A2 Quality Issues?

[fengwei]

Dear All A2 Owners,

I'm thinking of getting either an A1 or A2. But I read a lot about the quality issues of A2? Mostly I mean the OOF-Out Of Focus problem. Does this happen to the sets in SG also? If so, can you get changed or returned easily? Based on my own experiences, it's hard to get an exchange if bought from some dealers in SLS.

How many of you had to do exchanges 'cause of the quality issues of A2?

Your inputs will be very appreciated.

Thanks and Cheers!

[forbytes]

well, it could be a design fault. using flex-focus should solve the problem.

[UY79]

Hi,

Here you go. I find this the most useful writeup for A2.
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/re...location.shtml

Cheers!

[fengwei]

Originally Posted by UY79 Hi, Here you go. I find this the most useful writeup for A2. http://www.luminous-landscape.com/re...location.shtml Cheers!

Yeah, been there, but this guy changed three times to get a good A2

I don't think we can do that here in SG, right

[UY79]

Originally Posted by fengwei Yeah, been there, but this guy changed three times to get a good A2 I don't think we can do that here in SG, right

Go to a shop with a laptop and test it extensively there. Or go to one that give good service and willl agree to change a set for you should you find the set you've bought not performing properly.

Cheers!

[alpie]

Originally Posted by fengwei Dear All A2 Owners, I'm thinking of getting either an A1 or A2. But I read a lot about the quality issues of A2? Mostly I mean the OOF-Out Of Focus problem. Does this happen to the sets in SG also?

As I know A2 had some focusing issues with the early firmware. I took over 3000 pictures so far, I can say that its autofocusing is far more accurate than my old Fuji S602 -which was considered to be fast and accurate as it was using one external and one TTL autofocusing mechanism.-

Go for it! You won't regret.

[scorpius_8]

Dear All A2 Owners,

I just bought A2 from COMEX 2 weeks ago and encounter purple fringing display on LCD and EVF when shooting directly at street lamps or from indoor pointing directly at window. However picture taken does not have this problem in preview mode. Is this a common LCD display problem?

FYI, i did not encounter any focusing problem.

But this purple line appears in video recording mode and remains in playback mode.

Original Firmware - 1.11e not the latest one. Thought of finding out more information bout this problem before requesting for equipment change. FYI, I will not update firmware in case they void warranty if i do firmware update.
Did anyone encounter similar problem?

[alpie]

Originally Posted by scorpius_8 Dear All A2 Owners, I just bought A2 from COMEX 2 weeks ago and encounter purple fringing display on LCD and EVF when shooting directly at street lamps or from indoor pointing directly at window. However picture taken does not have this problem in preview mode. Is this a common LCD display problem? FYI, i did not encounter any focusing problem. But this purple line appears in video recording mode and remains in playback mode. Original Firmware - 1.11e not the latest one. Thought of finding out more information bout this problem before requesting for equipment change. FYI, I will not update firmware in case they void warranty if i do firmware update. Did anyone encounter similar problem?

Yes it is a common display issue AFAIK. You're right it doesn't show up in the pictures.

I haven't noticed that in my videos though. I'll try it when I go home.

[bLight]

I am asking on behalf of my friend, he just bought a A2 from Comex too. He is experiencing the same thing as you described.

When he showed me, I really have no idea if it's 'normal' for a digital prosumer, or if he has a defect unit.

If it is 'normal', is it only for A2, or minolta, or all brand's LCD and EVF?

The situation,
1) When composing using LCD or EVF, purple lines near distinct light source
2) the still picture taken is perfectly fine.
3) the movie taken has this purple lines.

Other A2 owners, how about yours?

Originally Posted by scorpius_8 Dear All A2 Owners, I just bought A2 from COMEX 2 weeks ago and encounter purple fringing display on LCD and EVF when shooting directly at street lamps or from indoor pointing directly at window. However picture taken does not have this problem in preview mode. Is this a common LCD display problem? FYI, i did not encounter any focusing problem. But this purple line appears in video recording mode and remains in playback mode. Original Firmware - 1.11e not the latest one. Thought of finding out more information bout this problem before requesting for equipment change. FYI, I will not update firmware in case they void warranty if i do firmware update. Did anyone encounter similar problem?

[UY79]

I believe this effect all of you mentioned is known as "video smear". It happens when video's frame rate drops below a certain level as with most digicam live preview.

http://www.mintron.com/HTM/Q&A/Htm/S...easurement.htm

Is this correct?

Cheers!

[alpie]

Originally Posted by UY79 I believe this effect all of you mentioned is known as "video smear". It happens when video's frame rate drops below a certain level as with most digicam live preview. http://www.mintron.com/HTM/Q&A/Htm/S...easurement.htm Is this correct? Cheers!

Yes, that's what we are seeing with Dimage A2 (and as I found out A1 and many other video capture devices suffer the same issue)

[hafele]

Saw similar purple line under strong light condition. Anyway seen this before in Sony F717 as well under strong light, so i think it's a common thing for EVF and LCD ...

[bLight]

Originally Posted by hafele Saw similar purple line under strong light condition. Anyway seen this before in Sony F717 as well under strong light, so i think it's a common thing for EVF and LCD ...

Even appear in recorded movie?

(The pictures taken are fine.)

[alpie]

Originally Posted by bLight Even appear in recorded movie? (The pictures taken are fine.)

Apparently this is a CCD issue, not EVF or LCD. If you don't record a direct light source, you won't have any issues.

I tried to record the light-bulb using my Sony Handycam (old stuff, it is not mini-DV), it showed exactly the same problem. Apparently Sony Super HAD-CCD and some JVC professional 3CCD cameras are proud of handling smear rejection better than the others. http://www.mintron.com/HTM/Q&A/Htm/S...D%20camera.htm

You don't expect the video recording capabilities of your digital still camera be better than a handycam, do you?

[bLight]

I dont... but didnt expect it to be this bad. As no one told me before and had never used a digital produmer before, so this is something totally new to me.

So guess can tell my friend no need to go to minolta tech support liao.

Originally Posted by alpie Apparently this is a CCD issue, not EVF or LCD. If you don't record a direct light source, you won't have any issues. I tried to record the light-bulb using my Sony Handycam (old stuff, it is not mini-DV), it showed exactly the same problem. Apparently Sony Super HAD-CCD and some JVC professional 3CCD cameras are proud of handling smear rejection better than the others. http://www.mintron.com/HTM/Q&A/Htm/S...D%20camera.htm You don't expect the video recording capabilities of your digital still camera be better than a handycam, do you?