EX-3 losing infinity focus at DVinfo.net

Bill Ward · March 16th, 2013, 09:32 AM

So this week during a shoot, my EX-3 suddenly lost infinity focus. I vaguely remembered older EX-1 threads that said a re-boot after taking the battery off generally fixed the issue. We tried that, and after two tries, it cleared up.

Then I was reading Alister's comment in the PMW200 thread about not using a star chart for the EX-3's auto flange adjustment. I had just run the auto flange a few days before with a star chart, so I did the "12 feet from a brick wall" flange adjustment.

Was looking good until I tested the infinity, and when I kicked in the #2 ND filter on the camera...instant lack of infinity focus. (put the camera at about f5.6 or so.) Popped the focus ring from MF to AF and back sharply...infinity focus restored, regardless of ND filter position.

Kind of seems like this lens is all over the place. Any ideas? Locking lens ring to camera is tight. Front element is tight. Lens security lock is tight.

Jack Zhang · March 16th, 2013, 09:52 AM

Was the iris completely open during the Auto FB adjust? When doing a Auto FB adjust, you also need to make sure there is proper lighting on the target and the iris is completely open.

Print out a Siemens star just in case to do a proper adjust. The proper distance for a FB adjust is also 3 meters or 10 feet.

Bill Ward · March 16th, 2013, 01:56 PM

But does an inferior flange adjustment result in an intermittent loss of infinity focus? If it's off, wouldn't it stay out of focus?

Jack Zhang · March 16th, 2013, 08:42 PM

I repeated your scenario, (ND2 and infinity focus) on my EX1R, and the only thing I could see happening was that the very end of the focus ring on Full MF is not infinity. Infinity is slightly before the end of the ring. Remember that the EX1 and EX3 (with stock lens) use a rear-based focusing system that is servo driven. (Even when Full MF is engaged) Traditional manual lenses use front focusing systems, but the side effect is breathing. This method means there is very minimal to no breathing when focusing.

I experienced a complete backfocus failure at least once in my EX1R's lifetime but it hasn't happened since, I did a reboot and everything was fine afterwards.

Does this happen as you're switching ND filters?

Bill Ward · March 17th, 2013, 03:07 PM

Jack: in the outdoor example, yes, it was when the ND2 engaged that distance focus when away.

Following your advice, I re-flanged the lens inside with dimmer lighting so that the iris would be wide open...and at exactly 9 feet from lens to star chart.

Looks good at the moment. Shooting with the camera in the morning, so we'll see if the problem repeats itself!

Jack Zhang · March 17th, 2013, 06:49 PM

Doing a Siemens Star backfocus adjust in outdoor daylight is too bright. Indoor controlled lighting is very important to a proper FB adjust. It's also important not to have complex details surrounding the Siemens Star so that the 2nd step of adjusting the backfocus on wide does not get confused.

For a Siemens Star, position the very center of the chart in the center of the frame at full zoom.

Bill Ward · March 18th, 2013, 01:31 PM

yep, I did that yesterday. All looked good.

Today, outside, no infinity focus, regardless of power down and booting back up. May be time for a call to Sony service.

Alister Chapman · March 18th, 2013, 03:02 PM

I find that a star chart is too small and 3m is too close. I normally use a flat wall with a texture or pattern. A brick wall or wall with wall paper work well and I place the camera at least 3m from the wall, typically between 3 and 5m.

One last thing check that the contacts between the lens and the camera body are clean.

However if the back focus routine is completing correctly and your still having issues it does sound like it may need a service.

Bill Ward · March 30th, 2013, 07:20 AM

Quick follow up: the lads at Sony Service say the infinity focus issue was caused by a "floating" front element in the lens. Only a $300 fix. At least it wasn't the lens contacts or an interior board issue!

Rick L. Allen · March 30th, 2013, 02:32 PM

Good News!

Jack Zhang · March 31st, 2013, 03:44 PM

Hmm, must be the steadyshot. Then the problem is the lens.

IMHO, fully manual Fujinons would not have this problem as there is no Steadyshot and the backfocus is even manual.

Alister Chapman · April 1st, 2013, 02:51 AM

I've seen the front lens element become loose on a few cameras. It's normally obvious as when you clean the lens you can feel it moving. The cure is normally just to very gently tighten the large ring that holds it in place.

Bill Ward · April 2nd, 2013, 07:43 AM

Alister: that's the thing that worries me a bit. I had remembered you mentioning that in another post, and itwas one of the first things I checked when this issue presented itself.

To my explorations, the front element was tight and there was no adjustment possible in the front ring--everything seemed locked down.

But maybe I wasn't pushing and twisting on quite the right spot...

March 16th, 2013, 09:32 AM	#1
Bill Ward Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 580	EX-3 losing infinity focus So this week during a shoot, my EX-3 suddenly lost infinity focus. I vaguely remembered older EX-1 threads that said a re-boot after taking the battery off generally fixed the issue. We tried that, and after two tries, it cleared up. Then I was reading Alister's comment in the PMW200 thread about not using a star chart for the EX-3's auto flange adjustment. I had just run the auto flange a few days before with a star chart, so I did the "12 feet from a brick wall" flange adjustment. Was looking good until I tested the infinity, and when I kicked in the #2 ND filter on the camera...instant lack of infinity focus. (put the camera at about f5.6 or so.) Popped the focus ring from MF to AF and back sharply...infinity focus restored, regardless of ND filter position. Kind of seems like this lens is all over the place. Any ideas? Locking lens ring to camera is tight. Front element is tight. Lens security lock is tight.

March 16th, 2013, 01:56 PM	#3
Bill Ward Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 580	Re: EX-3 losing infinity focus But does an inferior flange adjustment result in an intermittent loss of infinity focus? If it's off, wouldn't it stay out of focus?

March 16th, 2013, 08:42 PM	#4
Jack Zhang Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada Posts: 3,053	Re: EX-3 losing infinity focus I repeated your scenario, (ND2 and infinity focus) on my EX1R, and the only thing I could see happening was that the very end of the focus ring on Full MF is not infinity. Infinity is slightly before the end of the ring. Remember that the EX1 and EX3 (with stock lens) use a rear-based focusing system that is servo driven. (Even when Full MF is engaged) Traditional manual lenses use front focusing systems, but the side effect is breathing. This method means there is very minimal to no breathing when focusing. I experienced a complete backfocus failure at least once in my EX1R's lifetime but it hasn't happened since, I did a reboot and everything was fine afterwards. Does this happen as you're switching ND filters?

March 17th, 2013, 03:07 PM	#5
Bill Ward Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 580	Re: EX-3 losing infinity focus Jack: in the outdoor example, yes, it was when the ND2 engaged that distance focus when away. Following your advice, I re-flanged the lens inside with dimmer lighting so that the iris would be wide open...and at exactly 9 feet from lens to star chart. Looks good at the moment. Shooting with the camera in the morning, so we'll see if the problem repeats itself!

March 17th, 2013, 06:49 PM	#6
Jack Zhang Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada Posts: 3,053	Re: EX-3 losing infinity focus Doing a Siemens Star backfocus adjust in outdoor daylight is too bright. Indoor controlled lighting is very important to a proper FB adjust. It's also important not to have complex details surrounding the Siemens Star so that the 2nd step of adjusting the backfocus on wide does not get confused. For a Siemens Star, position the very center of the chart in the center of the frame at full zoom.

March 16th, 2013, 09:52 AM	#2
Jack Zhang Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada Posts: 3,053	Re: EX-3 losing infinity focus Was the iris completely open during the Auto FB adjust? When doing a Auto FB adjust, you also need to make sure there is proper lighting on the target and the iris is completely open. Print out a Siemens star just in case to do a proper adjust. The proper distance for a FB adjust is also 3 meters or 10 feet.

March 18th, 2013, 01:31 PM	#7
Bill Ward Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 580	Re: EX-3 losing infinity focus yep, I did that yesterday. All looked good. Today, outside, no infinity focus, regardless of power down and booting back up. May be time for a call to Sony service.

March 18th, 2013, 03:02 PM	#8
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	Re: EX-3 losing infinity focus I find that a star chart is too small and 3m is too close. I normally use a flat wall with a texture or pattern. A brick wall or wall with wall paper work well and I place the camera at least 3m from the wall, typically between 3 and 5m. One last thing check that the contacts between the lens and the camera body are clean. However if the back focus routine is completing correctly and your still having issues it does sound like it may need a service. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

March 30th, 2013, 07:20 AM	#9
Bill Ward Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 580	Re: EX-3 losing infinity focus Quick follow up: the lads at Sony Service say the infinity focus issue was caused by a "floating" front element in the lens. Only a $300 fix. At least it wasn't the lens contacts or an interior board issue!

March 30th, 2013, 02:32 PM	#10
Rick L. Allen Major Player Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fayetteville, NC Posts: 536	Re: EX-3 losing infinity focus Good News! __________________ "The good thing about science is that it's true whether you believe it or not." Neil deGrasse Tyson https://www.nautilusproductions.com/

March 31st, 2013, 03:44 PM	#11
Jack Zhang Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada Posts: 3,053	Re: EX-3 losing infinity focus Hmm, must be the steadyshot. Then the problem is the lens. IMHO, fully manual Fujinons would not have this problem as there is no Steadyshot and the backfocus is even manual.

April 1st, 2013, 02:51 AM	#12
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	Re: EX-3 losing infinity focus I've seen the front lens element become loose on a few cameras. It's normally obvious as when you clean the lens you can feel it moving. The cure is normally just to very gently tighten the large ring that holds it in place. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

April 2nd, 2013, 07:43 AM	#13
Bill Ward Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 580	Re: EX-3 losing infinity focus Alister: that's the thing that worries me a bit. I had remembered you mentioning that in another post, and itwas one of the first things I checked when this issue presented itself. To my explorations, the front element was tight and there was no adjustment possible in the front ring--everything seemed locked down. But maybe I wasn't pushing and twisting on quite the right spot...