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sony hdr-hc7 slow to focus or won't focus

Hi. I own a Sony HDR-HC7 camcorder that is 99% functional except for the following problem. Sometimes when I start to record I have a blurriness issue. This does not happen all the time. I have tried several things to correct the issue. It seems to happen to videos as well as some stills. Warm ambient air temps seem to make the problem worse.
Turn the anti shake off, no help.
Tried a different battery; no help.
Different tapes, always use Sony, no help.
Reset the camera, no help.
Clean the head using Sony cleaning tape, no help.
Lens is very clean.
Tapped camera in several places, no help.
Its seems like the tele macro function does not focus down as close as it once did. Not 100% sure about this, but it may be related.
The picture almost looks like an interlace problem, rather than totally out of focus.

The only thing I found that helps when the picture is blurry in the view finder is to zoom out, then quickly move the image from a distant subject to something close and then repeat this procedure several times. If the view finder clears up, its ready to go and the recordings will be clear. It will almost always stay correct until a full power down and restart. For now, I just check the viewfinder before I shoot. I searched for this problem on the WEB and have found very little help. Is this a problem anyone is familiar with? Is there a fix?
Thanks J.O.

J.O. Johnson
Mon, 10 Jan 2011 16:13:36 +0000

Could it be that it was trying to focus on something that is difficult to focus on? Test it with a high-contrast scene.

Did you apply a soft filter to the lens? That can reduce its ability to focus. Focus without soft filter first, change it to manual focus, then apply the soft filter.

Chieh Cheng
Mon, 10 Jan 2011 18:09:19 +0000

No filters are installed. As for high contrast scenes, it has happened when I was filming a set of canal locks. Plently of horizontal lines on the lock struture itself and plenty of contrast, even a bright yellow and black diagonal safey marker on the lock. This is something that just started happening of the blue, after two years and lots of home blu rays. It first appened last fall and continued this summer including very bright scenses at the shore.

Thanks J.O.

J.O. Johnson
Mon, 10 Jan 2011 21:37:42 +0000

Did you get the problem resolved? I have the similar problem.

Zhizhi
Mon, 17 Jan 2011 02:51:54 +0000

I still have the problem, so I always check the view finder image. I can stop it for the shoot by zooming in and out sevreal times on a fixed subject. Mine seems to be worse in warm temps, does yours?

J.O.

J.O.
Wed, 16 Feb 2011 20:58:50 +0000

I have the same problem, I used the Sony eSupport control and this is the transcript of the conversation. Very helpful but need to send it back to Sony.

user Jonathon has entered room

analyst Christopher_ has entered room

Christopher_> Hi Jonathon. Welcome to Sony Online Support. I'm Christopher. Please allow me a moment to review your concern.

Jonathon> Hi Christopher

Christopher_> Thank you for waiting, Jonathon. I am sorry that the recorded videos by the Camcorder are appearing blurry. I will be glad to assist you with this.

Christopher_> When did you first notice the issue?

Jonathon> great - I did use this support chat a while ago to fixe the problem but it keeps occuring. Oh about 4 months ago

Christopher_> Okay, Jonathon.

Christopher_> Please let me know if you are using a fully charged Battery Pack in the Camcorder.

Jonathon> at the moment no, im on about 50% charge on a np-FH100 original sony battery, i cycle between 2 of them

Christopher_> That's okay, Jonathon.

Christopher_> Please let me know if the picture is appearing blurry while playing the videos in the Camcorder as well as on the Computer.

Jonathon> yes - on both, just looked at my wedding video taken last week and 70% of it is out of focus and blurry

Christopher_> Thanks for the information.

Christopher_> Is there any error message appearing on the Screen of the Camcorder?

Jonathon> No - the issue usually starts as soon as the camera starts recording and then can disapear and correct itself after a few minutes filming or ir can continue for as long as you record. Then if you restart it might have fixed itself.

Christopher_> Okay, Jonathon.

Christopher_> Please let me know if the issue persists while recording the videos in different lighting conditions.

Jonathon> hmmm that is difficult to test right now, but if I look at wedding video, it is more blurry in low light indoor conditions than it is outside.

Christopher_> In that case, I''ll forward a link to a page where you can find more information regarding the issue.

Christopher_> When you receive the link, please click on it to open the page and let me know if you are able to view it.

Christopher_> http://www.kb.sony.com/selfservice/documentLink.do?externalI . . .

Christopher_> Are you able to view the page?

Jonathon> yes thanks - but not convinced this is the problem, the camera is usually perfect and works in low light quite well. If I could show you the vido footage, you would know its not a shutter speed issue.

Jonathon> this seems to be quite a popular problem listed on several forums on the web for this model.

Jonathon> OK - im lookng at vide footage taken outside on sunny day at it is blurred too. admittently it is a continuos piece moving from low light to bright light condition

Christopher_> Okay, Jonathon.

Christopher_> I'm sorry, Jonathon. We don't have any such known issues for the Camcorder at this point of time.

Christopher_> If there are any known issues for the Camcorder, it will be listed on our official eSupport website.

Christopher_> I'll forward a link to a page where you can view the News & Alerts section of the Camcorder for further clarification in this regard.

Christopher_> When you receive the link, please click on it to open the page and let me know if you are able to view it.

Christopher_> http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/model-news.pl?mdl=HDRHC7

Christopher_> Jonathon, as you feel that the issue is abnormal and the issue persists with bright lighting conditions, it seems that there might be an internal malfunction in the Camcorder.

Christopher_> However, the exact issue can be determined after the physical examination by our service technicians.

Christopher_> Shall I forward a link where you can initiate a repair?

Jonathon> yes I have the link

Jonathon> yes please

Christopher_> Sure, Jonathon.

Christopher_> When you receive the link, please click on it to open the page and let me know if you are able to view it.

Christopher_> http://eservice.sony.com

Jonathon> You are very helpfull

Christopher_> You're welcome.

Christopher_> Are you able to view the page?

Jonathon> it is a USA based site asking for a ZIP, we dont have those in the UK

Christopher_> I'll be glad to assist you with this.

Christopher_> I understand that you've purchased the Camcorder in U.K. Is that correct?

Jonathon> yes

Christopher_> In that case, I suggest that you contact our Sony U.K. Support Team for further assistance in this regard.

Christopher_> Would you like to have their contact information?

Jonathon> thats OK - I have that, thanks

Jonathon
Wed, 02 Mar 2011 10:27:46 +0000

I had the same problem with my Sony HDR-HC7, once when I was in Montreal, Canada, filming in cold weather. Another time, it was during a wedding in France: during the first hour, the video was clear, but at the end of the ceremony, suddently the image went fuzzy. I attach a screen capture of a frame showing the fuzzyness of the video. It does not look like a out-of-focus situation, it seems that the interleave lines are shifted, creating a double image. The effect disappears after having powered off the camcorder during several minutes. I think the issue is related to the temperature.

Attached Image:

Capture-17.png

Jean Lienard
Sat, 17 Mar 2012 01:27:34 +0300

I have the same problem with my HDR-UX7. Did you find a solution or had to repair it? Was it costly?

Richard Desjardins
Sun, 07 Oct 2012 22:39:34 +0400

I have the same problem with my Sony hdr-hc7 when taking video after 45 to 1hr the image became fuzzy(like focus)and when you turn off camera for 20 to 30mints and turn on again the image is clear. I think issue is temperature. How can repair it? plz help

Abdallah
Thu, 11 Oct 2012 13:16:48 +0400

hi guys, I do not know if this thread is Still active. I had the same issue on my hdrhc7e. First I went to the official Sony service center where they offered to replace the complete optical compartment for 300 bucks, saying the problem is a known issue and is due to temperature related instability in the optics focus control mechanism. I hesitated and went to another authorized center where they performed a repair action for 150 bucks, not replacing the parts but fine-tuning the control mechanism and resetting the firmware. it was ok for 4 months then it reoccurred so I took it for another repair (Now under the previous service action warranty). another fine tuning and now it works. exactly as You mentioned, after some time it goes mad, and blurs, some zooming in and out trick may work, but when You are in the middle of recording your kid's performance it is more then frustrating. currently I have no workaround, the service guy suggested me taking an ice Pack With me to cool down the machine in case I need an urgent solution. another workaround is to not Zoom and set your focus distance up front when You start your recording. and do not Touch the Zoom or autofocus so that it stays Still.

I hope this helps. this is not a very frequent issue, but had occurred in the past.

nsepp
Mon, 22 Jul 2013 21:37:00 +0400

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