X180 lens issue

[Leslie Wand]

as an addendum to my earlier comment - i was referring to paul's camera in particular - however, there was a lens problem with early releases of the ex1 if i remember correctly, sort with a firmware update?

as suggested i would certainly take camera and footage in to sony and complain...

[Paul Anderegg]

Originally Posted by Dave Sperling

I'd agree if I could replicate the zoom rocker problem on my X180, but so far (I've had it for 8 months) I've never experienced that kind of softening from using the zoom rocker. Since my camera doesn't exhibit the problem, my guess is that we should be blaming maintenance/service for not being able to repair the issue. I'd bring the camera in with a copy of the video so they can clearly see the problem.

When I had tech support on the phone, they refused to look at my clips on YouTube. I get the feeling they will send it back with a note saying they could not replicate the problem, and stick me with a bum camera.

Paul

[Paul Anderegg]

Sony finally called about my X180. They said they cannot reproduce any claimed issues, so I sent them the YouTube video link of the SUV with it's butt in the air. They said that is definitely NOT right, most likely a lens issue. I thought it was an LCD issue, but I am not an engineer. :-)

As for the infinity hard stop blur, they claim that doesn't exist, but as i have recorded video from both of my 180's that do that 100% of the time, I will conclude that is a design flaw they will not admit to.

Since my camera has been gone for a few weeks, I bought an HPX600 with 22x lens. :-)

Paul

[Ron Evans]

I had lens issues with my FX1, NX5U and FDR-AX1 when I bought them and Sony changed the lens on all these for me under warranty. I look very carefully now when I get a new Sony and check the lens for all the issues that are important to me in the first few weeks. They all had back focus issues and out of focus points across the frame. New lens solved the problem on all of them. Likely a quality issue rather than basic design I expect.

Ron Evans

[Paul Anderegg]

It's now been a month since I sent in my X180..........it shows on their website as "repair in progress". I wonder how many months it should normally take to repair something with 50h on it?

Paul

[Leslie Wand]

that's pretty lame - have you followed up with them to find out what's going on?

[Paul Anderegg]

I guess I will call tomorrow to find out. The service center is only the next county over from me. The only contact they made was when they called me to tell me they could not find a problem with the camera. :-\

Paul

[Paul Anderegg]

Sony finally returned my X180, 6 weeks later. They replaced the lens and aligned the camera. Seems to be working as when new. This did not fix the slight out of focus condition when at the infinity hard stop. That seems to be an unwanted "feature" of this particular model.

Paul

[John Nantz]

Paul - I gotta hand it to ya. For all the troubles you’ve had with this, ahem … professional cam,

Originally Posted by Paul Anderegg

Sony finally returned my X180, 6 weeks later. They replaced the lens and aligned the camera. Seems to be working as when new. This did not fix the slight out of focus condition when at the infinity hard stop. That seems to be an unwanted "feature" of this particular model.

…. you seem to have taken it pretty well. It’s not everyone who would’a taken this hard stop condition as a ‘feature’.

On the plus side, with a little bit of levity like that it should add, instead of subtract, to your life expectancy.

On my end, instead of going with the X70 last summer (partially thanks to your ‘rave’ reviews) I couldn’t wait any longer and decided to opt for the AX100 (which you haven’t touched!). The plan is to use use it for a B-cam when a good ‘A-cam’ shows up. Got a JuicedLink pre for the XLR inputs so it’ll be used that way.

6 weeks, though, that’s a L-o-o-n-g time. They probably had to get approval from the home office then get parts from Japan or China.

Good luck with the repair job and hope this helps with the nightly news reports.

[Paul Anderegg]

Thanks john....I did own a CX900 for a few months!

And the camera is on it's way BACK to Sony......again. The backfocus was not correctly aligned when the new lens was installed, so the camera will be slightly out of focus when you zoom. Cameras should not get blurrier when you zoom out from telephoto. :-\

The levity comes from getting to play with my tiny X70 during the wait. Can you imagine if I didn't have a station isssued rig and secondary camera, and had a freelance business to operate full time?!?!?!

Paul

[Paul Anderegg]

My X180 just arrived back from Sony for the second time, to adjust and fix the back-focus.

Well, the backfocus is still out, but now I have v3.00 firmware, is that even released yet? Kept seeing new menu features and didn't know what was up so I checked my version.

So now I need to press Sony to replace my camera whole.........gots me a lemon. :(

Paul

[Dean Asher]

Update on all this.

I have had my 180 for I think over a year now..... had been great up until just tonight.

The floating focus and out of focus while zooming has just started. Missed some crucial shots tonight cause it wouldnt stay in focus. Full manual and it would just suddenly jump to a blurred image.

Will attempt to get it looked at and see how it goes. Other than this issue, its been a great little cam.

[Paul Anderegg]

I know a lot of people may think I am a nitpicker and always complaining about these Sony lenses, but I think it is crucial that people are aware of these problems, so they can test their new purchase out and be within warranty if they see the same issue happening to them.

Paul

[Dan Gunn]

Paul, Sony obviously has a problem and should own up to it. Completely unacceptable behavior.

I have already ordered the Z150 and if it is a lemon I am going to raise a ruckus!!!

[Paul Anderegg]

:-|

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