Sony EX1 owners - lens alignment test

[eel]

I've read about some lens alignment issues with a few batches of earlier Ex1's so I did this test.

I set the camera to ND off, ND1 and ND2, controlling the exposure (set at 1.9) using Shutter speed, lens full manual and with peaking on. I zoom in full onto a Newspaper Classified Ads section at about 45degree angle down and about 2.5m perpendicular to camera. When I wrack focus on the lettering, the peaking signal is not even across the lettering. As I rotate the focus ring the signal sort of moves from the top right hand of the LCD to the bottom left. With peaking off, the letters look very slightly soft on the right side when the focus is set on the letters in the Centre

Question: Any EX1 owners have done a similar test? If so what kind of results are you getting? Is this a lens alignment issue?

 

[engr]

Wat is yr firmware ver eel? Press the menu, cancel and sel button together. U will see the ver. If yr ver is below 1.05 this may be it. In particular, V1.02 and below is quite certain.
Anyway yr prob sounds a little like achromatic aberation.. I'm not sure cuz I dun have my EX with me now. Please follow the video below to test yr cam for backfocus issue. IF u really need to service n upgrade yr firmware with Sony, hang on for anothe 2 wks. The new firmware has just been launched.

http://www.vimeo.com/819802

 

[eel]

Firmware version is 1.05-0405. I was under the impression that CA has to do with colour edges in highlight/contrasty areas? Anyway I sent it in for Sony to have a look rather than do it myself and cause any warranty issues. Thanks for taking the trouble to provide the link though. And when your Ex1 comes back, maybe you can do a test and let me know your results?

 

[engr]

Ah ok. Do keep us posted. I do not have much issues (or I have not discovered!) so far. Ha ha btw I m away from my camera, not the other way round!

 

[eel]

Just got my camera back from Sony on Friday with the firmware upgraded. I think they added one more shutter speed, 1/120 and now I should be able to use it with the 32gb SxS cards.

However, I'm still getting slightly soft image on one side of the image (and this is with a proper HD test chart) on and off now that I've had more time to test it fully and view on a Full HD resolution monitor. From what I know, they did a back focus adjustment but to me this seems to be more a lens misalignment issue. I'm hoping that Ex1 users can do the test I described and provide some feedback. Critically I'm interested to know the results from the following parameters:

Lens wide open, zoom at Z75 and full tele
ND 1,2 and clear
Shutter speed and gain(not above +3db) to compensate for exposure
Peaking on

When focused on a flat subject perpendicular to the camera at a distance of 4-5 metres away, note what happens to the peaking signal as you change the focus slightly both ways. Does the peaking signal move across the screen in a particular direction or does it just come on and off as the subject comes in or goes out of focus?

Any feedback would be appreciated.

 

[tanvideo]

hi,eel
My EX1 is 1st generation. I want send to upgrade the firmware...
How much you getting change from SONY?

 

[eel]

No charge because the dealer I bought from was able to send it in to Sony for me to get the firmware upgrade

Anyway, to update, I've tested a few other EX1s and it seems all of them behave similar in that the peaking moves from one side to the other. I guess the Fujinon lens has some limitations at F1.9 so best to avoid using it at full open.

 

[tanvideo]

Oo..I have to ask my dealer tomorrow....
thanks

 

[tanvideo]

I getting Lastest Version V1.11 now....
Now monitor it...

 

[eel]

Nice one!

 

[tanvideo]

Having one week monitoring....... Battery Drain cant be fix by update Firmware....
I think need to change inner electronic....

 

[engr]

Yes, the PCB has to be changed.