EX3 Zoom Sticking at Slow Speeds

[Craig Seeman]

Granted it’s poor QC on Sony’s part but there’s no problem here on acknowledgment. They replaced my camera. There was no issue at all convincing them of the issue. I just wish they QC’d the cameras better.

[Paul Zwicker]

Just talked to the tech in Teaneck NJ who has my camera on his bench with the sticky zoom issue.

He states that Fujinon recommends that we do NOT set the internal menu slow speed below 10!
How I am supposed to operate a slow zoom at that speed???

The tech also states that EVERY EX3 they have in there-even NEW ONES- have this issue.
The problem is in the lens-not in the circuitry. This is a problem with Fujinon-according to my very nice tech who called me to explain the issue.

So. If you got a new camera and the zoom worked well, consider yourself lucky.
If you have not tried the camera with a slow zoom setting below 10, I hope you will and post the results.

Not sure what to do with this information. Should I expect a sticky zoom for a camera that costs under $8500?

Has anyone experienced this zoom issue with other lenses besides the factory lens??

This is not good.

Paul

[Craig Seeman]

It sounds like a duck to me. If some can work and other don’t then they should replace.

Note my EX1 was replaced for this very issue. Zoom is smooth as silk down to 2 now.

If they REALLY believed below 10 shouldn’t be an option they need to change that in firmware. If someone sold you a phone and the number ONE key didn’t work and said the manufacturer recommended not using it . . . . do I need to go further.

Imagine them saying ND2 shouldn’t be used or some parts of the time lapse interval settings shouldn’t be used. Oh and if 1080p30 doesn’t work right don’t use that either. We just included it to pretend it’s part of the feature set.

Sorry but this is absurd. Either Sony needs to change the firmware or Fujinon needs to do better QC on their lenses because MANY EX cameras DO support zoom speeds slower than 10. Heck I thought I was being too soft by not insisting speed 1 should work too. If a feature doesn’t work THEY should either Fix or Change. It’s not up to you to “accept” a flaw unless, like some monitors for example, they’ll tell you up front some number of dead pixels are acceptable (and that sure tells me to avoid buying the monitor or having the right to check at point of purchase).

[Paul Zwicker]

A call to my Sony sales rep may have helped. Teaneck is trying to see if a new lens will be the ticket or if we just get more of the same. Apparently the lens I sent in with the issue is one of the better ones they have seen.
Seems like I am getting some upgrades as well since it is in for service. I will post the results when I get it back.
Looks like I may be saving up for a “real” lens if that is possible in this climate.

Paul

[Paul Zwicker]

Camera came back with a new lens. Jerky zoom right from the start and then smooths out. The smoothest zoom is when the menu speed is set at 10 or above. It came back from the tech’s table set at 2, zoom was very sticky at several places when set at this super slow speed.
I am working with the supervisor at Teaneck, NJ. regarding this issue.

Will keep posting on the outcome.

Paul

[Craig Seeman]

Keep up the fight.

With my EX1 they did try to replace the lens at the shop and after testing they weren’t happy so they replaced the entire camera.

What’s going on with Sony’s QC and QA?
They should have tested the camera before shipping it back to you.

[Michael Pruitt-bruun]

mine was on the bench in teaneck this past week. i spoke to the tech and he asked about the grab-handle rocker, if i was having the issue there or at the primary zoom control rocker at the lens. he started to tell me that if it was with the grab-handle rocker that i was out of luck. it seems like sony doesn’t care about the programmable slow zoom. personally i don’t care about the grab-handle either, i just want the primary servo rocker – the one at the lens – to work properly, as i figure if they get that to work then i should be able to execute slow zooms with a rear-zoom control as well.

seriously, the camera isn’t usable without a proper zoom. i can think of few better ways to make yourself look like an incompetent in front of your client than to not be able to execute a smooth zoom.

i hope they come through. we only purchased the camera a few weeks ago.

[Craig Incardone]

Wow! I just experienced this last week on a shoot, It hasn’t really happened before and
it just seemed to start happening recently to me. I was very pissed because it happened
on a medical interview shoot. I switched to manual mode which still is not the
best but is better than the servo at this point! I think this is a problem that catches up
to the camera rather than a characteristic of the camera. I may try some air to the seam
where the zoom motor is. Hope this helps!

[Frank Dimmock]

Hello all,

I’m new to the forum, so please go easy on me!

I’ve bought an EX3 recently and found the slow zoom problem with the lens. I bought the EX3 primarily as an HD upgrade from my SD DSR-250 and PD-170 for wedding work and of course slow zooms are essential.

The dealer has confirmed the problem and checked my lens on several other EX3s and other lenses on my EX3 and they are all the same. They are obviously not impressed and lent me an excellent lens for my first job, but that doesn’t solve my problem. I broke the bank buying the EX3, so can’t afford a new lens and Sony aren’t interested. The dealer has asked me to email them with my complaint and they will forward it to their Sony representative, but I don’t know if that will do any good.

Being an engineer and having access to world-class electromechanical engineers, I’m wondering if anyone has attempted to cure the problem or knows of the exact cause? I’ve obtained the schematic diagram for the camera, but can’t find one for the stock lens. There appears to be a 3V and an unregulated 12V supply through the lens connector, but short of dismantling my lens, I can’t easily learn any more.

Question: Does anyone have any hard info on the problem, know of a technical solution or even have a broken lens I can obtain to pull apart please? I’m of the opinion I can resolve the problem with a better motor/gearbox, maybe using an R/C servo or similar?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Frank.