Photoclubalpha

I have a quick question for fellow A700 owners.

I recently noticed that when the shutter button is half-pressed, my A700 emits a faint metallic sound as if some gear is engaged/disengaged. It's not the audio signal (which has been turned off), and it sounds different. The audio signal sounds electronically generated whereas this "clink" sounds like two pieces of thin metal coming into contact. The camera produces this sound consistently every time I half pressed the shutter button.

It's there with all my lenses, in both AF and MF modes. It's rather faint so if the lens is trying to focus in AF mode the noise from the motor and gear overrides this sound, and you probably wouldn't notice it. But in MF mode I can hear it distinctly when half press the shutter button. It seems to produce no ill effect on the functionality of camera (knock on wood) but I am wondering if it's an indication of an imminent problem, in which case I should send the camera in for repairs before the warranty expires.

Thanks in advance.

Hi, it is the Steadyshot kicking in....

Thanks for your input. Though the sound is present even with the SSS switched off, so I presume it must be something else.

It is completely normal; soundls like some kind of relais clicking but i do not know.

I believe it is the focus system turning on. I have two A700s. They both do it and sound exactly the same.

Thanks to everyone. Actually I spoke to a technician at Sony Laredo Repairs Center. According to him, if the camera is in MF mode, the only mechanical part that would possibly be in action, during the half-press phase, is the mirror twisting a bit (mirror charge circuit? - my own speculation), which may or may not be a problem, depending the amount of twisting (in other words, how loud the clinking is). So I sent my camera in for a check-up anyway, for the peace of mind if nothing else.

BTW, modern low-power electronics doesn't utilize relays anymore, for power IC's and power transistors are much more reliable, especially in a digital SLR body where there isn't much room to accommodate the bulkiness of relays.

I forgot to post the update upon the return of the A700 from Laredo, so here it is.

I received the A700 back in 2 days (excluding time in transit of course). They couldn't find anything wrong with it; however, upon my request they checked and re-calibrated the mirror charge circuit and now the loud clicking is gone. I would highly recommend Laredo for repairs.