Re: X180 lens issue
 

In my city we have a Sony Authorized service center which are the same people which helped IFHT make the "How to be a Filmmaker" short. I sent my EX1R to get fixed there.

Happy to report the camera is cleaned and no LCD issues.

Re: X180 lens issue
 

Here is another clip of the problem at the worse I have ever experienced it. That is a huge focus shift from just lightly touching the zoom rocker! First half in AF, second half in full manual. :(

Re: X180 lens issue
 

that's absolutely appalling. sony should be ashamed of selling the camera ;-(

Re: X180 lens issue
 

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.

Re: X180 lens issue
 

I've just tried to replicate this too, with the X180 at 18db in manual focus mode and very slow zooms and/or just nudging the zoom rocker and it does not loose focus or shift/twitter.
Maybe you could save and upload your full X180 camera settings (All File save) and I can load them and see if I can replicate it.
I was going to add this potential focus problem as a Con of my upcoming review of this camera, but I'll hold off and maybe add it as an update later if it's confirmed with more than just your camera.

Re: X180 lens issue
 

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...

Re: X180 lens issue
 

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

Re: X180 lens issue
 

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

Re: X180 lens issue
 

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

Re: X180 lens issue
 

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

Re: X180 lens issue
 

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

Re: X180 lens issue
 

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

Re: X180 lens issue
 

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

Re: X180 lens issue
 

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

Re: X180 lens issue
 

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

Re: X180 lens issue
 

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

Re: X180 lens issue
 

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.

Re: X180 lens issue
 

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

Re: X180 lens issue
 

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!!!

Re: X180 lens issue
 

:-|

Re: X180 lens issue
 

Well, finally, a YEAR LATER, Sony has issued a firmware revision specifically to fix this lens issue. This would have been nice before they sent me a brand new camera which I sold new in box for only $3000, taking quite a loss from my original purchase price.

Ugh...

Re: X180 lens issue
 

much too late indeed ;-(

i've given up even looking at new cameras, well, at least till they've been on the market for at least a year, which of course then makes them almost obsolete ;-)

Re: X180 lens issue
 

UPDATE: Have my hands on a new X180 demo from Sony for testing. Hard infinity stop still blurs out noticeably. Also, backfocus does not track correctly, zooming in, then zooming out even 10-20%, you can see it loose focus. If I zoom to 100%, find proper exact focus, then zoom out 50% in manual, the image will be soft...if I slide the ring forward for AF, the image will then find focus and become sharp. The X180 EXCELLENT standard style peaking function makes this vey easy to see, as it shimmers with detail when it hits correct focus.

Moral of the story...still an amazing and underated camera, just recognize this focus issue and adjust your shooting style and you will be a happy camper. Hoping the X180 replacement will someday arrive with functioning backfocus. :)

Paul