surgemaster wrote:
Thank you Dmitri for trying to help me. As you say, I may not be explaining this the best way it could be. I've already sent the lens in for repair and it comes back the same. I don't really know if it is the lens or camera. I did some experiments yesterday and today. I will post the results later to see if it helps you gurus help me.
I can't talk to a tech at the repair shop, I tried, to better explain the problem. I don't want to send the camera in or resend the lens until I narrow down which is the problem.
Rex...Show more →
Rex, no problem! I am not a guru but a nearly retired professional research scientist. When faced with unexplained and puzzling observations, it helps to define the facts in possibly clear terms. In your situation, there's some uncertainty, because a camera system consists of two parts: the body and the lens. Which one is to blame is the question that must be addressed first. It should be easier to tell with good certainty whether the lens can or cannot focus at or near infinity. The body is trickier because we don't exactly know how often your camera, with your settings, should be able to recognize birds at long distances. I don't think any of the true gurus would venture a guess, like should this be a 50%, 30%, or 10% chance?
As a matter of preference, I like switching between wide and small spot when tracking, depending on the circumstances. I understand that you use wide more often; perhaps using a small-area setting like [Expand Spot] can help your camera to acquire focus more reliably.
Sounds like some good advice Ruthenium. I too ran into some issues with trying to nail some flying ducks today with a A6700 and 200-600G lens. I took over 75 shots with the 11fps mode and didn't get even ONE shot nailed for focus. The other day I was using a 70-350G in the same settings and it nailed nearly EVERY shot taken of fast moving ducks taking off and running all around the sky. I'll be giving the 200-600 another try, but sure would be disappointed to find it doesn't want to behave in such scenarios. Tomorrow, just to even the playing field a bit, will take my Z9 and 100-400S with a 1.4xtc on it (560mm) to see if my Z9 nails it. I've used the Z9 combo before and it was unreal reliable in this situation. It may well be the very cold and windy temps we're having at the moment. I'm well aware how the cold temps and humidity can wreak havoc on photography of telephoto shooting. I'll let you know what happens.
Maybe my experiment shows what Tim just posted above about the potentiometer.
The following images on the left side were taken when the camera-lens was performing incorrectly. I took incremental images from 200 mm to 600 mm. The right side images were taken when the camera-lens was working correctly. I tried to make the right side images the same size as the accompanying image. The focal lengths posted at the bottom of each image is from the exif on that image. This shows where the lens loses focus. My focus target was the snag in the middle of the frames. I used flexible spot s to focus. The left side focal lengths in the exif were incorrect except for the 1st image, which was 200 mm.
I occasionally had a very similar (the same?) effect with the 200-600G on my A1. No TC was involved. It happened maybe once per 10h usage of mostly waiting for opportunities. It behaved very much as if the focus limiter was enabled, even though the switch was set to disabled and not touched. It would still focus on close subjects, but nothing far away. For me it wasn't even enough to remove the battery. It was fixed by switching lenses, though. It may well be related to the mentioned potentiometer, but it clearly needs something in addition to triggered it.
PS: these days the lens sees too little use for this to bother me, since I could not resist the call of the 600GM.
Sony should acknowledge and replace free of charge.
Thanks Tim. And axutim. This is what I needed. I can use axutim's videos and repair solution for when I send the lens back for repair.
Do you remember the repair cost?
Again thanks so much.
Rex
Thanks Tim. And axutim. This is what I needed. I can use axutim's videos and repair solution for when I send the lens back for repair.
Do you remember the repair cost?
Again thanks so much.
Rex
PS. Thank you to all who tried to help.
I haven't sent mine in for repair, so cannot answer this one. I use my 600mm f/4 99% of the time.
So very sorry to hear about your issues. I have had some failure to focus issues as well and resorted to the same fixes...lens on/off body, remove battery, shut camera on/off, cleaned contacts etc. For me it turned out to be the battery grip. When I removed it, no more problems. I also found using crop mode for those way out, small birds helped the camera to lock focus.
Wishing you the best if you have found your issue to be the potentiometer!
I have the same issue as the OP and TimMunsey & Axitum (on SonyAlphaForums) has. I've had the lens for almost 2 years and used it without issue on my 6500. This problem started around August of this year. The lens was updated to 0.2 which was the latest firmware at the time.
I have experienced it on my A6500 and A6700. So far, it usually resolves itself if I turn the camera on/off or remove/replace the battery. If it gets worse or I lose one more good shot as a result, I'll probably send it in.
Since it is an intermittent problem, I am concerned that they will not be able to identify the issue.
Any experience with Sony Repair service? Do they consult with you before deciding that there is no issue? Will they take video/image evidence or forum links?
cedyathome wrote:
I have the same issue as the OP and TimMunsey & Axitum (on SonyAlphaForums) has. I've had the lens for almost 2 years and used it without issue on my 6500. This problem started around August of this year. The lens was updated to 0.2 which was the latest firmware at the time.
I have experienced it on my A6500 and A6700. So far, it usually resolves itself if I turn the camera on/off or remove/replace the battery. If it gets worse or I lose one more good shot as a result, I'll probably send it in.
Since it is an intermittent problem, I am concerned that they will not be able to identify the issue.
Any experience with Sony Repair service? Do they consult with you before deciding that there is no issue? Will they take video/image evidence or forum links?...Show more →
My problem is the same. Yes, it is intermittant. I put up with it for about a year and sent mine in today with all the info from tim and axitum. Not to Sony. I'm not under warranty. I sent it to Phototech Repair Service. Authorized repair. I should get it back in a week or two and will report back to this thread.
surgemaster wrote:
My problem is the same. Yes, it is intermittant. I put up with it for about a year and sent mine in today with all the info from tim and axitum. Not to Sony. I'm not under warranty. I sent it to Phototech Repair Service. Authorized repair. I should get it back in a week or two and will report back to this thread.
Rex
Good luck. You may as well pre-order the Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS and give it a test drive in the new year.
I have the 200-600 and have been using it more lately. Always loose some shots due to focus issues compared to GM glass, but just passed it off as that what you get for the price. Does the new firmware help? I have not updated, always a little hesitant to update when it just comes out.
PaulCStudios wrote:
I have the 200-600 and have been using it more lately. Always loose some shots due to focus issues compared to GM glass, but just passed it off as that what you get for the price. Does the new firmware help? I have not updated, always a little hesitant to update when it just comes out.
Paul, I haven't done the updates. Probably will just because. It'll never do as well as GM but does pretty good. Mine would do better with the a1, but I still use the a9.
Hi,just wondered if any people have done the 200-600mm firmware update and if so have they noticed any difference. Must admit like many I'm a bit uneasy in doing it,trouble is I think we expect a 100% success rate with this lens I'm quite happy with 70% which for a novice like me is liveable .
soundmike wrote:
Hi,just wondered if any people have done the 200-600mm firmware update and if so have they noticed any difference. Must admit like many I'm a bit uneasy in doing it,trouble is I think we expect a 100% success rate with this lens I'm quite happy with 70% which for a novice like me is liveable .
The updates mainly add support for specific new features on newer cameras:
Ver. 02 added support for Image Stabilization with Body-Lens Coordinated Control--whatever that is on the 7RM5, 7CR, 7CM2, and ZV-E1.
Ver. 03 "Adds support for continuous shooting with AF/AE tracking up to a maximum of 120 images/second when used with the ILCE-9M3 camera body"
I installed Ver. 02 at some point. I did not notice "Improves operational stability"
I'm surprised. When I bought a A7RV back in November of 2022 I also tried out a 200-600. I wasn't impressed with the stability rendered on that body. The day after I got that combo they released a firmware update for the lens. After the update I was SHOCKED how much better the stability of the OSS was. It went from shaky to rock solid, so hardly what I'd call a minor change. Surprised you didn't see any differences.
