - I suppose I was just lucky!

ps, mine is a 16x 5.5mm, not 20x. The filter thread is pretty big, 82mm I think. I once did a search for a wide adapter but couldn't find any online. Since then I've bought the Sony 308 wide lens (8x 3.3mm), so I don't need the wide adapter anyway.

Matt

HI All, has anyone used Tekmediagroup from California? They say they are really good, but i am having a hard time with shipping from CO to CA. They provide free estimates, the local estimate I had in Denver was $1800, and that basically replace the entire lens, and that Sony doesn't sell parts.

On to the next - Tekmediagroup does not charge an estimate fee, but my phobia is getting me. Has anyone used them?

Or Sony repairs and charges a $135 estimate. Any ideas on the best options?

IF anyone has any tips for buying a used lens comparable to the Ziess lens. or if you have a dead Z7u, and would salvage the lens, that would be an option to entertain. OR a Fujinon lens that would work on the z7u.

Is there a place to find out all of the lens that would work, that would be very helpful. I have been ruthlessly searching for a good deal for the fuji 16x5 but really think $1299 on the bay is a bit much.

Thank you so much, just PM me if you would happen to have a spare lens around your willing to part with.

Thank you to everyone who helped!

George

If I would find a reasonably priced, secondhand Fujinon 13x3,5 for my Z7, I'll gladly sell you the Zeiss lens that is now on it. So let me know if you stumble across one of these Fujinon wide-angles!

AAAHHHHH! $1800 Repair. Well not even a repair - Sony does not allow you to repair the lens according to the repair guy I went to which is a reputable Sony dealer and repair in Denver. Just a lens replacement part.(

George, unfortunately I think that the tech is right.
I just had a similar thing happen with my Sony FX1 camera. The zoom stopped working, as out of nowhere the lens zooms in all of the way and won;t let you zoom out.

I have talked to several repair shops, and it seems that Sony doesn't sell the parts needed to fix a lens block. So as a results you need to purchase the entire lens block to fix lens related issues.

The only exception to this, might be if a cable came undone in the lens, then a shop might be able to fix the lens without the need of a new one.

But unfortunately for people like us, this isn't the case. =(

Thanks all for your advice, it has helped me tremendously.

I would buy a 13x3.5 Fujinon lens, but... wow they cost a lot.

I was able to land a Fujinon 16x5.5 from a dead JVC Hd100. This will have to get me by until Sony can get me a quote. - I am going to send it to Cali to the Sony techs themselves.

I can't imangine it is anything else but a cable undone.

The camera will zoom out when I press the zoon out, but the lens does not move.

I will report back when I know from Sony.

Thanks!

Geo

So the bid is in from Sony in LA.

Dang It! What a joke! - $2021 - More than my local shop wanted to repair the stock Sony lens for the Z7U!

I ended up with a great Fuji Lens, that I am going to have to use for a while. - No image stabilization.

Z7U owners beware! I honestly have no idea why this lens went, outside of the possible explainations posted in this thread. - wow. very dissapointing indeed.

Found this on the auction site, this might interest you.



Sony VCL-412BWH Stock Lens from HVR-Z7U HDV Camcorder - eBay (item 270603992958 end time Aug-05-10 22:01:04 PDT) (http://cgi.ebay.com/Sony-VCL-412BWH-Stock-Lens-HVR-Z7U-HDV-Camcorder-/270603992958?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Camcorder_Lenses&hash=item3f01413f7e#ht_1697wt_913)

Right On Rickey! I snagged it!

What a life saver - The fuji 16x5.5 lens is a bear to keep in focus!

If will be selling the Fuji as soon as this comes in... I really appreciate your help!

Sony will have to toss the other lens... I am not paying another $135 - The first inspection costs $100 - so I would be out $235 just to be told it costs $2 grand. - Man I can sleep good tonight!

Thanks again! Time to lay this thread to rest ... RIP

Glad to hear there is a happy ending. Selfishly I wish you knew what caused your breakdown so I (& others too) could better protect my Z7. Hope the new lens works out perfectly for you.

Hi guys.

The company I work for shoots with 2 Z7U's currently. We've had them for 2+ years. We work them hard, in outdoor run/gun situations a lot, and a lot of on-boat saltwater shoots too.

We've been tremendously happy with them in terms of reliability, with only a few issues.

1) The servo on the stock Zeiss lens on one of the cameras has been acting up recently. The manual ring works fine, the lens will travel its full range, but the servo was sticking/jumping and recently stuck and won't work. We suspect it's internal in the servo. This camera is going in for service in a few weeks (it's always in use) so I'll let you know what the technician says. We almost always service our cameras at Precision Camera in Toronto (fantastic service, and they can fix pretty much anything).

2) Unrelated to the servo, but we've gone through 2 headphone jacks per camera, mostly due to their Prosumer quality and poor location (most of our shooters rest the back of the camera on their chest/shoulder when handheld, and they end up pressuring the jack and breaking it.) Frustrating to hear audio dropouts using wireless gear and not knowing if it was actually a dropout or if it's just the headphone jack... the rear-load tape/CF card location is great. The headphone jack placement sucks though.

Cheers,
BJ

Bj,

Be prepared for a $2000 new lens barrel assembly.

I sent this mine into 2 different places, with the same issue, and the same ticket.

I purcased a used lens off of ebay. Now I am suffering a flange back problem. I am opening a new thread to get some help with this new issue.

Good luck.

George

Got a quote on fixing the lens with zoom issues.

It's replacement only, so it's the cost of the new lens, they won't fix the issue.

So now here's the question.... do we spend several thousand to replace the lens when we are already planning on upgrading cameras in the new year?

Is there any market to sell a used Z7U with a lens that has limited zoom function?

I'm guessing there is always some type of a market, just might not buy for what you want to sell.

The plus to the Z7, as opposed to the Z5 or Z1 is that you can pop off the lens & put on a different one.

1/3" to "X" lens adapters exist, so you're not locked into 1/3" lenses, so there are plenty of options out there. I'd be hesitant to invest in something myself that is on the way out the door, but it really depends on how much use / how much money you'll make in the next year w/ your Z7.

Very rarely, the zoom rocker on my stock lens fails to move the lens. When it has happened it is usually at the start of a shoot after the camera has been in the bag for a while. When it has happened, I have just moved the manual zoom while still in the servo mode and it has always performed normally after that. I hope it continues to work since I really like the camera.

B.J. and Greg,

Those are exactly the symptoms my 3.5-year-old Z7U is showing--sticky servo zoom at lower and upper ends, disappearing after an hour or so of use in manual zoom mode. Sony repair estimate lists replacement (like George's) lens $1801.36. Also listed among parts are "rubber level radiation sheet" $19.33 and "sheet zoom (side) absorbing" $9.79. I have a call out to Teaneck, NJ to try to learn what all this means.

If I continue as is, I'd be out of $135 only, but will the manual zoom fix not work after a while? Greg, how's yours doing? I noticed it's been almost a year since you posted. And B.J.--what did you do?

All fellow Z7U fans, wishing you and your cameras good health.

I realize this is an old thread--hope it's OK to post in response. Also this is my first post and I'm am not a super technical person so please be kind. We own three Z7U cameras for our Junior and Senior students to use(at a Univ). We had to repair/replace a lens this summer for a cost of $2,300 which is a big chunk of our annual repair budget. The symptoms were similar to those discussed in this thread. I called Sony to discuss what handling mistakes might lead to the problem and the guy was nice enough but not particularly helpful. I e-mailed Zeiss because, really, I think this reflects badly on them. Here is the reply I got from hoenlinger@zeiss.de. If those having a problem with this lens contacts Mr. Hoenlinger, he might get a notion of what users are experiencing.

"we regret to hear that a Carl Zeiss/Sony product causes those problems for you.

"Unfortunately, we cannot offer a quick solution for this and cannot service your lens.
Carl Zeiss lenses for Sony camcorders are developed in a cooperation of Carl Zeiss and our partner Sony. Details like the mechanical parts, electronics and the AF system are mainly developed by Sony.
The products are manufactured, serviced and supported exclusively by our partner Sony.

The Sony service partners have all the necessary knowledge and the available spare parts to service those lenses. Carl Zeiss does not have all those details to be able to service them, too.

We did not have any hints so far that the Vario-Sonnar lenses for the Z7U will suffer from mechanical defects during normal use. All typical defects with thoses lenses were caused by improper use, heavy pressure, dropping, impact, dirt/dust or (salt) water.

We will get in dialog with our partner Sony to get more details about the issue you mentioned with this lens type. If there might really be some weaknesses with the mechanical parts of this lens that cannot be repaired by the Sony service partners, we will ask Sony to find a more practical solution to service those lenses."

Thank you for posting, Ann. You reminded me that I hadn't posted the results of my efforts.

Sony's position is "there is no known defect with the lenses for these cameras," but I believe the first generation of stock lenses on the Z7U clearly had a problem that neither Sony nor Zeiss will own up to fearing the necessity for a recall. I talked to a number of Sony engineers in Glendale, CA and Teaneck, NJ--all of whom were very helpful. They checked out the electronics in the camera body that controls the zoom and found those were good. So, as you have all experienced, they recommended changing the entire lens.

However, they decided that the wear on the camera and recording head was not so much that the lens would fail as a result of regular use, and they couldn't find any sign of misuse or damage by user. So, they offered to give me a new lens free of charge even though the camera was out of warranty. I must admit, I'd had the camera serviced by them just before the warranty ran out, which may have prompted Sony's generosity.

For those of you dealing with local repair shops, Sony engineers would only tell me that "rubber level radiation sheet" and "sheet zoom (side) absorbing" were insulation that wear out as a result of heat absorption. The online Sony parts stores had no description--maybe Wikipedia can help.

I've been using the camera for over a month since I got it back, keeping my fingers crossed.

Best to all.