p.2 #1 · Sony 24mm 1.4 GM QC Issues? -- Or Normal? Please help!
Hey rgreen, you got it, that's exactly what I saw in the first lens which was the worst. Bouncing would happen like crazy as the lens struggled to lock focus on two nearby objects, and relevant to here, you would feel the motor just pumping back and forth.
In fact, it was your first thread I saw that prompted me to return the first lens and keep testing it out subsequent lenses while documenting everything I've described here.
p.2 #2 · Sony 24mm 1.4 GM QC Issues? -- Or Normal? Please help!
Hey Matt, I'm with ya on my current lens. I can't feel the motor anymore unless it's having trouble locking focus, even then it's minimal enough that I say it's a non-issue. But like you, I have aperture sounds, maybe worse than yours, and others here are reporting silence.
To the other question, I bought two lenses immediately when the lens came out, and got the last two over the next month or so in the middle of returning the others. I didn't buy four at once, yikes ha! Yes I was lucky to order them. Sorry for those that are still waiting. At least you didn't get these lenses! 😜
p.2 #3 · Sony 24mm 1.4 GM QC Issues? -- Or Normal? Please help!
I for one did see a huge difference between my first and second copy and am very happy with my second lens. So back to the title of the thread as to whether there is a QC issue. Seems like we need a bigger sample size and a statistician. But perhaps there was an issue with only a small quantity of the very early lenses that were delivered.
p.2 #4 · Sony 24mm 1.4 GM QC Issues? -- Or Normal? Please help!
Do any of you have Sony stores?
In Melbourne, Australia (and assuming other states/major cities) we have Sony stores that sell only Sony branded products.
There is one store where we buy all our Sony gear, apart from 3-4 body issues (all repaired quickly under warranty, one of those for free outside of warranty), no issues at all.
p.2 #6 · Sony 24mm 1.4 GM QC Issues? -- Or Normal? Please help!
Melindra wrote:
Do any of you have Sony stores?
In Melbourne, Australia (and assuming other states/major cities) we have Sony stores that sell only Sony branded products.
There is one store where we buy all our Sony gear, apart from 3-4 body issues (all repaired quickly under warranty, one of those for free outside of warranty), no issues at all.
In the US Sony closed their stores some time ago (2015 I think)
p.2 #9 · Sony 24mm 1.4 GM QC Issues? -- Or Normal? Please help!
Interesting! Set my R3 to AF-S, lens aperture to 5.6, half press repeatedly to get the aperture to open/close. Aperture blades *are* noisy! About as noisy as my Samyang 50 (af is quieter on the 24). MY Samyang 35 has much quieter aperture blades and similar AF noise level (much quieter overall).
It is not as noticeable in AF-C, or when not stopped down considerably. Give my settings a try and let me know if you have noiseless aperture blades please.
p.2 #10 · Sony 24mm 1.4 GM QC Issues? -- Or Normal? Please help!
To me this is possibly just a case of physics. This is the smallest of the GM lenses. They all make a noise and vibration (subjective of course) when focusing but it is hardly noticeable because there is alot more material to deaden the sounds and vibrations because they are much much larger. I believe you are hearing something but personally I think it is possibly normal for this lens. Could there be a lemon out there, absolutely. If that is the case I'm sorry you happen to get it. But It is just hard to grasp how you could get a lemon from 3 different retailers. Obviously everyone's hearing and sensitivity is different(let's face it most of us here are north of our 20's I suspect ), yours is most likely much better than mine. Either way it is definitely something to monitor. Of all the testing of lenses and camera's that goes on on this site, sounds are one of the most subjective. I'm sure if something is going on it will pop up on Fred's site. Not much get's by the users here. Hopefully the fourth one is the charm for you.
p.2 #11 · Sony 24mm 1.4 GM QC Issues? -- Or Normal? Please help!
pdmphoto wrote:
Interesting! Set my R3 to AF-S, lens aperture to 5.6, half press repeatedly to get the aperture to open/close. Aperture blades *are* noisy! About as noisy as my Samyang 50 (af is quieter on the 24). MY Samyang 35 has much quieter aperture blades and similar AF noise level (much quieter overall).
It is not as noticeable in AF-C, or when not stopped down considerably. Give my settings a try and let me know if you have noiseless aperture blades please.
Yes AF-C and stopped down it is quieter just because the blades are not opening and closing.
p.2 #12 · Sony 24mm 1.4 GM QC Issues? -- Or Normal? Please help!
RandoThrowAway wrote:
Long-time lurker, first-time poster here. Wanted to ask the insight of owners to assess whether there is a QC issue with the Sony 24mm f1.4 GM lens in regards to autofocus and aperture.
Basically, I've tried a total of 4 lens that have seen variation in the following areas (my latest lens exhibits these characteristics the least but is still there):
1) Aperture grinding sounds. Similar actually to the Sony 55mm 1.8, upon turning on the camera, changing aperture (notably from f1.4 to f2 and then f8 to f16), you can hear a sort of grind or audible movement of the blades rubbing on each other.
2) Autofocus Motor thudding: Especially in low-light and low-contrast fields, but still in decent light as well, in AF-C and AF-S, as the focus changes, you can feel vibrational thuds along the frame of the lens.
I definitely feel that there is variation between the four lenses I've tried as the above traits varied in intensity and wanted to know if others observed the same? Thanks for your help! ...Show more →
In candor, I have to tell you that I am always a bit dubious of reports like these. If the defect were real and occurred at a rate of 1 per every 100 lenses--which would be a very high rate that would result in problem reports from all over the internet, then the odds of getting 4 of these defective lenses in a row would be 1 out of a hundred million. That this would happen to a new poster who literally joined yesterday and who is suddenly very voluble and talkative just strains my credulity beyond the breaking point.
I of course apologize if I am doing you an injustice. But as a warrant of your own good faith, I wonder if you could post a picture with exif intact taken with your lens and Sony camera? Maybe a picture of the landing page of the FM Sony forum?
p.2 #13 · Sony 24mm 1.4 GM QC Issues? -- Or Normal? Please help!
Hi, I started a similar thread a week or two ago on DPreview and was unaware of this forum's discussion. I noticed that not only could I hear something as focus changed, I could actually FEEL mechanical movement when holding the lens barrel as focus was achieved. This is best described as a very soft "thud". I have sent my lens back to BH photo and await the exchange (out of stock). The lens is optically superb. I did call Sony and they said performance should be silent prompting my return.
p.2 #14 · Sony 24mm 1.4 GM QC Issues? -- Or Normal? Please help!
If I listen for them, I can sort of hear some AF sounds some of the time on my copy, but it's nearly silent, IMO. No sound from changing aperture, no grinding etc.
p.2 #15 · Sony 24mm 1.4 GM QC Issues? -- Or Normal? Please help!
I have generally found that fast lenses are a bit slower to autofocus and produce more noise than their slower cousins. After four copies, I would think that you're faced with one of two actions. Either, you send your final copy to Sony/Precision with your complaints, or you recognize that this is a normal occurrence and your criteria for for silence exceeds the ability of the lens to provide that silence. Four copies is alot to ask of a vendor.
p.2 #17 · Sony 24mm 1.4 GM QC Issues? -- Or Normal? Please help!
Another point I didn't mention earlier - this is a lens that has an aperture ring, similar to that of the FE 35mm f/1.4, FE 50mm f/1.4 and GM 85mm f/1.4. Early on, I used the camera to change the aperture but lately, I like the idea of turning the aperture ring to do so. How does everybody else do that and will the way to change the aperture play a role in the issues, real or perceived, that were brought up here?
p.2 #18 · Sony 24mm 1.4 GM QC Issues? -- Or Normal? Please help!
Just checked mine out and didn't notice anything blaringly problematic.
Not sure how much of this plays a role. But I wonder how much of an issue like this one is solely based on subjective ideas of what "silent" are. As far as my personal experiences go, every lens I've ever owned that was marketed as "silent" has not been 100% silent. There are some however, that have been Pretty Damn Quiet (PDQ) when it comes to AF (which are still not actually silent). I suppose it is just easier from a marketing standpoint to say "silent."
So that begs the question, how audible should they be? That is where the issue of subjectivity comes into play since we all have varying levels of expectations, tolerances, and physical hearing ability.
FWIW, on my copy, I can hear it in a room where there is no other noise being made aka complete silence. Otherwise, I have yet to take notice of any noise emanating from it until I started reading this thread and actively tried to listen.
p.2 #20 · Sony 24mm 1.4 GM QC Issues? -- Or Normal? Please help!
Matt Kerby wrote:
All I can hear on mine is the aperture blades opening and closing, you can't even hear the motor at all.
I'm wondering if this is what people are reporting. I can hear aperture blades moving when the lens is stepped down beyond f2 but there is no grinding sound, just moving blades. It won't win awards for the quietest aperture blades bu the focusing motor is smooth and extremely quiet.
), yours is most likely much better than mine. Either way it is definitely something to monitor. Of all the testing of lenses and camera's that goes on on this site, sounds are one of the most subjective. I'm sure if something is going on it will pop up on Fred's site. Not much get's by the users here. Hopefully the fourth one is the charm for you.
