Dust inside my Z1 Lens at DVinfo.net

David Dwyer · April 16th, 2011, 06:13 AM

Well I'm not sure how its happened but I have managed to get dust inside my Z1. I was half expecting it because I film World Rally events but the dust that's inside looks like normal household dust and not anything from outside.

I've had a estimate repair cost @ £1200/2000$ and I was told the lens if a sealed unit so they wont repair it just replace it.

Not sure what to do as I can't afford that cost at the moment.

David Dwyer · July 4th, 2011, 04:49 AM

Anyone stripped it down to remove the dust?

It seems it might be my only option now as the dust is in the centre of the screen.

Matt Sharp · July 8th, 2011, 05:48 PM

These diagrams might come in handy for you. Not the Z1 but probably similar.

http://www.searspartsdirect.com/part...shdMod=HDR-FX1

David Dwyer · July 11th, 2011, 03:03 PM

Thanks I've actually contacted Nico from the below link

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boyd Ostroff

Do not try this at home!

SONY HDR-FX1 Camcorder Service

He said he can remove the dust!

Tom Hardwick · August 5th, 2011, 08:11 AM

The lens isn't really a sealed unit - it breathes in and out every time you zoom the internal elements (there's not a vacuum inside), and it's this that draws in atmospheric dust.

Generally little harm's done simply because all the dust and debris is way out of focus. The lens loses speed,and contrast (dust spoils the surface multi-coating's efficiency), so I'm surprised you're seeing it in your image 'in the centre of the screen'.

tom.

David Dwyer · August 5th, 2011, 11:40 AM

The dust has been moving around but it can be seen on the image

‪Lexus LFA - UK Exclusive [HD]‬&rlm; - YouTube

1:07 and you can really notice it.

Tom Hardwick · August 5th, 2011, 02:48 PM

Doesn't look like dust to me David. Looks to me like you've got a filter over the front element, and maybe a wide-angle converter? Pretty sure it's flare we're seeing. Is your front element spotless? Is the filter multi-coated? I'd say never use filters with tiny Z1 chips. And I hope the vignetting is intentional.

tom.

David Dwyer · August 5th, 2011, 02:55 PM

I assure you it's a dust particle

Tom Hardwick · August 5th, 2011, 03:00 PM

You mean you can see it as you look down into your Z1's lens David? If you've got a movie light shine it across the front element perpendicular to the lens's axis - that should show up any internal dustiness.

So - were you using a filter or a conversion lens on those shots? You had the Z1's hood in place?

tom.

David Dwyer · August 7th, 2011, 04:25 PM

Sorry for the delay, I only just the UV filter and yeah I use the lens hood as well

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/25830232/201...2023.13.54.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/25830232/201...2023.14.23.jpg

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/25830232/201...20-%20edit.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/25830232/201...20-%20edit.jpg

I know its hard to see but there is a mark of dust there.

Tom Hardwick · August 8th, 2011, 10:40 AM

Yes, dust clinging to the inner surface of the zoom's front element. It moves around you say? I can't see any way of removing that front element for a clean so it looks to be a professional tear-down job, otherwise all your scenes will be shadowed in this way.

David Dwyer · August 8th, 2011, 02:19 PM

Yeah when I say it moves, Its been in there since December 2010 and its moved from the lower corner of the screen to the middle position that's its in now. So it's not a quick mover, no matter how much force I try.

I'm taking the camera to Amsterdam on Wednesday for a repair so I will report back.

David

Tom Hardwick · August 9th, 2011, 02:00 AM

I've just thought - I've had reports that in some Z1s and FX1s a tolerance buildup has allowed internal elements of that Zeiss lens to actually come in contact with one another at full wide-angle, so leaving marks in the multi-coated surfaces. But your 'moving' marks made me discount this in your case. Even so - worth reporting it to the repair technician as I'm sure he'll be familliar with it.

David Dwyer · September 8th, 2011, 11:54 AM

I've been mega busy but I'm happy to report that Nico from camcorderservice.nl has removed the dust from inside the lens and its back to full working condition.

I'll post a full report and pictures in a new thread shortly.

Nico is a camera god!

Nick Hope · September 12th, 2011, 01:58 PM

David, do you mind me asking how much that service cost? This is a subject close to my heart, as I had to live with an annoying speck of dust inside the lens of my Z1P for a few months while working in Fiji and Tonga, and then had to pay an awful lot of money to have the lens unit exchanged by Sony Service here in Bangkok.

April 16th, 2011, 06:13 AM	#1
David Dwyer Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chester, North West Posts: 565	Dust inside my Z1 Lens Well I'm not sure how its happened but I have managed to get dust inside my Z1. I was half expecting it because I film World Rally events but the dust that's inside looks like normal household dust and not anything from outside. I've had a estimate repair cost @ £1200/2000$ and I was told the lens if a sealed unit so they wont repair it just replace it. Not sure what to do as I can't afford that cost at the moment.

July 4th, 2011, 04:49 AM	#2
David Dwyer Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chester, North West Posts: 565	Re: Dust inside my Z1 Lens Anyone stripped it down to remove the dust? It seems it might be my only option now as the dust is in the centre of the screen.

July 8th, 2011, 05:48 PM	#3
Matt Sharp Major Player Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Northridge, CA Posts: 280	Re: Dust inside my Z1 Lens These diagrams might come in handy for you. Not the Z1 but probably similar. http://www.searspartsdirect.com/part...shdMod=HDR-FX1

August 5th, 2011, 08:11 AM	#5
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	Re: Dust inside my Z1 Lens The lens isn't really a sealed unit - it breathes in and out every time you zoom the internal elements (there's not a vacuum inside), and it's this that draws in atmospheric dust. Generally little harm's done simply because all the dust and debris is way out of focus. The lens loses speed,and contrast (dust spoils the surface multi-coating's efficiency), so I'm surprised you're seeing it in your image 'in the centre of the screen'. tom.

August 5th, 2011, 11:40 AM	#6
David Dwyer Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chester, North West Posts: 565	Re: Dust inside my Z1 Lens The dust has been moving around but it can be seen on the image ‪Lexus LFA - UK Exclusive [HD]‬&rlm; - YouTube 1:07 and you can really notice it.

August 5th, 2011, 02:48 PM	#7
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	Re: Dust inside my Z1 Lens Doesn't look like dust to me David. Looks to me like you've got a filter over the front element, and maybe a wide-angle converter? Pretty sure it's flare we're seeing. Is your front element spotless? Is the filter multi-coated? I'd say never use filters with tiny Z1 chips. And I hope the vignetting is intentional. tom.

August 5th, 2011, 02:55 PM	#8
David Dwyer Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chester, North West Posts: 565	Re: Dust inside my Z1 Lens I assure you it's a dust particle

August 5th, 2011, 03:00 PM	#9
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	Re: Dust inside my Z1 Lens You mean you can see it as you look down into your Z1's lens David? If you've got a movie light shine it across the front element perpendicular to the lens's axis - that should show up any internal dustiness. So - were you using a filter or a conversion lens on those shots? You had the Z1's hood in place? tom.

August 7th, 2011, 04:25 PM	#10
David Dwyer Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chester, North West Posts: 565	Re: Dust inside my Z1 Lens Sorry for the delay, I only just the UV filter and yeah I use the lens hood as well http://dl.dropbox.com/u/25830232/201...2023.13.54.jpg http://dl.dropbox.com/u/25830232/201...2023.14.23.jpg http://dl.dropbox.com/u/25830232/201...20-%20edit.jpg http://dl.dropbox.com/u/25830232/201...20-%20edit.jpg I know its hard to see but there is a mark of dust there.

August 8th, 2011, 10:40 AM	#11
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	Re: Dust inside my Z1 Lens Yes, dust clinging to the inner surface of the zoom's front element. It moves around you say? I can't see any way of removing that front element for a clean so it looks to be a professional tear-down job, otherwise all your scenes will be shadowed in this way.

August 8th, 2011, 02:19 PM	#12
David Dwyer Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chester, North West Posts: 565	Re: Dust inside my Z1 Lens Yeah when I say it moves, Its been in there since December 2010 and its moved from the lower corner of the screen to the middle position that's its in now. So it's not a quick mover, no matter how much force I try. I'm taking the camera to Amsterdam on Wednesday for a repair so I will report back. David

August 9th, 2011, 02:00 AM	#13
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	Re: Dust inside my Z1 Lens I've just thought - I've had reports that in some Z1s and FX1s a tolerance buildup has allowed internal elements of that Zeiss lens to actually come in contact with one another at full wide-angle, so leaving marks in the multi-coated surfaces. But your 'moving' marks made me discount this in your case. Even so - worth reporting it to the repair technician as I'm sure he'll be familliar with it.

September 8th, 2011, 11:54 AM	#14
David Dwyer Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chester, North West Posts: 565	Re: Dust inside my Z1 Lens I've been mega busy but I'm happy to report that Nico from camcorderservice.nl has removed the dust from inside the lens and its back to full working condition. I'll post a full report and pictures in a new thread shortly. Nico is a camera god!

September 12th, 2011, 01:58 PM	#15
Nick Hope Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bangkok, Thailand Posts: 189	Re: Dust inside my Z1 Lens David, do you mind me asking how much that service cost? This is a subject close to my heart, as I had to live with an annoying speck of dust inside the lens of my Z1P for a few months while working in Fiji and Tonga, and then had to pay an awful lot of money to have the lens unit exchanged by Sony Service here in Bangkok. __________________ Bubble Vision Underwater Video \| YouTube Channel \| Facebook Page