Let me re-phrase that question.

Hi to all

I recently posted to find out if anyone had a problem with the magenta band down the side of ISO400 & 800 images on the A1.

It seems that it is a common issue, but does anyone have an A1 that does not have the problem?

Minolta are behaving like politicians with this one, failing to answer the specific question: can I have an A1 that does not suffer the problem?

At least my retailer was good enough to get an exchange unit on order for me. Just hope it's no worse than the one I have now.

Chris

Hi,

I've not seen any magenta band so far.
--
Paul d'A.
My gallery: http://www.milestone.be/pics/index.html

Chris G B said:

Hi to all

I recently posted to find out if anyone had a problem with the
magenta band down the side of ISO400 & 800 images on the A1.

It seems that it is a common issue, but does anyone have an A1 that
does not have the problem?

Minolta are behaving like politicians with this one, failing to
answer the specific question: can I have an A1 that does not suffer
the problem?

At least my retailer was good enough to get an exchange unit on
order for me. Just hope it's no worse than the one I have now.

Chris

Click to expand...

Chris,
I tried a few shots on my A-1 and found the following:
iso 400 & 800 outdoors - no visible magenta band

iso 400 & 800 indoors (no Flash low light) Magenta visible on left side - more at 800
iso 400 & 800 indoors (with flash) only very faint band at 100%
Hopes this helps
Gary K.

Chris G B said:

Hi to all

I recently posted to find out if anyone had a problem with the
magenta band down the side of ISO400 & 800 images on the A1.

It seems that it is a common issue, but does anyone have an A1 that
does not have the problem?

Minolta are behaving like politicians with this one, failing to
answer the specific question: can I have an A1 that does not suffer
the problem?

At least my retailer was good enough to get an exchange unit on
order for me. Just hope it's no worse than the one I have now.

Chris

Click to expand...

Chris,

my new camera (series # 390...) did not exhibit any magenta discoloration even at ISO 800. I was trying to faithfully replicate others experiment but got only a very uniform (though quite noizy) image.
Hope this helps,

netscorer

My A1 doesn't have the problem because I (mostly) avoid ISO 400+.

Once I took some pics of a gray card at all ISOs to calibrate NeatImage, and noticed a little there. But as I say, my camera doesn't have that problem, so neither do I. Let's face it: this is an ISO 100-200 camera. The other settings are misprints on the settings menu.

Chris G B said:

It seems that it is a common issue, but does anyone have an A1 that
does not have the problem?

Click to expand...

Yep, exactly the case with mine. -Norm

Knupper said:

Chris G B said:

Hi to all

I recently posted to find out if anyone had a problem with the
magenta band down the side of ISO400 & 800 images on the A1.

It seems that it is a common issue, but does anyone have an A1 that
does not have the problem?

Minolta are behaving like politicians with this one, failing to
answer the specific question: can I have an A1 that does not suffer
the problem?

At least my retailer was good enough to get an exchange unit on
order for me. Just hope it's no worse than the one I have now.

Chris

Click to expand...

Chris,
I tried a few shots on my A-1 and found the following:
iso 400 & 800 outdoors - no visible magenta band
iso 400 & 800 indoors (no Flash low light) Magenta visible on left
side - more at 800
iso 400 & 800 indoors (with flash) only very faint band at 100%
Hopes this helps
Gary K.

Click to expand...

Chris G B said:

Hi to all

I recently posted to find out if anyone had a problem with the
magenta band down the side of ISO400 & 800 images on the A1.

It seems that it is a common issue, but does anyone have an A1 that
does not have the problem?

Minolta are behaving like politicians with this one, failing to
answer the specific question: can I have an A1 that does not suffer
the problem?

At least my retailer was good enough to get an exchange unit on
order for me. Just hope it's no worse than the one I have now.

Chris

Click to expand...

Originally, when the carpet photo was posted, I checked my camera for the magenta band but could not see it.

However, now it is quite noticeable on the left side of all of my indoor photos (no flash) taken at ISO 800 (and also at ISO 400). I've tried turning off AS and using a monopod to take the same type of photos but it hasn't made a difference. These are indoor soccer action photos taken mainly for the web so I'm limited to using no flash, ISO 800. The only solution seems to be cropping the left side of the photo! I would also be very interested in finding out a permanent solution. If anyone has had the problem and got a replacement A1 without the problem, let us know!

Here's a sample:

Chris,

I have seen the posts regarding a magenta band on the left side of pictures taken with a Minolta A1. After reading about this situation I have tested, several times, taking pictures with each ISO setting and have not reproduced that particular problem with my camera. But then I have not encountered the "noise" problem that is so frequently brought up in the forum.

I know this nothing to resolve your problem but there are Minolta A1 cameras out here that do not have the problem. Hope you find a solution.

Chips2

morepix said:

My A1 doesn't have the problem because I (mostly) avoid ISO 400+.

Once I took some pics of a gray card at all ISOs to calibrate
NeatImage, and noticed a little there. But as I say, my camera
doesn't have that problem, so neither do I. Let's face it: this is
an ISO 100-200 camera. The other settings are misprints on the
settings menu.

Click to expand...

Hi Morepix

I see where you are coming from here. It's a bit like my car, it has a misfire above 25mph, but the problem does not exist because I now drive at 24mph or below.

ISO 400 should be useable on this camera, and even ISO800 with a bit of noise. The magenta cast in the frame is something that precludes use of the implied specification. Minolta tech's reply to my last communication states that the camera is due to be lab tested by a magazine to a recognised noise standard (ISO-15739). I would be very much interested in the outcome of these tests. Does anybody here know this standard?

IF the A1 magenta cast puts the camera outside of this spec, then in theory, under the sale of good act, UK buyers would be entitled to refund as the camera did not meet the advertised specification. If the magenta cast would not fail the camera, then the standard would be worth less than the paper it is written on.

For all of that, the A1 is an excellent camera, but it would be nicer if I could have one that I could use the higher ISO at. I expected noise at ISO400 and 800 and was happy to process it out, but the magenta band problem is not fixable and does impair some use of the camera for me, and looking thrhough some others online galleries, I have seen some quite bad examples of the problem on posted photos where the poster seems not to have noticed!

Chris.