Sony Alpha turns off after trying to focuse

[sawahlunto]

I have an already bit old sony alpha 550

When I try to shoot any picture at the moment I push the button to try to focusing the camera turns off and a second later on again,I try to focuse and several times goes camera off on off on...til there is a time when not going off and can shoot the picture

In play mode when viewing the photos sometimes also goes off and on again

I tried to browsing google about it but seems that is not a very common failure

What could it be?Maybe something related to the switch on/off that is close to the focusing/shooting button?in some way the focusing button touch something in the switch on/off?

any idea?

If I have to send to fix to technical service; I think is not worth it as could be more expensive to repair than buy another one in ebay and more from nowadays

Best

Alex

[addicted2light]

I don't have that camera, so I can only guess.

 

Have you tried, assuming it is possible with this model, to reassign the autofocus start to the af-lock/ae-lock button on the rear (so leaving the shutter button to just take the exposure)?

 

Doing so you may at least learn if the fault is something like you suspect (the switch on the shutter button) or instead something entirely different, maybe even software-related.

 

My 2 cents

[Austerror]

Try a different battery too, or if you don't have a spare, make sure the battery is fully charged.

 

I don't know if that will help, but batteries can cause weird things to happen.

[Golem]

All advice suggested so far seems reasonable,

but it is about time to retire that camera if a new

battery doesn't do it.

 

I'd even be wary of spending for a new battery

as the battery price is about equal to value of

the camera IF the camera had no problems in

the first place. IOW it's a crap shoot. And your  

best prize in that crap game is not a big win but

basically a "come from behind and break even".

  

If it were only an AF problem, you could avoid

totally retiring it. You could semi-retire it as an

MF-only [but perfectly usable] camera. But the

problem has also been provoked by the image

review button, so the disease is metastasized 

such that the patient is likely terminal.

  

Sony is pretty much giving away low and mid  

level models due to be replaced by upgrades.

You'd be well off not to put $$ in a battery and

put that $$ toward one of Sony's bargain bin

offerings, a refurb, or a clearance priced body. 

  

Don't overlook the Nex-type. You'd need an

LEA2 adapter. I use one. It focuses A-mount

lenses about as well as the better Maxxums

did, which is about the same as older Alphas.

The LEA2 is being replaced by the LEA4, so

the LEA2 ought to be going cheap as well. An  

adapter on a Nex-type also gives you entree

into the E-mount, which will help keep you in

gear as the calendar keeps ticking. My own

LEA2 was $150 from Abel Cine, but that was

a while ago. Don't know if they still have any. 

 

As example the A3000, an SLR-like E-mount,

is currently $250 with kit lens. You really need

two more batteries to enjoy it. It's the bottom

of the E-mount range and is vastly superior to

any older A-mount APS-c model.

  

Maybe it's time ?

 

  

`

[sawahlunto]

Thanks everybody for the replies

I tried uninstalling the software from the camera then installed again and since that it works just normal again;as Golem said,I am thinking so much also in changing to a E-moumt sony camera and then use an adaptor to use A-mount lens

Just want to try first a low end one and see how it works with my old minolta lenses using the adaptor

Best wishes and thanks to all

Alex