Chromatic Aberration When Shooting Lunar Eclipse?

I thought I could post a screenshot how terrible the focus problem on my loaner camera is:
The first picture was done with ND1 ON at f1,9. I zoomed in, focused near the infinity mark and zoomed out:

nd1-f1komma9unendlich.jpg


the same procedure and settings as above but when at wide, I turned the focus to the 0,8 meter stop.

f1komma9nd1-08m.jpg


I´ve got some feedback from other EX1 owners from a german forum who have the exactly same problem! I´m still shocked that Sony would deliver such bad cameras.


:cry::kali:
 
Basspig,

I'm willing to do your test. It's going to be tough without the same lighting conditions. If you think CA is real bad on your last camera, there's no doubt it's defective.

One of the selling points of the EX1 is it's low CA. This has been brought up in every review I've read.
It's quite amazing over my other/past cameras.

Here's the Sony contact:
Sony:
1-800-883-6817
Press 252 for direct dept.


Gerald, that's horrible man!
This all is getting VERY STRANGE.

So let's go over the list.

1. Vignetting issue
2. Back Focus
3. CA

I'm not sure who Sony is assigning to do the Quality Control work, but I can't image they are going to be happy. Granted, the EX1 is a new new model. Since there are some cameras that are coming through good, why are these bad cameras sliding threw. Heck, they even sent a bad vignetting EX1 to one of the most respected video reviewers, Adam Wilt. What's going on here! I spotted the problem within 15 minutes of using it.

This is causing a lot of problems for a LOT of us. I'm on my second camera for vignetting, but I'm too dang scared to have them try to fix it. They were not able to on my first one. Also, if I did get another replacement, who's to say it won't have the BF, CA, vignetting, or all three issues!
 
Stevet said:
Also, if I did get another replacement, who's to say it won't have the BF, CA, vignetting, or all three issues!
Click to expand...

basspig/stevet-

i am so very close to purchasing this camera but these quality control issues do leave me a wee bit hesitant.

perhaps we can set out a very specific protocal to test each newly purchased camera?

exactly how would i test for a backfocus issue? ca? vignetting?

once these protocals are field tested, then they should become a sticky that all of us can rely upon to weed out "new" defective cameras.

just one person's opinion. ymmv.

be well

rob
 
I FAXed Sony at a service number that I found on their web site. "Steve" at Sony Electronics called me an hour ago. We just got done discussing the issues:

Backfocus relating to use of ND filter.
CA problem particularly with CINE matrix.
Battery loses charge when camera being transported while switched off. (hey, I figured I may as well make them aware of the problem).

They are sending me a FedEx air bill overnight, so I can ship the camera to them on Monday.


Gerald:
Your test frames replicate EXACTLY my observations. It's odd how NOTHING is in focus on the top frame. Just as odd is that you have to practically focus into the macro range to bring far objects into focus. Second image does not look particularly crisp, but I presume you have Detail OFF.
At least there's no visible CA in your frames. Mine, as you can see in earlier examples, is TERRIBLE. So bad that even on the SD downconversion it is plainly visible.

Stevet:
I will try to devise a test for CA by making a 8-1/2x11 chart and putting some black and white bars on it which should make for a constant, replicatable test of CA.
I've noticed that the CINE matrix brings it out in spades. The three other matrix settings seem to suppress it. This was noted by observing the edge of a studio fluorescent troffer light in the ceiling in the LCD panel. I'm going to post some frame grabs here later on, so ya'll can see the effect CINE has on CA. This is weird. Stuff like this shouldn't be interacting with optics in this manner.


Rob:
The vignetting issue was well-established a couple of months ago, but the backfocus just now seems to be coming to light with a few owners. Many will not notice it if we don't shoot in bright ND1 conditions.
Also, I'm thinking the reason some don't notice the CA is they are using other matrix settings other than CINE. I found out last night that just flipping between PP settings, the CA appears and disappears. This, judged by the LCD. I have to record some and do frame grabs to study what's really happening.

I think we are close to having a standard test for these problems.
 
The CA problem is DEFINATELY connected to the Matrix controls.
Turn Matrix off... CA vanishes.
Turn Matrix on... CA returns.
Most noticeable with CINE and HISAT. Less so with STD and almost gone with FL LIGHT.
Turn Matrix OFF and it's about gone!
 
Strange..
I'll have to check that out on mine, although I do use hisat and the cine gammas all the time and have no issues.
Hmmm....
 
Here is a backfocus chart that seems to do the trick:

http://www.basspig.com/images/backfocus01.gif


And here you can compare the difference between matrix off and matrix on.
It's noticeable under certain circumstances, less so with the chart, but the chart makes it possible to quantify the amount of CA.

http://www.basspig.com/images/Matrix%20off.jpg
http://www.basspig.com/images/Matrix On.jpg


The CA on my lens produces a zone about 6 pixels wide in which errant colors are present on the B&W chart. You can magnify about 1200% and count the number of pixel rows over which the undesired color bands appear.

These shots are taken at full tele.
I find that on my lens, there is a point at about 50mm where CA decreases, and reappears again at full wide.

Much more revealing is the Matrix setting at full wide. Here are two room shots with a flurescent light above that makes nasty CA near the top of the frame:

No matrix:
http://www.basspig.com/images/RoomWideMatrixOff.jpg

With matrix on, CINE:
http://www.basspig.com/images/RoomWideMatrixOn.jpg


Note how the presense of CA is nearly invisible on the no-matrix shot.

Hunch: CA compensation may require system resources that have to be reallocated to do matrix calculations?
 
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My EX1 Shipped to Sony Today

My EX1 Shipped to Sony Today

This morning, Sony's prepaid FedEx airbill arrived. I packed and shipped the EX1 along with a letter describing the backfocus, CA and battery draindown issues. Hopefully, it will reach Sony in one piece tomorrow morning. I will be calling them in the afternoon to get a status report.
Oddly, Sony's airbill only valued the item at $100. I sure hope that if FedEx damages it, that Sony picks up the difference!

Would I be too optimistic to reasonably expect to receive the repaired (or replacement) camera by end of the week? I hope to avoid shelling out $$$ for rentals again. Last month was just awful. Already this camera has become a $7600 expense, figuring in the last month's rentals.

I printed an 8x10 of a frame from a concert that I shot on March 1 and the CA is plain as day on the print. Aside from the CA, the print looks like I shot it with my D-SLR. Really amazing for a video camera.
 
Why are so many people having to send this cam back?

And was this isolated to only Bass's camera or is it common?
 
I received my EX-1 last week, and have noticed that it exhibits aberration very similar to what Basspig describes. Will definitely be interested in hearing how the repair turns out.
 
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I just saw some CA on shots taken at full telephoto. Haven't noticed it before but will check it with a chart. Not thrilled about this but if it is onl;y at full Tele I cvan live with it. rest of my footage has been stunning.

Lenny Levy
 
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Darn. This is scaring me off'a buying one. I think I'm gonna hold out til issues like these find a resolve.
 
Kholi said:
Darn. This is scaring me off'a buying one. I think I'm gonna hold out til issues like these find a resolve.
Click to expand...

Smart move.

My only issue is slight vignette in the top corners seen near 15mm and only under certain conditions.

No CA, or back focus issue. It looks great.

Kholi,
If you buy, buy it local and find out up front that you can swap for another if there's a problem.
 
Good idea, Steve.

I'm gonna check some local vendors. Til then just keep shootin' with what I've got!
 
I got off the phone with Steve at Sony Electronics in San Jose, CA a little while ago. It was my fourth call (the other three went unanswered) and I caught him just as he was leaving to go home. He told me he'll have an engineer call me in the morning to discuss the problem.

As for waiting on purchase, my associated urged me to wait, too. However, I felt that we would lose the edge in CT by not being the first production house to shoot on XDCam, so I went ahead, after seeing that most of the vignetting issues (the only issue talked about until recently) had been resolved.
The reality is that there are a few specific issues that some of us are finding out about only recently.
That said, I think the camera is still worth buying, now. Why? Because it made some beautiful shots, and temporarily, some of us can work around identified issues by simply not using some features.
Bleeding edge technology can sometimes cut the user--that's why it's called "bleeding" edge technology. :) Those that lead the pack will tend to have more scars than those that wait in the back ranks, for the innovators and adventurers to clear the safe path.
 
Yeah I'mma let you guys get cut on this one. =B I'm sold on using an EX-1, but that's an investment I can't risk right now.

Hopefully the issues get ironed out sooner than later!
 
I am reasonably confident that these matters will be ironed out. But like you, I am holding off on additional XDCam purchases until I know that Sony CAN fix the problems currently at issue.
 
Smart move..

I really want to have mine sent in for the vignetting, but since my first camera came back not fixed, I'm scared to send it in.

This is crazy that we have to worry about these things. Sony needs to step up. This is not a good thing for sales., especially from their highend division.
 
Mark (basspig) ,

do you have a name and number for an engineer at Sony San Jose. I am having exactly the same problems and tried calling today. Just missed the engineer also, but this was 4 days later than you. I spoke to a guy named Wing who promised to hook me up on monday but it would be great to have a name who has already talked to you.

Lenny Levy
 
Lenilenapi said:
Mark (basspig) ,

do you have a name and number for an engineer at Sony San Jose. I am having exactly the same problems and tried calling today. Just missed the engineer also, but this was 4 days later than you. I spoke to a guy named Wing who promised to hook me up on monday but it would be great to have a name who has already talked to you.

Lenny Levy
Click to expand...


PM sent with contact info..
 
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