1 time backfocus screw-up on EX1R, should I be concerned? at DVinfo.net

Jack Zhang · January 25th, 2012, 03:08 AM

So, I put my EX1R back into my bag for a bit and I just got it out and booted it up again, to find the backfocus was completely lost...

Weird thing is, when I shut it off and rebooted it after a few failed attempts at doing an auto backfocus, it corrected itself. I did a backfocus just in case on a siemens star I put on my computer monitor.

IDK if this common, but on manual zooms, the servo always tries to catch up to snap zooms, especially at infinity. It always loses focus on autofocus on snap zooms. Is this bad backfocus? or something completely different?

It's closing in on a month that I've owned the machine, and this is the first time I've encountered a major problem with the machine.

Zoran Vincic · January 25th, 2012, 02:42 PM

This will probably come as a disappointment to you but I had worked with couple of EX1r's and all of them exhibited this (back) focus issues. Two of them were so bad that it was very frustrating.

On the other hand, my own EX1 NEVER EVER had this issue.

Jack Zhang · January 25th, 2012, 03:49 PM

And servicing isn't a cure? Does this mean I need to prepare for backfocus issues all the time?

I am under a 1 year warranty, so I'm considering servicing the camera.

Chris Medico · January 25th, 2012, 04:09 PM

My EX1r has had no backfocus issues in 17 months of ownership.

I would recommend sending it in for service.

Zoran Vincic · January 25th, 2012, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack Zhang

And servicing isn't a cure? Does this mean I need to prepare for backfocus issues all the time?

I am under a 1 year warranty, so I'm considering servicing the camera.

I don't know, neither one of the R cameras were mine, but I can tell you that the two I had most issues with were from a national broadcaster and they were used daily in ENG.

I would definitely had them checked if they were mine.

Jack Zhang · January 25th, 2012, 05:30 PM

So, snap zooming from wide to telephoto on infinity focus shouldn't rapidly go out of focus and back again? I know the EX1R is a servo focus, but it certainly can't be that bad...

If I were to make a wild-a** guess, it would be the current solar storm that coincidentally caused it to screw up backfocus.

Chris Medico · January 25th, 2012, 11:17 PM

Its not bad at all. I use manual zoom on my camera a lot and it holds focus across the range just fine. If yours doesn't then it sounds like it needs a trip in for service.

Marcus Durham · January 26th, 2012, 12:31 PM

Leaving the macro switched on can lead to results that might make people believe their back focus is failing.

Jack Zhang · January 26th, 2012, 01:34 PM

Flicked the macro switch off, and it's still having trouble following focus when snap zooming from wide to telephoto on infinity focus. This definitely means service.

Jack Zhang · January 26th, 2012, 08:23 PM

Just got back from the service center. The problem I described on the third line of my original post exists on all the EX1Rs they had on hand and possibly every EX1R in existance. So it's a non-issue, it's just it was made that way.

Still, it shouldn't lose backfocus upon booting up. That problem is a wait and see if it does it again.

To see the other problem in action, do this test with your EX1R right now:

Focus on something at infinity focus fully zoomed in, then disengage the zoom servo. Snap zoom it as fast as possible, and you will see the issue. The servo is just too slow and snap zooms don't stay in focus.

Luc De Wandel · January 27th, 2012, 05:07 AM

Once focus is perfect in full tele position, it should stay that way when zoomed out, no matter the zoom speed. If not, it means that the autofocus system is no good, whicj it usually isn't. That's why I never, ever use autofocus. In fact, there even is no such thing on my PMW320 with it's professional video lens.(Or any other decent camera, for that matter...)

Jack Zhang · January 27th, 2012, 07:33 PM

When the snap zoom reaches it's destination, it's in focus, but during the rapid snap zoom, the servo can't keep up.

All things related to snap zooming aside, currently, the camera retains focus. I only had a fluke backfocus loss upon bootup once. My conspiracy theory is the solar storm, but it may well be a firmware bug too if it recovers upon booting up again.

January 25th, 2012, 03:08 AM	#1
Jack Zhang Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada Posts: 3,053	1 time backfocus screw-up on EX1R, should I be concerned? So, I put my EX1R back into my bag for a bit and I just got it out and booted it up again, to find the backfocus was completely lost... Weird thing is, when I shut it off and rebooted it after a few failed attempts at doing an auto backfocus, it corrected itself. I did a backfocus just in case on a siemens star I put on my computer monitor. IDK if this common, but on manual zooms, the servo always tries to catch up to snap zooms, especially at infinity. It always loses focus on autofocus on snap zooms. Is this bad backfocus? or something completely different? It's closing in on a month that I've owned the machine, and this is the first time I've encountered a major problem with the machine.

January 25th, 2012, 02:42 PM	#2
Zoran Vincic Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Split, Croatia Posts: 189	Re: 1 time backfocus screw-up on EX1R, should I be concerned? This will probably come as a disappointment to you but I had worked with couple of EX1r's and all of them exhibited this (back) focus issues. Two of them were so bad that it was very frustrating. On the other hand, my own EX1 NEVER EVER had this issue.

January 25th, 2012, 03:49 PM	#3
Jack Zhang Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada Posts: 3,053	Re: 1 time backfocus screw-up on EX1R, should I be concerned? And servicing isn't a cure? Does this mean I need to prepare for backfocus issues all the time? I am under a 1 year warranty, so I'm considering servicing the camera.

January 25th, 2012, 04:09 PM	#4
Chris Medico Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Efland NC, USA Posts: 2,322	Re: 1 time backfocus screw-up on EX1R, should I be concerned? My EX1r has had no backfocus issues in 17 months of ownership. I would recommend sending it in for service. __________________ http://www.LandYachtMedia.com

January 25th, 2012, 05:30 PM	#6
Jack Zhang Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada Posts: 3,053	Re: 1 time backfocus screw-up on EX1R, should I be concerned? So, snap zooming from wide to telephoto on infinity focus shouldn't rapidly go out of focus and back again? I know the EX1R is a servo focus, but it certainly can't be that bad... If I were to make a wild-a** guess, it would be the current solar storm that coincidentally caused it to screw up backfocus.

January 25th, 2012, 11:17 PM	#7
Chris Medico Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Efland NC, USA Posts: 2,322	Re: 1 time backfocus screw-up on EX1R, should I be concerned? Its not bad at all. I use manual zoom on my camera a lot and it holds focus across the range just fine. If yours doesn't then it sounds like it needs a trip in for service. __________________ http://www.LandYachtMedia.com

January 26th, 2012, 12:31 PM	#8
Marcus Durham Major Player Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Hampshire, UK Posts: 693	Re: 1 time backfocus screw-up on EX1R, should I be concerned? Leaving the macro switched on can lead to results that might make people believe their back focus is failing. __________________ Marcus Durham Media2u, Corporate Video Production For Your Business - http://www.media2u.co.uk

January 26th, 2012, 01:34 PM	#9
Jack Zhang Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada Posts: 3,053	Re: 1 time backfocus screw-up on EX1R, should I be concerned? Flicked the macro switch off, and it's still having trouble following focus when snap zooming from wide to telephoto on infinity focus. This definitely means service.

January 26th, 2012, 08:23 PM	#10
Jack Zhang Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada Posts: 3,053	Re: 1 time backfocus screw-up on EX1R, should I be concerned? Just got back from the service center. The problem I described on the third line of my original post exists on all the EX1Rs they had on hand and possibly every EX1R in existance. So it's a non-issue, it's just it was made that way. Still, it shouldn't lose backfocus upon booting up. That problem is a wait and see if it does it again. To see the other problem in action, do this test with your EX1R right now: Focus on something at infinity focus fully zoomed in, then disengage the zoom servo. Snap zoom it as fast as possible, and you will see the issue. The servo is just too slow and snap zooms don't stay in focus.

January 27th, 2012, 05:07 AM	#11
Luc De Wandel Major Player Join Date: May 2008 Location: Knokke-Heist, Belgium Posts: 963	Re: 1 time backfocus screw-up on EX1R, should I be concerned? Once focus is perfect in full tele position, it should stay that way when zoomed out, no matter the zoom speed. If not, it means that the autofocus system is no good, whicj it usually isn't. That's why I never, ever use autofocus. In fact, there even is no such thing on my PMW320 with it's professional video lens.(Or any other decent camera, for that matter...)

January 27th, 2012, 07:33 PM	#12
Jack Zhang Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada Posts: 3,053	Re: 1 time backfocus screw-up on EX1R, should I be concerned? When the snap zoom reaches it's destination, it's in focus, but during the rapid snap zoom, the servo can't keep up. All things related to snap zooming aside, currently, the camera retains focus. I only had a fluke backfocus loss upon bootup once. My conspiracy theory is the solar storm, but it may well be a firmware bug too if it recovers upon booting up again.