View Full Version : FDR-AX53 - FW1.02 is out


Roland Schulz
September 14th, 2016, 12:36 AM
I've seen that FW1.02 is out nearly two weeks now and liked to know if anyone already installed it.

1.01 had a bug that bricked the cameras MF function. You needed >7 turns in MF from near to far from ~1.2 turns in 1.00 before.

I had my first updated camera changed for that issue since you can't go back once it is updated.

Did anyone already beeing on 1.01 make the update and find MF is working more direct again in 1.02?!
Sony doesn't mention anything about that but they also didn't from 1.00 to 1.01.

The mentioned "stability" issue was another problem when operating the AX33/53 from a monopod - maybe this is fixed now.

John Nantz
September 14th, 2016, 09:43 PM
Roland - Thanks for the heads up with regard to the update.

This is the first I’ve heard about it so it’s good news.

Roland Schulz
September 16th, 2016, 02:53 PM
Anyone who tried 1.02 yet?! Is the manual focus bug still there or is it solved?!

Lou Bruno
September 16th, 2016, 06:01 PM
Focus Issue is fixed.

Bob Schoemer
September 21st, 2016, 04:36 PM
Lou - See that at one time you were a DV5000 guru. Bought a used one to learn about pro video cameras.

Does not have a microphone on it. What kind of microphone can I buy, the old JVC MV-P61x's never seem to be listed on eBay. Will the XM-88 from B & H work, or ??

OK if I ask more questions about the DV5000??

Please Advise - Thanks

Lou Bruno
September 22nd, 2016, 01:34 PM
I would suggest a Rode Microphone. Ntg-1 Or Ntg-2. It has been so long ago I owned that camera as I am no longer familiar with same. Sorry.

Paul Newman
October 24th, 2016, 07:52 AM
I have just updated my AX53 from 1.00 to 1.02 and the focus now needs a million rotations to do an end to end focus - so it appears to me that it is NOT fixed at all.

At least, this compared to vers. 1.0 maybe it is better than 1.01

Paul :-)

Lou Bruno
October 24th, 2016, 01:57 PM
Try loading it again....my prior focus issue is fixed

Paul Newman
October 25th, 2016, 10:27 AM
Got this after complaining about the focus issue:


Dear Mr Newman

Thank you for contacting Sony support regarding your Sony FDR-AX53. We are sorry to learn you are experiencing issues with focus ring taking a long time to adjust.

In regards to the issue you have raised, we can confirm that the software update has no direct impact on the focus time required to adjust the focus ring, however, we recommend you disconnect the power source, attach the power source again after about 1 minute, and turn this product on.

In addition, please initialize settings to the default setting as follows Menu- Settings- Main Settings- Initialize- OK.

If the same issue still persists, we recommend sending the device to Sony Central Service for repair on the following address:

Bummer

Paul :-)

Paul Anderegg
October 26th, 2016, 01:38 AM
Did you try control alt delete, or whacking it with a mallet?

Also Paul :-)

Paul Newman
October 26th, 2016, 09:09 AM
They also suggested standing in a bucket of water during a thunderstorm whilst flying a kite and filming the event handheld. Apparently, a chap called "Igor" had great success helping his "master" in this way, managing to bring an equally unresponsive item to life.

Shocking.

Paul :-)

Roland Schulz
November 13th, 2016, 04:32 AM
I verified this problem yesterday on a friends AX53 he updated to 1.02 - yes, the manual focus bug is still there!!! More than 7 turns are needed from near to infinity in full tele!!


LOU, YOUR POST WAS VERY CARELESS!!!
Not so nice for some users since you can't go back to FW1.00.


@Paul Newman: Could you please again contact these "blinds" at Sony and ask them for fixing this in a "near future" firmware. We are not to silly to check this fault, maybe they are...

Paul Newman
November 13th, 2016, 07:24 AM
I still have an open ticket with them, so yes I'll point this out.....again!

Paul :-)

Roland Schulz
November 13th, 2016, 08:19 AM
Thank you!
Did this some times in Germany and UK, but most of these "competent" guys tell you that it's your fault and that you should reset your camera and all this nonsense... Will also try another time...

Mark Watson
November 13th, 2016, 08:36 AM
I have two AX53s on order. So, if they're v1.0 out of the box, you guys would recommend not updating until the focus wheel problem gets solved? I plan to use these cameras with auto focus most of the time, with that in mind, any upside to updating now?


Mark

Paul Newman
November 13th, 2016, 11:39 AM
Actually, I use my two 53's in auto mode now - I use spot focus and have tested on several shoots, comparing manual focus work and touch focus - basically, it works fine for me - I set the AGC limit to 6dB and have iris on the lens - so with zebras and peaking on, I can tweak the exposure and see the focus peaking guide.

All this said, I shoot live recording sessions with Soloists, Quartets to full Operas, Jazz sessions and so on, so the long record times/battery life are perfect for this...

AX53 might be tiny but the quality out of the box is really something, the Timecode and User Bit is brilliant, I'm beginning to prefer it to my AX100 :-(

Paul :-)

Roland Schulz
November 14th, 2016, 01:23 PM
"I" would not update the firmware - but that's just me. I also think you will only get cams with FW1.01 or later these days.

Mark Watson
November 27th, 2016, 10:38 AM
All 7 of the new cameras arrived; AX-53 (x2), AX-100 (x1), X-3000 (x4). They all had the latest firmware installed. The AX-53 takes about 2 revolutions of manual focus to go near-to-far. I'm curious to see if there's any difference between 60Mbps and 100Mbps in 1080p 120fps mode, and how the hi-speed footage compares to the AX-100 set up for 720p 120fps.