Will EX-1 be leaps and bounds better than HVX?

[Stevet]

Barry, Mikko, and other high level pro camera guys,
do you have any input on what could cause the EX1 to vignette within the 10 to 25mm focal range?

Also, knowing it's probably just in the overscan region, is this an issue you would be willing to live with?

[mikkowilson]

I could live with it, for example by cropping it out and dropping the resolution just a little .. to. oh, I don't know.. 1440x1080 perhaps. :evil:


Seriously though. Nope, not cool. Filters vignette, matte-boxes vignette, 35mm adapters vignette. Stock lenses sure as heck shouldn't.


Well, it's an IF lens, and the actual lens elements for zoom and focus are always moving with and relative to each other. (If only one moves, then the lens breaths as changing one affects the other too).
Seems like at a certain point the paths run just a little too wide for the diameter of the lenses at some point in the chain.


An interesting test might be to set up a situation that causes chromatic abrasion - like a bright white light near the corner of the frame with a black background. And then zoom/focus the lens through the point where it vignettes .. I'd suspect that CA is at it's least when the lens if vignetting.


- Mikko

[Barry_S]

In the design of any zoom lens, there are a lot of parameters that need to be optimized throught the focal length range--chromatic and spherical aberrations, rectilinear distortion, vignetting, and sharpness. No zoom has absolutely consistent optical qualities throughout its range. The optical design is balanced against the speed, size, and cost of the lens. Optical problems will always be the worst at the extreme edges of optical coverage. By making a lens (and its optical coverage area) larger, you can relegate those problematic areas to outside the frame, but you don't want to make the lens bigger than you have to because it really increases the expense and weight. It looks like the EX1 optical system (lens+sensor) has very tight alignment tolerances in order to avoid noticeable vignetting within the recorded frame. If the alignment is a little off the vignetting problem looks worse. It looks like Sony could tighten up their allowable production tolerance to mostly avoid the problem, but the optical coverage of the lens can't be changed.

From your grabs, it wouldn't be an issue for DVD's or Broadcast. Showing the whole frame on the web, it would be noticeable in some circumstances. You could always overlay a custom mask in your NLE and bring up the exposure a little bit in just the extreme corners. In most circumstances, I doubt anyone but hardcore camera geeks would notice. I'd guess that Sony will offer to adjust the alignment and that seems reasonable.

[Aerialsfilm M*]

Well, I'm not sure if I would be very much annoyed with this, but in the overall condition, I would use the EX1 with my 35mm adapter, so I don't think the backfocus would be anywhere near that 10 to 25 mm range. Second is that most of the times you will not see it cfr. broadcast or DVD, or simply because you're not using that plane, but then again, simply put, it should work, you paied a nice amount for it, it just shouldn't have that kind of vignetting, if not everyone is having this, then you have the right to buy one that is in a good working order too. Just my 2c.

[Stevet]

Thanks for your inputs!
I'm "hoping" there's an adjustment they can do to align this issue.

I'm praying it's not the inherit internal design of the lens.
If that's the case, Mikko is right, there would NEED to be tighter tolerance specs for the lens before it's added to the EX1.

Crossing my fingers that it's an adjustment.

Aerialsfilm, I agree. Regardless of the application format, broadcast, DVD, Film, Internet, this should not happen with the stock lens on a $7,000.00 camera.

There are a LOT of pros buying this for a "B" camera for the high end CineAlta cams. I'm sure they want quality.

[MikeGunter]

Hi Stevet,

I think your answer lies to question "Are you getting your money's worth your out of box experience with the camera?"

A new camera ought to work like a new camera. I would be disappointed. If you aren't, then good on you.

[Stevet]

Wow..
LOL, where did that come from.....
'Who said I was having good experience with the camera?
I've clearly stated that I have an issue and I'm working with Sony and the dealer to get it resolved. In fact i've been in contact with Sony techs. They were testing the in house EX1 as I was on the phone.

[MikeGunter]

Hi Stevet,

What I meant was that I'd be, ah, well, ah, hum, unsatisfied...

At least, I don't think I'd be asking others about wrapping it and sending it back...

I likely wouldn't have pre-ordered either. I've had my share of beta-testing equipment. I'm tired of that, too.

[Stevet]

I hear you there!

[MikeGunter]

I'm guessing Sony's investment in the camera (and in the investment in pre-publicity Apparatchiks mimicking news writers) that a lot of the problems will be fixed.

One caution I would hold is that if some report a common problem and others don't, is figuring out 'why?'

That could become important.

[Barry_S]

Ok, we've got basically the same exact conversation running in this thread and the Sony XDCAM EX thread, so I'm going to close this one to further posts. See you in the other thread.