Sony CX115 manual focus

[smart175 0]

I am about to have a sense of humour failure with the manual focus on the Sony CX115E.

I set it to manual focus infinity in a morning, viewing an object near distance (10 mtrs ) so the eyes icon flashes at the side of them, then on playback after landing, within 50 seconds of switching it to record before leaving the plane, it zooms in automatically and everything is now out of focus.

Done this about 8 times out of the last 10 jumps. Can't replicate it on the ground though in auto focus or manual, everything stays in focus even when close up.

Missed out on some really good 3 way footage today.

Any ideas please from the Handycam experts??

[dragon2 2]

Zooming and focussing are 2 different things. Are you talking about the focuspoint getting too close by itself, or are you talking about zooming in (the left/right button on top of the cx115)?
If you are talking about the button, that's a common problem for skydivers. You need to stop the button from being able to be moved, by putting the camera in a box and/or putting a small piece of gaffertape (note: do NOT use ducktape) next to the button on the right side, so that it cannot zoom in anymore. See attachment.

ciel bleu,
Saskia

[smart175 0]

Hi Dragon, the camera is in a CX115 helmet box and initially I thought the lid was pushing the button over when closing it. But it doesn't zoom right in until about 50 seconds of play. So as you mention must be the focus point getting too close.

When you open the box after landing, you have to move the button to unzoom it all the way on the zoom bar.

[dragon2 2]

Quote

Hi Dragon, the camera is in a CX115 helmet box and initially I thought the lid was pushing the button over when closing it. But it doesn't zoom right in until about 50 seconds of play. So as you mention must be the focus point getting too close.

When you open the box after landing, you have to move the button to unzoom it all the way on the zoom bar.

You are still talking about 2 totally different things here: zoom and focus.

If you can fix the problem by pushing back the toggle button to unzoom, then the fix is to fixate that button using the method I described. Sounds like the button is getting pushed somehow even though it is in a box.

If however for the fix you need to go into the menu and focus the camera again to the little mountain, you have more of an electronic problem.

ciel bleu,
Saskia

[DSE 5]

Are you using a HypeEye? Is it possible you've programmed the zoom?
I don't have a CX115, so not sure if the zoom programming function works with this camera.

[smart175 0]

No not using a hypeye, switch record on at 10,000 manually.

[DSE 5]

This would suggest then, that something is moving the camera in the box, or the box is moving the zoom, as previously suggested.

[speedy 0]

I have a Sony cx 115 and it is housed in a cookie composites box which was sold as the right size for the cx 115. I also use a Hype eye D pro.

First zoom and focus.
If you set the focus to manual while the camera is "zoomed out" and then the camera is "zoomed in", everything goes out of focus.
So, although zoom and focus are two different things, zoom affects the focus.

Hype eye and the cx 155.
I have my hype eye programmed to "zoom out" when the camera is switched on using the hype eye. This function is only helpful if the camera was accidentally left in a "zoomed in" state.
If something catches on the zoom button the camera can still end up being zoomed in despite what the hype eye is programmed to do.

The Box and the cx 115.
The cookie box is just the right size ( or a bit too small) for the cx 115. This means that the camera does not always sit in exactly the same place in the box.
Further, there is a screw on the cover that sits right above the zoom button. Sometimes this screw was hitting my zoom button and leading to fully zoomed in, out of focus footage.

I decided to go a lot more radical than dragon2 and taped up the zoom button completely so it is fixed solid. I also removed the offending screw on the camera box. I figured 2 instead of 3 screws should be enough to keep the cover on.

The only thing that sounds odd from your description is that the "zoom in" takes place after 50 seconds. In my case the footage was immediately zoomed in despite the hype eye being programmed to zoom out.

I would check again how the camera is seated and whether the zoom button totally free of anything that can move it.

Dave

Fallschirmsport Marl

[smart175 0]

I've pulled the button all the way over and put a small piece of zip tie (perfect width) in the gap and put some electrical tape over it to stop it moving. You can actually feel now there is no resistance at all. It was only moving it a fraction, that's why it was taking nearly a minute to zoom all the way in. Just need some decent english weather now .

Thanks for the input fellas, much appreciated.

[DSE 5]

glad you found the cause, and thanks for sharing the find!