VTC

A7Sii with shutter stuck closed. Sent in for repair*. Three weeks later it returns. Firmware Ver 3.0 with new settings for timecode and mode dial selected on rear screen from what I can tell but the problem I have is I can no longer trigger to record video or operate zoom on 18-105 lens either with Sony wireless remote (receiver connects to cam vis USB) or the Fogota cabled remote (connects to USB) I affix to the mobile rig. The remote WILL, however, trigger shutter release for photos but is dead for video or zoom. Remotes operate on A7iii fine, just not on my repaired 7Sii. I've gone through the settings and can't see anything I missed that would prevent the operations I mentioned. Any ideas before I send it off under their 90 day repair warranty? *REPAIRS: A complete repair and return all functions to factory. REPLACE: Mech rear grip. Top housing hot shoe. Front grip

I'd look at mine but it won't be back from repair until Friday but there's a naming convention in SETTINGS (the wrench icon?) somewhere. One selection just racks up images in numerical order in a solitary DICM folder. The other (this from memory since I once had things set the way you do before I switched it back) makes a new folder based on a new day and then numbers all start at 1 in each of those DAY folders. One DICM folder with multiple DAY based folders with images in each folder all starting with 00001.jpg. Something like that. Once to the drive I rename all those wonky numbers to whatever the event was. (001 Tri Motor.jpg, 001 Via Colori.jpg, 001 Kites.jpg, etc.)

Looks like it could be the thin factory applied screen protector's still on. If so peel it off and apply a proper protector. If not go look at a screen that sells this camera. If neither the temporary protector nor the screen resembles a like camera, send for an exchange before it's too late. (Looks like the shipping protector to me.)

I hook USB 3 cables to USB 2 ports all the time. Just means the transfer isn't as quick. What's the error say? The text file is XML which tells the camera info about the corresponding video file. Really no way I found it to be any use in FCPX. I always format FRESH cards in camera to be certain there's proper communication and NEVER us a card formatted in a Sony in a Canon or Olympus. Discovered it may work well for a while but then the systems sometimes get confused, wonking out some files.

What does the folder structure / files look like on the card? I've never had this problem. Video files are nestled inside the PRIVATE folder. Hook us thru cameras USB and see what you get. Sometimes I have problems with the card reader itself not allowing me to change names on the card but never had any Sony created files not recognized.

Definitely there and definitely grim.

Gunk on the sensor. Take a CLOSE look with a flashlight held at an angle. The smallest of specs can have huge repercussions. Brother had the same ringworm artifacts and other divots on his camera. I get them on my sensor no matter how careful I am cleaning the lens and housing cavity swapping lenses. Get a wet clean kit and have at it. Brother was going to take it in to be done for $40 but convinced him the kit's the same amount and there'll be a time on a shoot it needs to be cleaned NOW and not two days later. Bulb blowing and in camera sensor cleaning almost never clean it completely.

I find a trip to the color wheel keeps me from fretting too much about color. If I see a repeatable trend towards a certain direction I fashion a preset that takes care of it forever more with a click. (Ever consider using a color target?)

Can't help with the motherboard issue but maybe you can help me with my hot shoe problem. Mine's loose. How the hot shoe fastened to the top? Found pics of the camera disassembled but no clear view of how it's fastened or the minimal stuff I need to remove to get to it. I assume there's screws that poke up from the bottom or the nuts have loosened. Use a Blackmagic Video Assist 5 on it and I can tighten to the socket but socket wiggles on camera.

If you're adventuresome and like living on the photographic edge... Do a 6 second 'bulb' exposure and change lens when shutter is down. Ten seconds if age or coordination is a factor. But let an errant finger poke, dislodge, or deform that delicacy and there'll be whole world of fresh Hell you'll have to deal with. Even using 'proper' skill and technique I'm amazed how easy it is for the sensor to collect gremlins. I suspect with the shutter closed stuff will still get into the leaves or cavity irrespective how diligent one is in the process. I get things so stubborn air will not dislodge them and resort to a wet cleaning. Such is life.

Need more info. 4K? How long before interruption? Card originally formatted in camera? Card ever checked for bad blocks, capacity, or R/W speeds? Shoot video test with native lens / no adapter pointed at a clock having a second hand. (Sometimes it's simple things. Two days ago. Same camera, operating with a remote to trigger record & zoom. Remote stopped functioning. No longer records video or zoom. Unplug. Plug in. Unplug. Plug in. Shutter release button on remote functioned so I knew I had connectivity. The problem? Card had but 1GB remaining. Insert different card and all was good.)

My experience is with a 7Sii but what I've discovered is that connecting the camera to the mains will not charge the battery (battery must be in the camera as it cannot be operated solely off the charger alone) faster than battery power is diminished due to camera operation. This could be what you're experiencing. Something like camera operating 99% from the mains and 1% off the battery. Eventually that constant 1% battery usage add up to a depleted battery with camera shutting off. Dual batteries in a holder plus connected to a charger will give you longer run times if my unscientific theory is correct. On extended shoots I avoid USB charging / power operation entirely. I use a dummy battery setup.

Looks like rendering artifacts from data thrown away. What was the original shot in? Do these conditions exist when looking at a SINGLE frame of these two areas from the unmolested / pre-exported video?

Yes. Watch video in a player. Select frame. COPY. Paste into photo program. You need to have video displaying at full size lest you get smaller image than what was filmed at. The image discussed here was pulled from a 4K shoot. (Camera developed a group of bad pixels in 4K but not in 1080.)

Same thing happened to me. A7Sii. No problem at first but 25 days later a pixel wonked out in 4K video mode. Not there in photos. Not there in 1080. Only showed up on 4k video. And here's beauty of BUYING LOCAL. Walked to the camera shop and exchanged it. Return/exchange date was close because it took me 2 weeks before I bought a lens before I could try out the camera. The 1st vids in 4K showed no initial problem so exchange/return before it's too late. Sending in for warranty repair on a 2 week old unit was never a consideration. There's no way I'd accept that camera if I were you. Others may not notice it (look for defect in top photo first) but once YOU know where the problem is in the image you won't be able to 'unsee' it. (Mine might have actually been a group of 4 pixels.)