Goody hair tie around lens bayonet (Courtesy: Ferrell McCollough)
The following is an official Sony answer to Bart (in NJ) request regarding the Sony A7-A7r light leak issue:
Sony is aware of and acknowledges this light leak problem with the A7 and A7r and our engineering department is currently researching a solution. We will release a notice to the owners once a resolution is found.
And if you want to get rid of the problem now follow SAR reader Ferrell McCollough (blog here) advice:
I started with black electrical tape and recently discovered a hair tie (elastics) to be an easy, non-sticky alternative. It’s easy to carry in any camera bag too. Get the Goody variety because it does not have the metal connector and “it will give you the hold you need and the comfort you crave.” They are available at drug stores or online. They are the perfect diameter to stretch around the lens and fit snugly at the joint between the lens and body. Even if you catch them with your fingers while handling the camera they snap back into the groove. Also, it’s easy enough to leave on to cut down on moisture and dust and the possibility that “normal” exposures might be effected by a light leak. The biggest bonus is that it’s NOT unattractive!
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Goody-Ouchless-No-Metal-Hair-Elastics-Little-Black-Dress-27255-36-count
On his blog you can see a simple test that proves how this completely fixes the issue.
Thanks Ferrell McCollough!
0 Responses
Good job. Admitting you have a problem is the first step on the road to recovery. 😛
Hello, my name is Sony and I’m a lightleakaholic.
Sony just won some major points with me.
Confessions usually follow near death experiences.
Kudos to Sony!
Agreed. How long did it take Nikon to aknowledge the D600 issues already?
It took Nikon about a year and a half, vs. about 6 months for Sony.
Considering that I only see light leak reports surfed up last month. and D600 dust reports almost immediately after shipping, because light leak problem is much difficult to find than dusting, sony is pretty quick to acknowledge the problem. I hope they could find a solution soon. (other than taping the mount)
WeIl done for raising it in the first place Andrea – I’m sure the added pressure helped convince Sony to take it more seriously.
Boom – vindication for Zoran for when he wrote about this issue last week and egg on the face of all the commenters on here that criticized him, stating that was no the light leak problem. Just because you feel your camera is functioning well, it doesn’t mean that there could be [many] copies that have an issue (or how you shoot may not have brought it to your attention).
If Sony is admitting to it, it must be very widespread.
It is not black and white like that. Have you experienced it? I have not. I do not own/use any of the FE lenses. I use adapted lenses on my A7R. Try as I might, (30s exposures with a torch light near the mount), I am unable to replicate any of the claims.
Sony ought to clarify when this light leak occurs and what exactly the problem is first before coming up with a solution for it!
There is a list of things that can be improved with the A7R. Light leak is not one of them- at least for me!
It sounds like a quality control issue, if one out of every 20 have a leaky seal than 80% of the produced cameras will be fine – but it’s not so nice when the one you receive is in the 20%. It doesn’t make it any less real when I have a flawless copy but many others do not.
Have you experienced it? How do you arrive at these numbers? Random guess based on couple of posts?
If I had a QC issue with mine I would have returned mine (30day no questions asked money back from Sony) or get it fixed at no cost (2 year warranty + 3 year free service package with my purchase).
I would suggest you do the same.
If it is a design flaw then that is a different matter altogether. I would like to see some clarification on this from Sony.
The numbers are hypothetical – I said “IF.” Knowing about the light leak is the key though so that, as you suggested, a buyer could test it and return it while within the window. Denying it is there may prevent some new owners from testing until it is too late.
Fix your math Chris. 1 out of 20 is 5%, not 20%. And it’s probably not even 5% problematic rate. With such a high %, there would have been mass exchanges, and way more people screaming about the problem online. Looking at how widely it is publicized today, i’d say its on the order of 1%(1 out of 100), But I could be wrong.
Good call on my poor math – early morning commute isn’t a good time to be making simple calculations.
1 or 5 or 20% – we have no clue how many units are affected. It is significant enough for Sony to acknowledge it and take it seriously thus it probably isn’t a minor number of units.
I still think it is a limited issue, there are very few accounts of it and your and Zoran’s claim for “many” affected copies is unsubstantiated. Sony’s acknowledgment meaning the issue is widespread is a fallacy. Boom?
Well, there was an 8 page discussion amongst sony users on Sony’s community board all complaining about the problem. Sony acknowledges that there is a fault (which they would never do lightly). Either you are blind…or you have egg in your eye.
You mean the discussion that is currently 12 pages? I counted 19 different people having the problem. If that’s “many” for you, fair enough. The fact that acknowledging isn’t done ‘lightly’ does not necessarily mean there are ‘many’ affected cameras. it merely shows that there is a problem.
Knowing this is a potential real issue may help many buyers. If you are in the market for an a7r now, wouldn’t you test it out for this while you can still exchange / return it?
Of course! But let’s not make it something it isn’t. As much as it can help, it can also scare people from buying.
Whether it scares people from buying or not is irrelevant. If the issue is genuine Sony will fix it in the new production runs and seek a fix for sold units. It is always better for buyers to buy knowing all aspects of their purchase even though no product is perfect.
I have a A7r with the 35 and 55mm FE primes. Thus far Zi am happy with the pictures IQ which is great. I may do the light leak test even though I am not in a hurry to do so. Thus far, not a deal breaker.
Sure, Sony are making an announcement about attempts to fix a problem that doesn’t really exist ,Jesus you are almost as bad as an Olympus fanboy. There are dozens of reports from users in Sony forums all over the net and hundreds of example images .Sure, forums due mainly to other brand trolls can end up with exaggerated claims sometimes from folk who have never touched the camera but seriously ?
I think you have some reading issues. Where did I say the problem doesn’t exist? I counted 19 reports on the Sony forum with only one person actually showing examples. Sounds like a huge problem. Why don’t you show me the “hundreds” of example images?
I guess it is me should be asking – seriously?
I still have yet to see a real world example that doesn’t use a 3rd party adapter. I wonder how long it will take Sony to publicly acknowledge this issue other than an email from a support person.
Hey Sony, how about admitting that your flagship F60 flash is defective and working on a solution? Flash owners have been complaining for longer than the a7r has been available.
Yes, this is BS! Sony should acknowledge F60 flash problem.
Exactly. This piece of crap doesnt have Quality Control issues, it is DESIGNED defective. Blows my mind how they can continue to claim that it is ‘operating as intended’. There are hundreds, if not thousands of complaints on this alone. Even on Sony forums!!! http://community.sony.com/t5/Alpha-SLT-DSLR-Cameras/HVL-F60M-Flash-Overheating-Unusable/td-p/139177
They should do that as well. That’s why I am keeping my 58 and buying a 43M.
First Nikon (dust on D600 sensor), now Sony acknowledges a problem ! Good so !
But why cannot Canon also acknowledge the center AF problem on the EOS 70D ?
look video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9Qm4CEjz4U
It is not silly to have a problem, it is silly not to acknowledge it !
They never officially acknowledge the 1DMkIII AF module issues, either. Don’t hold your breath.
So do I get to swap for a new one?
Not going to be buying an A7/R now. Shutter shock, light leak issues. I’ll stick around in alpha camp land until they can iron out the issues however minor they may or may not be.
I agree – FE has a lot of potential but I’ll think about it again when the bugs are squashed and the lens selection improves…
There are also sensor light reflection when shooting in dark or with Sun in the frame and camera stopping working in a not so cold weather.
Isn’t the reflection issue only occurred on A7?
I haven’t had any issues in cold weather, and I’ve shot in -40 up in Sheridan, Wyoming, in the past 30 days with the A7r, -17 in Silverton, Colorado, 13 in Salt Lake City, UT during a fair blizzard. Battery life is crap, sure, but the camera worked fine. I was using the 28-70 FE, a Canon 70-300 IS L and a Rollei 50mm f/1.8. So 1 native, two adapted lenses… no issues.
So, at least for me, the cold weather thing isn’t a thing at all.
@dyna: Out of my curiosity, how many battery did you use on average in such cold weather?
I was getting between 100-150 shots per battery but only used two. I’m not ready for the deathwish yet 😉
Some of the most creative photographers are using off axis light sources to add flair to their images as a creative tool combine this with a little shutter shake makes your images unique.
And if no resolution is found?
Then the A7 and A7r will be the last full frame E-mount cameras made by Sony, as confidence in the system will be completely decimated. Right, or wrong as that may be.
Surely, you jest.
Well, since not all units seem to be affected, this could be a manufacturing tolerance fix or something else. Not the first product to have teething errors. And it’s not going to be the last. Heck, look at all the auto recalls, from all the manufacturers. Honda and Toyota have some recalls as well, and yet their cars seem to do okay, sales wise. It is a good thing that they are trying to address the problem sooner than later.
Then by your logic the D600 should have been the death of Nikon, right? or the Canon 1DMkIII. Or the first gen 5D which everyone mercifully forgets enjoyed melting flashes on a regular basis with bad voltage regulation… among other 1st gen issues.
These are merely the 1st gen. And like all 1st gen products they have some quirks. The 2nd gen products are always significant improvements and even when they are not, the refinements presented make them worth the upgrade.
They could re-engineer the mount, reduce tolerances, lots of possibilities. This is a problem that can be solved. Different solutions that will have different associated costs. Hence, they are exploring multiple options, in all probability.
Sony will give us a $200 credit when we buy the next new A7 replacement.
Sony acknowledge the clicking problem on the 5N and issued a fix relatively quickly. They seem to have researched this issue quickly, trying to fix it while acknowleding that it is an issue. That’s pretty good customer service. Should the products be perfect when released? Yes. Is any product perfect, ever? Well, no. But kudos to them for acting quickly on an issue.
Kudos to Nikon too for issuing a technical bulletin for the problematic D600 shutter mechanism. Of course, they waited until the D600 replacement (the D610) was out for almost a year, but they finally responded, officially.
The moral of the story? A product that is great isn’t necessarily perfect. A problem that is acknowledge and solved indicates a company that is interested in delivering the best product that it possibly can. It speaks well for Sony, I think, that they take complaints seriously and try to fix problems in a reasonable period of time.
Nikon responded when two class action lawsuits advanced in court. Moral of the story?
BS ,the usual American attempts to get something for nothing , the ambulance chasers were still rounding up potential sheep for fleecing.When all major USA retailers and Nikon have an excellent returns policy, how is this worthy of a court case, did babies die or earthquakes happen because of a few faulty cameras fools didn’t return
Here is how this works for any one not an idiot ,Buy camera , find no problem happy days carry on , this is what the vast amount of buyers got by the way. Did you see any retailers complaining about huge numbers of flawed cameras.
Option 2 buy camera find fault return get money back or try exchange for another model if happy keep if not give back for full refund. Job done, as for America the D600 is still in the top 30 selling DSLRs at Amazon.This is the usual internet drama yes some faulty cameras which most returned or had fixed. Hugely exaggerated by trolls and fanboys of other systems making a storm in a tea cup.
Cameras and lenses are just mass manufactured items with some duds being an inevitability. It happens to all companies whether it is Olympus with their “pro” 12-40mm literally falling apart ,Sony take your pick, Canon same story remember the mirrors falling out of the 5D? I buy a product I test it out if it doesn’t meet my standards back it goes,why would anyone keep a faulty product. The immorality of the American legal system is infamous by far the most disreputable in the western world.
You make some agreeable observations; i.e. let’s not over react to these problems, they are not completely unusual, not necessarily systemic, and even if so people control their own fate. Unfortunately, you do a disservice to your points by burning them to ashes when you fan the very sort of internet drama you condemn. … “The fact that man knows right from wrong proves his intellectual superiority to the other creatures; but the fact that he can do wrong proves his moral inferiority to any creatures that cannot.”
“Of course, they waited until the D600 replacement (the D610) was out for almost a year, but they finally responded, officially.”
The Nikon D610 was announced October 8, 2013, that was 4 months ago.
http://www.nikon.com/news/2013/1008_dslr_01.htm
Do some research before posting such inaccurate information that only fuels brand wars.
October 8, 2013 was six months ago, almost but who is counting.
That being said, I was thinking of when the D600 problem became well known. My mistake (not the first, not the last). Still, Nikon finally acknowledge the issue and that’s a good thing.
What I probably should have said is this. About a year after the D600 was introduced, the D610 came to market, replacing the D600. The D600, according to reports, had a shutter mechanism problem. Months after introducing the D610, Nikon finally came out with a technical bulletin outlining a solution for the defective mechanisms. Kudos to Nikon for coming forward with a fix.
Took a year to response to their customer’s concern is NOT acceptable no matter how you look at it. And the response from Nikon happened after the class action lawsuits. Maybe this is bad timing but it seems to me that it is a last minute damage control.
Actually, it took longer than a year. Hopefully, the D600 owners who are affected by the flaw will have the problem fixed quickly (if they have not had it fixed already).
Look at it this way: it took Nikon three times longer to acknowledge problems with the D600 than it took Sony to acknowledge A7(R).
unfortunately I don’t think they will be able to figure out an easy solution… They could change all the lenses so that they contained an o-ring around the bayonet mount… but that would mean having to replace ever lenses that was already sold… or I guess they could revise the mount on the camera but that would require every camera to be changed… But I do give them credit for admitting that they have a problem… Now the only question is what will they do to fix it, or will they.
In the end they might provide a similar fix, just ship out some kind of O-ring you can slip on. It would. be cheap for them, and if it works…
For a temporary fix, someone also suggested these inexpensive O-rings that are available through Amazon –
034 Silicone O-Ring, 70A Durometer, Red, 2-1/8″ ID, 2-1/4″ OD, 1/16″ Width (Pack of 25)
or
035 Silicone O-Ring, 70A Durometer, Red, 2-1/4″ ID, 2-3/8″ OD, 1/16″ Width (Pack of 25)
So…are they weathersealed or not?
In my experience, yes. Blizzard conditions, cameras dripping with melted snow, wind and nastiness in general. No problems.
My first A7 from B&H exhibited light-leak. My second A7 I received in exchange does not. If you are still within the return period with your seller, it may be worth a shot at an exchange.
Here is the amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Goody-Ouchless-Elastic-Thick-Black/dp/B005IUXKD6/
using a hair tie is a really good idea. i’ve been using them on my nikon D800 cameras, reason being when i go to burning man, there is so much dust which will accumulate around the mounting flange. so when you go to change lens (which you should never do), the dust may fall into the sensor, because it has caked and layered. The hair tie prevents dust from collecting on the inner side. i know its a small thing but it really makes a big difference. the hair ties are cheap and when they elastic wears out simply replace. i’ve noticed when changing lens dust falls in and ever since using hair ties my sensor remains cleaner and much less spots. give it a try i think you’ll be pleased.
Sorry, but this is the type of thing that happens when you come out with a new system every year, rather than perfecting an old system from which the bugs have been ironed out.
A light leak issue is absolutely, totally, unacceptable, whether it is a design flaw, a manufacturing issue, or a QC issue.
Acknowledging a flaw is fine, unless that flaw is absolutely fundamental.
Perhaps the E-mount being a new system didn’t help matters, but its disingenuous to say that being a new system was the direct cause of it.
Every maker has had light leak issues.
There have been reports of light leaks on Samsung mirrorless cameras, Pentax, Canon, Minolta, Nikon, Hassy, etc. Here are just a few more recent reports:
http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr-k-mount-mirrorless/98159-light-leak-long-exposure-over-5-minutes.html), Canon cameras (including the 5D MIII – http://petapixel.com/2012/04/17/canon-5d-mark-iii-light-leak-issue-alters-exposure-by-about-13-of-a-stop/), and Nikon cameras (http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/35711268)
Thanks for that Frank, that answers a question that I asked in another post.
Is it just uneconomic for manufacturers to complete a seal?
£1600 pounds plus and I have to buy a hair band to make it work properly, what a disgrace for any camera manufacturer to have to admit to.
No, you don’t have to buy a hair band, because you never ever wanted to shoot ISO 25600 for 30 seconds.. BTW, you can buy a more expensive FF camera from a lot of other manufactures…
I wonder if they will now own up to the shutter shake claims as well?
Put the battery grip on the camera. Problem solved…
That’s funny. The point of A7/r or mirrorless is to keep thing small and light and you suggested to make the camera heavier and bigger in order to take picture properly. What’s the point getting A7/r then?
That one is, in fact, a bogus issue. It’s a matter of technique, not technology. I’m sure an exposure delay mode may come to placate or help those who feel they need it.
Right, native 55 1.8 hand held and I get blurry images. Put battery grip on it, no blurry images. I did the same thing in both cases. Technique?!
Maybe your hands are made of jelly. I am the ultimate pixel peeper and I have shot all kinds of lenses and slow shutter speeds. Is it more challenging with this camera? yes. Do I have problems with shutter blur? No, I dont. Do I use the VG? No. I can manage it myself through technique.
Again, for a millionth time, it’s not slow shutter speeds, it’s 1/80 – 1/160. Perfect speed for f5.6, on a normal day.
Again, it’s not hands, it’s camera. Sony is already working on it.
Just curious, did Sony say they are working on it?
The problem I have with the torture test is that the light gathering, barring any form of reciprocity (which sensors have their own versions of) at 30sec at 25600 is equivalent to ONE FULL HOUR at ISO 200. In other words the vast majority of photographers will never see this, unless they are deliberately duplicating the test. 3 inches away from an incandescent bulb? Who does that if they’re not looking for hidden lemon juice letters?
I agree that Sony should seal the mount, perhaps more for environmental purposes but if there aren’t enough photons to engage the sensor and register the flare until you hit 16 minutes at ISO 800, there’s not a huge issue to be made here. For most.
I disagree, kind of. The real question in my mind, is how much more difficult it would be to make a system that did NOT leak, regardless of the current magnitude of the effect of leakage of either light, dust, or both.
I would ask how many other “real” camera systems/mounts exhibit, or have exhibited, this same type/magnitude of leak.
About the leak itself, it’s one of those things: it’s not a problem, until it is.
Agreed. Its never going to be an issue… Its been claimed that astro shooters will see it… Well not unless they shoot bright light bulbs 3 inches from the lens mount…
Good to see Sony onto it though.
…3 inches from the lens mount, at 25k ISO, at 30 sec exposure…
I don’t know of a light source, that wouldn’t get extremely overexposed under these conditions.
You nailed it. I honestly just use my A850 for long exposures and put a little tape over the eye piece when needed for back-light (common on Nikon!). But time lapse, night photog folks like myself – even _I_ don’t care about this.Doesn’t mean, it doesn’t need to be fixed – but its not going to stop me from buying an A7 next month when the cash flows again. Nothing to see here – moving along.
Why would you tape the eye piece? The A850 has an eye piece shutter.
Either he’s a moron, or he doesnt own an A850. I own an A850 and it’s impossible to miss this feature.
I did another set of tests. I got a light leak standing to the right of a strobe, 1/60sec ISO800. This test would be considered more typical of photography.
beforethecoffee, just scroll to the bottom
aren’t you forgetting the wider issue here.. I use my equipment in the rain a lot and I live in an area where it’s 90%+ humidity all the time.
This for me is less about light leaks and more about weather protection, however much we are careful this highlights there are areas where moisture, dust and crap can enter the sensor when this thing was billed as being water/moisture/dust proof…
I’ve used my A7r in -40, driving snow, water dripping off the camera in rivulets when getting in the car. The light leak isn’t a light FLOOD. The camera is sealed plenty fine. Believe me. I worried more about the 1975 Rollei 50mm HFT I was using on the front. No concerns.
Hi guys,I’m Fabry,I have few questions:
Number one:How can you recognize a leaks of light??
And number two:There could be this problem on the new alpha6000…or other sony nex ..5..6…7?
I suppose I have never had this problem with my cameras but if I had/will have I would be very disappointed with that brand because it means that something in the manufacturing was wrong and I can’t accept that from these big brand…
Last:…and when this happens there is a little voice inside you that says:…you are lacking confidence….are you sure you want to buy that specific model……Am I wrong?
This is likely a quality control issue.
HOWEVER…
Every single ILC camera on the planet is potentially effected. All Sony , All Canon, All Nikon, etc. This could easily be a problem on all Sony’s – A through E mount, depending on lens used, and machining tolerances on a unit by unit basis.
There have been reports of light leaks on Samsung mirrorless cameras (here: http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr-k-mount-mirrorless/98159-light-leak-long-exposure-over-5-minutes.html) , Canon cameras (including the 5D MIII – http://petapixel.com/2012/04/17/canon-5d-mark-iii-light-leak-issue-alters-exposure-by-about-13-of-a-stop/), and Nikon cameras (http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/35711268)
The A7 and A7r are the only one’s being scrutinized right now.
ALL CAMERAS FROM ALL MANUFACTURES CAN AND HAVE SUFFERED FROM THIS!
Sony is getting high points for admitting to it very quickly, whereas other manufacturers have IGNORED the problem for a very long time.
Hi Fabri 🙂 to check for leaks:
1) cover the lens with its cap
2) add some gaffer tape to make sure the cap totally covers the lens
3) take a manual exposure with, say, 30sec and iris fully open
4) apply black scotch tape around lens -camera joint
5) take another exposure with the same settings
6) compare the exposures
7) wank if you find a difference, paying attention not to spunk into the sensor.
LOL! #7 made my day 🙂
I would close the iris to the smallest opening and put a lens bag around the lens to ensure that no light is coming in through any other part of the lens. Shine a flash light around the flange while the shutter is open.
Dang it. I missed the last part of #7.
I wonder if my warranty will clean this stuff out of here…..
So are Sony to start shipping a hair band in the box?
yes,,Hair band and I heard rumors that you can choose the color for free..
Color is basic because my girlfriend would never accept that I use a blond hair band….She could make too questions…..
You probably won’t find this problem with any other cameras because the sensitivity of other sensors are relatively poorer than Sony’s. I don’t see this as a problem in real life photo shoots.
Every single ILC camera on the planet is potentially effected. All Sony , All Canon, All Nikon, etc depending on lens used, and machining tolerances on a unit by unit basis.
There have been reports of light leaks on Samsung mirrorless cameras (here:
http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr-k-mount-mirrorless/98159-light-leak-long-exposure-over-5-minutes.html), Canon cameras (including the 5D MIII –
http://petapixel.com/2012/04/17/canon-5d-mark-iii-light-leak-issue-alters-exposure-by-about-13-of-a-stop/), and Nikon cameras (http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/35711268)
The A7 and A7r are the only one’s being scrutinized right now.
ALL CAMERAS FROM ALL MANUFACTURES CAN AND HAVE SUFFERED FROM THIS!
Sony is getting high points for admitting to it very quickly, whereas other manufacturers have IGNORED the problem for a very long time.
you are kidding right? the 5dIII shipped in late march, canon announced a fix in mid april. not to mention it wasn’t really a light leak from external, but from the LCD when you turned on the lcd light.
Yeah, but he said other manufacturers have ignored it for a very long time. He didnt say “Canon ignored it for a long time”. The fact remains that Sony is not the first company to have a high profile light leak. Regardless of whether its from the outside in, or an internal leak, a light leak is a light leak!
5D3 light leak is easier to find — sony require a user to long exposure under bright light to find one. and much easier to fix — canon just duct taped the shoulder LCD from inside, sony might have to replace the mount ring.
It is not surprise that canon identify the problem and fix it quicker than sony.
It shows with my a7 iso1600 13s
actually theres some posts on canon dpr forum complaining about it,
I added to the bottom of the beforethecoffee post. I got a light leak standing to the right of a strobe, 1/60sec ISO800. That is a conceivable real life photo.
We all will get a small tube of black silicone caulk and instructions, hopefully it will come with a firmware update
You’re expecting a FW update to fix this?!
Is that a joke?
What are they going to do with firmware…disable the sensor altogether? This will HAVE to be a hardware update…meaning you send your camera in to get new parts installed.
No, silly boy – a FW update for all the other shit…
I stand corrected. I didn’t realize that the camera came with shit. Is it too runny? A Firmware Update that increases the camera’s fiber intake might be a good idea then.
Thanks Dad.
What a grouch. They mean a firmware update to fix/add things like minimum shutter speed. The least Sony could do given this light leak situation.
Sorry for being a grouch. I’ve been called worse.
But I’m not sure a firmware update will be well accepted. Why would you limit the performance of the camera to work around a design flaw?
No thanks. It might be nice to prance around singing “dont worry, be happy” but grouchy gets the job done.
One man’s “bug” or “fix” is another man’s “feature”. If Sony implemented a “fix” for the minimum shutter speed, you’d have a separate set of forum posts from people complaining that Sony’s P mode implementation drops the shutter speed so low that their pictures are blurry from camera shake.
It’s not true that only n00bs use P mode but it is true that P mode is what most n00bs use. So you design that mode for n00bs and for everyone else who knows what they’re doing, you have S mode, M mode, or the ever-forgotten P shift.
THAT SAID, Sony did see fit to include an auto-slow shutter function in the A7/A7r for movie mode so I don’t have to remember to switch to S on 1/50 shutter before I hit record. I’m sure someone more advanced in videography than I am will shake their head and say “stupid n00b feature” but as an occasional videographer and mostly photographer, I find it to be a great timesaver. I don’t see why there couldn’t be an equivalent “auto-fast shutter” for P mode that defaults to On.
There is a reason why a video mode is defaulted to 1/50 for PAL cameras and 1/60 in NTSC cameras. The reason being is that you can’t shoot a 60p(or 50p) HD video, when you have only half the frame rate, like 1/30 or 1/25. It is sufficient to have 1/24 shutter for a 24p video, but you might get a not very sharp video, if your subject is moving fast. In general it is recommended to have the shutter speed double the frame rate. This not just reduces smudging of each frame during movement, but also reduces the horizontal shift of the upper portion of the frame, when comparing to lower portion of the frame, caused by “one line at a time sensor readout.
I’m talking about the 180 degree shutter rule – 1/50sec is what I use for shooting 24p, 1/120sec for 60p (though I rarely shoot at 60p).
I know there’s a reason for it, but that doesn’t mean the camera’s autoexposure system is smart about sticking to it. What I’m specifically referring to is a feature on the A7/A7r (possibly on other ILCE/NEX bodies, though it wasn’t present on the NEX-7) that holds the shutter speed to the 180 degree rule if possible and if not, drops to a reciprocal of the framerate.
There are reasons to override this. Shooting, e.g., 24p at 1/2 sec exposure won’t produce enough frames to “fill” 24fps, but it will produce a pseudo time-lapse effect that can be quite nice if used well. If you’re familiar with the US television series Breaking Bad, this effect is used often to good effect.
Of all times, right now I actually agree with Frank(if he’s the same Frank). You already have a minimum shutter speed selection, its called a S – Shutter Priority or M – Manual mode. Simply switch to one of these and turn the corresponding dial whenever things get dark enough…
I’d rather have them fix A65/A77 flash metering, that still doesn’t provide a stable exposure. And give a full APSC frame in video mode, when IBIS is disabled, instead of a 1.25x crop regardless. And there are plenty of things in other cameras that actually need fixing, instead of just a one off feature, that 1% of photographers will use once or twice.
Yes it was a joke, we all know how long a firmware updates takes. This was just a way of saying don’t hold your breath. I suppose the firmware could be to negate the black shit the you get all over your sensor fixing the light leak.
All these problems are the risk you take getting 1st generation tech.
If noone would use 1st gen tech, we would still be using stone tools… Sometimes you just have to take a chance in order to get something that is better than everything else. A7 and A7r is what got me thinking about feasibility of E-Mount and FF cameras. Until these to came around, I was dead stuck on A-Mount. A FF E-Mount is probably the only thing I could think of, that could potentially sway me from the convenience of IBIS of A-Mount.
I still reject E-Mount APSc, as i plainly have no use for either camera released thus far in that format. Although even with A7 and A7r, i still might never switch to E-Mount.
Not always. And anyway, the way technology progresses these days, is there anything that ISNT 1st gen? Not really.
I laugh at all the douche-bags fanboys that denied the fact of a light leak. You know who you are, you will be the tards that respond to this email. Face!
I agree. When real owners find a flaw with a product, it is always a good thing to report it for all to see. Reporting a flaw does not mean you are bashing the company or the product. In fact, it’s the opposite. Bringing to light issues forces a company to address it and to make the product better and hopefully make future products better as well.
The douche-bags Canon 5D MKIII and Nikon D800E fanboys also denied the fact of a light leak !
And this is why I am NEVER an early adopter. Always wait 6 months with any brand new type of product as the bugs will surely be found and hopefully fixed by then.
Probably a wise decision! I do the same.
6 months for an electronic product and at least one year for a car. That’s my take.
The Canon 5D MKIII and Nikon D800E have been out for over a year and they still have the light leak problem.
Better temp solution is to use a silicon O-ring (orange) or square-cut O-ring (black). 2″ inside diameter x 1/8 thick should work (or any size thereabout). Available in Amazon in packs of 10, 25, & 100, relatively cheap. Just roll the O-ring up the lens when changing the lens. Leave one for each lens.
Fortunately I don’t think I have the light leak.
However… what I do have is a lot of electronic and AV equipment. And so I have a roll of soft velco cable wraps that I use to wrap-up power cables, AV cable, usb cables, etc. etc. I love these things (and keep a couple in my camera bag).
They also appear to be a perfect size and fit to wrap around the lens mount:
http://www.velcro.com/Products/Ties-and-Straps/Ties/One-Wrap-Ties.aspx#.Uxfa2vldV8E
P.S. props to Sony for stepping-up!!
Every picture that I take with iso 25000 and 30 seconds exposure while 6 inches away from a 60 watt light bulb is will be ruined.
My god this is stupid entertainment.
And discuss any expenditure in excess of a problem are too.
Really important are the errors on the website
so it takes a 7500 watt light bulb to destroy a 30 sec exposure at iso 200 … wow, this is bad, really really bad … I wonder what kind of situation one can get into that actually make this light leak a real world issue?
Hey I just did half a dozen tests with adapters and several of them didn’t light leak! That must mean they are all weather sealed! I can’t wait to go out and douse them in water and see what happens!
Sounds moronic? Yeah well…. not to say that there isn’t a flaw, but the fact that the FE lenses all have plastic bayonet mounts, it is very possible that it will not be perfectly light tight in the ISO 25600 at 30 seconds, but seriously… I can’t believe that this is making it’s rounds in the news and if someone wants to put on a hair tie for those conditions so good on them.
The only fix I can think of from Sony is to replace the mounts in a massive recall. My only concern is weather seals in a reasonable test that at least can handle a few millimetres of water per minute (like a light shower).
My kit lens has a metal mount – not plastic. The lens body is plastic – but that has nothing to do with the purported light leaks.
You want to see light leaks? – I have a lovely presentation Kiev 6×6 system I received as a gift from the Minister of Health of Ukraine 20 years ago, as thanks for getting him a free lithotripsy procedure for his kidney stones here in the USA.
Now THAT is “light leaks”!
why not just put black rubber band. i have plenty of rubber bands & elec. tape on my cameras and they work fine, but i suppose for the puffs worried about image this would elicit shreeks.
Seriously. Black rubber band is way more discreet than a stupid glossy hairband
50 pack of black rubber bands $3.25 !
https://blackrubberbands.com/product/50-pack-64-black-rubber-bands/
Just wondering if the light leak problem could be a result of a problem in the accuracy/defect of the mount that might affect the focus plane on the sensor? If so, this might explain some of the soft corners problem from wide lens.
If all 4 corners are soft, but the center is sharp then its not the mount alignment, its the lens issue.
If the mount is closer or further away from the mount, but is otherwise parallel with the sensor pane, then you lose ability to focus to infinity and gain macro or gain ability to focus past infinity, while reducing macro focus capability.
On the other hand, if its soft only on one side, and you can make it sharper by using manual focus, but at the same time you lose the opposite side focus completely, then its an issue with the mount not being parallel to the sensor. But in this case you will see significant vignetting on the side, that is closer to the sensor.
I know the lens mount is at question here but note that some of the behavior you’re describing can also be caused by decentering of lens elements, making it a lens QC issue rather than a body/mount QC issue.
Also, some soft corners for wide lenses are caused by light at the periphery striking the sensor at an oblique angle. This would properly be a sensor issue rather than a lens issue since the lens is working as designed (this goes for any symmetric wideangle lens – these will work better on film than digital). this is distinct from wide lenses that have soft corners due to field curvature, which is a tradeoff made in the optical design.
A very valid point.
This is not a first generation tech problem.
There is nothing first generation about bayonet lens mounts. They’ve been made for fifty years in countless variations. Light leak is manufacturing. The issue is older than the hills. It’s always a manufacturing problem. There is no issue with the electronic contacts… the tech part is fine.
Well at least the acknowledged it, unlike Nikon with their D600 dust and oil and D800 D4 AF and green cast.
Sony is learning from Canon how to utilize good customer service as a product marketing.
You can send your awfully leaking A7 and A7rs over to me. I don’t shoot any body cap photos of light bulbs in my closet so I’d be happy to have them.
I read all these comments…and I still love my a7r.
Orange Ring – The Ring Of Hidden Lightness.
I showed a test of my A7 where I totally shielded the lens (kit inside a lightproof bag). set the ISO for 25600, a timed release for 20 seconds, and rocked the lens in 4 axes out in the blinding sunshine off the snow in my drifted lawn – nada leaks.
As to Sony “acknowledging” anything based on some poster claiming that some tech told him something, I would give that an SAR 1 rating. Of course, the chicken littles from DPR have seized on this as gospel. They believe whatever catastrophising rumor they hear.
Who is Bart and why do you trust him? Was it a Sony salesperson in the mall or a more formal letter from the company? What was the evidence you received to verify Bart’s claim?
Good question! 🙂
+1
That happens if you “Made in Thailand” 😀 lol
I can confirm a light leak on the Sony A7R. Click below to download the .ARW, .TIFF and .JPEG files to view at 100%
http://www.grahamclarkphoto.com/sony-a7r-field-notes-with-canon-ef-lenses/