Issues with Sony camera. Is it worth it to get it sent out? Update 6/25

[havoc315]

Just an update. I took the camera in today and even though the issue occurred once or twice the tech said the camera was fine and the flash won't fire in the dark. It isn't supposed to do that. Couldn't give me an answer when I asked him why the camera even had a flash then.

I insisted it be sent to Sony to be looked at. If it comes back and they say no problems I am giving it to my granddaughter as an introductory camera. She has a great eye and loves to take pictures.

It won't fire in the dark? But I thought you said it was firing, just firing before the shutter?

Though, are you sure the flash was firing, Nd not just the AF-assist?
On some cameras, in the dark, the flash will give a quick burst to help out the auto focus.

But you still should get a correct exposure, because the meter should adjust.

 

[tazdev3225]

It won't fire in the dark? But I thought you said it was firing, just firing before the shutter?

Though, are you sure the flash was firing, Nd not just the AF-assist?
On some cameras, in the dark, the flash will give a quick burst to help out the auto focus.

But you still should get a correct exposure, because the meter should adjust.

It was firing the tech was the one who tried to tell me that the flash shouldn't fire in the dark. I showed him the pictures that came out really dark with the flash and the data showed a flash fired.

Anyway it is on its way to Sony to be looked at by them. I am just not happy enough to keep using the camera anymore.

 

[photo_chick]

It won't fire in the dark? But I thought you said it was firing, just firing before the shutter?

Though, are you sure the flash was firing, Nd not just the AF-assist?
On some cameras, in the dark, the flash will give a quick burst to help out the auto focus.

But you still should get a correct exposure, because the meter should adjust.

You won't always get the correct exposure on auto. With every camera I've ever used on auto it's hit or miss in low light situations.

I think there's got to be something more to this and to what the tech meant than the flash just not firing in the dark. Again, post the full EXIF data and people can help more. It still sounds like a user issue to me.

 

[havoc315]

You won't always get the correct exposure on auto. With every camera I've ever used on auto it's hit or miss in low light situations.

I think there's got to be something more to this and to what the tech meant than the flash just not firing in the dark. Again, post the full EXIF data and people can help more. It still sounds like a user issue to me.

Yes --- Auto can definitely miss sometimes. But if you are getting extreme underexposure every time you use the flash on auto -- then it's not just a hit or miss metering error.

If you look at the EXIF information that was posted --
When the flash was "On" -- the camera shot at ISO 200, and got extreme underexposure.
When the flash was "off" -- the camera shot at ISO 1600, and got better exposure (with perhaps soft motion blur, etc).

That tells me, that the camera is expecting a burst of flash, and therefore setting the ISO at 200. But the camera is actually getting far less light than it expected to get.

What I do wonder though:
What is happening in manual settings? What is happening when you turn on the flash manually? What is happening with an external flash?

 

[tazdev3225]

Yes --- Auto can definitely miss sometimes. But if you are getting extreme underexposure every time you use the flash on auto -- then it's not just a hit or miss metering error.

If you look at the EXIF information that was posted --
When the flash was "On" -- the camera shot at ISO 200, and got extreme underexposure.
When the flash was "off" -- the camera shot at ISO 1600, and got better exposure (with perhaps soft motion blur, etc).

That tells me, that the camera is expecting a burst of flash, and therefore setting the ISO at 200. But the camera is actually getting far less light than it expected to get.

What I do wonder though:
What is happening in manual settings? What is happening when you turn on the flash manually? What is happening with an external flash?

I don't use the flash in manual. I compensate for the conditions. And since I haven't used the external flash I don't know. Anyway it's out of my hands for the moment. The camera is on its way to Sony and I am changing systems. Haven't been happy with this camera for awhile and have decided it's time for a change. It will become my back-up camera for situations that I don't want to risk the new camera in, like down the shore on the beach.

Thanks for the help.

 

[photo_chick]

Yes --- Auto can definitely miss sometimes. But if you are getting extreme underexposure every time you use the flash on auto -- then it's not just a hit or miss metering error.

If you look at the EXIF information that was posted --
When the flash was "On" -- the camera shot at ISO 200, and got extreme underexposure.
When the flash was "off" -- the camera shot at ISO 1600, and got better exposure (with perhaps soft motion blur, etc).

That tells me, that the camera is expecting a burst of flash, and therefore setting the ISO at 200. But the camera is actually getting far less light than it expected to get.

What I do wonder though:
What is happening in manual settings? What is happening when you turn on the flash manually? What is happening with an external flash?

That's not the full EXIF data though. Its just the OP tying a snippet. Is it even an accurate snippet? That's why you cut and paste the whole thing when you have this kind of issue. And the images posted really do not tell you a whole lot. It just shows a few instances that do not prove any kind of behavior one way or the other. What we do have is someone who is insistent that the problem is the body despite the fact that it's been checked out. Maybe there is something that's been missed when it was checked. Who knows. It still sounds a lot like user error to me but without more data it's impossible to tell.

OP... I hope you find a solution that makes you happy.

 

[tazdev3225]

That's not the full EXIF data though. Its just the OP tying a snippet. Is it even an accurate snippet? That's why you cut and paste the whole thing when you have this kind of issue. And the images posted really do not tell you a whole lot. It just shows a few instances that do not prove any kind of behavior one way or the other. What we do have is someone who is insistent that the problem is the body despite the fact that it's been checked out. Maybe there is something that's been missed when it was checked. Who knows. It still sounds a lot like user error to me but without more data it's impossible to tell.

OP... I hope you find a solution that makes you happy.

Yes it was an accurate snippet. I really don't get what you are looking for other than to prove I don't know what I am doing. I have been taking pictures, and very good ones for over 35 years. Did I have real duds? Yes who doesn't. My camera was looked at by a guy whose job is to clean and update cameras, not repair them. His job is to save the shop money. Do I trust his opinion? I think it's obvious I don't.

Did I want to go through thousands of pictures for examples? NO I found a few to show what I perceive as the issue!

Did I have some really bad pics on this trip? Yes. Hand held night shots with longer exposure will do that. I stopped using the flash completely because I could not get a decent flash picture.

As I said if Sony comes back that nothing is wrong then I am back to square one trying to figure out the problem. But thanks for the help.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Yes it was an accurate snippet. I really don't get what you are looking for other than to prove I don't know what I am doing. I have been taking pictures, and very good ones for over 35 years. Did I have real duds? Yes who doesn't. My camera was looked at by a guy whose job is to clean and update cameras, not repair them. His job is to save the shop money. Do I trust his opinion? I think it's obvious I don't.

Did I want to go through thousands of pictures for examples? NO I found a few to show what I perceive as the issue!

Did I have some really bad pics on this trip? Yes. Hand held night shots with longer exposure will do that. I stopped using the flash completely because I could not get a decent flash picture.

As I said if Sony comes back that nothing is wrong then I am back to square one trying to figure out the problem. But thanks for the help.

I think photo_chick and everyone else is just really trying to help you solve the issue - not prove anything about your skills. I'm going to use a broad stroke here and stay that we've all been guilty of getting settings off on our cameras - at least I have so it's not a bash. There's a lot of settings on the cameras these days!

The EXIF data is far more comprehensive than what you posted so it's not that more pictures are necessary to see if anyone spots something that indicates a setting issue. Just all the EXIF data from one of the pictures where the flash was off. Really just trying to help but without more of the data it's just a guess since we don't recognize this as a common problem with the Sony cameras.

 

[tazdev3225]

Just an update.

I received a call from the camera shop yesterday. It will be at least 2 more weeks to get the Sony back. The main circuit board was bad and needs to be replaced, so it had to be special ordered. Not something that normally goes bad like that and I suspect may have been bad all along as I have had issues at times since I bought the camera. 35+ years with an SLR and DSLR I have a little bit of an idea what I am doing. Just not good with computer systems.

I WAS having issues with the flash and focus because of it. I am glad that I did take it in for the repairs. I am also glad that I pushed for it to be sent out as the "tech" in the store was completely wrong, the camera was NOT working properly.

Thanks for the input from everyone.

 

[SkaGoat]

Just an update.

I received a call from the camera shop yesterday. It will be at least 2 more weeks to get the Sony back. The main circuit board was bad and needs to be replaced, so it had to be special ordered. Not something that normally goes bad like that and I suspect may have been bad all along as I have had issues at times since I bought the camera. 35+ years with an SLR and DSLR I have a little bit of an idea what I am doing. Just not good with computer systems.

I WAS having issues with the flash and focus because of it. I am glad that I did take it in for the repairs. I am also glad that I pushed for it to be sent out as the "tech" in the store was completely wrong, the camera was NOT working properly.

Thanks for the input from everyone.

I knew there had to be something up with this camera! I'm glad they sent it off as well!

 

[photo_chick]

Just an update.

I received a call from the camera shop yesterday. It will be at least 2 more weeks to get the Sony back. The main circuit board was bad and needs to be replaced, so it had to be special ordered. Not something that normally goes bad like that and I suspect may have been bad all along as I have had issues at times since I bought the camera. 35+ years with an SLR and DSLR I have a little bit of an idea what I am doing. Just not good with computer systems.

I WAS having issues with the flash and focus because of it. I am glad that I did take it in for the repairs. I am also glad that I pushed for it to be sent out as the "tech" in the store was completely wrong, the camera was NOT working properly.

Thanks for the input from everyone.

Glad you got it all sorted out.

Personally I would not do business with the shop that has the tech that told you it was fine. We rely on those techs to give us accurate information the first time. And in the future when you request a diagnosis on a message board post the FULL exif data. You never did in this thread, you really didn't give enough information for anyone to do anything more than make a blind guess. Posting the full EXIF from the start might have avoided a lot of the frustration you seemed to feel from my posts. Also years of experience does not preclude anyone from user error. That's not a slight on anyone's skills. We all have things that pop up. I've been shooting for 30 years myself and have a degree in photography and I still have user error issues. No one is immune to human error.

 

[tazdev3225]

I knew there had to be something up with this camera! I'm glad they sent it off as well!

Thanks I was starting to think I was crazy. Hopefully it will be up to full speed when I get it back.

Glad you got it all sorted out.

Thanks.

Personally I would not do business with the shop that has the tech that told you it was fine. We rely on those techs to give us accurate information the first time. And in the future when you request a diagnosis on a message board post the FULL exif data. You never did in this thread, you really didn't give enough information for anyone to do anything more than make a blind guess. Posting the full EXIF from the start might have avoided a lot of the frustration you seemed to feel from my posts. Also years of experience does not preclude anyone from user error. That's not a slight on anyone's skills. We all have things that pop up. I've been shooting for 30 years myself and have a degree in photography and I still have user error issues. No one is immune to human error.

That was why I was so frustrated as he seemed to be a know it all type and I was just a dumb woman to be humored.

I posted the EXIF data I had. I can't get anything else to pop up since I switched computers last year and went to Windows 8. If there is more there I haven't been able to find it. I was frustrated because you wanted something I couldn't find.

And I fully admit to user error. I have great shots and I have shots that make me want to give up photography for ever. I just knew that the issue was more than user error and felt like that was all you wanted to see. Not a problem I appreciate all input. I am a decent amateur, will always be that and am getting better in the age of digital.

Just happy that the issue with the camera is resolved.

 

[photo_chick]

Thanks I was starting to think I was crazy. Hopefully it will be up to full speed when I get it back.



That was why I was so frustrated as he seemed to be a know it all type and I was just a dumb woman to be humored.

I posted the EXIF data I had. I can't get anything else to pop up since I switched computers last year and went to Windows 8. If there is more there I haven't been able to find it. I was frustrated because you wanted something I couldn't find.

And I fully admit to user error. I have great shots and I have shots that make me want to give up photography for ever. I just knew that the issue was more than user error and felt like that was all you wanted to see. Not a problem I appreciate all input. I am a decent amateur, will always be that and am getting better in the age of digital.

Just happy that the issue with the camera is resolved.

I have dealt with techs and sales people who treat me like because I'm a woman I couldn't possibly know what's what. I totally get that. They dismiss whatever you say because of course they know best.

Yeah, sometimes it's hard to get the full EXIF report. I usually pull it from Photoshop's info window.

 

[tazdev3225]

I have dealt with techs and sales people who treat me like because I'm a woman I couldn't possibly know what's what. I totally get that. They dismiss whatever you say because of course they know best.

Yeah, sometimes it's hard to get the full EXIF report. I usually pull it from Photoshop's info window.

There still men who need t come out of the dark ages and realize that women are smarter than they think. I know he was rolling his eyes at me so I am glad I can say I told you so. Maybe a lesson in the customer knows their equipment better.

I don't use photoshop. The last time I loaded the program into my computer it crashed. Of course I know it was probably coincidence but I'm a little hesitant to try that again til I get everything backed up.