EX1 lens goes bad at DVinfo.net

Sverker Hahn · November 21st, 2009, 03:17 PM

Today I noticed that focusing at infinity does not work. With telephoto at Z99 it goes blurry, with zoom at Z80 it is almost normal. But at Z80 the left side seems to be worse off than the right side.

It seems strange that the lens goes bad without any apparent reason after almost two years.
I will send it for service, but I am worried about the two year warranty - are there some cases of Sony refusing to the repair of this type of fault?

Dave Morrison · November 21st, 2009, 04:31 PM

I had the same problem with my EX1 after about 1 year of service. They replaced the lens under warranty.

Steve Phillipps · November 22nd, 2009, 08:09 AM

Had a similar problem with an EX3, the lens would not focus beyond maybe 20ft. Yet sometimes you could re-attach it and it'd be fine - seemed therefore likely that it's and electrical contacts problem.
Steve

James Huenergardt · November 22nd, 2009, 08:38 AM

A buddy of mine who was using one of my EX1s noticed this problem as well. He couldn't focus on infinity even on stuff miles away like Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs.

I thought I was going to have to send the 'out of warranty' camera in to get a new lens.

Just to make sure, I told him about the back focus maintenance menu, so he tried the back focus adjustment (you can find out how to do this in this forum), nothing changed. He did it an additional 2 times, it fixed it.

Now the camera focuses on infinity. No more problems.

Matt Davis · November 22nd, 2009, 11:22 AM

Just as an aside, I'd mention that I was shooting in a hot sunny SA a few weeks ago, and on one occasion the camera was stowed in the back of the jeep, not on my lap.

On setting up a shot, the whole backfocus had gone. No infinity, and I was using the 'full' manual setting (no, it isn't full mechanical manual, but hey). I was able to use the lens to focus on what I needed to, but it was a sphincter-relaxing moment.

On that occasion, a quick on-off-on reboot cured it.

Not saying that this is the only cure-all, but these EX things are computers with a bit of glass at the front. They run into bugs, they overheat, they do all sorts of things that a laptop would do, and that bit of glass up front is not a mechanical device.

Reboot, reset, restore. Same oopsies, different carpet.

Having said that, the whacked out lens setting briefly showed me that I've got a bit of dirt in the lower left of my lens that doesn't show in normal situations!

November 21st, 2009, 03:17 PM	#1
Sverker Hahn Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 157	EX1 lens goes bad Today I noticed that focusing at infinity does not work. With telephoto at Z99 it goes blurry, with zoom at Z80 it is almost normal. But at Z80 the left side seems to be worse off than the right side. It seems strange that the lens goes bad without any apparent reason after almost two years. I will send it for service, but I am worried about the two year warranty - are there some cases of Sony refusing to the repair of this type of fault? Attached Thumbnails

November 21st, 2009, 04:31 PM	#2
Dave Morrison Major Player Join Date: May 2002 Location: West Central Florida Posts: 762	I had the same problem with my EX1 after about 1 year of service. They replaced the lens under warranty. __________________ EX1, Nikon D750 http://www.morrisonphotographics.com http://www.heritagefilm.com

November 22nd, 2009, 08:38 AM	#4
James Huenergardt Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chehalis, WA Posts: 513	A buddy of mine who was using one of my EX1s noticed this problem as well. He couldn't focus on infinity even on stuff miles away like Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs. I thought I was going to have to send the 'out of warranty' camera in to get a new lens. Just to make sure, I told him about the back focus maintenance menu, so he tried the back focus adjustment (you can find out how to do this in this forum), nothing changed. He did it an additional 2 times, it fixed it. Now the camera focuses on infinity. No more problems. __________________ Reel Inspirations - www.reelinspirations.com Commercials, Dramas, Image Pieces, Documentaries, Motion Graphics

November 22nd, 2009, 11:22 AM	#5
Matt Davis Trustee Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Berkshire, UK Posts: 1,562	Just as an aside, I'd mention that I was shooting in a hot sunny SA a few weeks ago, and on one occasion the camera was stowed in the back of the jeep, not on my lap. On setting up a shot, the whole backfocus had gone. No infinity, and I was using the 'full' manual setting (no, it isn't full mechanical manual, but hey). I was able to use the lens to focus on what I needed to, but it was a sphincter-relaxing moment. On that occasion, a quick on-off-on reboot cured it. Not saying that this is the only cure-all, but these EX things are computers with a bit of glass at the front. They run into bugs, they overheat, they do all sorts of things that a laptop would do, and that bit of glass up front is not a mechanical device. Reboot, reset, restore. Same oopsies, different carpet. Having said that, the whacked out lens setting briefly showed me that I've got a bit of dirt in the lower left of my lens that doesn't show in normal situations! __________________ Director/Editor - MDMA Ltd: Write, Shoot, Edit, Publish - mattdavis.pro EX1 x2, C100 --> FCPX & PPro6

November 22nd, 2009, 08:09 AM	#3
Steve Phillipps Inner Circle Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Wales Posts: 2,130	Had a similar problem with an EX3, the lens would not focus beyond maybe 20ft. Yet sometimes you could re-attach it and it'd be fine - seemed therefore likely that it's and electrical contacts problem. Steve