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Using XDCAM EX macro on/off
I don’t see how this works. The manual has one short paragraph that doesn’t say much. Is there a trick to it, a menus setting or is my camera not working right. Macro usually means the lens can focus on objects within the first three feet in front of the lens. I can’t get it to work.
Gary
Mac Pro 3Ghz Intel Dual Duo, 6GB RAM, 30″ ACD
MacBook Pro 17″
Sony XDCAM EX with a Sachtler Tripod System -
12 Replies
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We got ours to comply but lens the can’t be zoomed. We did have to mess with it and I don’t remember the details. Ours is out on a rental and we’ll look into it when it returns either on Monday or Wednesday. Other than that, do you have any comments?
Steve Wargo
Tempe, Arizona
It’s a dry heat!Sony HDCAM F-900 & HDW-2000/1 deck
5 Final Cut (not quite PRO) systems
Sony HVR-M25 HDV deck
Sony EX-1 on the way. -
[Steve Wargo] “We got ours to comply but lens the can’t be zoomed.”
hi steve and others
lens must be
in AF/MF mode
set at full wide angle
macro switch on.it works fine, you can focus about as close as you can get something, but as with all consumer cameras, its only at full wide.
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And there ya go. You would think that the lens would be in MF mode. That’s what threw us off at first.
Thanks Mark
Steve Wargo
Tempe, Arizona
It’s a dry heat!Sony HDCAM F-900 & HDW-2000/1 deck
5 Final Cut (not quite PRO) systems
Sony HVR-M25 HDV deck
Sony EX-1 has arrived and it’s fascinating. -
Just to clarify because I think there’s some confusion.
MF/AF is servo controlled
Full Manual is non servo.The Macro works with servo control but you can certainly have Auto Focus turned off.
Yes the lens must be full wide. -
Thanx all. I was probably not full wide. I will try it again at work on Wed.
Gary
Mac Pro 3Ghz Intel Dual Duo, 6GB RAM, 30″ ACD
MacBook Pro 17″
Sony XDCAM EX with a Sachtler Tripod System -
Camera now in hand (Christmas Morning. Am I crazy? I should be in bed.)
Focus ring forward to AF/MF – Lens zoom and iris are full wide
Subject is an Excedrin bottle, 1/4″ from lens shade
Turn Macro on and focus.
I was able to zoom to about 20 mm before it went out of focus.
Once it goes out of focus, you have to zoom back and refocus.
I thoought for sure that the lens had to be in full manual but not so.
Merry Christmas
Steve Wargo
Tempe, Arizona
It’s a dry heat!Sony HDCAM F-900 & HDW-2000/1 deck
5 Final Cut (not quite PRO) systems
Sony HVR-M25 HDV deck
Sony EX-1 has arrived and it’s fascinating. -
[Steve Wargo] “Camera now in hand (Christmas Morning. Am I crazy? I should be in bed.) “
Actually you’re playing with your most favorite Christmas present. Christmas morning is time to play with our toys of course.[Steve Wargo] “Subject is an Excedrin bottle, 1/4” from lens shade “
Must have had a good Christmas Eve party.[Steve Wargo] “I thoought for sure that the lens had to be in full manual but not so.”
Macro is invalid in Full Manual Focus. Page 49 in the manual.
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There’s a book?
Steve Wargo
Tempe, Arizona
It’s a dry heat!Sony HDCAM F-900 & HDW-2000/1 deck
5 Final Cut (not quite PRO) systems
Sony HVR-M25 HDV deck
Sony EX-1 has arrived and it’s fascinating. -
[Steve Wargo] “There’s a book?”
It took me some to figure out what that thing was for. I hooked the battery to it and it didn’t drain it so I thought something might be wrong with it.
I opened it and it had words so I figured it had nothing to do with video. I though maybe it was just packing filler kinda like some people do with old video trade magazines.
Then I thought maybe it was just one of those long warranty cards with terms that explain they don’t repair the camera if an elephant sits on it or you throw it out the window.
I decided to open it again and the words didn’t seem to make any sense. Ah I said, words not making sense, must be a manual. It has many cryptic phrases but much harder to read than a Harry Potter book.
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I just did an A to B comparison of the Panasonic HVX 200 and the Sony EX1. Not scientific, perhaps, but telling.
Set both cameras up on the same scene, and display was a new Samsung 40″ 1080p monitor. Component out on both cameras.
Scenes also captured and put into FCP 6 for comparison. Also transfered some “hero shots,” from both cameras.
Results: EX1 image noticeably sharper, significantly greater latitude in shaded areas. Hands down better image on the EX1. Easier to focus (the EX1 focus enhancement system really does work).
Input to FCP was “easier” using XDCAM Transfer – and the HVX200 footage needed to be rendered (using a 1080p timeline).
And now for the good news.
During comparison test, the brand new EX 1 failed. Lens servo broke or something – back focus completely out; would zoom out, but not in. Almost seemed like it was stuck in “macro,” which was ‘floating.’ When panned, objects appeared to “fly through” the frame – as if the steady shot feature was failing to center the image. Totally weird behavior.
Sony phone support talked me through a nifty procedure: push the “menu,” “select,” and “cancel” buttons, all at the same time. This brings up a whole new level of diagnostics and, as the tech told me, “stuff you shouldn’t fool around with.”
He did have me go the “M” (for “Maintenance”) menu, where the “FB adjust” function can be found (I’m not 100% sure I got the acronym correct – I mailed the camera to Sony within a short time of doing this diagnostic, and didn’t write down the exact menu command – it’s the last one in the “M” list, if I recall). “Execute” will cause the camera to rack focus and focal length repeatedly as it, I guess, adjusts back focus. It failed on my camera – it either hung, with “executing,” displayed, or it displayed the error message, “NG – timeout.”
So, when I talked to the folks at the San Jose Sony service center (the only place in the U.S. that is servicing the camera) I got the distinct impression that this was a known issue. My camera serial number ends in 375, which leads me to believe it’s ‘early’ in the series.
Can anyone point me to locations (other forums, weblink, etc.) where a failed lens servo is discussed?
Thanks,
sbelcap
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