Samsung NX1 Audible Noise and OIS Questions

I'm running the Samsung 16-50 "S" lens on NX1 with updated firmware (body and lens)

Why does the camera (or lens?) make a "humming/whirring" sound at all times when it's on? It sounds like the image stabilizer on my Canon 70-200 lens when activated. I hear this when the OIS switch on the lens is on or off. Furthermore, when the shutter is activated, I can't hear any new "noise" from the OIS system, however it does seem to be working to reduce camera shake.

It made this noise before any updates were applied, as well. I have it defaulted (in settings) to engage OIS on shutter press as opposed to Off, or Always On.

Is this normal or perhaps a bug or a bad lens? Do these lenses operate the OIS in an "idle"mode that still spin even when OIS is not supposed to be activated?

If I remove the lens from the body, then turn the body on, I do not hear any noise.

More likely you have the camera in servo auto focus mode, so it is continually focusing when it is on. the stabilizer has nothing to do with that. Put it into single shot mode unless you need continual autofocus (your lenses will probably have a longer life doing that as well).

Tugela wrote:

More likely you have the camera in servo auto focus mode, so it is continually focusing when it is on. the stabilizer has nothing to do with that. Put it into single shot mode unless you need continual autofocus (your lenses will probably have a longer life doing that as well).

I wish it was that simple.  I've tried all the different auto-focus modes, OIS modes, but it "hums" constantly regardless, even without shutter press.  So can I get a confirmation from others running the 16-50 "S" lens on NX1 body that they do [or do not] hear this same "hum" all the time with the lens attached and the camera on?

This hum does not seem to have anything to do with the camera auto-focusing, that is a separate unique "clicking" sound that can be heard in addition to the hum, when it initially focuses.

But understand, there is a noticeable difference in OIS effect when shutter is partially depressed, so OIS is NOT actuated until you partially depress the shutter button, yet the hum is still there, regardless.

(put your ear to the body or lens and you'll hear it if it's there)

Do I need to contact Samsung or do others' similar setups do the same?

Feel like I'm talking to myself here, but ... just spent some time via chat with some Samsung tech support guy, and he's of the opinion I have a bad unit (body or lens,  not sure) and says I'll need to ship it in for examination and/or repair ... oh joy.

Swap to manual focus and see if the noise is still there. Turn off OIS after that if not and check again.

OrdinarilyInordinate wrote:

Swap to manual focus and see if the noise is still there. Turn off OIS after that if not and check again.

Done all that.  No help.  Something is wrong and if no one else is having the issue, I'm leaning towards a defect in the lens.  Will be receiving a 50-150 lens in a few days.  If that is silent, I will assume a bad lens and see about shipping my 16-50 back for replacement.

The contacts all look good, re-seating does not help.

STexan wrote:

OrdinarilyInordinate wrote:

Swap to manual focus and see if the noise is still there. Turn off OIS after that if not and check again.

Done all that. No help. Something is wrong and if no one else is having the issue, I'm leaning towards a defect in the lens. Will be receiving a 50-150 lens in a few days. If that is silent, I will assume a bad lens and see about shipping my 16-50 back for replacement.

The contacts all look good, re-seating does not help.

My 16-50 PZ is doing the same like yours - as it seems...

...I'm also not quite happy about that, because I'm pretty picky in regard of sound...

...however, the lens I have is optically that good, that I prefer to have a quiet lens sound, over lens aberrations...

...maybe you will get what you want, but I guess, that the lens needs to keep the stabilizer working all the time, to provide perfect alignment of the OIS lens elements...

...even in the "standby" position.

-

I would check the optical quality first and if you find some decentering, or smth.

you have a real reason, to send it back, for replacement.

STexan wrote:

Feel like I'm talking to myself here, but ... just spent some time via chat with some Samsung tech support guy, and he's of the opinion I have a bad unit (body or lens, not sure) and says I'll need to ship it in for examination and/or repair ... oh joy.

My copy is completely silent.

OK. So I just tested my NX1 with three lenses.

• w/16-50mm S lens - There is a very low audible hum (sounds like OIS hum) when I put my ear near the lens. I shut off OIS on the lens and in the menu and I still hear it. It's not loud enough to be picked up in video, so I don't mind it at all. You really have to have to be in a very quiet room and have your ear near the lens to pick it up. I also tried switching to manual focus and still hear it, so I really don't think it's focus noise. The focus noise on this lens is the quietest I have ever heard -- nearly silent and perfect for video.
• w/50-150mm S lens -- the OIS hum is a even lower on this lens. Again, it does not go away when OIS is turned off or when switching to manual focus. The focus noise on this lens is just as good as the 16-50mm S.
• W/16-50mm PowerZoom Lens -- the OIS hum is a little louder with this lens. Again, it does not go away when OIS is turned off or when switching to manual focus. The focus noise on this lens is louder than the two S lenses, but still acceptable for video.

None of the lenses are perfectly quiet, but not loud enough to bother me one bit. I am curious why the OIS seems to be active when disabled.

Nougat77 wrote:

OK. So I just tested my NX1 with three lenses.

• w/16-50mm S lens - There is a very low audible hum (sounds like OIS hum) when I put my ear near the lens. I shut off OIS on the lens and in the menu and I still hear it. It's not loud enough to be picked up in video, so I don't mind it at all. You really have to have to be in a very quiet room and have your ear near the lens to pick it up. I also tried switching to manual focus and still hear it, so I really don't think it's focus noise. The focus noise on this lens is the quietest I have ever heard -- nearly silent and perfect for video.
• w/50-150mm S lens -- the OIS hum is a even lower on this lens. Again, it does not go away when OIS is turned off or when switching to manual focus. The focus noise on this lens is just as good as the 16-50mm S.
• W/16-50mm PowerZoom Lens -- the OIS hum is a little louder with this lens. Again, it does not go away when OIS is turned off or when switching to manual focus. The focus noise on this lens is louder than the two S lenses, but still acceptable for video.

None of the lenses are perfectly quiet, but not loud enough to bother me one bit. I am curious why the OIS seems to be active when disabled.

Well that's good news and bad. Good that maybe this is either wide-spread problem, or by design. But it would certainly explain a limited battery time. I'm just used to Canon I guess, and they spin up when needed, but Samsung may have decided to keep them spinning all the time, then engage when time for faster response/ready time ... but that makes no sense, because the hum is there even when OIS is turned off on the lens. Why run the OIS and consume power if the OIS is not switched on?

I say all this assuming this is OIS hum (gyros), With no lens on the body, the hum is not there.  Maybe a future lens update will correct this? [fingers crossed]

The "noise" is not a problem for me, and probably won't be for others. The vids I do are typically made for view only, and add sound later if desired. I can't say that I can hear the hum in any vids I've done where there was no wind.

Thanks for the feed back.

Could you perhaps also check if your OIS works right from the start with the 16-50 s lens? Mine seems only Start to work after the 4th picture was taken after turning on the camera. I'm still trying to find out if this is a general problem or if it could be solved by exchanging / repair.

Is it possible to handhold 1/20 - 1/10 pictures that are sharp after turning on the camera for you? Mine are all blurry till picture number 5... In my opinion it sounds more like a firmware Bug... But i'm also thinking of sending it in for repair.

See also here: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/55970506

There are more people having the same issue.

amanieux wrote:

yes based on the many bugs i see on nx1 and nx500 (such as the manual focus in video bug) i am assuming it is most likely general software bugs rathen than specific hardware problems. they have good hardware but bad software

There is no "manual focus in video" bug. You do not understand how the camera works. If you go into video mode first and then set  MF when you shoot you stay in in MF mode and in video mode until you change either. This is true in the latest firmware. Your general negative statement applies to early firmware, not to the latest.