Got me a Nex toy...

[agorabasta]

OK, another update is here.

Got another body - you know, it's a system, so one needs two bodies, just in case, well, you know - this one is silver to distinguish it from the former black. It's got the same FW1.03, so I can now do some more factorized experiments

The results are simply funny:

- the second body with the second flash unit - no problems so far after about 100 shots with flash in all modes
- the second body with first flash unit - about 1 in 10 shots out of sync flash and dark frames except 'rear' sync that works OK
- the first body with the second flash unit - about 5 in 10 shot out of sync flash and dark frames except 'rear' sync that works OK with FL limitation at 55mm showing intermittently
- the first body with the first flash - almost never shows a normal flash exposure in all modes but the 'rear' sync that works OK with FL limitation stable at at 55mm

I'm going to deal with the seller of the first one (they are a part of the Sony franchise network here called 'Sony Centre') and then provide an update on what they say and how they plan to sort it out.

[pakodominguez]

OK, another update is here.

Got another body - you know, it's a system, so one needs two bodies...

Hi,
Are the serial numbers somehow close?
thanks for your help

[agorabasta]

Here are the serials of both the bodies and their respective flashes -

[Phaelix_Photoclub]

Hello agorabasta,

Someone on the DPR forums pointed this out to me and I've tried to reproduce your problem on several cameras without success, although the cameras I've been using are very far from yours in serial number. Have you noticed the problem is particularly bad in one mode/setting or another, or is it uniform across the board?

I recently ran some events using ~80 NEX-5 units, and nobody reported flash sync issues, so it looks like you have particularly bad luck

Tentatively, I'd say you have a dud unit and should claim warranty.

Alternatively, the new firmware patch is very close- you could wait, apply it, and see if the issue resolves. I don't know of any flash-related content in the patch, but it's possible an undocumented/indirect change will remedy your issue.

[David Kilpatrick]

Welcome Phaelix - can't think who you can be if you have had around 80 NEX-5 units (other than European Sony PR event). I've just been trying to configure an order for NEX-5 tonight, and given up - nearly ordered one NEX-5 and one NEX-3 in order to get reasonable pricing on the twin lens kit (out of stock for NEX-5). No matter how I rationalise it, something is always falling short. I only want the 16mm, because I want pocketability, but I also want stabilisation. That means having the 18-55mm instead. But it's not pocketable, so it offers no benefit over my A550 with 16-80mm (I have compared the lenses); and photokina promises a video capable SLR Alpha.

Any problems with the flash make me worry about potential issues with the add-on microphone - and I already know there is no provision for gain control (or so I have been told). Something I should be rushing to buy is somehow failing to hit the mark.

David

[Vidgamer]

.... No matter how I rationalise it, something is always falling short. I only want the 16mm, because I want pocketability, but I also want stabilisation. That means having the 18-55mm instead. But it's not pocketable, so it offers no benefit over my A550 with 16-80mm (I have compared the lenses); and photokina promises a video capable SLR Alpha. ...

It's perfectly pocketable (with the 18-55), if you don't mind an uncomfortable lump in your pants. I walked around with it for a while today, and it's not ideal, but I think it'll qualify as "pocketable" for when I need to get it out of the way and not look too much like a tourist. With a jacket, it will be fine.

I imagine a future prime lens may be better, but will cost a lot more than the kit lenses.

[Danjojo_Resurrected1]

David, just some thoughts of mine.

I think you would do just fine with the 16mm pancake without stabilization. If it's too dark for a decent shutter speed you might end up throwing it into Handheld Twilight mode anyway, and it's hard to get the soft-blur from body motion with that.

I've been seeing a lot of great ISO 3200 shots and some pretty damn good 6400 shots, even without using one of the multi-exposure modes.

With the 16mm kit, nothing else is NEX-5 size or smaller and will give you the image quality, stabilization or not. If you have no pod or rest you can still get good, crisp shots down to 1/30 shutter with a nice camera at hip-level stance.

The short focal length to me doesn't really need the stabilization.

[Phaelix_Photoclub]

Hi David,

I work for Sony in Australia as a Product Specialist, although I'm not posting here in my, er, official capacity. My views are not the views of Sony etc etc.

Thanks for the feedback on the camera- it all goes into my feedback to our product managers and on to Japan.

I prefer to steer clear of general comments on our cameras, since I have an obvious bias. I will say that I've found a very satisfying use for the NEX-5 in my own personal practice, but of course YMMV. If you have any specific questions I'll do my best to answer them.

Sean

[agorabasta]

Have you noticed the problem is particularly bad in one mode/setting or another, or is it uniform across the board?
.............................
I recently ran some events using ~80 NEX-5 units, and nobody reported flash sync issues, so it looks like you have particularly bad luck

I sure did notice and describe exactly that

And I wouldn't notice it in a 100-unit 'event' if the flash were not used

And obviously BOTH the flash and body that I got first must be 'duds' for this not to be a FW/HW design fault... Go figure!

[Phaelix_Photoclub]

I sure did notice and describe exactly that

So no additional details that might help to reproduce the error?

And I wouldn't notice it in a 100-unit 'event' if the flash were not used

Retail staff are nocturnal, so we do our events at night We handed out the cameras with flashes affixed, so they saw a good amount of use.

And obviously BOTH the flash and body that I got first must be 'duds' for this not to be a FW/HW design fault... Go figure!

Yes, it's strange. Obviously if this is occurring in more than a handful of units it's something we'd need to research and address.

Thanks again for the detailed information on the error.

[agorabasta]

I sure did notice and describe exactly that

So no additional details that might help to reproduce the error?

No, all the info is there in a few posts above in the thread. Did you check my earlier posts above?

[Phaelix_Photoclub]

Hi agorabasta. I read your posts and have tried to reproduce the settings you describe as closely as possible. Of course there are dozens and dozens of settings on the camera, and there's no way to know which ones are relevant.

If I can make the error happen on another camera then I can feed back to head office and they can try to track down the cause. Otherwise, we kind of have to assume it's down to manufacturing error, which does happen on occasion. The lack of isolation to a single part is strange, but it's difficult to draw any broad conclusions from a single data point.

FWIW, I'm sorry you wound up with a faulty unit. Warranty claims aren't a stack of fun, especially when you'd rather just be taking photos.

[agorabasta]

Of course there are dozens and dozens of settings on the camera, and there's no way to know which ones are relevant.

The only settings relevant are those that I mentioned. I tried toggling every other possible point in the menu and found no effect on the problem from them.

Though I had a statistically non-valid occurrence of togging the 'Movie Audio Rec' sometimes making the flash to fire in sync in the 'dud' modes at the first try upon such toggle. Most likely it's a coincidence, but it still may relate somehow to the communication in that flash/mic auxiliary port.

[Phaelix_Photoclub]

I'll keep my ear to the ground for any other flash issues. If more cases crop up with nearby serials it could be a batch issue- odds are the units I have on hand were manufactured days or weeks before/after yours, and the problem might no longer apply.

Do you plan to return/exchange the faulty unit?

[David Kilpatrick]

I think my issue is that I actually want the 18-55mm for videos, and the 16mm for stills. They are two different applications. Problem is I can get everything here right now, but the NEX-5 'kits' are out of stock and it will cost me £120 more to buy the camera with 16mm, and the lens separately. I can get a NEX-3 kit, no problem, and a NEX-5 with 16mm. Then I end up with a NEX-3 and 16mm to spare, but I sell this for £50 less than current retail, my 18-55mm still only costs me half.

It's a mess. All the products I want except the mic and the Alpha adaptor are here, now, but not in the form I want them. I may just buy two camera and sell one+16mm immediately, brand new.

David