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Help, please! Thoughts on F707 problems

  • Thread starter Thread starter HelenPB
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When shooting in AE, the LCD looks normal. When I push shutter botton half way to do auto focus, LCD light up and stay bright instead of back to noraml. The picture taken is overexposed. So it is a big hassle to repeat button push and EV adjustment to get the right exposure.

BTW, the AE works fine before I got DSL fixed.
Helen Betts said:
Yes, I realize I can compensate for this, but you hit the nail on
the head when you said I shouldn't have to. That's not what I
shelled out ¥116,000 for! And besides, that's fine if I have lots
of time to take shots, but not when I need to use the camera in a
hurry.

Please let us know how your test shots come out. I hope they're
fine, although as I mentioned to someone else it would be nice (in
a perverse sort of way) to know that I'm not alone here!

Helen
David Barker said:
...is there is an apparent difference between the exposure on Auto
and on say AP-mode when you look through the viewfinder (or on the
LCD)? I realise that the quality of the on-camera preview is
relatively poor (but coming from a film camera background I still
can't quite get used to the luxury of digital, with instant
feedback, shoot as often as you like without wasting film etc etc).

If you can tell from the preview that the exposure is wrong, you
can at least do something about it, and still get the shot. Or you
can bracket everything.

Still, that's not the point is it? You shouldn't have to.

I'd go for the replacement. You have put nagging doubts in my mind
though. I'm going to have to try to replicate your test shots...

Don't let the camera get in the way of your photography!

--
David Barker
Click to expand...
--
Helen
---
http://community.webshots.com/user/helenpb_
http://pbase.com/helenpb
http://www.photosig.com/userphotos.php?id=2456
Click to expand...
 
Helen hello,
I am late to the game, since I just got a 707 two days ago. Lens says Apr 2002
on mine. Anway what is "DSL" and "BFS"? I looked over your test shots and I

do see the problem. I am still new to this and am trying to learn. Hey for what
it is worth, I would take a new 707 with the understanding you could test it out
and if it doesn't measure up then get your money back and wait for the next rev.
thanks
-david
Helen Betts said:
More in the continuing saga of Betts vs. Sony Japan:

Sony fixed my F707's DLSS beautifully -- absolutely flawless. They
modified my tripod so I could use it. They got Landscape mode to
work pretty well. But I still find that Auto mode is overexposing
shots in general and in particular all closeups and macros.

The head of Sony Okinawa heard that I was planning to bring the
camera in yet again to see if they could fix this overexposure
problem, but when I talked to him this morning, he informed me that
Sony has decided to either exchange the F707 for another one, or
refund all my money including whatever I spent on any accessories.
So I think that they have basically given up on me, preferring not
to try to address the problem.

If I take a new camera, I'm afraid I will have to go through all of
this again, especially as regards the DLSS problem. If I take the
money, I won't have any camera until a new one is released.
(Despite all this, I do like Sony cameras and prefer to stick with
them.) So I really don't know what to do.

Am I being too picky? Is it too much to expect to get well-exposed
shots in Auto mode? Does everybody experience this difference
between Auto and AP or SP pictures? Does anybody?

I have posted some samples taken the other day on pBase. Please
note that the last 12 flower macros on the page are the ones taken
after the last "overexposure fix." The very last two red ones are
both pretty bad, in Auto and AP. Each pair was shot within seconds
of each other, all with multi-pattern metering.

http://www.pbase.com/helenpb/f707_autoap_test_shots

Any thoughts would greatly be appreciated.

--
Helen
---
http://community.webshots.com/user/helenpb_
http://pbase.com/helenpb
http://www.photosig.com/userphotos.php?id=2456
Click to expand...
 
Hi David,

Well, congratulations on your new F707; it's a great camera, and I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Since you have a relatively newly manufactured unit, you may escape some of the earlier quirks of the F707. BFS was Blue Flash Syndrome, in which flash shots randomly exhibited a distinct blue cast. This was fixed wholesale by Sony free of charge, and I don't think later cameras suffer from it. DLSS is Dark Left Side Syndrome, in which pictures, especially those taken of a solid blue sky or a white wall (for testing purposes) showed a definite darkening along the left-hand side of the image. Rumor has it that units manufactured after around April are free from this bug, so you may be lucky. You can see an example of DLSS in this gallery:

http://www.pbase.com/helenpb/inbox

I may take another camera from Sony, I haven't decided yet. If I can be sure that they will refund my money in the end if the new one has the same problems, or give me yet another one, or give me a new model, then it sounds like a good deal. This whole thing is quite interesting since big corporations in Japan aren't usually too consumer friendly, but they seem to be bending over backwards in my case. Guess they got tired of seeing me marching in their door, camera in hand, once again.

Good luck with your F707!

Helen
david cappello said:
Helen hello,
I am late to the game, since I just got a 707 two days ago. Lens
says Apr 2002
on mine. Anway what is "DSL" and "BFS"? I looked over your test
shots and I
do see the problem. I am still new to this and am trying to learn.
Hey for what
it is worth, I would take a new 707 with the understanding you
could test it out
and if it doesn't measure up then get your money back and wait for
the next rev.
thanks
-david
Click to expand...
 
Helen Betts said:
More in the continuing saga of Betts vs. Sony Japan:
If I take a new camera, I'm afraid I will have to go through all of
this again, especially as regards the DLSS problem. If I take the
money, I won't have any camera until a new one is released.
(Despite all this, I do like Sony cameras and prefer to stick with
them.) So I really don't know what to do.
Am I being too picky?
Click to expand...
Hi Helen, I had the dls fixed on my camera and I too notice that auto exposure tends to overexpose at 0 EV, so I keep it set on -1EV and go from there, or I shoot in manual, and I'm very pleased with the shots. I'm going to say something, and I mean no disrespect, perhaps obsessing on the camera itself may be a subconcious way to avoid actually taking pictures... leave it on -1 EV and don't look back... when the next one comes, upgrade...
--
JohnK
 
Helen, I have exactly the same problem (my camera is a January 2002 production). This issue becomes specially annoying for me when I shoot outdoors with a lot of light. What I do here is switch to AP (like you) as I like the sharpness of F4 picutres.

For me it is more of a hastle to change the camera than to use it as it is so I would prefer to keep it.

John
Helen Betts said:
More in the continuing saga of Betts vs. Sony Japan:

Sony fixed my F707's DLSS beautifully -- absolutely flawless. They
modified my tripod so I could use it. They got Landscape mode to
work pretty well. But I still find that Auto mode is overexposing
shots in general and in particular all closeups and macros.

The head of Sony Okinawa heard that I was planning to bring the
camera in yet again to see if they could fix this overexposure
problem, but when I talked to him this morning, he informed me that
Sony has decided to either exchange the F707 for another one, or
refund all my money including whatever I spent on any accessories.
So I think that they have basically given up on me, preferring not
to try to address the problem.

If I take a new camera, I'm afraid I will have to go through all of
this again, especially as regards the DLSS problem. If I take the
money, I won't have any camera until a new one is released.
(Despite all this, I do like Sony cameras and prefer to stick with
them.) So I really don't know what to do.

Am I being too picky? Is it too much to expect to get well-exposed
shots in Auto mode? Does everybody experience this difference
between Auto and AP or SP pictures? Does anybody?

I have posted some samples taken the other day on pBase. Please
note that the last 12 flower macros on the page are the ones taken
after the last "overexposure fix." The very last two red ones are
both pretty bad, in Auto and AP. Each pair was shot within seconds
of each other, all with multi-pattern metering.

http://www.pbase.com/helenpb/f707_autoap_test_shots

Any thoughts would greatly be appreciated.

--
Helen
---
http://community.webshots.com/user/helenpb_
http://pbase.com/helenpb
http://www.photosig.com/userphotos.php?id=2456
Click to expand...
--
John
---
Hunting those kids with an F707 http://www.pbase.com/superjuanvi
 
Dear John,

I'm not taking it as disrespect, but if you've had a look at my galleries on Webshots, pBase and photoSIG, you might see that in fact I'm a pretty prolific picture-taker (good or bad) and I'm not looking for an excuse, subconscious or otherwise, to not take pictures. (However, it would be really nice to actually have the time to do more of it :-))

But it's come down to the principle of the thing; I believe that for the amount of money I have spent on this camera, it should perform reasonably well. I managed to work around quirks of the S75 and S85 before the F707 (this is my second one btw; the first one had the worst case of DLSS seen on this forum, according to some), but really, this model, or perhaps this unit, just seems to have too many problems to accept without speaking up about it to Sony.

I'm glad you've found a workaround for your overexposure and are now happy with your camera.

Helen
JohnK said:
Hi Helen, I had the dls fixed on my camera and I too notice that
auto exposure tends to overexpose at 0 EV, so I keep it set on -1EV
and go from there, or I shoot in manual, and I'm very pleased with
the shots. I'm going to say something, and I mean no disrespect,
perhaps obsessing on the camera itself may be a subconcious way to
avoid actually taking pictures... leave it on -1 EV and don't look
back... when the next one comes, upgrade...
--
JohnK
Click to expand...
--
Helen
---
http://community.webshots.com/user/helenpb_
http://pbase.com/helenpb
http://www.photosig.com/userphotos.php?id=2456
 
Have you tried adjusting the spot metering. I have experience a similar problem with macro and close up shots outdoors. By adjusting the spot metering the overexposure was corrected. Give it a try.

Jon
David Barker said:
...is there is an apparent difference between the exposure on Auto
and on say AP-mode when you look through the viewfinder (or on the
LCD)? I realise that the quality of the on-camera preview is
relatively poor (but coming from a film camera background I still
can't quite get used to the luxury of digital, with instant
feedback, shoot as often as you like without wasting film etc etc).

If you can tell from the preview that the exposure is wrong, you
can at least do something about it, and still get the shot. Or you
can bracket everything.

Still, that's not the point is it? You shouldn't have to.

I'd go for the replacement. You have put nagging doubts in my mind
though. I'm going to have to try to replicate your test shots...

Don't let the camera get in the way of your photography!

--
David Barker
Click to expand...
 
Try taking the overexposed picture in "centerweighted" metering mode. I bet you get the same result. My camera uses "centerweighted" metering in Auto when it should use "Multi segment".

Therefore the easy way to fix this is to focus on a part of the image that has the exposure you desire... I hope I am making sense

John
Helen Betts said:
More in the continuing saga of Betts vs. Sony Japan:

Sony fixed my F707's DLSS beautifully -- absolutely flawless. They
modified my tripod so I could use it. They got Landscape mode to
work pretty well. But I still find that Auto mode is overexposing
shots in general and in particular all closeups and macros.

The head of Sony Okinawa heard that I was planning to bring the
camera in yet again to see if they could fix this overexposure
problem, but when I talked to him this morning, he informed me that
Sony has decided to either exchange the F707 for another one, or
refund all my money including whatever I spent on any accessories.
So I think that they have basically given up on me, preferring not
to try to address the problem.

If I take a new camera, I'm afraid I will have to go through all of
this again, especially as regards the DLSS problem. If I take the
money, I won't have any camera until a new one is released.
(Despite all this, I do like Sony cameras and prefer to stick with
them.) So I really don't know what to do.

Am I being too picky? Is it too much to expect to get well-exposed
shots in Auto mode? Does everybody experience this difference
between Auto and AP or SP pictures? Does anybody?

I have posted some samples taken the other day on pBase. Please
note that the last 12 flower macros on the page are the ones taken
after the last "overexposure fix." The very last two red ones are
both pretty bad, in Auto and AP. Each pair was shot within seconds
of each other, all with multi-pattern metering.

http://www.pbase.com/helenpb/f707_autoap_test_shots

Any thoughts would greatly be appreciated.

--
Helen
---
http://community.webshots.com/user/helenpb_
http://pbase.com/helenpb
http://www.photosig.com/userphotos.php?id=2456
Click to expand...
--
John
---
Hunting those kids with an F707 http://www.pbase.com/superjuanvi
 
Hi John,

Well, I'm happy (sort of :-)) to hear that at least some other people share my problem! And yes, it's quite annoying for me too in most any bright sunlight, and not just for macros. I'm starting to shoot in AP more and more, which avoids the overexposure issue for the most part, but still, when I'm in a hurry, I tend to just turn it on and shoot in Auto, forgetting about putting it in AP and ending up with pretty bright images. Guess I need to break myself of that habit!

I can understand about the hassles of exchanging it and why it's just easier to adjust to the camera's quirks and live with them. I faced that too here in Okinawa but finally decided to just go directly to Sony (with the help of my Japanese friends) and try to have the camera(s) repaired. It's worked pretty well up until now, but I guess it's time to let them give me a new camera, which I guess I shouldn't complain about!

Helen
John Vincent said:
Helen, I have exactly the same problem (my camera is a January 2002
production). This issue becomes specially annoying for me when I
shoot outdoors with a lot of light. What I do here is switch to AP
(like you) as I like the sharpness of F4 picutres.

For me it is more of a hastle to change the camera than to use it
as it is so I would prefer to keep it.
Click to expand...
--
Helen
---
http://community.webshots.com/user/helenpb_
http://pbase.com/helenpb
http://www.photosig.com/userphotos.php?id=2456
 
Every camera is different. My camera has overexposure problem in AE mode despite whatever metering mode. Futhermore the overexpsure becomes worse with tele zoom compared to wide angle.

I saw several people reported this problem after DLS fixed in this forum and

Sony is also well aware of the problem. I called Sony this morning and was told it is related to firmware, and they were ready to arrange UPS to take my camera back to their service center.

Shipeter
John Vincent said:
John
Helen Betts said:
More in the continuing saga of Betts vs. Sony Japan:

Sony fixed my F707's DLSS beautifully -- absolutely flawless. They
modified my tripod so I could use it. They got Landscape mode to
work pretty well. But I still find that Auto mode is overexposing
shots in general and in particular all closeups and macros.

The head of Sony Okinawa heard that I was planning to bring the
camera in yet again to see if they could fix this overexposure
problem, but when I talked to him this morning, he informed me that
Sony has decided to either exchange the F707 for another one, or
refund all my money including whatever I spent on any accessories.
So I think that they have basically given up on me, preferring not
to try to address the problem.

If I take a new camera, I'm afraid I will have to go through all of
this again, especially as regards the DLSS problem. If I take the
money, I won't have any camera until a new one is released.
(Despite all this, I do like Sony cameras and prefer to stick with
them.) So I really don't know what to do.

Am I being too picky? Is it too much to expect to get well-exposed
shots in Auto mode? Does everybody experience this difference
between Auto and AP or SP pictures? Does anybody?

I have posted some samples taken the other day on pBase. Please
note that the last 12 flower macros on the page are the ones taken
after the last "overexposure fix." The very last two red ones are
both pretty bad, in Auto and AP. Each pair was shot within seconds
of each other, all with multi-pattern metering.

http://www.pbase.com/helenpb/f707_autoap_test_shots

Any thoughts would greatly be appreciated.

--
Helen
---
http://community.webshots.com/user/helenpb_
http://pbase.com/helenpb
http://www.photosig.com/userphotos.php?id=2456
Click to expand...
--
John
---
Hunting those kids with an F707 http://www.pbase.com/superjuanvi
Click to expand...
 
Hi again John,

The camera default is MS, but I got some terribly underexposed shots of boat races with that and went back the next day, used CWA and they were fine. So in general I have kept it on CWA as it seems to work better for me; however, after getting the camera back from Sony last week, it reverted to the default and so the macro shots I posted today were taken in MS. Same overexposures I got before the overexposure 'fix," but not as extreme.

Helen
John Vincent said:
John
Helen Betts said:
More in the continuing saga of Betts vs. Sony Japan:

Sony fixed my F707's DLSS beautifully -- absolutely flawless. They
modified my tripod so I could use it. They got Landscape mode to
work pretty well. But I still find that Auto mode is overexposing
shots in general and in particular all closeups and macros.

The head of Sony Okinawa heard that I was planning to bring the
camera in yet again to see if they could fix this overexposure
problem, but when I talked to him this morning, he informed me that
Sony has decided to either exchange the F707 for another one, or
refund all my money including whatever I spent on any accessories.
So I think that they have basically given up on me, preferring not
to try to address the problem.

If I take a new camera, I'm afraid I will have to go through all of
this again, especially as regards the DLSS problem. If I take the
money, I won't have any camera until a new one is released.
(Despite all this, I do like Sony cameras and prefer to stick with
them.) So I really don't know what to do.

Am I being too picky? Is it too much to expect to get well-exposed
shots in Auto mode? Does everybody experience this difference
between Auto and AP or SP pictures? Does anybody?

I have posted some samples taken the other day on pBase. Please
note that the last 12 flower macros on the page are the ones taken
after the last "overexposure fix." The very last two red ones are
both pretty bad, in Auto and AP. Each pair was shot within seconds
of each other, all with multi-pattern metering.

http://www.pbase.com/helenpb/f707_autoap_test_shots

Any thoughts would greatly be appreciated.

--
Helen
---
http://community.webshots.com/user/helenpb_
http://pbase.com/helenpb
http://www.photosig.com/userphotos.php?id=2456
Click to expand...
--
John
---
Hunting those kids with an F707 http://www.pbase.com/superjuanvi
Click to expand...
--
Helen
---
http://community.webshots.com/user/helenpb_
http://pbase.com/helenpb
http://www.photosig.com/userphotos.php?id=2456
 
Grab the new camera while you can. I wouldn't even have to think twice.

--
Scott A.
 
Well, I readily admit I like the camera! But I think Sony has had it almost more than I have since I bought it in March.

Sony is sending me a "new" F707 through a friend tomorrow morning. They said to use it for a week, 10 days, a month, whatever it takes to make sure I'm happy with it.

So, here's hoping.

Helen
Stephen Peszel said:
Take the new Sony at least you know how it handles and if you
should get the same problems, which I think unlikely, you at least
know they will accomodate you. I prefer to chose the less steep
learning curve and admit it you do like the camera!
--
Barking up the wrong creek without a paddle.
http://www.pbase.com/speszel/galleries
Click to expand...
--
Helen
---
http://community.webshots.com/user/helenpb_
http://pbase.com/helenpb
http://www.photosig.com/userphotos.php?id=2456
 
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