ex1r not focusing at infinity at DVinfo.net

Pietro Jona · October 6th, 2012, 12:04 PM

Title says it. I simply cannot focus -manually or auto- to infinity. Did this ever happen to any of you?

Luc De Wandel · October 7th, 2012, 02:05 AM

Sounds like the flange back adjustment of the lens is off. Perform an automatic flange back adjustment (I don't know how that works in a EX1, but it's surely in the manual), and things should be OK.

Pietro Jona · October 7th, 2012, 09:40 AM

Thanks I'll try, just found out how to enter the service menu (different for ex1). Only thing it will be hard to print a Siemen star here in Baghdad!

Jack Zhang · October 7th, 2012, 09:40 AM

It's not in the manual.

You have to access the Maintenance Menu by pressing Menu, the scroll wheel and cancel all at once.

You have to make sure your LCD is closed, your LCD backlight is off, and your gain is set to high when pressing the buttons, otherwise it just doesn't work.

Be 3 meters (10 feet) away from either a Siemens Star or a textured surface, then perform the "Auto FB adjust" option in the maintenance menu. Once you activate the maintenance menu, you can actually use your LCD again. Make sure your focus ring is in the AF/MF position. (AKA no orange ring)

If this fails, fully power down and power back up. As strange as this may be, sometimes this fixes the issue. Some EX1Rs experience a fluke loss of backfocus only to never have it happen again.

If that fails, even after fully power cycling a few times, it may be time for service.

Bruce Rawlings · October 8th, 2012, 01:04 AM

Just been there and found the answer for me.

In my case the front element of the lens was a tiny bit lose. Back focus procedure worked perfectly but it would not focus on infinity. My camera was fully serviced and this was not spotted because it passed the Sony bench set up test. Camera came back to test and I just happened to screw a filter on and that's when I spotted the problem.

Here is a link to my demo of it fixed and the explanation sent to the service company for reference.

Pietro Jona · October 8th, 2012, 11:09 AM

Bruce,

too bad the front element of my ex1r is not loose at all. After watching your clip I was hoping that I found the problem. I still have an ex1 nn r that I'm using here in Iraq but hell, its handle is producing horrible crackling noises!
best

pietro

October 6th, 2012, 12:04 PM	#1
Pietro Jona Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: italy Posts: 172	ex1r not focusing at infinity Title says it. I simply cannot focus -manually or auto- to infinity. Did this ever happen to any of you?

October 7th, 2012, 02:05 AM	#2
Luc De Wandel Major Player Join Date: May 2008 Location: Knokke-Heist, Belgium Posts: 963	Re: ex1r not focusing at infinity Sounds like the flange back adjustment of the lens is off. Perform an automatic flange back adjustment (I don't know how that works in a EX1, but it's surely in the manual), and things should be OK.

October 7th, 2012, 09:40 AM	#3
Pietro Jona Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: italy Posts: 172	Re: ex1r not focusing at infinity Thanks I'll try, just found out how to enter the service menu (different for ex1). Only thing it will be hard to print a Siemen star here in Baghdad!

October 7th, 2012, 09:40 AM	#4
Jack Zhang Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada Posts: 3,053	Re: ex1r not focusing at infinity It's not in the manual. You have to access the Maintenance Menu by pressing Menu, the scroll wheel and cancel all at once. You have to make sure your LCD is closed, your LCD backlight is off, and your gain is set to high when pressing the buttons, otherwise it just doesn't work. Be 3 meters (10 feet) away from either a Siemens Star or a textured surface, then perform the "Auto FB adjust" option in the maintenance menu. Once you activate the maintenance menu, you can actually use your LCD again. Make sure your focus ring is in the AF/MF position. (AKA no orange ring) If this fails, fully power down and power back up. As strange as this may be, sometimes this fixes the issue. Some EX1Rs experience a fluke loss of backfocus only to never have it happen again. If that fails, even after fully power cycling a few times, it may be time for service.

October 8th, 2012, 01:04 AM	#5
Bruce Rawlings Major Player Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Cardiff, Wales, UK Posts: 410	Re: ex1r not focusing at infinity Just been there and found the answer for me. In my case the front element of the lens was a tiny bit lose. Back focus procedure worked perfectly but it would not focus on infinity. My camera was fully serviced and this was not spotted because it passed the Sony bench set up test. Camera came back to test and I just happened to screw a filter on and that's when I spotted the problem. Here is a link to my demo of it fixed and the explanation sent to the service company for reference. EX1 Problem Solved on Vimeo

October 8th, 2012, 11:09 AM	#6
Pietro Jona Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: italy Posts: 172	Re: ex1r not focusing at infinity Bruce, too bad the front element of my ex1r is not loose at all. After watching your clip I was hoping that I found the problem. I still have an ex1 nn r that I'm using here in Iraq but hell, its handle is producing horrible crackling noises! best pietro