On-Board LCD Monitor Lag
 

Hi All,

Pulled my FS700U out of the box today and set it up and immediately experienced an issue I haven't seen reported - a severe lag in the on-board monitor.

The monitor's image goes to fudge when using the expanded focus rendering it almost completely useless as a focus assist. I'd expected this and planned on adding an EVF. That aside, there is a split second delay in the image generated by the display. The image goes completely to jelly with a little back and forth movement. Is this a defect or have other's had the same experience? Is there any way to know if the lag issue would extend to an EVF?

Tim

Re: On-Board Monitor Lag
 

Update: Steadyshot is greyed out and a full reset haven't changed the condition.

Re: On-Board Monitor Lag
 

I cannot say I noticed the lag on the monitor, but as soon as I attached an evf (new alphatron). It was hugely noticable. This is irrespective of full output with data, or just clear out.

I held off evf's for dslr, so it's my first in years and assumed it was a factor of all evfs. I tried sdi as well as hdmi in different framerates as well to check.

As far as I know the expanded focus button (zoom in), doesn't work via the out anyway, its down to your evf to render you up a zoom in. There is one on the alphatron and it seems to work.

I'll put the alphatron on my dslr and confirm if its any different.

Re: On-Board Monitor Lag
 

Thanks Kieran. Yesterday I took the camera back to the dealer and tested it against their demo camera. Both camera's LCDs showed a noticeable lag between movement and display. They told me they hadn't received any feedback from other clients on the issue but would pursue an explanation from Sony.

Is it that other camera's haven't exhibited this effect or people are accepting lag with in lieu of the price point/features?

I shoot a lot of documentary so reacting with the scene is vital. Sorry to hear the lag is amplified when attaching the Alphatron EVF. Part of me had hoped the on-board lag issue might've been circumvented with an EVF on SDI.

Waiting to hear what Sony has to say and will post the results.

Re: On-Board Monitor Lag
 

HDMI will typically add a 1 or 2 frame delay due to the way the signal is processed. Any external LCD or EVF using HDMI will exhibit lag as a result. The Alphatron exhibits a little over 1 frame of delay when used with HDSDi, more when using HDMI.

You'll only get stedishot when using an E-Mount or A-Mount lens.

I find the slight lag on my FS700 barely noticeable and the expanded focus function works very well.

Re: On-Board Monitor Lag
 

Thanks alister for chiming in. Hopefully it's just a setting then.

Tried the alphatron with my d7000 dslr and almost zero lag. So it's not the evf.

Must be a setting or format or something on the fs700. I get super jello in comparison. Didn't really notice it onboard though.

Re: On-Board Monitor Lag
 

I brought the camera in to the dealer, where they compared it side-by-side with their rental model. Both exhibited the same amount of monitor response lag. The dealer has acknowledged the issue and contacted Sony. Sony, they say, have brought an FS700 into their facility for testing. Waiting to hear the results of their inquiry.

Re: On-Board Monitor Lag
 

The FS100 had significant lag both onscreen as well as to an external monitor in my experience as well... I talked with the rep at NAB who claimed to have no idea of what I was talking about and several people hanging around chimed in and said they had noticed the same thing but though it was "just them".

At LEAST 2 frames on camera and at least 2 more via HDMI, in my experience in 1080P30.

Re: On-Board Monitor Lag
 

Just followed up with the dealer, who is still waiting to hear back on Sony's test results. Will update when the information becomes available.

Re: On-Board Monitor Lag
 

I'm told the Sony lab is understaffed and they won't be able to look into the issue until next week.

Yesterday, I flipped the camera into stills mode and watched the monitor lag issue disappear. This gives me hope that the issue can be resolved.

Re: On-Board Monitor Lag
 

Most likely the processing of the image into 24P and 30P is taking longer than you would like. Lots of digital converters add delay and this can be very noticeable. I first noticed this problem on my Canon XLH1 way back when and it doesn't surprise me at this price point with the FS700. When i was at Abel Cine the other day it looked like the on board LCD was a bit better than the HDSDI output.

Re: On-Board Monitor Lag
 

Here is a photo that will show the approximate frame delay between the incoming image and the monitor on the FS700.

Looks like its about 3 frames.

Re: On-Board Monitor Lag
 

I've noticed it only at 24P. All other frame rates have very little noticeable monitor delay. The SDI out is a frame ahead of the HDMI out on all frame rates.

Love the camera - already missing that TC out port though.

Re: On-Board Monitor Lag
 

Hey Chris,
Good visual demonstration of the issue. What settings did you use for frame rate? If you had an external monitor hooked up it would be interesting to see if the delay on the output is the same for the internal and external monitors. Either way I bet it is built in to the architecture and hard to eliminate.

Re: On-Board Monitor Lag
 

That was 23.97fps 180deg shutter.