p.173 #3 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
Yes, it could be just the cap. To minimize that possibility, use a lens pouch and tighten the string around the lens barrel to find out whether there is a light leak at the mount.
p.173 #4 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
miklar wrote:
The following images were taken with the sun at it's highest point in our area, at noon, with the FE 1.8/55 lens mounted and the lens cap on, at 30 seconds.
At ISO 100 and f/2.2 there appears no light penetration.
At ISO 25600 and f/2.2 some light penetration can bee seen on the top right corner, as well an uneven exposure all the way down the right side. The latter may well be due to the lens cap.
At ISO 25600 and f/22 light penetration can be seen on the top right corner only.
My interest in doing this is primarily due to the many reports on various sites which demonstrate the issue of light penetration. However, I'm only interested in seeing if the problem exists with native lenses to mitigate any issues that could be caused by adapters etc...
Although these images were taken with the lens cap on, which may be the cause for the light penetration on the top right of two of these images, I'm not disputing this to be an issue. It may well be a QA problem and it should be noted the A7r which is used for these shots is one of the first that arrived in Canada. ...Show more →
The line at the top right is basically identical to mine. It isn't the lens cap.
From my testing so far, your 2.2 image shows the light leak, and also a lot of lens cap leakage. Your f22 image just shows the light leak.
p.173 #5 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
AGeoJO wrote:
Yes, it could be just the cap. To minimize that possibility, use a lens pouch and tighten the string around the lens barrel to find out whether there is a light leak at the mount.
Just did this shoot again, see the notes at the bottom of the image.
Goes to prove one has to consider all possible caveats before posting negative issues.
Note; this test is done with the A7r.
Cheers
p.173 #6 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
miklar wrote:
Just did this shoot again, see the notes at the bottom of the image.
Goes to prove one has to consider all possible caveats before posting negative issues.
Cheers
One also has to test thoroughly and ensure that their results are repeatable.
I did probably 15 tests, and one or two of them didn't show any light leakage.
It's possible that in 13 tests (despite using the lens cap and bag and in some cases a blanket in addition to the bag) I failed to adequately control the light and some managed to leak through the bag, and the blanket, and the lens cap.
It's also possible that in 15 tests I did manage to control the light adequately, and in two of them some other factor caused there to be no light leakage. E.g. it is possible the lens flexed enough (I'd say this is particularly possible since some people are reporting "squishy" mounts that seem to flex more than normal) that it closed the gap and didn't allow any light in.
At the moment I would say that the latter is far more likely than the former, for a couple reasons:
1. I've seen at least a dozen people say they've recreated the light leak and only a couple say that they can't. I'd be pretty surprised if people were failing that consistently at not allowing light in through the lens cap.
2. Google "A7R light leak" and look at the second photo you see (links to Sonys forum (link is also above in one of my previous posts) where there is further information from users on the subject). You'll notice an identical (to both yours, and mine, and other peoples) light leak in the upper right corner in a real photo that does not rely on lens caps or bags or rubber bands in order to prevent light from leaking in through the end of the lens.
I'm having a lot of trouble coming up with an explanation for #2 that doesn't involve a light leak with the camera. Are his ND filters leaking in light in the exact same place as my (and yours, and virtually everyones) lens caps? Doesn't seem possible, let alone probable. Literally the only other explanation I can come up with is that the guy that took those photos is lying for some reason and artificially created a real world photo that shows the same kind of light leakage that so many are "getting through their lens caps." Pretty improbable I would say. Maybe there are other possibilities I haven't thought of yet.
Regardless, I should know one way or the other tomorrow. I hope it isn't a light leak, I love the camera and have no desire to return it and not much confidence that Sony would/could repair it within a reasonable timeframe, if at all.
p.173 #7 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
Nicolas
Today's tests were done more than four times and none showed any light leaks with the same setup.
The previous ones consisted of more than ten different configurations and some twenty images. Some showed no light leakage and at close examination of the settings showed the ISO and or f stop were not set at their most vulnerable, i.e. f/22 and ISO100 will obviously mitigate any light penetration being visible.
Also, any testing should be performed under conditions with setups on how the equipment is to be used. In my case it is with native lenses, as such the test results prove the equipment does not display what some, including you, have found.
It is quite possible the problem is a QA issue on some runs and since my A7r is one of the first that came to North America the quality control level may have been higher than in later production runs.
I'd be interested to hear how your next tests work out.
Cheers
p.173 #8 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
I suppose it's possible that your lens cap leak results in images with light pollution in the exact same location and pattern as people are getting from actual light leak problems with the camera (due to presumably non-constant QC issues). It just doesn't seem that likely to me.
p.173 #12 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
Mine doesn't...granted I only tried checking once. The 55 FE with a 30 second exposure at f/1.8, ISO 25600 (or whatever the highest is.) I didn't try it more than once though.
p.173 #13 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
I have the light leak issue on my new A7. I tested with the 28-70 kit lens (lens cap on), ISO 25600, 30s. I'm certain it is the mount causing the issue and not any lens cap leakage.
I firstly took a shot with the mount's infamous 3 o'clock position facing out of the window towards a bright sky, and I got the familiar crescent of light in the corner of the shot.
When I repeated the test, but with my finger wrapped around the 3 o'clock position of the mount to block the light, there was no light leak.
I did this three times and the result was the same.
I also tested with my phone's flashlight and got the same pattern of leakage. As soon as I blocked the light with my finger, no light leak.
The question is what to do now. I kind of wish I hadn't done the test, as the issue is unlikely to affect any of the type of photography I do, but it is an issue that shouldn't have got past QC and does slightly dent my confidence in the overall build quality of the camera. How does this impact weather sealing, for example? If there is a gap for light to get through, then surely moisture can get through too.
I could return the A7 for a refund while I can and wait it out to see what happens, or I could simply ignore it and carry on. Ignoring it would probably send the wrong message to Sony, that I'm willing to put up with poor design/quality control, so right now I'm leaning towards sending it back...
p.173 #14 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
Lotus Eater wrote:
How does this impact weather sealing, for example? If there is a gap for light to get through, then surely moisture can get through too.
I doubt it affects weather sealing as these cameras are not really weather sealed to begin with. There is no gaskets used and so forth (as seen in Roger Cicala's recent teardown). It was probably wrong of Sony to claim weather resistance (and I can't seem to find that claim now!) to begin with (and I'm sure they never said "sealing" for instance if they originally did claim anything).
"Weather resistance" can mean anything and often means nothing. Some, like DpReview seem to state these cameras are "Weather Proof" which is completely inaccurate. Interestingly, in all the item descriptions I have found either at B&H, Amazon or even directly through Sony in the U.S., I see no mention of even weather resistant claims now. Even in the manual, a search turns up nothing. Thus, I think you might not even want to think of these cameras as having any weather resistance at all just to be safe.
p.173 #15 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
Is there any way to display clipped highlights/blocked shadows in the EVF? My OMD does this and I prefer it to just using the histogram.
Perhaps more importantly, is there no way to search just this thread inside of FM? I realize I can custom search through Google if necessary. I'm sure most of my questions have been covered already but this thread is huge.
p.173 #16 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
Tariq Gibran wrote:
I doubt it affects weather sealing as these cameras are not really weather sealed to begin with. There is no gaskets used and so forth (as seen in Roger Cicala's recent teardown). It was probably wrong of Sony to claim weather resistance (and I can't seem to find that claim now!) to begin with (and I'm sure they never said "sealing" for instance if they originally did claim anything).
"Weather resistance" can mean anything and often means nothing. Some, like DpReview seem to state these cameras are "Weather Proof" which is completely inaccurate. Interestingly, in all the item descriptions I have found either at B&H, Amazon or even directly through Sony in the U.S., I see no mention of even weather resistant claims now. Even in the manual, a search turns up nothing. Thus, I think you might not even want to think of these cameras as having any weather resistance at all just to be safe. ...Show more →
I just had a look on the Sony UK site and there is still reference to it: "Dust and moisture resistance - Durability-enhancing measures include sealing around the buttons and dials, as well as a protective double-layered structure that tightly interlocks panels and components".
All the FE lenses are listed as having a "dust and moisture-resistant design".
Without wanting to start a conspiracy theory, I wonder if Sony USA have pulled all references to dust and moisture resistance because they are fully aware of the light leak issue and that it could hamper resistance. Interestingly, the vertical grip is still claimed to be dust and moisture resistant! So we have dust and moisture resistant lenses and grip, but a leaky body.
p.173 #17 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
formula4speed wrote:
Is there any way to display clipped highlights/blocked shadows in the EVF? My OMD does this and I prefer it to just using the histogram.
p.173 #18 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
Lotus Eater wrote:
Without wanting to start a conspiracy theory, I wonder if Sony USA have pulled all references to dust and moisture resistance because they are fully aware of the light leak issue and that it could hamper resistance. Interestingly, the vertical grip is still claimed to be dust and moisture resistant! So we have dust and moisture resistant lenses and grip, but a leaky body.
I'm sure it has more to do with Sony's lawyers afraid that making any claim might open them up to legal trouble at some point in the U.S. Just a CYA move probably. I also notice that Sony's professional A99 is specified as fully "Weather Sealed".
p.173 #19 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
When I push gently on one side of my FE 28-70 lens there is clicking/clunking sound emanating from the mount. If I mount the same lens on my NEX-6 all is fine, so I'm sure it is the mount and not the lens.
It doesn't seem to do it with my FE 55, so maybe the fit is a bit tighter.
Anyone else suffering from this?
The easy answer is to say, "don't push on the lens!", but I'm thinking there is something amiss with the mount fitting and so maybe I should get the camera swapped.
p.173 #20 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
Lotus Eater wrote:
When I push gently on one side of my FE 28-70 lens there is clicking/clunking sound emanating from the mount. If I mount the same lens on my NEX-6 all is fine, so I'm sure it is the mount and not the lens.
It doesn't seem to do it with my FE 55, so maybe the fit is a bit tighter.
Anyone else suffering from this?
The easy answer is to say, "don't push on the lens!", but I'm thinking there is something amiss with the mount fitting and so maybe I should get the camera swapped.
If you also have the light leak issue with your A7, why would you choose to not get it replaced? Maybe these two things are related and you just got a bad copy of the A7.
