A700 Performance - Periodic Reset Recommended

[andrewlee]

Hey guys,

I recall reading somewhere the instructions recommending periodic resetting of the A700 to free up memory / improve performance.

Forgot all about it until I saw this inquiry on dpreview:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/re...hread=26553240

Can anyone direct me to the website where Sony recommends this periodic reset?

Has anyone experienced performance problems with their A700 and managed to resolve by performing a reset to factory default?


Thanks in advance....


By the way, I hope this thread does not cause any undue distress for A700 users - the A700 is really a very fantastic and reliable camera, but it isn't perfect either. In fact, my intention is to learn / share a useful tip to all users of the A700.

A periodic reset, as I've found, forces one to go through the menus and reconsider all settings. Sometimes, one can get complacent and let the camera exist as it is, unaware that some old settings in the menus may be hindering ones photography.

Just my personal viewpoint. Please feel free to contribute to this thread....

[andrewlee]

found one link mentioning resetting to resolve FBF issues...

http://dyxum.com/dforum/forum_posts.asp?TID=25072

[Rashkae]

I've never, ever had that problem. :P

[synapseman]

Thanks for the heads up.

I somehow thought my A700 is "slowing down" a little recently. But I dismissed it as maybe it's because I'm now accustomed to it. I'll investigate, and find out if there's any truth to the recommendation to reset.

[TME]

If a reset is necessary, then the memory controller and system is not stable... not a very good implementation or pipeline design or whatever... quite unusual to see this... thought it happens only for smart phones or PDAs or PCs & laptops...

[andrewlee]

Originally Posted by TME If a reset is necessary, then the memory controller and system is not stable... not a very good implementation or pipeline design or whatever... quite unusual to see this... thought it happens only for smart phones or PDAs or PCs & laptops...

Wow, seems like you know a whole lot more than I do about such stuff!

Yes, even Sony recommends a DAILY shutdown & restart for my Sony Ericsson K770i mobile phone if it starts to slow down.

Do you know if this issue can be ironed out with a firmware update?

(btw, I just did a reset of my A700 - will see if it changes anything)


Thanks.

[Rashkae]

Originally Posted by andrewlee Do you know if this issue can be ironed out with a firmware update?

If it is a memory buffer issue, or an issue with unreleased cache causing performance issues or data fragmentation, then a firmware update would be able to resolve it.

[TME]

Originally Posted by Rashkae If it is a memory buffer issue, or an issue with unreleased cache causing performance issues or data fragmentation, then a firmware update would be able to resolve it.

Funny thing is that an A700 camera can suffer from such stuff... the memory buffer is not designed to retain information isn't it? As far as I know, the data taken from the sensor is flushed straight into the memory card after some image processing so that the data processors, memory systems and data pipelines are free to process the next image (I mean it can shoot 3fps continuously till card is full when shooting jpegs right?!)... so I don't understand the resetting part... it seems as if the instructions sets get garbled over time... but these are ROM stuff which is hardwired into the electronics... can't quite understand... anyone has any idea... interested to understand this...

BTW, I am just guessing at why the need to reset... I think this is a first for a DSLR...

[Trigger Happy]

and i thought only Windows would blue-screen occasionally requiring a reboot. i'll try the reset, it may just be the thing to rectify the soft focusing issues i'm having with my a700, instead of bringing it in to ssc.

[andrewlee]

do update us on your findings.

Personally, I have not noticed any serious problem on my A700, but it's interesting to find out more....

[Rashkae]

Originally Posted by andrewlee do update us on your findings. Personally, I have not noticed any serious problem on my A700, but it's interesting to find out more....

I haven't noticed anything either, but everyone's experiences will be different. Or maybe just imagined because they read something somewhere and then subliminally start looking for defects where there were none.

[andrewlee]

Hmmmmm.....

Thought to share some quick findings. My CZ 16-80mm seems to lock on very accurately in moderately low light (using spot focus) after the reset. I was having a little problem with focus accuracy recently, and blamed it on my poor technic.

But Zack has a point: please don't try to find / imagine some problem with your A700 just because this topic has been brought up. I've edited my first post (please see part in blue italics).

[Trigger Happy]

its not my imagination. the problem is two-fold - at a700 and cz16-80. after many swap tests with various a700 users and cz16-80 owners, its been determined there are two diff problems - the body and the lens. the cz16-80 produces very soft images even on the 7d or 5d. BUT with flash, all images are tack sharp. and its not a technique problem either so no need to comment abt shutter speed, iso, handshake etc. the a700 itself produces soft images with ANY lens. as a combination the package that i have sucks.

i reset the a700 last night (took before and after shots to compare) and there's no diff. ssc's been looking into this anyway, the reset was the last straw. now both are going to ssc for their scheduled appointment.

[TME]

Originally Posted by Trigger Happy its not my imagination. the problem is two-fold - at a700 and cz16-80. after many swap tests with various a700 users and cz16-80 owners, its been determined there are two diff problems - the body and the lens. the cz16-80 produces very soft images even on the 7d or 5d. BUT with flash, all images are tack sharp. and its not a technique problem either so no need to comment abt shutter speed, iso, handshake etc. the a700 itself produces soft images with ANY lens. as a combination the package that i have sucks. i reset the a700 last night (took before and after shots to compare) and there's no diff. ssc's been looking into this anyway, the reset was the last straw. now both are going to ssc for their scheduled appointment.

It probably means that your lens focus calibration table on the A70 is screwed... or there is a misalignment in the mechanical AF system in your body or the electronics is reporting the focus point wrongly... many possibilities... SONY will probably do a diagnostic and then just replace the whole module... check for FF BF issues...

[dr34mc4st3r]

Originally Posted by Trigger Happy its not my imagination. the problem is two-fold - at a700 and cz16-80. after many swap tests with various a700 users and cz16-80 owners, its been determined there are two diff problems - the body and the lens. the cz16-80 produces very soft images even on the 7d or 5d. BUT with flash, all images are tack sharp. and its not a technique problem either so no need to comment abt shutter speed, iso, handshake etc. the a700 itself produces soft images with ANY lens. as a combination the package that i have sucks. i reset the a700 last night (took before and after shots to compare) and there's no diff. ssc's been looking into this anyway, the reset was the last straw. now both are going to ssc for their scheduled appointment.

not too sure why is this happening to u. my a700+ 16-80 works perfectly fine

[Trigger Happy]

Originally Posted by dr34mc4st3r not too sure why is this happening to u. my a700+ 16-80 works perfectly fine

good for you bro! there are a few sets out there that have this issue, either body or lens or both, sadly in my case its both so double trouble. SSC called me, i guess it'd be some time this or next week that i'll know why.

[ming9866]

Originally Posted by Trigger Happy its not my imagination. the problem is two-fold - at a700 and cz16-80. after many swap tests with various a700 users and cz16-80 owners, its been determined there are two diff problems - the body and the lens. the cz16-80 produces very soft images even on the 7d or 5d. BUT with flash, all images are tack sharp. and its not a technique problem either so no need to comment abt shutter speed, iso, handshake etc. the a700 itself produces soft images with ANY lens. as a combination the package that i have sucks. i reset the a700 last night (took before and after shots to compare) and there's no diff. ssc's been looking into this anyway, the reset was the last straw. now both are going to ssc for their scheduled appointment.

Hi Bro Trigger , i see you still have not resolve this issue with your A700 & CZ16-80mm . Same for me , i had given up this lens ...

I don't see my need for this lens that much , probably its the CZ name that makes me keep it .

Back to topic , i personally have not done anything about the resetting on my A700 ... Still reading more here ...

[Rashkae]

Originally Posted by ming9866 Hi Bro Trigger , i see you still have not resolve this issue with your A700 & CZ16-80mm . Same for me , i had given up this lens ...

Mine is razor sharp...

[ming9866]

Originally Posted by Rashkae Mine is razor sharp...

Hi Rashkae , i do not like my CZ16-80mm , maybe there will be a time when we meet again , i gonna let you try mine .

[Rashkae]

Originally Posted by ming9866 Hi Rashkae , i do not like my CZ16-80mm , maybe there will be a time when we meet again , i gonna let you try mine .

Sure thing man. What are the exact conditions you're having problems in?