I have not read lately regarding A77II's SSS errors...

[garykohs]

I preordered and received my A77ii on June 17th. I have tried but cannot replicate the error.

 

[gil]

often, it resulted in SSS errors but I am a heavy BIF users and I do swing the camera lens at all directions and only encountered the error when doing BIFs, not when doing stills. Observation was not scientific nor I noted it down but as far as I know, I encountered more when it is off. Is there a direct connection? I don't know as I also encountered SSS error (to a lesser degree) when it was already turned off.

Did you read the original posting? Do you have the A77II? Do you do heavy BIFs with big lenses like the Bigma 50-500mm or Tamron 150-600mm? If none of these, your responses and uncertainty is as good as my unscientific in-the-field observations. Sorry as I can only talk about my actual experiences and not a generalization. I have been doing heavy BIFs for more than 10 years and the only changes so far are the gears.

cheers,

gil

This report is interesting to me:

Are you using larger lenses and what is their focus type, Screw.. etc?

<gil> Used Sigma 50-500mm (1st and 2nd copy), Minolta 100-400mm APO and Tokina 300mm f4 (on 2nd copy) and Tamron 150-600mm on the 3rd copy. I can remember seeing one or two on the smaller Tokina or 100-400. My 2nd copy had more encounter than the 1st copy.

To me this always feels like a power issue.. Will be interesting to see if it new camera has it and with what lenses.

I have never seen it.. even panning at high FPS..

<gil> I was panning from left to right, right to left, up to down, all possible angles; depending where the birds flying are coming from or going into.

the number of reports makes it seem like there was a group of cameras more prone to it.. but one also has to wonder.. HIGH FPS, Long use of SSS, and Larger lens with more power needed to focus.. might create a situation like .. Can't run the Microwave, Espresso Machine and AC at same time..

<gil> I work in manufacturing and it is common to have issues on finished products that were tested 100% (and escapees and short term failures) and also issues on incoming materials that we could only sample good but had intermittent issues while already being used in the assembly line.

 

[caspianm]

How about its own Sony lenses?

 

[gil]

generation Sony 70-400mm but on a different body long time ago.

 

[caspianm]

Has anyone has got the error with Sony lenses?

 

[dennismullen]

Has anyone has got the error with Sony lenses?

I get occasional error messages with Sony 70-400G2 and Sigma 500/4.5 APO EX DG while birding and at airshows. I called Sony who acted like they had never heard of the problem. I'm waiting for the off season to send it in, but expect it to do the same thing when I get it back.

Cheers,

 

[K E Hoffman]

Are people still suffering the same situation? is the steadyshot system still giving headaches? are people who bought the camera in the last month also getting the error under similar/same circumstances?

Another question I would like to know the answer to:

Has anyone had their problem solved by a replacement of the camera?

It seems strange to me that the usual explanation of this error is: "It is just a few bad copies". If it is only a few bad copies, then why are there so many stories about people getting their camera replaced because of this problem and receiving a new copy with the same problem?

I don't think its the proverbial "bad copies". Personally, I don't believe in that saying UNLESS the manufacture comes out and has said they made a production change to deal with a bad part or there were faulty builds by the line personnel. You have not seen this from Sony have you?

I think its the nature of the beast under certain conditions and equipment. It just happens and can be duplicated by SOME folks based on the equipment combo they have, which seems to me would be an interest to the manufacture.

In reality NO ONE here knows but we all can speculate. Whats sad is that regardless of whether it is one unit or 5, Sony should be all over it.

And even that is speculation.. as right now we don't know what they are doing about it. But we do know that here the reports of nearly bought cameras having the problem seem to have vanished..

What do we know:

• It was a common post in May / June
• It is not a common post since July
• Most of those who have it and reported it seem to be able to reproduce it easily or at least regularly.This includes one person who reproduced it with two cameras from the same dealer (could have been made at the same time, and shipped at the same time) was easily able to reproduce it.
• Others who have tried to reproduce it.. (because I want to know if my camera has an issue) have not been able to.
• Some people report hearing the SSS working rather loudly.. (better ears or louder cameras.. who knows)

We also had a burst of memory reading errors close to the same time.. Again.. not seeing those as much anymore in my reading of the forum.

There are a ton of interesting data points missing...

1) Has Sony repaired a camera of the problem? From what I have read.. the owners seem more than willing to just turn off the feature and assume maybe firmware updates will fix it. This is of course also a total guess. Some are doing camera swaps to try to fix it... Keep in mind we have no way to know when the swapped cameras were made though S# might help.. if Sony assigns them in order etc.

2) Do all the people who have the problem have it with the exact same gear? as you suggested (not a bad place to look BTW so don't read criticism into this) that would be interesting to try to log. Large lens, focus type, brand..

3) settings.. are there some favorite set of settings that creates the issues that people shared.. (less than likely only because of the one post about going to the store and making a camera fresh out of the box have the issue)

All we have is a measure of reports over time.. and some general usage combinations.. SSS with Shutter high FPS, likely larger lens.. panning (BIF etc)

Unless we want to assume that everyone who bought the cameras early had the same gear and people who bought them later did not (not impossible.. but unlikely)

What I am left with and why I still hold the "bad batch" theory is this:

The camera is being stressed.. probably drawing about as much power as it ever does.. Running the AF on a larger lens, shooting 8-12 FPS, writing to memory at high-speed, and SSS plus being an action shot.. using the EVF which has been documented to use more power than the LCD.

This is all the data and lack of data I used to come up with a "guided guess"

Some of the cameras have a weakness in the power supply system. It could come down on one single component on the board that was bad from the supplier.. some really bad, some just barely out of spec.. thus some people can make it happen all the time some sometimes.. most never...

But most now OK... thus the number of people who not only can't reproduce it but the lack of new owners who would end up here (as one of the forums with top google placement) looking for help..

This is a data driven guess.

What works against the power supply theory but would also support the "bad units" theory is the reports of loud SSS.. it should not be loud.. but age, music choices, concerts.. work etc could mean some people just hear a lot better.. too..

What does not fit.. is a firmware or design issue as we would have people who tried to make it happen able to do so as easily as those who it just happens too.. and the reporting would have a relatively constant rate of so many a week.. Also while it is possible.. (A55 and Video SSS) that testing missed this.. and all our cameras are SSS timebombs.. it doesn't fit the limited dataset.

I will add that one of the things that bias my guess is lots of work with precision telescope guiding systems.. So I may have more or could be too much experience with computerized DC powered systems that just act bad when the power gets a little out of spec....

As to Sony should be all over it.. Has anyone here sent the camera in with the problem.. and gotten it back with the same issue? That would be an indicator that Sony IS NOT all over it.

People just keeping bad cameras or getting them swapped by good dealers.. removes most of the "how is Sony dealing with it" data points.

At some point probably in Q1 of 2015 Sony will issue a FW update.. since this issue was reported early IF its as some want to assume.. FW fixable that will make it go away for everyone..

But for all the names I get called.. by people who assume I am just rah rah Sony.. (means they have to ignore my rants when Sony messes up service or The President opens his mouth..etc) If my camera did this.. there is no way I would just turn off something as useful as SSS with shutter and keep shooting hoping for a fix.. I would be the biggest pain in the rear Laredo had.. especially if it happened not in some test. but as most people reporting it while doing the type of photography they enjoy most.. ACTION / BIF..

Is Sony All over it? We don't know

Is it a problem with the FW or Design.. unlikely.. too many people just can't make it happen

Is the camera pushing itself to a level where it has little tolerance for weak components? Some might call that a design issue.. maybe

Did they just get some crappy parts.. that's as much possible as the idea that it is being pushed and suffers too easily from weak parts.

yes this is long..

But on the other side.. "Sony screwed up the whole thing and is not telling us the truth" etc.. they tend to be one liner guesses.. someone wants to counter this guess.. as they say in math tests.. "Show your work.". what thinking leads you to think all cameras may have the problem.?

The cynical answer to this question is probably that "You must have a bad copy" is just another way of saying "I don't know how to reproduce the problem with my copy".

 

[rgwaller1]

Gary, I received my A77II in June also. I have tried to reproduce this effect once I heard about it here. I have tried the A77II with the Sigma 150-500/Sigma 120-400/AF 500 Reflex/Sony 70-400 G2/Sigma 70-200 f2.8/Tamron 150-600 and 16-300 at high fps and have been unable to produce this effect either after a couple thousand shots. I agree if the camera is bad send it back to Sony for repair or replacement.

 

[K E Hoffman]

Gary, I received my A77II in June also. I have tried to reproduce this effect once I heard about it here. I have tried the A77II with the Sigma 150-500/Sigma 120-400/AF 500 Reflex/Sony 70-400 G2/Sigma 70-200 f2.8/Tamron 150-600 and 16-300 at high fps and have been unable to produce this effect either after a couple thousand shots. I agree if the camera is bad send it back to Sony for repair or replacement.

Good post .. its adds data.. Maybe you got a "bad" one that accidently was not shipped with the FW bug some are counting on

There is not indication this is a design or FW bug.. because too many cameras have no issues.

If you have the error.. send the camera in.. its the only way Sony can learn about the problem.. they are not going to make repair policy based on just forum posts.

 

[tbcass]

I get occasional error messages with Sony 70-400G2 and Sigma 500/4.5 APO EX DG while birding and at airshows. I called Sony who acted like they had never heard of the problem. I'm waiting for the off season to send it in, but expect it to do the same thing when I get it back.

Don't waste your time. It is well known that with heavy use the Sensor Shift stabilization will over heat. That is why they implemented electronic IS for video. Using half press stabilization with a lot of panning will put similar stress as video. There's nothing anybody can do about it except turn SS with half press off if you are using it a lot, especially when coupled with high speed burst.

 

[K E Hoffman]

I get occasional error messages with Sony 70-400G2 and Sigma 500/4.5 APO EX DG while birding and at airshows. I called Sony who acted like they had never heard of the problem. I'm waiting for the off season to send it in, but expect it to do the same thing when I get it back.

Don't waste your time. It is well known that with heavy use the Sensor Shift stabilization will over heat. That is why they implemented electronic IS for video. Using half press stabilization with a lot of panning will put similar stress as video. There's nothing anybody can do about it except turn SS with half press off if you are using it a lot, especially when coupled with high speed burst.

And now we know why Sony phone reps would say they never have heard of it.. People give out advice to "Live with it"

BTW its well known that the A55 SSS with long video clips and continuous shooting could over heat. There is NO DATA about current SSS systems on the A77M2 for anyone to "well know"

I have SSS on all the time.. I shot for 40-60 minutes taking over 400 shots panning cross country runners at the start which is more like a fill sprint.. on a warm day.. Not a single problem and I love the SSS with Shutter feature.. its really helps with a long lens.

The problem with sending it in.. will be they get a body.. not the lens.. nor the circumstances so be very specific about usage, settings, lenses, especially Sony lenses they should have on hand for testing..

The Sony service reps on the phones giving primary support.. are not reading the forum.. OF COURSE they haven't heard about it if the assumption is "Don't bother... just disable the feature and move on" they don't hear about it until cameras have been sent in.

HAS ANYONE SENT THE CAMERA IN FOR REPAIR WITH THIS ISSUE?

 

[Allan Olesen]

I have SSS on all the time.. I shot for 40-60 minutes taking over 400 shots panning cross country runners at the start which is more like a fill sprint..

If we assume that it is an SSS overheating problem, then the panning itself will not be enough to provoke the problem. You will also have to change panning speed or direction while SSS is running. Otherwise there is nothing for the SSS to compensate for.

In which case those who do not experience the problem simply may be better at panning...

 

[digitalshooter]

[No message]

 

[K E Hoffman]

I have SSS on all the time.. I shot for 40-60 minutes taking over 400 shots panning cross country runners at the start which is more like a fill sprint..

If we assume that it is an SSS overheating problem, then the panning itself will not be enough to provoke the problem. You will also have to change panning speed or direction while SSS is running. Otherwise there is nothing for the SSS to compensate for.

In which case those who do not experience the problem simply may be better at panning...

Interesting now.. you want to blame the users too for the error.. for not panning well.. what is the goal of that?.. to hang on to the idea Its a bad design.. vs some bad units.. I don't get this need to try to sink the entire model... with bad assumptions..

 

[Allan Olesen]

Interesting now.. you want to blame the users too for the error.. for not panning well.. what is the goal of that?.. to hang on to the idea Its a bad design.. vs some bad units.. I don't get this need to try to sink the entire model... with bad assumptions..

I am usually not basing my argumentation on a desire to reach the conclusion I prefer, but rather on a desire to find the truth.

I understand how this can be hard for you to grasp.

 

[tbcass]

I actually had the warning for the first time this past Tues doing landscape shots on an 80 deg F day using my new Tamron 18-300. The camera kept functioning and the warning went away.
--
Tom

Look at the picture, not the pixels
------------
Misuse of the ability to do 100% pixel peeping is the bane of digital photography because it causes people to fret over inconsequential issues.

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[Walter K]

Hello all,

After using the search of the forum i could not find something new about the steadyshot issue which is also annoying at my A77II. Today made the firmware update and tried - got same issues after 20 shots or so. Before i had steadyshot only working during teking a picture - so no issues.

Now activated it again to stabilize the viewfinder + again.

So now my question to others who reported the issue. What happened? Sending camera to service did work?

I am very happy with the camera - only this non working feature is annoying - as it made me to return to Sony.

Many Thanks, Walter

 

[tbcass]

Hello all,

After using the search of the forum i could not find something new about the steadyshot issue which is also annoying at my A77II. Today made the firmware update and tried - got same issues after 20 shots or so. Before i had steadyshot only working during teking a picture - so no issues.

Now activated it again to stabilize the viewfinder + again.

So now my question to others who reported the issue. What happened? Sending camera to service did work?

I am very happy with the camera - only this non working feature is annoying - as it made me to return to Sony.

Many Thanks, Walter

No problems here. I did get a warning once (in 5 months) but it continued working fine. What are you doing when it happens?