Post-upgrade v1.11 conserns at DVinfo.net

Dan Smallwood · February 5th, 2009, 03:38 PM

Here is my story..

I have a mid-year EX-1, purchased around March of 2008.

I experienced the "standard stuff", i.e. vignetting, battery drain, back focus, etc.

I was on v1.03 when I sent the unit to New Jersey for service (I am in Atlanta, GA). The unit was returned fairly quickly, with notes on the receipt indicating the lens had been replaced (part of the fix for vignetting), PC board for the battery drain issue. They made no mention of the back focus problem (or solution).

I checked the SW rev, and it was still v1.03.. At a minimum, it should have come back on v1.05.

Well, as it turns out, I had v1.11 sitting on my workstation. So... Knowing that I should be on at least v1.05 to correct the back focus and other bugs, I went ahead and upgraded (and upgrade the Sony rep says was "not possible" BTW - claimed you could only go from v1.05 to v1.11, not v1.03 to v1.11, but of course we know that is un-true). Honestly, if the unit would have come back at v1.05, I probably would have left it there, for the short term anyway.

I contacted the tech I originally spoke to, he was apologetic, and promised a quick turn-around if I sent the unit back for the SW upgrade to v1.03 (I did not lead on about my upgrade, but posed "what if" questions as to any issues related an upgrade).

My concern - the upgrade to v1.11 went well, no issues. I have yet to put the camera through its paces yet (I did verify the battery drain issue seems to be resolved), but the tech went on about "even if you could upgrade the camera on your own, you wouldn't want to because the unit requires / may require calibration after the fact, with tools and access you do not have".

Can anyone confirm or deny this? For the units that were upgraded outside of a Sony service center, has anyone noticed ANY performance-related issues? Gain? Focus? Channel balance? Anything?

I am a bit paranoid now. What if I find an issue? I am afraid I might be stuck - I don’t think I could send the unit back in good conscience for "free" service and adjustment if indeed there were tweaks that needed to be performed post-SW upgrade.

Honestly, I think the Sony tech said what he did to discourage the upgrade, I heard statements like "maybe" and "sometimes" and "the setting usually don't change, but..".

Feedback? Thanks in advance. -ds-

Matt San · February 5th, 2009, 03:57 PM

I did my own Upgrade to 1.11 from the popular files floating about on the net

Not a single bad issue arose.

I think this one smells of something beginning with B!

Just go for it - You wont regret it

Perrone Ford · February 5th, 2009, 03:57 PM

I went from 1.05 to 1.10/1.11. Zero issues, nothing but joy. BUT, I had no backfocus issues. I ordered my camera end of June and got it in July. For whatever that's worth.

Paul Kellett · February 5th, 2009, 06:35 PM

Same here, sold all but one of my SXS cards and bought a load off K&T.

Paul.

Ned Soltz · February 5th, 2009, 10:14 PM

I did a DIY on the EX-1 from 1.03 to 1.11 with no issues at all.

Even did it on a MacBook Pro running XP SP3 under BootCamp.

Dan Smallwood · February 5th, 2009, 10:22 PM

**delete**

February 5th, 2009, 03:38 PM	#1
Dan Smallwood New Boot Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Gerogia Posts: 7	Post-upgrade v1.11 conserns Here is my story.. I have a mid-year EX-1, purchased around March of 2008. I experienced the "standard stuff", i.e. vignetting, battery drain, back focus, etc. I was on v1.03 when I sent the unit to New Jersey for service (I am in Atlanta, GA). The unit was returned fairly quickly, with notes on the receipt indicating the lens had been replaced (part of the fix for vignetting), PC board for the battery drain issue. They made no mention of the back focus problem (or solution). I checked the SW rev, and it was still v1.03.. At a minimum, it should have come back on v1.05. Well, as it turns out, I had v1.11 sitting on my workstation. So... Knowing that I should be on at least v1.05 to correct the back focus and other bugs, I went ahead and upgraded (and upgrade the Sony rep says was "not possible" BTW - claimed you could only go from v1.05 to v1.11, not v1.03 to v1.11, but of course we know that is un-true). Honestly, if the unit would have come back at v1.05, I probably would have left it there, for the short term anyway. I contacted the tech I originally spoke to, he was apologetic, and promised a quick turn-around if I sent the unit back for the SW upgrade to v1.03 (I did not lead on about my upgrade, but posed "what if" questions as to any issues related an upgrade). My concern - the upgrade to v1.11 went well, no issues. I have yet to put the camera through its paces yet (I did verify the battery drain issue seems to be resolved), but the tech went on about "even if you could upgrade the camera on your own, you wouldn't want to because the unit requires / may require calibration after the fact, with tools and access you do not have". Can anyone confirm or deny this? For the units that were upgraded outside of a Sony service center, has anyone noticed ANY performance-related issues? Gain? Focus? Channel balance? Anything? I am a bit paranoid now. What if I find an issue? I am afraid I might be stuck - I don’t think I could send the unit back in good conscience for "free" service and adjustment if indeed there were tweaks that needed to be performed post-SW upgrade. Honestly, I think the Sony tech said what he did to discourage the upgrade, I heard statements like "maybe" and "sometimes" and "the setting usually don't change, but..". Feedback? Thanks in advance. -ds-

February 5th, 2009, 03:57 PM	#3
Perrone Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 4,100	I went from 1.05 to 1.10/1.11. Zero issues, nothing but joy. BUT, I had no backfocus issues. I ordered my camera end of June and got it in July. For whatever that's worth. __________________ DVX100, PMW-EX1, Canon 550D, FigRig, Dell Octocore, Avid MC4/5, MB Looks, RedCineX, Matrox MX02 mini, GTech RAID, Edirol R-4, Senn. G2 Evo, Countryman, Moles and Lowels.

February 5th, 2009, 06:35 PM	#4
Paul Kellett Trustee Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bristol UK Posts: 1,273	Same here, sold all but one of my SXS cards and bought a load off K&T. Paul. __________________ Round 2 GH5,FZ2000

February 5th, 2009, 10:22 PM	#6
Dan Smallwood New Boot Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Gerogia Posts: 7	delete Last edited by Dan Smallwood; February 5th, 2009 at 11:03 PM.

February 5th, 2009, 03:57 PM	#2
Matt San Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Wales UK Posts: 121	I did my own Upgrade to 1.11 from the popular files floating about on the net Not a single bad issue arose. I think this one smells of something beginning with B! Just go for it - You wont regret it

February 5th, 2009, 10:14 PM	#5
Ned Soltz Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Teaneck, NJ Posts: 659	I did a DIY on the EX-1 from 1.03 to 1.11 with no issues at all. Even did it on a MacBook Pro running XP SP3 under BootCamp.