PD170 RF susceptibility? at DVinfo.net

Bob Harotunian · December 7th, 2004, 07:59 PM

"RF susceptibility: Walkie and cel phone transmissions in the vicinity of the camera will cause the steadyshot mechanism to jump and the exposure to shift momentarily. Turning the steadyshot off lessens the problem but does not eliminate it."

This was reported as a PD150 quirk at www.alanbarker.com. Just wondering if anyone knows if this "quirk" was corrected in the 170.
Bob

Mike Rehmus · December 7th, 2004, 09:35 PM

Still as bad as ever with regard to the OIS. I've never seen an image quality change except for the motion imparted by the OIS. Must be one heck of a strong RF field to change the image quality.

I wouldn't be surprised. I think Sony reduced the operating voltage of the on-board circuitry to lower power consumption and that plus the plethora of un-shielded flexible circuit cabling makes it significantly susceptible.

Bob Harotunian · December 8th, 2004, 07:40 AM

So, if a cell phone goes off in the vicinity of a PD170 with OIS on, there will be some kind of image aberation??? Do you know what is meant by "in the vicinity"? A few feet, yards, in a church?
Thanks,
Bob

Mike Rehmus · December 8th, 2004, 07:52 AM

It totally depends on the strength of the RF and the relatonship of the source to the camera.

I'm certain that the camera is more susceptable to interference from some locations on a sphere around the camera than others.

I don't notice normal cell phone activity bothers my 150 unless the phone is held next to the camera. Even then, with my normal cell phone, it is a random thing.

I have not experienced any interference issues except around police radios. I'm certain that most types of radios in the 1/2 watt and up power range and relatively close can cause OIS excursions in these cameras. A police car transmitter will bang my camera from 20 feet away.

James Emory · December 18th, 2004, 01:56 PM

Here is a relative thread noting the same issues.

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...threadid=35565

John Mag · December 23rd, 2004, 05:38 AM

I have had a PD150 and now own a PD170. Both cameras demonstrated interference with mobile phones in the vicinity, leading to not only OIS jumping but also significant audio interference. This occured even when the phone is "checking in" with the base-station, not just when a call is received.
In Australia we use the European GSM standard, which may make it worse than in the US, I don't know.

December 7th, 2004, 07:59 PM	#1
Bob Harotunian Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Somerville, MA Posts: 360	PD170 RF susceptibility? "RF susceptibility: Walkie and cel phone transmissions in the vicinity of the camera will cause the steadyshot mechanism to jump and the exposure to shift momentarily. Turning the steadyshot off lessens the problem but does not eliminate it." This was reported as a PD150 quirk at www.alanbarker.com. Just wondering if anyone knows if this "quirk" was corrected in the 170. Bob

December 7th, 2004, 09:35 PM	#2
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	Still as bad as ever with regard to the OIS. I've never seen an image quality change except for the motion imparted by the OIS. Must be one heck of a strong RF field to change the image quality. I wouldn't be surprised. I think Sony reduced the operating voltage of the on-board circuitry to lower power consumption and that plus the plethora of un-shielded flexible circuit cabling makes it significantly susceptible. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

December 8th, 2004, 07:52 AM	#4
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	It totally depends on the strength of the RF and the relatonship of the source to the camera. I'm certain that the camera is more susceptable to interference from some locations on a sphere around the camera than others. I don't notice normal cell phone activity bothers my 150 unless the phone is held next to the camera. Even then, with my normal cell phone, it is a random thing. I have not experienced any interference issues except around police radios. I'm certain that most types of radios in the 1/2 watt and up power range and relatively close can cause OIS excursions in these cameras. A police car transmitter will bang my camera from 20 feet away. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

December 23rd, 2004, 05:38 AM	#6
John Mag Tourist Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sydney Posts: 1	Reproducible mobile phone problems I have had a PD150 and now own a PD170. Both cameras demonstrated interference with mobile phones in the vicinity, leading to not only OIS jumping but also significant audio interference. This occured even when the phone is "checking in" with the base-station, not just when a call is received. In Australia we use the European GSM standard, which may make it worse than in the US, I don't know.

December 8th, 2004, 07:40 AM	#3
Bob Harotunian Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Somerville, MA Posts: 360	So, if a cell phone goes off in the vicinity of a PD170 with OIS on, there will be some kind of image aberation??? Do you know what is meant by "in the vicinity"? A few feet, yards, in a church? Thanks, Bob

December 18th, 2004, 01:56 PM	#5
James Emory Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,892	Here is a relative thread noting the same issues. http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...threadid=35565