EX1 horrible rainbow image problem

[John Hewat]

Hi all,

This horrible thing has started happening almost every time I shoot on my EX1.

Here are two short clips showing the strange effect. It is inconsistent, not affecting every clip, but a lot of them. I notice it most at the start of each clip.

Weird - YouTube shows the strange rainbow effect once the camera pans to the left (ignore the incorrect exposure and interference on the wireless microphone).


Weird 2 - YouTube shows it happening in entirely different lighting conditions. This clip is repeated, once at 100% and then again at 50% speed because it's such a short clip.

When it occurs it sometimes lasts up to five seconds, other times barely even one. I notice it in the LCD display when shooting. I shoot in 1080p25 HQ mode. The clips provided have been exported out of Premiere for Mac in H264 at 720p25 with reduced bit-rates for upload.

I'd love to hear if others have experienced this and whether it's easy (and cheap) to fix...

Thanks,

-- John

[Justin Molush]

Is that not fluorescent light interference? Correct me if I am wrong please, I shoot a lot of DSLR and have to fight with all sorts of rolling shutter/banding issues. It is weird though that it occurs when you point the camera outside although the light could still be sneaking in.

[John Hewat]

I don't think it can be fluorescent light. It has happened in many different conditions, including the exterior shot (which was shot about 30 metres away from any buildings or light sources of any kind (other than the sun). It has happened in my home also, where there are no fluorescent lights.

[Alister Chapman]

Have you got the "flicker reduce" option in the camera menu set to anything other than "off" and are you using the shutter at the same time. Might be the cause, often is.

[John Peterson]

Alistair,

Can you explain further regarding the "flicker reduce" option?

Thanks,

John

[Alister Chapman]

In the "Camera" menu there is a "Flicker Reduce" option. On early EX1's this was "On" by default which caused all kinds of strobing and banding issues when the user also used the shutter. Later cameras this is now "Off" by default. It's supposed to prevent problems when shooting under artificial lights whose frequency does not match that of the cameras frame rate, but my experience is that it causes more problems than it cures.