OT: PD170 focus issues

smashguy37 wrote on 5/17/2009, 8:20 AM

My workplace has a PD170 and back in the fall me and some coworkers found it wouldn't focus when zoomed all the way out -- auto or manual. It wasn't horrible, but the image was soft and definitely not how it should be. They finally took it in and it came back recently and it's still messed up. When you start to zoom in the picture will automatically go out of focus...but it seemed okay zoomed all the way out.

I guess the shop told them it wasn't optimal, but it was the best they could do without replacing the lens. My question is -- what sort of thing would cause a camera to do that and need a new lens? The camera is a couple of years old now and saw heavy use doing weddings, however we have older VX2000's that are battered but still trudging along.

Comments

Ros wrote on 5/17/2009, 9:24 AM

Are you using the Sony wide-angle attachment?

I've had a PD150 and then a PD170 for several years. What I can tell you is that the Sony wide angle attachment is not that great when you are almost or fully zoomed in and you have your iris fully open.

For that matter, I had purchased the Canon wd58 wide angle attachment which was half the price of the Sony attachment and proved to be much sharper even when zoomed in completely with the iris fully open. As a matter of fact it was as sharp as the camera's fixed lens. So I would always leave it on.

Just print yourself a sheet with small black text on white paper and zoom in with your iris fully open and you will see the fringing with the Sony wide angle attachment and the text will become softer. If you can get a Canon wd58, give it a try as well, you'll be surprised.

Also with these camera, and other camera as well, avoid the f/11 and up. You might want to use the ND filter and stick around f5.6 and smaller values.

Rob

smashguy37 wrote on 5/20/2009, 6:29 PM

I'm not using a wide angle attachment though, the problem is the fixed lens.

farss wrote on 5/20/2009, 7:01 PM

I think your repair centre is correct, sorry.
These kinds of zooms rely on sensors, motors and electronics to maintain focus as you zoom. Any of these could have developed a problem as well as the lens having a mechanical fault.
To the best of my knowledge these lens assemblies are not made to be serviced. Even if they were and you could find someone with the gear and training to undertake the task I strongly suspect it'd cost more than a having the lens replaced. I'd mention that a lot of us EX owners had our lens assemblies replaced as part of an upgrade. From my few years experience with a rental company any lens issue has meant a new lens assembly.
You have to decide if the cost is justified, does the lens perfrom OK in autofocus or is that on the fritz as well. Maybe you can live with just using autofocus, I've never really found the need for going manual on a 150 or 170.
As I'm certain you're aware the days of the 150 and 170 cameras are drawing to a close :(

Bob.