Sony confirms backfocus problem

Benjamin Eckstein · March 30th, 2008, 03:30 PM

I have had no luck getting my backfocus fixed through the maintenance menu. It is certainly infuriating.

Do others who have BF problems notice that (at least with the ND on) the only way to get far away things in focus is to turn the focus to the minimum distance? I can zoom into some far away trees and get focus and pull out but have to go to the opposite end of infinity to get infinity focus. Aargh!

Benjamin

Gerald Loidl · March 30th, 2008, 03:40 PM

Benjamin,
I´m sorry to read that it did not work for you.
I had exactly the same situation with 2 cameras before I could fix it.
Did you try the adjustment as described in this thread?
Most of the users who tried it so far had some success.

Benjamin Eckstein · March 30th, 2008, 04:13 PM

I have tried it with one chart, six charts and just tried with a siemens chart displayed through a 50" plasma (although that got really weird looking and probably was not as good an idea).
I called the highly reputable dealer in Boston that I bought it from and spoke to their head engineer and was surprised that to his knowledge nobody else has mentioned the backfocus problem. They have sold a lot of EX-1s and rent them as well. It had me thinking I was just being crazy and seeing a problem that was not real but I have confirmed that it is a problem. The dealer will certainly support in getting it to Sony, but I am just scared from people saying Sony did nothing to fix it.

Brian Cassar · March 30th, 2008, 11:40 PM

Benjamin what is your camera's firmware version? I too have not been successful after more than 10 attempts and making sure I'm following Gerald's procedure to the letter. My FW is 1.02

Michael Mann · March 31st, 2008, 02:51 AM

Gerald, could you post another split screen image of your actual testclips?
Would be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Benjamin Eckstein · March 31st, 2008, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Cassar

Benjamin what is your camera's firmware version? I too have not been successful after more than 10 attempts and making sure I'm following Gerald's procedure to the letter. My FW is 1.02

FW 1.03. Gonna try again today.

Matt Davis · March 31st, 2008, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Mann

Gerald, could you post another split screen image of your actual testclips?

These are my before/after tests - roll mouse over image to switch:

http://www.mdma.tv/ex1/fb.html

Full story here:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...108433&page=47

Perhaps this thread is a more logical place to continue.

Michael Mann · March 31st, 2008, 06:45 AM

Much appreciated, Matt, thanks.

Gerald Loidl · March 31st, 2008, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Mann

Gerald, could you post another split screen image of your actual testclips?
Would be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Michael,
unfortunately I already formated the SxS card with the test clips of the loaner camera, as it was picked up today - they looked exactly like the ones I already posted on this forum from my camera - no difference at all. (looked exactly like this: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showpost....29&postcount=3 )
Sorry,
Gerald

Michael H. Stevens · March 31st, 2008, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Daviss

These are my before/after tests - roll mouse over image to switch:

http://www.mdma.tv/ex1/fb.html

Full story here:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...108433&page=47

Perhaps this thread is a more logical place to continue.

Has Sony (or the service manual) said the FB adjustment needs be done once for each ND setting or is this a sumize?

Paul Cronin · March 31st, 2008, 02:33 PM

I talked with Sony today on the BF problem and was told NO you do not need to do it with ND on that is only remembers the last adjustment. Also I was told that it is better to have a black background and only the Focus Chart/black background in the frame at full wide. But it seem that Gerald has proven that this is not needed.

Then I said that will not be easy for me at full wide and 3 meters how about a brick building. He said that was fine but make sure it is well lit and be wide open iris.

Benjamin Eckstein · March 31st, 2008, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Cronin

I talked with Sony today on the BF problem and was told NO you do not need to do it with ND on that is only remembers the last adjustment. Also I was told that it is better to have a black background and only the Focus Chart/black background in the frame at full wide. But it seem that Gerald has proven that this is not needed.

Then I said that will not be easy for me at full wide and 3 meters how about a brick building. He said that was fine but make sure it is well lit and be wide open iris.

The fact that many NEED to find that setup to properly tune our BF is ridiculous. I tried again today (6 charts on white wall) with fellow DVinfo user Bill Parker (who also had bad BF problems). I got it all fixed (so I thought). Every setting looked sharp. We went to lunch and I was all happy. We came back and lo and behold my backfocus was off again.

It is right on with the ND OFF, but with ND I need to go to min focus to get infinity focused. Really stupid. I am giving up for now, as I have to travel with the camera this week but it is going to the dealer next week.

Aargh.

Paul Cronin · March 31st, 2008, 02:56 PM

Benjamin that does not sound good.

Steven Thomas · March 31st, 2008, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benjamin Eckstein

Every setting looked sharp. We went to lunch and I was all happy. We came back and lo and behold my backfocus was off again.

Hmm...
Why is this?
It was good, then bad. Strange.

After you ran the calibration and determined that it was good, did you power cycle the camera, or did you keep using it for a while?

It sounds like there may be step needed to have it remember the settings.

Benjamin Eckstein · March 31st, 2008, 05:29 PM

I did the BF adjustment and then powered down and went to lunch. Yeah, is there a "Save" thing? I doubt it. This is troubling. Between this and my faulty zoom lever (doesn't do a slow zoom) hopefully Sony will deal with it.

Boo :-(

March 31st, 2008, 02:51 AM	#80
Michael Mann Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Kelkheim, Germany Posts: 375	Gerald, could you post another split screen image of your actual testclips? Would be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance. __________________ Michael

March 31st, 2008, 06:45 AM	#83
Michael Mann Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Kelkheim, Germany Posts: 375	Much appreciated, Matt, thanks. __________________ Michael

March 31st, 2008, 02:33 PM	#86
Paul Cronin Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 4,048	I talked with Sony today on the BF problem and was told NO you do not need to do it with ND on that is only remembers the last adjustment. Also I was told that it is better to have a black background and only the Focus Chart/black background in the frame at full wide. But it seem that Gerald has proven that this is not needed. Then I said that will not be easy for me at full wide and 3 meters how about a brick building. He said that was fine but make sure it is well lit and be wide open iris. __________________ Paul Cronin www.paulcroninstudios.com

March 31st, 2008, 02:56 PM	#88
Paul Cronin Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 4,048	Benjamin that does not sound good. __________________ Paul Cronin www.paulcroninstudios.com

March 30th, 2008, 03:30 PM	#76
Benjamin Eckstein Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 380 Images: 1	I have had no luck getting my backfocus fixed through the maintenance menu. It is certainly infuriating. Do others who have BF problems notice that (at least with the ND on) the only way to get far away things in focus is to turn the focus to the minimum distance? I can zoom into some far away trees and get focus and pull out but have to go to the opposite end of infinity to get infinity focus. Aargh! Benjamin

March 30th, 2008, 03:40 PM	#77
Gerald Loidl Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Austria Posts: 122	Benjamin, I´m sorry to read that it did not work for you. I had exactly the same situation with 2 cameras before I could fix it. Did you try the adjustment as described in this thread? Most of the users who tried it so far had some success.

March 30th, 2008, 04:13 PM	#78
Benjamin Eckstein Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 380 Images: 1	I have tried it with one chart, six charts and just tried with a siemens chart displayed through a 50" plasma (although that got really weird looking and probably was not as good an idea). I called the highly reputable dealer in Boston that I bought it from and spoke to their head engineer and was surprised that to his knowledge nobody else has mentioned the backfocus problem. They have sold a lot of EX-1s and rent them as well. It had me thinking I was just being crazy and seeing a problem that was not real but I have confirmed that it is a problem. The dealer will certainly support in getting it to Sony, but I am just scared from people saying Sony did nothing to fix it.

March 30th, 2008, 11:40 PM	#79
Brian Cassar Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Malta Posts: 306	Benjamin what is your camera's firmware version? I too have not been successful after more than 10 attempts and making sure I'm following Gerald's procedure to the letter. My FW is 1.02

March 31st, 2008, 05:29 PM	#90
Benjamin Eckstein Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 380 Images: 1	I did the BF adjustment and then powered down and went to lunch. Yeah, is there a "Save" thing? I doubt it. This is troubling. Between this and my faulty zoom lever (doesn't do a slow zoom) hopefully Sony will deal with it. Boo :-(