EX1 vibrating, buzzing, picture severely blurred

[George Strother]

The EX1 is about three weeks old. While looking at each of the gamma profiles with a DSC labs chart and a waveform monitor my EX1 started making a mild buzzing noise.

I noticed vibration when I touched the mic/control panel module. The picture is now badly blurred vertically and moving up and down in a random pattern.

The EX1 is mounted on a Sachtler 20 tripod, locked down on the charts. No error messages, no blinking tally light, no buzzer.

Image stabilization is OFF, I have tried changing zoom, focus, macro, i/p settings, camera OFF - restart, Reset All - no change.

Help!

[Bill Ravens]

sounds like a failure in the IS system

[George Strother]

My thought too, but the IS is turned OFF. Software switch may have also failed I suppose.

Still waiting to hear back from Sony Support, they sent me to voice mail a couple of hours ago.

[George Strother]

Just got a call from Sony Support. It needs to go to Sony Service. Support had nothing to try beyond reset, which didn't help.

[Mike Williams]

Sometimes I would get a similar issue with my old VX series Sony cams and it turned out that my cell or other cell phones that were close enough to the cam would make it buzz and create major tape issues. Is it constant?

[George Strother]

Originally Posted by Mike Williams

Sometimes I would get a similar issue with my old VX series Sony cams and it turned out that my cell or other cell phones that were close enough to the cam would make it buzz and create major tape issues. Is it constant?

This problem is constant and the picture bluring is severe. The JPEG is a still from a short clip recorded while the camera was on a locked Sachtler 20 tripod.

[George Strother]

I just talked to Sony service. They say the camera worked normally when they received it (why do cameras get well on UPS trucks?) but they left it on all night and it's shaking again this morning.

The tech says the image stablilzation circuit tests OK and he does not know what else could be causing the camera to shake. He's working on it.

I asked how long it would take for Sony to replace the camera if the problem isn't found and fixed. He said one to two months!

Others have posted about Sony replacing their cameras in a day or two when a brand new camera failed. Can someone please tell me how they got that to happen?

[Leonard Levy]

2 months?!?! - That is absolutely unacceptable on a brand new camer!

it should just be a return and replace with new machine. Have you talked with your dealer. Tell them you are posting that Sony is not supporting new malfunctioning cameras on this website. Ask to speak to superiors at the repair department. Be a pain in the XXX.

[Craig Seeman]

When they couldn't repair my camera it took them only about 2 weeks to get clearance to send me a new camera. Total turnaround time was 3 weeks (1 week to realize they couldn't fix it). For me it was zoom stepping issue at low settings.

[George Strother]

Originally Posted by Craig Seeman

When they couldn't repair my camera it took them only about 2 weeks to get clearance to send me a new camera. Total turnaround time was 3 weeks (1 week to realize they couldn't fix it). For me it was zoom stepping issue at low settings.

Just to be clear to everyone, I'm not saying Sony can't fix the camera. Maybe they can. The tech who called me didn't know what was wrong, but he didn't say it couldn't be fixed. That's when I asked how long it would take to get a replacement if it can't be fixed.

Now I would like to hear from someone higher up at Sony that I won't be out of business for months before I even find out if they will replace a professional camera I had for less than a month.

Do you have a phone contact who made that happen? Was this just Sony policy? Three weeks turnaround would be a lot better than a month or two to request clearance for a replacement.

[George Strother]

My EX1 came back on Thursday evening, 6/19. I was in edit all day Friday. Checked it this morning.

Sony service said the buzzing/shaking was a defective IS unit in the lens, but the lenses were on backorder with several EX1s waiting for new lenses. Delivery was sooner than they estimated on the phone.

The hour meter has an extra 20 hours on it, so someone spent time slaving away over the beast.

Sony Packing List Comments show they -

"Replaced the lens assy., performed UPG, Fully tested."

The new lens has a very stiff focus ring. Mounted on a locked tripod (Sacthler 20, carbon sticks, about 25 lbs) turning the focus ring shakes the image on monitor, makes a pronounced rubbing noise, and sticks in some spots. This happens in Auto Manual and Full Manual. Push AF stays in auto focus for a minute or so after releasing the button sometimes. The zoom ring on this lens is so loose it rattles. It didn't do any of this stuff before it was "fixed". Assembly error in the lens barrel maybe? No lubricant in the focus helix?

Has anyone experienced this problem with their lens? Did you find a fix or does it need another trip to the hospital?

Anyone know what "performed UPG" means? The camera still has the same firmware 1.05_0405. What else are they upgrading on these?

[Don Greening]

Originally Posted by George Strother

What else are they upgrading on these?

One of the upgrades for earlier EX builds is a new curcuit board that apparently addresses the battery drain issue that happens even when the camera is turned off. Everyone I know takes the battery off their EX when they're not using it.

I was talking to a Sony technician (face to face) 3 days ago and he was describing what is involved in replacing the lens on an EX1. The camera has to be pretty much entirely dissasembled, starting from the back end where the battery is and work forward until the lens attaching screws are revealed inside the front of the camera body. It takes over 3 hours of work just to get to the lens screws.

George, your stiff iris and loose zoom ring doesn't sound good at all. I would go back to your dealer, show them what you're describing, and ask for a new replacement camera. Make sure your dealer knows that there has been a reported incident or two of people getting a replacment EX but found out later that their replacement was a camera that someone else returned and Sony fixed it then put it back on the market. Don't tell your dealer that you're accusing Sony of anything or that Sony knowingly did this. It could have been an honest mistake on Sony's part, but by telling your dealer this info it will put the bug in their ear and your dealer will "keep a sharp eye" as it were.

My replacement EX1 as of 3 days ago is serial #0106480. This will give you a clue as to where the current serial numbers are at.

- Don

[George Strother]

Don

Thanks for the note. My dealer is B&H. I'll call them in the morning.

[Dave Morrison]

George, Sony had to replace my lens along with the ND filter assembly a few weeks ago and the new lens doesn't exhibit any of the issues you are having. I'd be in touch with Sony Service ASAP to get this resolved. I doubt that B&H would (or could) do anything about a replacement camera. That usually involves getting the regional Sony Rep involved.

[George Strother]

Originally Posted by Dave Morrison

George, Sony had to replace my lens along with the ND filter assembly a few weeks ago and the new lens doesn't exhibit any of the issues you are having. I'd be in touch with Sony Service ASAP to get this resolved. I doubt that B&H would (or could) do anything about a replacement camera. That usually involves getting the regional Sony Rep involved.

Just talked to Boris in B&H customer support. He doesn't have the contact info for their Sony rep, but said he would pass the request along to B&H purchasing Monday. I will also be in touch with Sony service Monday morning, but it couldn't hurt if they hear from the dealer's Sony area rep too.