Sony EX1 Cosmetic Paint Issue

HowdyDoo

HowdyDoo

Well-known member
There isn't a thread for this, so I thought I'd start one.

I have an HVX and a Sony EX1.
When I first received my HVX it was faulty
and Jan aided me in getting a functional unit.

Now I have an EX1.
And lo and behold... *sigh*.

Although my EX1 doesn't seem to be plagued by the back focus issue
or any massive mechanical failure (the camera has worked flawlessly and the images are stunning) there seems to be a massive cosmetic issue that is plaguing it.

In short, the paint is rubbing off the camera.

And I've only shot with it TWICE.

I have read in various other forums that people are experiencing the same thing. If so, DO NOT IGNORE IT. Make your voice heard. The numbers and the letters on these cameras just rub right off after a little use. Again, I've only shot with my camera twice and already the menu scroll wheel entitled "Sel/Set" on the back of the camera is almost completely gone. This is a HUGE issue, first for resale value, and second for basic operation of the camera. I mean, who wants a NEW camera with all sorts of great switches and knobs, all of which become UNLABELED and UNRECOGNIZABLE in under a year?

So... just like my HVX before it,
my EX1 is going back to the factory.

I sure miss the old days, when things LASTED.

Like the Guy Clark song says:

"I got an old blue shirt
and it suits me just fine.
I like the way it feels
so I wear it all the time.

I got an old used car
and it runs just like a top.
I get the feeling it ain't
ever gonna stop.

Stuff that works,
stuff that holds up,
the kind of stuff you don't hang on the wall.

Stuff that's real,
stuff you feel,
the kind of stuff you reach for when you fall."
 
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LOL!

Amen!

Hey, I hear you there. Mine's in the shop right now. Get this - having the lens replaced!

Also, my paint is coming off on the back thumbwheel lettering. Unreal, only two months old! LOL

I mentioned this problem and was told based on my serial number it should have the new back panel which is not "suppose" to rub off...

hmmm
 
Stevet said:
LOL!

Amen!

Hey, I hear you there. Mine's in the shop right now. Get this - having the lens replaced!

Also, my paint is coming off on the back thumbwheel lettering. Unreal, only two months old! LOL

I mentioned this problem and was told based on my serial number it should have the new back panel which is not "suppose" to rub off...

hmmm
Click to expand...
hey Steve, Welcome to the Lens replacement Club! They replaced mine too.

Alex
 
Alex, why was yours replaced?
Mines due to a focus issue. Not back focus. I posted about my issue here.
 
Steve, Do u remember I had those metalic particles on the inside of my lens? After you suggested it might have been there since assembly I took it in to Sony. One week later I went back in to pick up the camera and the techinician said, "we couldnt find any particles on inside of lens but we replaced the lens anyway" which left me confused because if they didnt find any particles and I didnt ask for a replacement lens why did they replace it? Makes me wonder whether there was another problem and they didnt want to tell me so they quietly replaced it.
Or else they have so many Fujinon EX lenses lying around they can just change them like that.
 
Inspect thoroughly...

Inspect thoroughly...

Stevet...

When you get your camera back,
watch the text around the ND Filter switch closely.

From the other threads I've read,
the paint has been coming off on all the buttons,
and not just the back panel. You may want to mention that
to your customer support rep while your camera is still in the shop.

When it comes to the paint,
I think Sony probably made a poor manufacturing choice
and went with a low bidder. They're gonna pay for it now though.
If they have to fix all these cameras, it's gonna cost them a pretty penny.
 
I've heard and seen some stories and photos detailing this problem, mainly with the black paint rubbing off the handle area. That looks to me like a contamination problem--the metal was not properly pickeled before application of primer and paint. Usually, these things are electrostatically-painted--by applying a 20,000-volt positive charge to the piece to be painted and by spraying it with a nozzle that is negatively charged. The paint gets bonded both chemically and electrostatically. However, if the surface of the metal has any machine oil left on it, the paint won't stick and the sort of peeling that I saw in one owner's photo on one of these forums can occur.

I myself have had my EX1 since February and I've experienced no ruboff of the nomenclature or the paint. Nomenclature is usually an epoxy ink. Some formulations are very poor, others are more durable. Although, in my case, I am very careful handling everything and typically, my stuff --even dating back to the 1970s, looks like it just came out of the box, new. So perhaps my careful handling won't reveal a problem with the paint..
 
Mark,
it has nothing to do with handling care. I'm as anal as it gets to taking care of my equipment. It's a known problem with Sony.

The odd thing, like I metioned above, I was told mine based on the serial number should not be an issue. Though, the service tech clearly saw it is an issue.
 
huh

huh

I haven't read anything about the black paint coming off too, just the white text on top of the black paint. That's unsettling.

If you own an EX1, I would certainly watch it like a hawk. Although it's a pain, in a way I'm thankful the paint started rubbing off while the camera is under warranty. It sure would stink to see the paint disappear only a month after the warranty expired.
 
Stevet,

What is the last 4 of your serial number? I just received my EX1 today. Serial number ends in 5451.

Hopefully mine will be free and clear of these issues.

Scott K.
 
Stevet, I need to send my camera in.
What number did you call to arrange everything?
The only number I see in my manual or on my warranty
card is 1-800-686-7669 but it is ALWAYS busy (hopefully not from EX1 users).

Is that the number you called?
 
TweekMe,
my serial is 1802 and has the aforementioned issues.

Since yours is a later camera, it is possible yours will be fine.
 
Sony:
1-800-883-6817
Press 252 for direct dept.

BTW, DO NOT send in your camera in the original box.
You will not get it back. This has happened to a couple of us, including myself.

Make sure you do use the best packing possible and of course insure it.
 
Nail polish solution

Nail polish solution

Hi, I was worried about this same issue and i have a suggestion. You guys can paint clear nail poilsh on the labels that will most likely get rubbed off. I know we shouldn't have to do this and Sony should produce better cameras but since we have this problem, I believe this is a simple solution. Yes, your camera won't look as sleek but I guess that's better than having no labels on it.
 
Yeah, I've only used by cam for a few shoots and already the paint label for the ND has disappeared. Really ridiculous. Cheaper cam paintwork last longer.
 
This really sounds terrible. Does this affect every camera out there? Is there anyone who has been extensively using their camera who is not having this issue? Thanks.
 
Stevet's camera has a higher s/n than mine, which suggests that the problem may be a variable one. Perhaps environment control issues with the paint and epoxy application areas on the assembly line. A lot of times, paint and screening is farmed out to companies that do this. If Sony has multiple vendors doing the same kinds of work, it could be that some cameras were painted by one vendor, and others were painted by another vendor. If one of the vendors has a quality issue, that would explain how some cameras are having the problem and others are not.
 
It is terrible. The camera is soooo great and it's a shame that it's currently plagued by simple, stupid things like this. It's the price you pay when you buy version 1.0 of anything.

I plan to ride Sony on this issue. I am someone that takes care of my equipment and stays relatively ahead of the curve. I count on preserving the resale value of my current equipment to help me acquire the new stuff when I sell the old. I am going to go nuts if the paint comes off a few months after the warranty has expired.
 
Anyone up for posting an informal survey of paint problems?

Those with paint or nomenclature peeling off, say aye.

Those without the paint problems say aye.

Consensus?
 
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