Sony A-100 auto focus problem

[ovlov]

I'm the happy owner of a new Sony A-100 with the lens kit. So far I have been very pleased with this camera. Tonight I had a problem with it, though. During the process of auto focusing the mechanism seem to jam up and it sounded like it was moving back in forth a small amount. I turned off the camera and turned it back on, but it made no difference. In manual focus mode the camera wouldn't let me turn the focus ring. I turned off the camera, removed the lens, re-installed the lens and then turned the camera back on. Auto focus worked fine again after doing this. Is this a common problem? Should I consider exchanging the camera?

[TonyRV2]

I've never heard of this particular problem myself, but I do teach electronic engineering here in Michigan so I do know a little about how stuff breaks. The first thing you have to determine is whether the problem is with the camera or with the lens. If you have a second lens, you may want to use it for a while to see if the problem occurs with it as well. If you have the same problem with the second lens, then the trouble is likely with the camera. Naturally, if the problem only occurs with the origianl lens, then the problem is with just that lens. From what you've said, there are a few things that I'd suspect.
1) A software glitch with the camera...turning the camera off and then on again may have
cured this.
2) A poor connection between the contacts of the lens and camera....taking the lens off
the camera and reinstalling may have temporarily solved this potential problem.
Examine the contacts on both the lens and camera and make sure they're clean. If
they look smudged up you can clean them with a Q-tip and just a wee bit of
denatured alchohol.

The trick here is going to be getting the camera to repeat the problem. A service technician can't fix something thats not broke, meaning that intermittant problems can be a real bugger. If you can get the problem to repeat under some set of specific circumstances, then I'm sure Sony could/would do something about it.

Good luck with this.

[Marcie]

HI, I had similar problem with mine. I bought mine back in August. 1 month later with 2 dif lens I was having focusing problems. Since it was new I went back to where I bought the camera and they looked at it, since they know what to do. Well ended up on mine there was a malfunction of the focusing comunicating from the lens to the camera!!! So they gave me a brand new one and havent had problems with it since. I have had this camera since september 2006. If you are still experiencing the problem I would take it back to where you got it from orig. They either will help you understand the camera or either replace it. It may be a simple thing or complex but the best thing is to go back where you bought it if it is a repeat problem!!

Marcie

[ovlov]

Thanks for the replys!

So far the problem hasn't reoccurred. After removing the lens today and looking around I noticed there are two small but clear smudge marks on the mirror, so I am going to exchange the camera tomorrow. I have not touched the mirror and I have never left it sitting exposed. When I bought the camera I had a *feeling* it had been removed from its box before. Having spent many quality hours at work with boxes I can pretty much tell when a box has been opened and then resealed. My suspicion is that it may be a return that got packed up and put back on the shelf. I know it's not a uncommon occurrence.

I suppose I could clean the mirror, but then if the AF motor goes crazy in a month I wont be able to easily exchange it at the store. For $900 I would expect everything to be clean inside and zero AF problems.

[Marcie]

Thanks for the replys!

I suppose I could clean the mirror, but then if the AF motor goes crazy in a month I wont be able to easily exchange it at the store. For $900 I would expect everything to be clean inside and zero AF problems.

Hi I dont like touching that part of camera I leave to prof to clean up. But if it has been an open box I would def. return it. Especially when its an espensive camera!!!

Marcie

[ovlov]

I got another camera, but it's going to go back too. There are fairly noticeable hot pixels in every image even with noise reduction is turned on. The other camera didn't have any hot pixels and my much cheaper DSC-H1 doesn't have any. I'm thinking about just getting my money back and trying out a Olympus E-500.

[ovlov]

Maybe I spoke too soon... after a few shots the hot pixels are completely gone. I even tried a hot/dead pixel finder on a dark image and couldn't find any. I had no idea these cameras did ccd remapping by themselves. What I have read is that every month the camera will automatically remap the ccd. Pretty cool IMO.

[TonyRV2]

Glad to see that things are back on track for you!

...Tony

[Clemmie]

Maybe I spoke too soon... after a few shots the hot pixels are completely gone. I even tried a hot/dead pixel finder on a dark image and couldn't find any. I had no idea these cameras did ccd remapping by themselves. What I have read is that every month the camera will automatically remap the ccd. Pretty cool IMO.

Yes, that is pretty cool - and it takes care of the majority of hot pixel problems, as you've seen. The remapping can also be tripped manually, if you ever have problems in between times (consult your manual).

And don't feel bad about raising questions then seeing the problem clear itself up. We're all still on a learning curve with this new technology.