My Z150 just died

[Paul Anderegg]

Well, close enough, the lens is going out. Heavy buzz and vibration when zooming, and loosing focus. This is the third model camera (X180, X200, Z150) that I have bought that has had the lens go out! My X180 had to be completely replaced by Sony, my X200 was returned to B&H, now this POS is now out of service.

Sony....seriously, really, can't you make a lens that doesn't break.

Paul

[Jack Zhang]

Jeez... Looks like they're really lowering the quality of the servos to get that price down. I wouldn't be surprised at this point if their 28-135 full frame zoom lens has the same crap servos.

[Paul Anderegg]

Don't jinx me, I own a 28-135 E mount! :-(

My X70 has never had an issue........

Paul

[Dan Gunn]

Good to hear re. the X70. My search for a EX1 replacement is getting narrow.

[Jeff Anselmo]

Sorry to hear that Paul. How long did you have the Z150 for?

I guess I have to widen my search to include the DVX200.

[Harry Pallenberg]

Really wish the Panny UX180 would hurry up and get here. Or maybe a Canon XF300 4K replacement?

[Ron Evans]

Originally Posted by Harry Pallenberg

Really wish the Panny UX180 would hurry up and get here. Or maybe a Canon XF300 4K replacement?

IBC is only 3 weeks so we should get some more information then.

Ron Evans

[Paul Anderegg]

I received my Z150 on 4/20...hehe, 420.....anyway, although Sony backfocus mechanisms are garbage, their service depot in Los Angeles is great! Spoke with the same manager who dealt with my X180 fiasco, and he is working on a FedEx label for me, and assured me that labor as well as parts will be covered for a full year. I really love my Z150, and was heartbroken when it suffered the dreaded Sony backfocus problem.........the lens has been really nice. Switched back to using my X70, which is hard, never realized how front heavy the X70 is with the stupid handle and mic attached! Also noticing big time how much additional gain noise the X70 has compared to the MUCH CLEANER Z150 chip.

Paul

[Dan Gunn]

I am ready to go for the Z150 but that lens problem scares me. Any idea what the failure rate is? Did the service manager mention anything about an permanent repair?

The Z150 looks perfect in every other aspect.

[Paul Anderegg]

It's not a Z150 issue, it is a Sony BRAND issue...........if you want a Sony, this is to be expected as a very likely problem, 3 out of 5 XDCAM's I purchased had backfocus problems requiring depot service within a few months of purchase.

Paul

[Antony Tsioukas]

Paul, if you are not have send it back already, can you upload a video to see the problem?

[Paul Anderegg]

I will try, but for some reason it's not doing it, after doing it every time the camera was powered on for two days. :-\

Paul

[Antony Tsioukas]

Thanks, if sometime you got a problematic shot it will be interesting.

[Paul Anderegg]

Imagine holding the camera at telephoto against an electric facial razor..........same sound and the image blurs as the backfocus motor buzzes.

Paul

[Ron Evans]

Originally Posted by Paul Anderegg

It's not a Z150 issue, it is a Sony BRAND issue...........if you want a Sony, this is to be expected as a very likely problem, 3 out of 5 XDCAM's I purchased had backfocus problems requiring depot service within a few months of purchase.

Paul

I tend to agree. I had the problem with my FX1, NX5U and FDR-AX1 all had to have the lens unit changed under warranty. They all worked fine after lens unit was changed. Not had any problems with the consumer cameras !! SR7, SR11, XR500, CX700, or NX30U and FDR-AX100. The new AX53 I have also seems to work just fine too. Must be something about the quality control on the three ring lenses.

Ron Evans