Loosing the ability to focus with Sony EX-3

Andy Wilkinson · February 6th, 2009, 09:53 AM

I've been so busy with corporate work the last few weeks I've lost track of this issue after Andy Stone's excellent post a few weeks ago. Any more updates from others on how it's all going with this new EX3 Firmware?

My EX3 still has n't really given me any real grief over this - I've only seen the problem briefly twice in the 7 months I've had it with it's original as launched firmware.

I'm just curious how others are getting on with the new EX3 firmware.

Andrew Stone · February 7th, 2009, 03:39 PM

A quick update... I have done several shoots running continuously in record mode with the focus ring pushed forward in quasi manual focus mode all the shoots were over 3.5 hours in length. I have not had a focus issue yet.

And "just for the record" I have not had one weird instance using SDHC cards. I think it is safe to say now that Sony has left ability to use SDHC cards alone with this firmware update, version 1.03.

Thomas Diehl · February 8th, 2009, 01:58 PM

i have experienced the same problem with my ex3 (11/2008) several times.
i think it is absolutely inacceptable.
in germany nobody seems to know anything about a firmupdate ...
one thing i dont understand: you are talking about v1.03 ...
but isnt 1.11 the latest one (thats what i have got as well).
is there anybody in germany who has solved the problem? how?

Zenes Petrusin · February 8th, 2009, 04:08 PM

1.11 now 1.12 is latest firmware for EX1. For EX3 is new 1.03 and in this FW is bug fixed focus ring.

EX3 dont use same fw as EX1! Go to sony service center. FW isnt for download.

Thomas Diehl · February 9th, 2009, 02:44 AM

tanks a lot.
didnt know that.
still - a lot of sony-centers dont seem to know about 1.03 update.
i will contact silver support

Mike Chandler · February 10th, 2009, 01:33 PM

Just got my EX3 back from Sony Service in San Jose with the upgrade to v1.03_0082.
Total turnaround time, including shipping: 11 days to and from UT. Cost : $71 for shipping and insurance, the upgrade was free.

I had experienced the focus problem twice and then left the unit on manual at all times. I haven't had a chance to test it since getting it back, but hopefully the upgrade will have fixed it.

Joe Diaz · February 10th, 2009, 03:04 PM

Mike are you talking about the Sony Service center in San Jose on Zanker Road
i called to get my EX3 fixed for the focus issue and they want me to send it to
Los Angeles and i live in San Jose. I even asked them isn't their a Service Center in San Jose and they told me their was not. They also said they were not aware of the EX3, 1.03 firmware.

Mike Chandler · February 10th, 2009, 03:52 PM

Hi Joe: I'm looking at the invoice: 2520 Zanker Rd, firmware upgrade to 1.03v.

Joe Diaz · February 10th, 2009, 04:24 PM

Yup, thats the one, very strange they would insist i ship it 500 miles away when they have one 5 miles from were i live. i don't get it, ill call the the one in San Jose, i originally called the 866 toll free number.

Thank's Mike

Joe Diaz · February 12th, 2009, 04:08 PM

Well i took my EX3 to Sony Service Center dropped it off yesterday and it was ready within 24 hours, according to their comments they installed firmware version 1.03. i have the Kensington adapters and SDHC cards Sandisk Ultra 2 16gig and Transcend 16 and 8 gig SDHC. I will report back in the next couple of days after i do some tests on the cards with this new firmware.

Glynn Morgan · February 13th, 2009, 12:11 AM

Is the one-touch focus on the EX3 a bit slow and sometimes unresponsive for some people? I find the whole frame has to be out of focus before it will work. I cannot use the box to focus on specific objects as easily if there is already something in focus (even if it is on the edge of the frame).

Anyone confirm this?

Robert Bale · April 7th, 2009, 07:51 PM

Hi, How and where do i find out what version i have on my ex3 ??

Andrew Stone · April 7th, 2009, 08:36 PM

To check out the firmware version you have to get into the "Maintenance Menu"

To do this:

Hold down the 'Select' and 'Cancel' buttons and while holding them down, click the menu button.

Make sure you don't play with the additional settings in this menu as this is what is used to calibrate your camera when it leaves the factory.

Once you turn the camera off and then back on you will be out of the Maintenance Menu.

Robert Bale · April 7th, 2009, 08:54 PM

Thanks, found a guy at Brisbane t do the update.

Arild Pedersen · April 8th, 2009, 09:09 AM

My EX3 is now running v 1.04. No problems at all.
ArildP

February 6th, 2009, 09:53 AM	#106
Andy Wilkinson Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cambridge UK Posts: 2,853	EX3 New Firmware I've been so busy with corporate work the last few weeks I've lost track of this issue after Andy Stone's excellent post a few weeks ago. Any more updates from others on how it's all going with this new EX3 Firmware? My EX3 still has n't really given me any real grief over this - I've only seen the problem briefly twice in the 7 months I've had it with it's original as launched firmware. I'm just curious how others are getting on with the new EX3 firmware. __________________ Andy K Wilkinson - https://www.shootingimage.co.uk Cambridge (UK) Corporate Video Production

February 13th, 2009, 12:11 AM	#116
Glynn Morgan Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 119	I didn't want to start another thread... Is the one-touch focus on the EX3 a bit slow and sometimes unresponsive for some people? I find the whole frame has to be out of focus before it will work. I cannot use the box to focus on specific objects as easily if there is already something in focus (even if it is on the edge of the frame). Anyone confirm this?

April 7th, 2009, 07:51 PM	#117
Robert Bale Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: australia Posts: 407	how to find the version Hi, How and where do i find out what version i have on my ex3 ?? __________________ Rob. www.rpbproductions.com robert@rpbproductions.com HD101/G5 Mac/4gig Ram/1TB HDD/30" Cinema Display/FCP.

April 7th, 2009, 08:54 PM	#119
Robert Bale Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: australia Posts: 407	Thanks, found a guy at Brisbane t do the update. __________________ Rob. www.rpbproductions.com robert@rpbproductions.com HD101/G5 Mac/4gig Ram/1TB HDD/30" Cinema Display/FCP.

April 8th, 2009, 09:09 AM	#120
Arild Pedersen Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Elverum Norway Posts: 62	Version 1.04 for EX3 is avaiable My EX3 is now running v 1.04. No problems at all. ArildP

February 7th, 2009, 03:39 PM	#107
Andrew Stone Major Player Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 975	A quick update... I have done several shoots running continuously in record mode with the focus ring pushed forward in quasi manual focus mode all the shoots were over 3.5 hours in length. I have not had a focus issue yet. And "just for the record" I have not had one weird instance using SDHC cards. I think it is safe to say now that Sony has left ability to use SDHC cards alone with this firmware update, version 1.03.

February 8th, 2009, 01:58 PM	#108
Thomas Diehl Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 38	i have experienced the same problem with my ex3 (11/2008) several times. i think it is absolutely inacceptable. in germany nobody seems to know anything about a firmupdate ... one thing i dont understand: you are talking about v1.03 ... but isnt 1.11 the latest one (thats what i have got as well). is there anybody in germany who has solved the problem? how?

February 8th, 2009, 04:08 PM	#109
Zenes Petrusin Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 52	1.11 now 1.12 is latest firmware for EX1. For EX3 is new 1.03 and in this FW is bug fixed focus ring. EX3 dont use same fw as EX1! Go to sony service center. FW isnt for download.

February 9th, 2009, 02:44 AM	#110
Thomas Diehl Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 38	tanks a lot. didnt know that. still - a lot of sony-centers dont seem to know about 1.03 update. i will contact silver support

February 10th, 2009, 01:33 PM	#111
Mike Chandler Major Player Join Date: May 2008 Location: Moab, UT Posts: 264	Just got my EX3 back from Sony Service in San Jose with the upgrade to v1.03_0082. Total turnaround time, including shipping: 11 days to and from UT. Cost : $71 for shipping and insurance, the upgrade was free. I had experienced the focus problem twice and then left the unit on manual at all times. I haven't had a chance to test it since getting it back, but hopefully the upgrade will have fixed it.

February 10th, 2009, 03:04 PM	#112
Joe Diaz Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: San Jose, California Posts: 25	Mike are you talking about the Sony Service center in San Jose on Zanker Road i called to get my EX3 fixed for the focus issue and they want me to send it to Los Angeles and i live in San Jose. I even asked them isn't their a Service Center in San Jose and they told me their was not. They also said they were not aware of the EX3, 1.03 firmware.

February 10th, 2009, 03:52 PM	#113
Mike Chandler Major Player Join Date: May 2008 Location: Moab, UT Posts: 264	Hi Joe: I'm looking at the invoice: 2520 Zanker Rd, firmware upgrade to 1.03v.

February 10th, 2009, 04:24 PM	#114
Joe Diaz Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: San Jose, California Posts: 25	Yup, thats the one, very strange they would insist i ship it 500 miles away when they have one 5 miles from were i live. i don't get it, ill call the the one in San Jose, i originally called the 866 toll free number. Thank's Mike

February 12th, 2009, 04:08 PM	#115
Joe Diaz Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: San Jose, California Posts: 25	Well i took my EX3 to Sony Service Center dropped it off yesterday and it was ready within 24 hours, according to their comments they installed firmware version 1.03. i have the Kensington adapters and SDHC cards Sandisk Ultra 2 16gig and Transcend 16 and 8 gig SDHC. I will report back in the next couple of days after i do some tests on the cards with this new firmware.

April 7th, 2009, 08:36 PM	#118
Andrew Stone Major Player Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 975	To check out the firmware version you have to get into the "Maintenance Menu" To do this: Hold down the 'Select' and 'Cancel' buttons and while holding them down, click the menu button. Make sure you don't play with the additional settings in this menu as this is what is used to calibrate your camera when it leaves the factory. Once you turn the camera off and then back on you will be out of the Maintenance Menu.