I really like this lens and have used it a lot...like 5 times a week for the last year or so. It's one of my favorites. I use it on a A7CR. In the last couple of months I've noticed that this lens can cause issues with the body. For example, in manual mode, I'll go to change the aperture and nothing will happen. I'll turn it off / on and then the aperture dial will work again. Or, I won't be touching anything and the aperture will start changing by itself (manual mode). A few days ago I went to take some photos and it started shooting with the mechanical shutter even though it was set to use the electronic / silent shutter. Then a few seconds later it returned to the silent shutter mode. When I put a different lens on none of these issues happen. It's random and I can't tell when it will get weird. Initially I would turn the camera off / on and the issues would go away for a while. Now the issue happens more regularly.
I cleaned the contacts on the lens (and camera) and inspected the contacts with a loupe and they look to be in good shape. I've had the issue long enough that I don't think it's the body because I've switched out lenses enough times to see the problem go away with the 55mm is removed.
Has anyone ever heard of an issue like this? I'm wondering if it would be worth sending in for repair or would I be better off buying a replacement on the forum.
I guess this is a pretty strange situation since nobody has responded. A few days ago I did a search on this topic and AI came back saying the above was not possible. When it first started happening I thought it was the A7CR and the best case scenario was that it needed a firmware update.
I do take the lens hiking a lot and it will get a little wet if rain passes through. But, I'm good about finding cover and not letting it get soaked.
I guess I'll look into the repair cost for the lens and if it doesn't make sense I'll buy a replacement. Or, I could rent the 55mm and see if the issue persists.
Very strange behavior
I used it a lot since I bought it in 2014, it was by far my most used lens and never had a problem. Lens rentals did an "operation" to see the interior and found some weak construction points. Perhaps you can look there?
I will tell you it's not worth the cost to fix. IF I were YOU, and I was, I'd buy a Viltrox 50F2. smaller, lighter, super cheap, razor sharp. I've gone through multiple copies of the 55 zeiss. Just never cared for it.
But he does care, and so do I!
If nothing works your option can be considered...but there are other options as well!
3catsinky wrote:
I will tell you it's not worth the cost to fix. IF I were YOU, and I was, I'd buy a Viltrox 50F2. smaller, lighter, super cheap, razor sharp. I've gone through multiple copies of the 55 zeiss. Just never cared for it.
"I'd buy a Viltrox 50F2. smaller, lighter, super cheap, razor sharp."
Thank you for the Viltrox recommendation. I was not familiar with the lens. It looks quite good. Do you recall how the bokeh compares to the Sony 55 1.8?
Well, I took the A1 / 55mm for a hike and didn't have any issues. I used the A1 /55mm a fair amount today and if I was using the A7CR / 55mm I think an issue would have popped up. Maybe the problem is with the A7CR. I'll keep using the A1 / 55mm for the near future and see if anything happens. I appreciate the help.
Here's some photos from the hike and a little background perspective.
It's been dry with very little rain. Most streams I visit are pretty dry. This waterfall was pumping. It's a water source for the Board of Water Supply and I can see why.
Whenever I go to this waterfall there's stones wrapped in ti leaves...as seen in the first photo. I thought it was a legitimate offering of some kind but AI says this: "Stones wrapped in ti leaves in Hawaii, often mistaken as a traditional offering, are actually a tourist-perpetuated practice, or "rock laulau," which is disrespectful and offensive to native Hawaiians."
The change in shutter mode (mechanical vs. electronic) sounds like a camera body issue, not a lens issue. Similarly, the aperture changing by itself sounds like a camera issue, as this lens doesn't have an aperture dial. But why these changes would only happen with this lens is quite strange.
I have a similar issue with the aperture changing by itself in Manual and Aperture priority modes with the 50/1.4 GM lens, but I suspect it's a problem with the aperture dial on the lens.
