FX1 iris 'flicker'

Dan Robinson · April 20th, 2006, 06:32 PM

I've recently noticed a problem with my FX1. It has started exhibiting some sort of brightness flicker where the picture will darken slightly for a split second, almost if the iris is closing and opening rapidly. At its worst, the flicker 'pulse' happens once or twice a second. It is visible in the LCD, in the viewfinder and in captured video on the computer.

The problem is intermittent, and has happened in all types of scenes, broad daylight, dusk, indoors, etc.

The flicker happens on full manual with the iris and gain locked as well as on all-auto. No filters or anything on front. I'll post a clip here shortly. I am really hoping this was some setting that I inadvertently changed recently. I've had the camera since October and it has just started doing this last week.

Most of the time it is barely noticable, but occasionally it is noticable enough to ruin the video.

Steven Gotz · April 20th, 2006, 07:00 PM

Send it in for repair.

Dan Robinson · April 20th, 2006, 07:29 PM

Here is an M2T (19MB):

http://wvlightning.com/stuff/fx1flicker.m2t

Steven Gotz · April 20th, 2006, 07:40 PM

If it is on full manual, and that means everything, then it needs repair.

Dan Robinson · April 20th, 2006, 08:34 PM

Timing couldn't be worse. I'm leaving May 4 for a 3-week project, one of the main projects I purchased the camera for. Is there a place that can do warranty repairs in 2 weeks?

Steven Gotz · April 20th, 2006, 09:12 PM

I have no idea. Sorry.

Dan Robinson · April 20th, 2006, 09:30 PM

I was wondering if anyone else had this problem and how common it is.

Dan Robinson · April 21st, 2006, 11:31 PM

No one else has ever had this problem?

Robin Davies-Rollinson · April 22nd, 2006, 04:57 AM

No, nothing like that at all...

Robin

Dan Robinson · November 2nd, 2006, 12:41 AM

Just a quick update to this thread. I shipped my camera to Sony's Laredo, Texas repair center last week. They received it on Friday, October 27.

Sony has finished the repair as of Wednesday, November 1 and the camera is already en route back to me. I was charged the standard $249 labor fee (the camera is still under the one-year parts warranty).

They replaced over $800 in parts, including the lens, to address the 'iris flicker' problem. I should receive the camera either Friday or Monday, at which point I'll update again after testing things out. If all is well then, I'll be very impressed by the Sony warranty repair process - about a 1 week turnaround time from start to finish.

John M. Graham · November 4th, 2006, 11:12 AM

That's good to hear, Dan, that Sony is pretty quick about repairs. I'm going to be shipping mine to them soon due to a weird, pulsating, popping noise from the speaker.

April 20th, 2006, 06:32 PM	#1
Dan Robinson Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Charleston, West Virginia Posts: 131	FX1 iris 'flicker' - pulsing brightness levels+ I've recently noticed a problem with my FX1. It has started exhibiting some sort of brightness flicker where the picture will darken slightly for a split second, almost if the iris is closing and opening rapidly. At its worst, the flicker 'pulse' happens once or twice a second. It is visible in the LCD, in the viewfinder and in captured video on the computer. The problem is intermittent, and has happened in all types of scenes, broad daylight, dusk, indoors, etc. The flicker happens on full manual with the iris and gain locked as well as on all-auto. No filters or anything on front. I'll post a clip here shortly. I am really hoping this was some setting that I inadvertently changed recently. I've had the camera since October and it has just started doing this last week. Most of the time it is barely noticable, but occasionally it is noticable enough to ruin the video.

April 20th, 2006, 07:00 PM	#2
Steven Gotz Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Clermont, FL Posts: 1,520	Send it in for repair. __________________ Steven Gotz http://www.stevengotz.com

April 20th, 2006, 07:40 PM	#4
Steven Gotz Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Clermont, FL Posts: 1,520	If it is on full manual, and that means everything, then it needs repair. __________________ Steven Gotz http://www.stevengotz.com

April 20th, 2006, 09:12 PM	#6
Steven Gotz Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Clermont, FL Posts: 1,520	I have no idea. Sorry. __________________ Steven Gotz http://www.stevengotz.com

April 20th, 2006, 07:29 PM	#3
Dan Robinson Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Charleston, West Virginia Posts: 131	Here is an M2T (19MB): http://wvlightning.com/stuff/fx1flicker.m2t

April 20th, 2006, 08:34 PM	#5
Dan Robinson Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Charleston, West Virginia Posts: 131	Timing couldn't be worse. I'm leaving May 4 for a 3-week project, one of the main projects I purchased the camera for. Is there a place that can do warranty repairs in 2 weeks?

April 20th, 2006, 09:30 PM	#7
Dan Robinson Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Charleston, West Virginia Posts: 131	I was wondering if anyone else had this problem and how common it is.

April 21st, 2006, 11:31 PM	#8
Dan Robinson Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Charleston, West Virginia Posts: 131	No one else has ever had this problem?

April 22nd, 2006, 04:57 AM	#9
Robin Davies-Rollinson Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Gwaelod-y-garth, Cardiff, CYMRU/WALES Posts: 1,215	No, nothing like that at all... Robin

November 2nd, 2006, 12:41 AM	#10
Dan Robinson Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Charleston, West Virginia Posts: 131	Just a quick update to this thread. I shipped my camera to Sony's Laredo, Texas repair center last week. They received it on Friday, October 27. Sony has finished the repair as of Wednesday, November 1 and the camera is already en route back to me. I was charged the standard $249 labor fee (the camera is still under the one-year parts warranty). They replaced over $800 in parts, including the lens, to address the 'iris flicker' problem. I should receive the camera either Friday or Monday, at which point I'll update again after testing things out. If all is well then, I'll be very impressed by the Sony warranty repair process - about a 1 week turnaround time from start to finish.

November 4th, 2006, 11:12 AM	#11
John M. Graham Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 83	That's good to hear, Dan, that Sony is pretty quick about repairs. I'm going to be shipping mine to them soon due to a weird, pulsating, popping noise from the speaker.