FYI: A900 total failure.

[fotografz]

Left the Nikon behind for today's wedding assignment. Took two A900s.

Everything was fine until I went to shoot the first dance at the reception.

Outta nowhere ... the dreaded "Camera Error".

Reboot didn't work. Fresh battery didn't work. Different settings didn't work. Different lens didn't work. Waiting didn't work. Cooked.

Just does a whizz-whirr sound with a sort of odd delayed shutter sound ... captures nothing and the "Error" comes up on the screen.

I was freaked out that it may have corrupted the CF card ... but just the Error files were black ... whew!

First camera that totally let me down at a wedding in 10 years.

Then the second Sony flash failed on me! Just over-exposed no matter what setting I used.

Darned lucky I had a second shooter with me.

No second chances at a wedding.

BIG PITA to send it all back for repairs right in the middle of my most busy time.

Oh well ...

-Marc

 

[Terry]

Yikes!

 

[fotografz]

Yikes!

Yikes! is right Terry.

Hey, it happens with all gear, some time, somewhere. My luck just ran out and it happened to be the Sony.

But 2 pieces on the same day has me freaked! :wtf:

What a lousy luck year this has been. :thumbdown::thumbdown:

Hope the M9 is a winner ... :thumbs:

 

[Bill_Green]

Sorry to hear that Mark, that is scary. As much as I bellyache about Canon, I never had a single gear failure the whole time I used the system -- film or digital. I love the Sony, but I don't have quite the same confidence in it yet.

 

[fotografz]

Sorry to hear that Mark, that is scary. As much as I bellyache about Canon, I never had a single gear failure the whole time I used the system -- film or digital. I love the Sony, but I don't have quite the same confidence in it yet.

Well Bill, we are all pals here and we have to share our experiences ... the good, the bad, and the beautiful.

I never had a single failure in all my years with Canon also. Some design screw-ups like the 1DMKIII AF issue, but Canon turned that camera through service in 4 Days including shipping. And my assistant had her 5D mirror fall out, which Canon swiftly fixed no questions asked even though she bought it used and it was way out of warranty. I've had really good luck with Nikon so far also (fingers and toes crossed ;-).

Not sure any of these so called "ProSumer" cameras are up to the confidence levels we bestow on them. It's a odd quirk I have, but the Sony never inspired confidence because of the shutter sound ... which reminds me of the 5D, which I also didn't trust very much for the same reason.

I guess that's why C/N make those Pro cameras you can pound nails with Maybe the next Sony will get there (?).

Here's the good news ... the A900 files from yesterday's wedding are beautiful. Simply beautiful. :thumbup:

-Marc

 

[Marc Wilson]

This sums up the Sony quandry...beautifull files, viewfinder, etc, etc, but for working pros are they completely viable?
Not down to failures etc but simply that no rental options if they have to go for service, a specialist lens is needed, etc.
How do users feel about this?
(and lack of tile shift lenses but that is another thing)

Marc

 

[fotografz]

Marc, that's why the Nikon stuff is still here and will remain so.

If I were to be on location (I do destination weddings as well a commercial stuff) and have gear go down, rentals are available, specialty stuff is available, etc. I don't use T/S lenses much, but both C/N have that based covered in spades.

Sony is comparatively new to this, and they never said this was a Pro camera. So I never expected the pro level stuff we take for granted from C/N. For me, this camera replaced my "passion" camera which was a Leica DMR, and before that a Contax N Digital. Anything to get to the good glass ...

Even though I had full back-up yesterday with a second Sony A900, the failure happened at the worst possible time ... you have like 3 minutes to get all the shots, no repeats, no second chances ... no excuses. That the flash on the other Sony flopped really had me scrambling big time ... swap lenses, swap flashes in pitch dark.

My error was not sticking to my plan where the Nikon D3X is ALWAYS the main camera at weddings.

IF and when Sony gets serious about a Pro level camera, I'd expect a more robust work-horse with a shutter that can chop carrots, dual capture, and a more secure card enclosure. They aren't that far off. Oh, and they need a Pro service outlet.

- Marc

 

[Light]

Now we see the value of dual reading cards on pro cameras.
Camera failures at weddings can be stressfull.
It would be interesting to hear your views regarding using A900s again as your primary and only cameras whilst photographing weddings on a professional basis.


Regards

Light

 

[fotografz]

Now we see the value of dual reading cards on pro cameras.
Camera failures at weddings can be stressfull.
It would be interesting to hear your views regarding using A900s again as your primary and only cameras whilst photographing weddings on a professional basis.


Regards

Light

Well, dual card ability wouldn't have helped here. The camera itself failed. The files never made it to the CF card. Dual cards are insurance against card failure, or a failure/user error in the transfer process, or even a computer/storage HD failure while processing before redundantly saving elsewhere.

I think it's a bit of a gamble to use any ProSumer (or less) camera at a wedding even though a vast majority of wedding photographers do exactly that. The 5D is very popular. So is the D700. My hope is that Nikon follows the New D300s example, that now optionally shoots to two cards, when they replace the D700. The D700 is a very robust camera with a shutter that sounds like one.

I will never again use two A900s exclusively for critical path, paid work ... especially on location.

However, I still think it is a great camera ... just not one to trust your livelihood to ... yet.

-Marc

 

[Georg Baumann]

Marc,

very sorry to hear that!

Two at the same time, well, this is really extraordinary unlucky, enough for two lifetimes.

 

[edwardkaraa]

I would put the A900 on the same level as the 5D2 and the D700. Comparatively speaking we see less failures from Sony than the other 2 but maybe because there are less cameras sold. Sorry to hear about this case. It's always frustrating but gear does fail occasionally even the D3x as seen in some accounts like this one on Nikon forums.

 

[wayne_s]

Marc,

Sorry to hear about this failure. Wow both cameras, must have really been frustrating.
Glad you had a backup shooter and cases like this prove its worthiness.

I just wanted to know what the operating conditions were that day? Was it very hot and humid?Was you gear left in the hot sun somewhere? Just seems weird that both cameras failed together. Was the whirring sound the AF motor drive? Did you try manual focus mode? Let us know what the diagnosis of the problem from Sony repair is, even though they may just give you a new camera and not debug it.
Thanks for sharing the info.

 

[dbogdan]

Had the same issue recently. Happened when I didn't seat the lens completely and tried to lock it in. It moved the aperture lever slightly out of skew . I moved the lever by hand counterclockwise to its stop, about a 2:30 position, to correct the problem.

 

[ecsh]

I don't believe he said two cameras failed, only one 900 and one flash, unless i am reading this wrong.

 

[Quentin_Bargate]

Sony seems more reliable than most makes. That has been my experience (see comments on Niagara elsewhere) and also from Michael Reichmann when I spoke with him about his experiences with the Sony ("never let me down" were his words) and way more reliable that reports about the 5DII. Of course its sod's law that there will be occasions like this when the form book is reversed. Its not much comfort when it happens of course

Quentin

 

[fotografz]

I don't believe he said two cameras failed, only one 900 and one flash, unless i am reading this wrong.

You are right. The other's are mistaken. One camera. One flash. I completed the shoot with the second A900 and second flash. Two of everything, sometimes three.

-Marc

 

[fotografz]

Sony seems more reliable than most makes. That has been my experience (see comments on Niagara elsewhere) and also from Michael Reichmann when I spoke with him about his experiences with the Sony ("never let me down" were his words) and way more reliable that reports about the 5DII. Of course its sod's law that there will be occasions like this when the form book is reversed. Its not much comfort when it happens of course

Quentin

Never say never. Which is why "two of everything, sometimes three."

 

[fotografz]

Had the same issue recently. Happened when I didn't seat the lens completely and tried to lock it in. It moved the aperture lever slightly out of skew . I moved the lever by hand counterclockwise to its stop, about a 2:30 position, to correct the problem.

You have GOT TO LOVE THIS forum !!!!!!!

First, a very generous member PMs me and offers to loan me his A900 if I was in a jam ... and then this fellow dbogdan simply solves the problem.

Never experienced such an odd thing, so I would never have thought to do it. Looked at the aperture lever and it was firmly up at the top 2:30 position ... but I moved it all the way down and back up again ... and it worked !!!

Thank You!

 

[Terry]

Yeah!
I'm glad you are fixed! OK the flash still needs some attention....easier to carry a third flash vs third body!

 

[wayne_s]

You are right. The other's are mistaken. One camera. One flash. I completed the shoot with the second A900 and second flash. Two of everything, sometimes three.

-Marc

Ok, sorry it was just one camera failed but you wrote that both flash unit's failed as the 2nd one was over exposing on every shot.
Is that correct? Then it sounds like a serious problem with the Sony flash unit.
Which one are you using?