Camera A6400 lens and body not communicating

[Wouter Wouter]

Hi,

my sony a6400 is in good condition but lately it has a problem with focussing and its looks like a connecting failure between lens and body. 
When turn on the camera it takes like 15 secondes to start up. And there is an icon with a ‘camera and a i’.

then it cant focus anymore. When i work it a bit it focusses very quickly and then its out of focus again.

i already reset the camera a couple of times - cleaned the contact pins and sometimes it does work again. but then it stops.

anyone had this problem aswel?

Thank you so much.

best, Wouter 

 

Edited January 3 by Wouter Wouter

[Cameratose]

Have you tried it with different lenses? If not, do that next. Other than that, it sounds like you've done everything I would suggest, like resetting and cleaning the contacts. If a different lens doesn't resolve it then I think you may need to have it serviced. 

[Wouter Wouter]

Thanks. unfortunately i dont have a different lens. but ill try and see if i can borrow one somewhere.

so i did clean the pins already, but maybe not good enough? Any advice on how to clean them?
 

 

[XKAES]

Since you don't have another lens, you have another option if you have a camera shop near by.  Just take your camera in and try a different lens.  Don't tell them you are having a problem.  If the new lens works fine, that will indicate your lens is the likely problem.  Thank the salesperson and tell them you'll "think about it".  Who knows, you might buy a new lens!

If the same problem persists with the new lens, the salesperson might offer some good suggestions to try with your camera.

Edited January 3 by XKAES

[Wouter Wouter]

4 minutes ago, XKAES said:

Since you don't have another lens, you have another option if you have a camera shop near by.  Just take your camera in and try a different lens.  Don't tell them you are having a problem.  If the new lens works fine, that will indicate your lens is the likely problem.  Thank the salesperson and tell them you'll "think about it".  Who knows, you might buy a new lens!

If the same problem persists with the new lens, the salesperson might offer some good suggestions to try with your camera.

Thanks! Ill give this a try. 
 

you think updating the firmware could be a solution?

[Cameratose]

41 minutes ago, Wouter Wouter said:

Thanks! Ill give this a try. 
 

you think updating the firmware could be a solution?

Unlikely, but you could always try. I am leaning toward the lens at this point, they can lose connectivity internally over time. 

I would do cleaning with isopropyl alcohol and cotton swabs, but you may need to pick leftover whisps of cotton from the pointed contact ends on the body. 

Which lens is it? You could look it up on-line to see if there are any known problems.

Edited January 3 by Cameratose

[Wouter Wouter]

Thanks. And its a 18-135 Sony zoom - ill give it another google search! Thanks a lot for the help and advice.

6 hours ago, Cameratose said:

Unlikely, but you could always try. I am leaning toward the lens at this point, they can lose connectivity internally over time. 

I would do cleaning with isopropyl alcohol and cotton swabs, but you may need to pick leftover whisps of cotton from the pointed contact ends on the body. 

Which lens is it? You could look it up on-line to see if there are any known problems.

 

[Cameratose]

I did a search for "problems with Sony 18-135 lens" and got several hits straight away from DPR. Some sounded similar with connectivity and getting lens error messages, and others were just focus problems. 

Here's a link to one:

18-135mm lens FAIL: Sony Alpha / NEX E-mount (APS-C) Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

[Wouter Wouter]

So i did get another lens. Its a different one. Its a Sony lens 2.8 / 16. This one works fine. But When I put my lens on it, its out of focus again. Any advice what to do? Thanks a lot

On 1/3/2025 at 11:09 AM, Cameratose said:

Unlikely, but you could always try. I am leaning toward the lens at this point, they can lose connectivity internally over time. 

I would do cleaning with isopropyl alcohol and cotton swabs, but you may need to pick leftover whisps of cotton from the pointed contact ends on the body. 

Which lens is it? You could look it up on-line to see if there are any known problem.

[Cameratose]

Sounds like your lens needs either servicing or replacing. 

[Wouter Wouter]

Check, Thanks