Battery Drainage Issue May Be Solved!

SURPRISE! My EX1 Arrived Today from Sony

SURPRISE! My EX1 Arrived Today from Sony

I was 82 miles away doing a horse clinic video with my backup cameras (two Sony V1Us) and when I returned to the studio late in the evening, I didn't even suspect that I would have the EX1 back from repair sooner than the first week of June. I was surprised when my wife brings out a box that looked familiar, so I thought something must be wrong and Sony may have rejected it.
Anxiously, I opened the box, and read the packing list, to find that it has indeed been serviced!
Here's what it said:

Replaced zoom constrol assembly on handgrip. Power PCB's for UPG, upload v 1.05, auto fb adjust and standard testing.

I had noted that the original zoom rocker was not able to make a smooth start. In fact, it wouldn' start until the rocker was halfway depressed. The replacement starts at about 5% depressed. Seems a little better, but is still touchy, though no worse than the first EX1 I had in February.

At the moment, I have the battery mounted on the EX1 and will leave it overnight like that and see what the remaining charge is in the morning.

I shipped the EX1 in on Tuesday and here on Friday is is back. That was amazingly quick.

Have to do some tests to make sure all is well, tomorrow.
 
Mine is in San Jose right now and they are replacing the lens as well as fixing my Ch. 1 audio circuit which they broke when they replaced the back plate to correct the disappearing paint issue. I'm really going to enjoy having this camera here and NOT having it in the shop! I want to USE the darn thing! ;)
 
Mine's on its way to San Jose, too...

I plugged in the charger a few nights ago to run off AC power. There was a small 'pop' sound, and then black. No more power, from AC or battery...

So... off it goes, and I've asked in a note if they can fix the 'battery drain' issue, too..

Will let you know what happens...

Best,

Ben

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Benjamin Freedman
VisitMyLuxuryHome.com
480.240.9262
 
Wow, so many little problems. Sony's probably losing money on this camera so far. Hopefully they can apply the lessons learned to the EX3 and future cameras.
 
Sumfun said:
Wow, so many little problems. Sony's probably losing money on this camera so far. Hopefully they can apply the lessons learned to the EX3 and future cameras.
Click to expand...

I sure hope they learn something from all of this. I truly love the image that I get from this camera, but my love has REALLY been tested with all the issues I've had. As I said elsewhere, when this camera gets back to me THIS time, it will have been in Sony's hands for more days that it was in my hands.
 
I just got my EX1 but it was shipped with a broken eye cup. I didn't even turn on the power before I had to return it. I'd like to make sure the new one they ship has all the latest fixes but I'm not sure how to do it. It makes no sense to get my EX1 and then turn around and send it back for the battery fix.
 
Buck Forester said:
I just got my EX1 but it was shipped with a broken eye cup. I didn't even turn on the power before I had to return it. I'd like to make sure the new one they ship has all the latest fixes but I'm not sure how to do it. It makes no sense to get my EX1 and then turn around and send it back for the battery fix.
Click to expand...

Very true.
I can't blame you there.
If you can, buy the extended warranty and return it for the fixes when you have time.
BTW, congrats on your EX1 purchase.
 
basspig said:
I read on another forum that Sony has a fix for the drainage issue with the camera is turned off.
...
At any rate, the report is that a circuit board is replaced and the drain down problem is solved.
Click to expand...

I can confirm that. My EX1 was replaced by SONY Switzerland due to focus issues and rub-off paint. The new Cam (Serial 4038xx & firmware 1.05) shows no observable drain of the batteries.

Rgds, Eva
 
I can confirm that the battery drainage is much improved with the new board.
I don't know yet how much of the drainage is due to internal losses in the battery, but I left a BP-U60 on the camera over night. It had 160 minutes remaining. The next morning it showed 155 minutes remaining.
I am going to do another test by removing the battery and noting the available run times before and again the next morning after reinstalling the battery.
At the moment, I'd say it loses 2% of its charge on an overnight sitting.
 
Improved, But Not Eliminated

Improved, But Not Eliminated

I did a test with the battery off the camera last night.

I noted the remaining charge at 150 minutes. Removed battery. Came back 10 hours later. Reinstall battery, power camera on. Remaining time: 149 minutes.

When the battery is left on the camera, it loses about 5 minutes in 10 hours. When off the camera, it's safe to say less than a minute.

So although the situation is vastly improved, it is not eliminated.

For prolonged non-use, I recommend removing the battery. Unlike Sony's other cameras, where you can leave the battery installed indefinately and come back months later to a fully-charged battery.
 
My serial number is 5451, bought at Abel Cine, Hollywood on May 5th, 2008. I too did the on-camera battery test for 24 hours. I lost 5 min.

So, I guess my camera already has the fix built-in. Very cool!

Scott K.
 
Yup, looks like yours already incorporates the updated circuit board. Earlier s/n's would have lost about an hour on an overnight.

Sounds like Abel Cine is THE place to buy the EX1. Their stock seems to be fresh, with the latest serial numbers.

The rest of us early adopters had to do some back and forth with Sony to get these issues fixed, but I have to say that the CineAlta division is far more responsive than the prosumer division that makes the V1U. The CA folks worked with the customers to make things right, while the folks handling the V1U essentially told customers to go take a flying leap. (Anyone want ot buy a couple of HVR-V1U's with telephone-quality audio?) :)
 
Howdy...

As you may remember, I sent my EX1 in for a repair when the power supply crapped out and the camera wouldn't turn on.

Well, it arrived in SJC on Monday, and was back in my hands by Friday! WOW! Great turn around...

I haven't even taken it out of the box yet, but the packing list says:

Upgraded firmware to 1.05
Performed battery drain UPG fix
Performed UPG
Fully Tested

We'll see how that works today...

Best,

Ben

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Benjamin Freedman
VisitMyLuxuryHome.com
480.240.9262
 
Good. You're all fixed up then.

Mind you, it's much better than it was, but it's still drawing a small amount of current when off.
 
Happy to report that after leaving a fully charged battery on my camera for 48 hours straight, this morning all four LEDs are still lighting when I press the test button...

I didn't check the actual minutes, but even if there's still a small amount of drain, it seems negligible for my purposes....

Yea!

Anyone know of any other 1.05 firmware improvements I should be noticing?

Best,

Ben
 
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