Although the F-stoppers article states the A7RIII suffers with this problem, it actually seems not to be the case as it uses a different shutter assembly to the A7III
I had the A7Riii and I started seeing what you described after about 4 months of purchasing it and could never figure it out until I watched your video. I traded in the camera a while back and got the A7R4. Thank you for solving the mystery even though I don't have the camera anymore lol
Had my A7iii shutter break last fall, Sony charged me $600 to fix it and $45 for shipping. I was not happy in the slightest. Hope things go better for you.
As other have said, the warranty is really nothing to do with your legal rights as a consumer. If you've bought something with an inherent fault which means it won't operate for the time it should then that's a breach of (the implied) contract and you're entitled to get a repair/replacement/refund. The retailer will be the ones you should go after - they will almost certainly tell you to bolt, but if you were to put small claims court papers in against them, they will then instantly remember what the CRA is.
@@Sidowse not at all, 1% is better than 10%, it's not 'padantic', it's probability. It's not 100% accurate, as cameras are used more by some and less by others, but regardless, it's still important.
That sort of treatment with a known faulty product would make me sell the lenses and move on. They don’t deserve customers. Plenty of other excellent options.
The answer is simple - Would you buy a used A7iii for $400? Seems like a pretty good deal to me. And pick up a lint brush for Rusty's hair while you are out. ;-)
I don't think that's the greatest way to look at it. I mean yes I would agree if let's say he dropped it and it cost $400 to fix, by all means the $400 isn't that bad. But if it is a problem with the production of the camera and multiple people are having the same issue I don't think I would look at it in the same way
I’m honestly thinking about switching to canon because I’m tired of babying my a7iii there not built rock solid like a dslr they have a lot to work on shit my 40 year old film camera is more robust
to be fair the A7III overall is a pretty solid build even for a fairly budget camera, just seems to be a temperamental shutter, but the other cameras in their lineup are fine, especially the more high end ones
I had the same problem and called Sony and explained it to them. All I had to do was make a copy of my purchase receipt and send them the camera and they sent me a new camera with only the remaining warranty that was left. I could not be happier with there response. I am in the U.S.
Time for it to become a shelf ornament. If they fix it, what’s to stop it happening in another 2 years? And what happened to the chunk? Imagine it gets caught between the sensor and the curtain 😱😱
I'm not a commercial lawyer but the reason why you have to activate it is to protect the seller from being a party to the warranty since it becomes a direct agreement between you and the manufacturer
Whats the shutter count on that? I am looking to buy a used A7III, but it has a high shutter count of 155000, I am getting it at half the price of a new one. Should I go for it?
I hope that garantie or not, they will fix it no matter what : it's a faulty mechanism, not an ageing problem, or usage problem. They should make a recall.
Great public service spot, Dave! Have not heard of this problem before. Vid of shutter hole tells the story. In USA warranty (extended, as well) is not dependent upon registration - all you need is purchase documentation that shows purchase date/place, and serial number, etc.. Suggest repair route over replacement w/newer model because, from all reports it looks like new gen A7 cams won’t be in the offing any time soon. Is this defect a function of shutter actuation count? Didn’t Nikon have a defective shutter issue not long ago?
2 words for you: Data Collection by registering Sony now know your details, what you bought, from where etc for their purposes Plus if people forget or on-sell etc then they get out of the additional warranty (sort of like giftcards for rebates - a percentage of people forget the cards, lose them etc = free money!)
I think that after two years, you still have partial warranty due to European warranty rules. It has to do with the lifespan of the item. Here in the Netherlands we have that kind of warranty. Sellers of course try to ignore the law and will try to not give you the partial warranty but then you can threat to sue them and that usually works.
oh, a good tip is take a photo of boxes with barcodes and serial numbers with your phone and any aditional medianeeded for reference (receipts are a good idea too) that way you still have access after you misplace/file the paperwork
@@DaveMcKeegan I made another comment with links to pictures, idk if it got posted or hold back due to the links. btw i was wrong about my shuttercount. its already at 43k, electronic shutter does not increase shuttercount
if it's a known fault, you can argue the case and get it fixed under warranty, even if it has passed the standard 12 month one. Also the warranty/claim is with the company you bought it from (WEX) not the manufacturer (trading standards, as the device is not fit for it's intended purpose). Oh, and it's no different for cashback claims, over 65% of people don't bother to do it as it's optional. This saves the manufacturer a lot of money. PS I always take an extended warranty, as I'm well aware of the cost of camera repairs (Sony are the most expensive by a long way, I've seen many Sony items written off due to the cost of repair). I've had my TZ200 compact fixed twice for free after I dropped it
Reminds me of when my X-T3’s shutter assembly failed entirely and just jammed shut after just a mere 6000 cycles. As to what I’d do, I’d usually see if I can get it fixed especially if it’s a camera that you’ve become very accustomed to and has served well for its lifetime. A brand-new camera body upgrade is usually a last resort in my case
My aim is to get it fixed either in warranty or out, however if the repair bill is going to very high then it might be tempting to sell it as spare/repair and upgrade
Using the A9 so I'm not really worried about the mechanical shutter wearing off :D Seriously, the future will be not only mirrorless but also shutter less, that will make things more durable!
I bought the A7iii at release and after about 14 months I started to get vibration on the sensor, especially when on a tripod. It got worse and worse and eventually went back to Sony for repair. Took them 5 weeks and the repair would have cost just over £900 if it had not been under that extended warranty. Other people on forums have suffered it too. However, my Nikon was way for a non warranty repair at about 3 year old, and my friends Nikon went away twice for shutter issues. Guess Sony isn the only one! Hope you get sorted......
The whole warranty application process is there so that when you actually have the man deciding things on the phone he can hiss at you and say he's sorry. No warranty.
I replaced my a7RII shutter unit in Poland for just $200 in official SONY service center. It's also quite easy to do it on your own, and the part price is only $50 for the entire shutter assembly, including frame and motor if you really want to save money. This also could be a quite good youtube video material. As for my A7RIII, I have shot over 10k images with it without any issues, so it has to be a specific batch of units that has this issue, and I'm also not warred about the shutter, since it's quite cheap to replace when needed.
So true! I did the same last week: I realised that I didn't activated the warranty extension after 1 year... and 1 month. Whereas I thought that my A7iii was under 3-years warranty. Good luck to find your card!
Sony cameras have had shutter problems (multiple different problems all relating to the shutter) all the way back to their SLR cameras (personal experience). Most recently my a6000 has refused to work at all. Upon a little research the error leads to forums and articles relating to shutter problems.
Faults like this would probably be covered by a government consumer guarantee law irrespective of manufacturer warranty period. If they have a specified shutter life for the camera, then you could make a claim if yours has failed before reaching that specified life.
I'd probably argue the toss over the warenty and see if they buckle and if that didn't work sulk and pay for the repair unless I had deep enough pockets and it was worth an upgrade.
By the way, Consumer Law in the Netherlands would leave Sony with no case at all anyway. Whatever warranty a manufacturer gives you, our law will throw that out as soon as it's deemed unreasonable. When you buy a A7 III, you may expect it to last longer than a year or even three years. And that "reasonable expectation of lifetime" is leading in these cases. At least, that's how our law works :)
They wouldn't have offered a warranty if they didn't think it'd be needed. A device is offered with random shutter failures before release. Instead of fixing the problem, they offer a warranty to fix the cameras that do break. If it was me. I'd fix the camera under warranty and sell it before the warranty goes out. Without a recall, you're on the hook for replacement once the warranty expires. No one knows if the replacement shutter is going to be more reliable than the one it replaces.
1. Sony should make their Camera shutters as good as their Auto focus. (as reliable as Panasonic camera shutters). - 2. Sony Should apply the warranty without you having to do any extra work Your name is already at the shop where you bought it, that makes the extended warranty legal regardless of what they tell you. The shop is Sony's legal agent. Just contact the shop and they will re-print the receipt (forget about the extended warranty special form bull-dust), Just send a copy with the faulty camera. -
Not much help for you I know , but under Australian consumer Law you would have a very strong case under the umbrella of "reasonable durability ". The camera , depending on the shutter count , may well be covered by this clause , irrespective of its warranty status . As I said , not much use to you , but it may help your Aussie viewers .
Sorry for your camera troubles; I hope you find the card. I'm in a similar living situation, and and the storage life sucks! May the force be with you!
I would say you should ask if the fix changes the shutter mechanics to something that isn't that gens shutter otherwise you'll be back in this situation again in a couple years. If you go with a new/different camera in the Sony world I would say a used A9 would be the way to go.
Anything with moving parts can break. Even durable, premium-feeling cameras can be have issues (like the Sony a7iii, the nikon D600 or Canon 1Dx Mark iii)
Thanks for sharing. I purchased my A7iii in November 2018 from B&H. I don't have the issue you experienced though I predominantly use my camera for video. But interestingly enough, after watching your video I went straight to my Sony packaging but found everything but a warranty card and don't recall ever seeing one. I live in the Caribbean just for info so going to B&H (especially in today's situation) is not an option.😜
Companies give away these extended warranties as an incentive for you to give them your address for marketing purposes. Mechanically these cameras are a Minolta. Electronically they use Sony sensors and electronics.
I lost my first A7iii to the Tasman Sea in New Zealand (long story). I shoot a lot of time lapse and it was already showing signs of shutter failure after one year (a dark curved vertical shadow across the middle of the picture). With the new one I`m therefore shooting only in electronic. I don`t read of many disadvantages to full electronic but presume there must be?
On some models like A7RII electronic shutter takes 12bit RAW files and 14bit with mechanical shutter. I don't know exactly about A7III. Also for fast moving objects you can get rolling shutter effect and sometimes some banding with strobing artificial light
Oh and I thought the Sony released firmware while ago to close the shutter when camera is off so the dust and particles do not end up on the sensor but between shutter blades.It is brilliant idea how to increase income due to failing shutters.Hey but they are improving from a7 and a7II failing main board and card reader slots ,now we have a shutter.
Is it possible to distinguish a7iii generations by serial number or something similar? Still thinking about getting a7iii or x-t3 and keep hearing this shutter issues makes me think that x-t3 gonna be much more valid choice.
It'll be possible to issue a recall based on serial numbers, but it depends on what is causing the issue, if its a bad batch of shutter assemblies then it should be easy to trace and recall but if its something more random then they'd have no way of knowing who could be affected.
A repair worse comes to it is about £136 sony uk has a fixed price service i had a shutter replaced and hotshoe and rear screen cover all for that price
One note: if you are someone who likes to buy something, try it out for awhile, and then sometimes send it back to your retailer within the usual 30-day period for a full refund, do NOT apply for the extended warranty until you are sure you will be keeping the product. Otherwise you are likely to have voided your chance to return the product.
The whole online activation thing is because they want data on sales and their customers. That's what store loyalty cards are for, they want to know what and when you're buying things. The marketing data is important to these companies.
One usually always has to register for extended warranty (it was the same withthe canon). I got an a7r4 with an extended warranty of 3 years - also only on registration. Hope that you manage to sort out the issues
I was shooting with an A7iii and sold it due to being sick of the weight being ridiculously unbalanced with the big lenses I use and the fact that they have some serious vulnerabilities with weather sealing in a couple of spots. There is a spot on the hot shoe where a single drop of water can short the entire camera out, and in the second generation of A7 cameras, I had a friend who had just the humidity in the air kill his camera which is a bit ridiculous imo. This opinion comes from me having shot Pentax and Nikon DSLRs for so many years in the rain with zero issues for about 10 years so yes I'm a bit biased lol. Sony really could do better than this. In January I decided to sell my A7iii before something randomly killed it (such as this new shutter issue that at the time I wasn't even aware of) and I bought a Panasonic S1 instead and I absolutely love it. It's the closest thing I've found in the mirrorless world that even comes close to the weather sealing my Pentax, and the bigger, and more rugged bodies of my Nikon DSLRs. Bigger, professional lenses are a much better match on the bigger S1 body, and the autofocus is nowhere near as bad as the reviews using pre-production firmware had led on. Panasonic also thought of just about every feature to pack into the S series. It really is "no compromises" like they said it was in the marketing. So if you do consider switching brands I can definitely recommend the S1. I'm honestly shocked at how good it is.
I think that its much more expensive for Sony to have custommers that Are unhappy with their product and the service of Sony then too just repair All broken shutters with or without activation key.
I think your best move would be to get it fixed and then either sell it or keep it as a second body when the fourth gen. camera come out.... Thanks for this, Dave and we are all feeling your pain. I also have an a7iii and will be on the look out for this . So, in your opinion, should the front E curtain be switched on or off in the settings?
I generally don't use EFC - I either want full mechanical so I don't get rolling shutter, or when I want to be quiet or avoid camera shake I use full electronic ... however I suppose EFC would cut the number of shutter actuations in half over using fully mechanical
Good luck finding the extended warranty card mate, hope you get it fixed for free. I recently jumped to an RIII and presumed they have a different shutter unit as it has twice the rated lifespan, who knows.
After your video, I did check my MySony account to see when will expire my warranty (bought my camera in 2018 plus 3 years extended warranty) and to my surprise, both registrations are missing (both registrations done successfully the same day of purchase)! I did contact the seller and I'm waiting for replay about that matter. Crossing fingers for your free repair.
I still owe an epilogue to my own matter if it ever comes helpful to anyone. I must point out the extraordinary responsiveness of the Sony support, I got answered on my question immediately on Monday morning, saying that I should not worry that their system registered both, camera and a warranty extension. I was warned that upon registering the extension by mail, I received a Sony Warranty Agreement, which is the basis for the service process if occurs. I explained that I do not remember any contract and that I had checked the e-mails twice, but it was not included in my box. And an immediately reassuring message that they will send me again. Received it today, printed it right away, and put it in with the bill. And thanked the lady sincerely. Happy!
Any ideas if the issue is subject to a certain batch or batches or date of A73`s , or even a certain country ? it is not uncommon to have bad batches of parts on anything man made .. touch wood .... no problems with mine as yet , all the best getting yours repaired sir . Edit , this problem could even be an assembly problem , again location dates , and or location relevant .
This should be a recall. Sony shouldn’t be putting the onus on the customer to find or activate some extended warranty to resolve a manufacturing issue of this sort.
Sorry to hear that. Hope you can use your warranty. Last year I got an A7RII with broken shutter and I replaced it by myself. A new shutter costs between 60 and 80 euros. But to replace it you have to completely disassemble the camera. And there is a high risk to broke a connector on the motherboard or somewhere else. A7RII and A7RIII use AFE-3379 shutter. Last year there was two generations of this shutter. Now I can see four generations. It seems that A7III use AFE-3360 shutter. And now there are also four generations. You can check for example at encompass.com. It's one of officials distributors of Sony parts. Other thing is that Sony refuses to give official repair manuals. Fortunately somebody sent me one for my camera. Otherwise they are on sale at ebay. And by the way shutters are made by a third company. There is no Sony logo on it.
I think i found the problem, the first part of the shutter courtain that starts to break bends upwards a little bit, that starts to crack the part itself. Its clearly visible in the picture Picture how it bends: cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/519960408103321603/711658211027058768/DSC00824.JPG Picture if the crack: cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/519960408103321603/711659405091012638/DSC00854.JPG
First of all, sorry to hear that. The big question is if you can't find the warranty card, what would you do with the A7III? 1) If you would just use another camera, then it may be better to fix this then sell it, since end the end, that'll still give you back money (or you may be able to sell it as-is and someone else may take a slight hit to fix it) 2) If you're just doing video, you could probably use it as-is (not a terrible idea since you do so many videos) 3) If you can make do with just the electronic shutter for outdoor subjects that don't move much, you may be able to use it as-is 4) If you want to use it again, well then you'd pretty much need to fix it (but you already knew that) 5) If you really want to give it to me, I'll happily take it! jk
Hmmm I just purchased an RIII used from B&H with about 1500 shutter clicks at time I bought it. I'm assuming since I bought it used, I'm hosed and on the hook for $400 if this happens to mine.
There have been some reports of RIII issues however I think its more an issues with the A7III as it uses a different shutter assembly, so hopefully you'll be fine
Dave, thanks for this. I just put up a A7iii on eBay, going to make sure there is no issue now as I don't want to send this on to a buyer. I use my A7Riv a lot more for every type of shooting these days, I suggest you pick one up and leave the A7iii behind. If you have a grip or other reasons to stay under that budget, you can get those cheaper now. A7iv is a ways off with COVID-19
Seriously though, if you've not exceeded the shutter count they should fix it even if not under warranty? I remember when I had the original 5D. There was a mirror issue on some batches so Canon just made a statement that if anyone had the issue it would be fixed FOC. Just send it to a repair firm. These are pro tools so you should get that level of service. A shutter should not break like this.
Dave Mckeegan - Check your rights with Which the UK Consumer Association before you spend a penny more...they will tell you clearly what your consumer rights are in relation to your purchase of the Sony A7iii!
From Which's website: Six months or more If a fault develops after the first six months, the burden is on you to prove that the product was faulty at the time you took ownership of it. In practice, this may require some form of expert report, opinion or evidence of similar problems across the product range. Find out more about how to return a faulty item and claim a refund, repair or replacement from a retailer. You have six years to take a claim to the small claims court for faulty goods in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and five years in Scotland. This doesn't mean that a product has to last six years - just that you have this length of time in which to make a claim if a retailer refuses to repair or replace a faulty product. www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/regulation/consumer-rights-act www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/what-do-i-do-if-i-have-a-faulty-product
Thanks Paul, luckily I've found my warranty card so hopefully will be able to get it sorted without hassle, however if they put up a fight i'll be sure to bare this information in mind
Sorry to hear this, from what i have seen its more an issue on the A7III and less under A7RIII they have a different shutter. But i do really like my A7R4 that has a even better shutter and so much more new features you will love but its not cheap...
Here in New Zealand we have a law protecting consumers from bullshit like this . Product warranty is irrelevant here and a product must last a reasonable amount of time so if it doesn’t the retailer must repair or replace it or refund the purchase price . Extended warranties are just a money making scam Also here in NZ Canon has a 5 year warranty on their interchangeable lens cameras and EOS lenses whereas Sony NZ has only 2 year Warranty so perhaps Canon is better choice if you want a product to last but don’t know about UK I also have an early (1992) L lens (EF300mm f/2.8 ) which I bought on eBay and works perfectly even though it’s had a very hard life but I worry that Canon no longer supply parts for them so if the focus mechanism dies my lens can’t be repaired which I find frustrating as these high quality lens can last for decades as mine already has but cameras don’t (and of course the latest ones are much better whereas lens are only slightly better) Just looked up warranty for UK Canon and UK Sony and they look terrible: only 1 year standard plus bullshit extended warranties , you guys are treated really badly
Although the F-stoppers article states the A7RIII suffers with this problem, it actually seems not to be the case as it uses a different shutter assembly to the A7III
I had the A7Riii and I started seeing what you described after about 4 months of purchasing it and could never figure it out until I watched your video. I traded in the camera a while back and got the A7R4. Thank you for solving the mystery even though I don't have the camera anymore lol
Hi Dave, which generation is defective? Mine is made in Thailand !
Had my A7iii shutter break last fall, Sony charged me $600 to fix it and $45 for shipping. I was not happy in the slightest.
Hope things go better for you.
How do we know what cameras are effected? I'm looking at one on Ebay that says made in china
It says on the bottom 3371031 4-731-968-01
WW940439
As other have said, the warranty is really nothing to do with your legal rights as a consumer. If you've bought something with an inherent fault which means it won't operate for the time it should then that's a breach of (the implied) contract and you're entitled to get a repair/replacement/refund. The retailer will be the ones you should go after - they will almost certainly tell you to bolt, but if you were to put small claims court papers in against them, they will then instantly remember what the CRA is.
When you say 'A lot' what does that mean? 1% of A7III's? 3% 10% what does alot mean?
between 0,1%-0,3%. Thats why haven't be recalld
@@Sidowse not at all, 1% is better than 10%, it's not 'padantic', it's probability. It's not 100% accurate, as cameras are used more by some and less by others, but regardless, it's still important.
I see your dog's fur still made an appearance in your video. :D
Sorry about the camera problems.
For $400 I'm tearing that storage unit apart to find that card. LOL. Even without it they should fix it for free, they have a defective product.
Strongest and most reliable make of camera is Nikon by far.
Not for me, my new D800 had several problems and my D600 was a nightmare with oil splattering across the sensor despite several shutter repairs
It's clearly a defect and should be covered event out of warranty
lets hope so
That sort of treatment with a known faulty product would make me sell the lenses and move on. They don’t deserve customers. Plenty of other excellent options.
Regretfully in today's modern high tech world corporations have the upper hand. Their motto:
"Take it or leave it fuck you".
The answer is simple - Would you buy a used A7iii for $400? Seems like a pretty good deal to me. And pick up a lint brush for Rusty's hair while you are out. ;-)
I don't think that's the greatest way to look at it. I mean yes I would agree if let's say he dropped it and it cost $400 to fix, by all means the $400 isn't that bad. But if it is a problem with the production of the camera and multiple people are having the same issue I don't think I would look at it in the same way
I’m honestly thinking about switching to canon because I’m tired of babying my a7iii there not built rock solid like a dslr they have a lot to work on shit my 40 year old film camera is more robust
to be fair the A7III overall is a pretty solid build even for a fairly budget camera, just seems to be a temperamental shutter, but the other cameras in their lineup are fine, especially the more high end ones
I had the same problem and called Sony and explained it to them. All I had to do was make a copy of my purchase receipt and send them the camera and they sent me a new camera with only the remaining warranty that was left. I could not be happier with there response. I am in the U.S.
My a7iii shutter also broke. Mine broke 3 days after warranty. Sony thankfully covered it
how many shots u did?
Time for it to become a shelf ornament. If they fix it, what’s to stop it happening in another 2 years? And what happened to the chunk? Imagine it gets caught between the sensor and the curtain 😱😱
When I worked in a camera store, we had a term for a problem like this. That camera be flubbernucked! Hope you get finding the card though dude.
I'm not a commercial lawyer but the reason why you have to activate it is to protect the seller from being a party to the warranty since it becomes a direct agreement between you and the manufacturer
You don't need the code, just go to the website and register with serial number. Done it myself
Whats the shutter count on that?
I am looking to buy a used A7III, but it has a high shutter count of 155000, I am getting it at half the price of a new one. Should I go for it?
122,340 shutter count on my A7 iii, so far so good. (99% mechanical shutter). I had two shutters fail on my previous A6000
I hope that garantie or not, they will fix it no matter what : it's a faulty mechanism, not an ageing problem, or usage problem. They should make a recall.
Great public service spot, Dave! Have not heard of this problem before. Vid of shutter hole tells the story. In USA warranty (extended, as well) is not dependent upon registration - all you need is purchase documentation that shows purchase date/place, and serial number, etc.. Suggest repair route over replacement w/newer model because, from all reports it looks like new gen A7 cams won’t be in the offing any time soon. Is this defect a function of shutter actuation count? Didn’t Nikon have a defective shutter issue not long ago?
2 words for you: Data Collection
by registering Sony now know your details, what you bought, from where etc for their purposes
Plus if people forget or on-sell etc then they get out of the additional warranty (sort of like giftcards for rebates - a percentage of people forget the cards, lose them etc = free money!)
I think that after two years, you still have partial warranty due to European warranty rules. It has to do with the lifespan of the item. Here in the Netherlands we have that kind of warranty. Sellers of course try to ignore the law and will try to not give you the partial warranty but then you can threat to sue them and that usually works.
oh, a good tip is take a photo of boxes with barcodes and serial numbers with your phone and any aditional medianeeded for reference (receipts are a good idea too) that way you still have access after you misplace/file the paperwork
A great tip - its a pain because I still have the all the original boxes but the warranty card came separately
what shuttercound do you have? mine is at ~35k. I took some pictures of the shutter and it looks like there is just a tiny little bit missing
Mine was around 31k (but that's a mix of electronic & mechanical)
@@DaveMcKeegan I made another comment with links to pictures, idk if it got posted or hold back due to the links.
btw i was wrong about my shuttercount. its already at 43k, electronic shutter does not increase shuttercount
They should recall all the a7iii and replace it with a a7iv
if it's a known fault, you can argue the case and get it fixed under warranty, even if it has passed the standard 12 month one. Also the warranty/claim is with the company you bought it from (WEX) not the manufacturer (trading standards, as the device is not fit for it's intended purpose). Oh, and it's no different for cashback claims, over 65% of people don't bother to do it as it's optional. This saves the manufacturer a lot of money. PS I always take an extended warranty, as I'm well aware of the cost of camera repairs (Sony are the most expensive by a long way, I've seen many Sony items written off due to the cost of repair). I've had my TZ200 compact fixed twice for free after I dropped it
Reminds me of when my X-T3’s shutter assembly failed entirely and just jammed shut after just a mere 6000 cycles.
As to what I’d do, I’d usually see if I can get it fixed especially if it’s a camera that you’ve become very accustomed to and has served well for its lifetime. A brand-new camera body upgrade is usually a last resort in my case
My aim is to get it fixed either in warranty or out, however if the repair bill is going to very high then it might be tempting to sell it as spare/repair and upgrade
Dave McKeegan Hope it’s not prohibitively pricey
Using the A9 so I'm not really worried about the mechanical shutter wearing off :D
Seriously, the future will be not only mirrorless but also shutter less, that will make things more durable!
Bring on global shutters :D
I bought the A7iii at release and after about 14 months I started to get vibration on the sensor, especially when on a tripod. It got worse and worse and eventually went back to Sony for repair. Took them 5 weeks and the repair would have cost just over £900 if it had not been under that extended warranty. Other people on forums have suffered it too. However, my Nikon was way for a non warranty repair at about 3 year old, and my friends Nikon went away twice for shutter issues. Guess Sony isn the only one! Hope you get sorted......
The whole warranty application process is there so that when you actually have the man deciding things on the phone he can hiss at you and say he's sorry. No warranty.
I replaced my a7RII shutter unit in Poland for just $200 in official SONY service center. It's also quite easy to do it on your own, and the part price is only $50 for the entire shutter assembly, including frame and motor if you really want to save money. This also could be a quite good youtube video material. As for my A7RIII, I have shot over 10k images with it without any issues, so it has to be a specific batch of units that has this issue, and I'm also not warred about the shutter, since it's quite cheap to replace when needed.
I'd not heard of this fault before now, shows how much attention I pay to things! Just checked my a7III and its not showing any symptoms. Yet.
So true! I did the same last week: I realised that I didn't activated the warranty extension after 1 year... and 1 month. Whereas I thought that my A7iii was under 3-years warranty. Good luck to find your card!
Sony cameras have had shutter problems (multiple different problems all relating to the shutter) all the way back to their SLR cameras (personal experience). Most recently my a6000 has refused to work at all. Upon a little research the error leads to forums and articles relating to shutter problems.
Faults like this would probably be covered by a government consumer guarantee law irrespective of manufacturer warranty period. If they have a specified shutter life for the camera, then you could make a claim if yours has failed before reaching that specified life.
I'd probably argue the toss over the warenty and see if they buckle and if that didn't work sulk and pay for the repair unless I had deep enough pockets and it was worth an upgrade.
By the way, Consumer Law in the Netherlands would leave Sony with no case at all anyway. Whatever warranty a manufacturer gives you, our law will throw that out as soon as it's deemed unreasonable. When you buy a A7 III, you may expect it to last longer than a year or even three years. And that "reasonable expectation of lifetime" is leading in these cases. At least, that's how our law works :)
Your dog is shedding
I think it's still worth getting fixed any way , otherwise you have an expansive door stop.
They wouldn't have offered a warranty if they didn't think it'd be needed. A device is offered with random shutter failures before release. Instead of fixing the problem, they offer a warranty to fix the cameras that do break. If it was me. I'd fix the camera under warranty and sell it before the warranty goes out. Without a recall, you're on the hook for replacement once the warranty expires. No one knows if the replacement shutter is going to be more reliable than the one it replaces.
1. Sony should make their Camera shutters as good as their Auto focus. (as reliable as Panasonic camera shutters). -
2. Sony Should apply the warranty without you having to do any extra work
Your name is already at the shop where you bought it, that makes the extended warranty legal regardless of what they tell you.
The shop is Sony's legal agent.
Just contact the shop and they will re-print the receipt (forget about the extended warranty special form bull-dust), Just send a copy with the faulty camera. -
Not much help for you I know , but under Australian consumer Law you would have a very strong case under the umbrella of "reasonable durability ". The camera , depending on the shutter count , may well be covered by this clause , irrespective of its warranty status . As I said , not much use to you , but it may help your Aussie viewers .
Sorry for your camera troubles; I hope you find the card. I'm in a similar living situation, and and the storage life sucks! May the force be with you!
Warranty or not, it’s a faulty hardware that they should fix. Some countries has laws for this.
I would say you should ask if the fix changes the shutter mechanics to something that isn't that gens shutter otherwise you'll be back in this situation again in a couple years. If you go with a new/different camera in the Sony world I would say a used A9 would be the way to go.
Fix it. It’s still a great camera and worth using or selling.
Go back to canon Dave they do not break it is that simple .
Anything with moving parts can break. Even durable, premium-feeling cameras can be have issues (like the Sony a7iii, the nikon D600 or Canon 1Dx Mark iii)
Thanks for sharing. I purchased my A7iii in November 2018 from B&H. I don't have the issue you experienced though I predominantly use my camera for video. But interestingly enough, after watching your video I went straight to my Sony packaging but found everything but a warranty card and don't recall ever seeing one. I live in the Caribbean just for info so going to B&H (especially in today's situation) is not an option.😜
Companies give away these extended warranties as an incentive for you to give them your address for marketing purposes. Mechanically these cameras are a Minolta. Electronically they use Sony sensors and electronics.
There's very little Minolta DNA left in current Sony cameras.
So sad I am sorry for you....How many pics did you take with the A7III ?
Happened to me on my A7riii! I am planing to do a video as well and post it in my channel.
Man I wanted to buy one..
These extended warranties are a bit of a scam. These manufacturers hope that you forget to activate. Happened with a HP AIO Printer.
I lost my first A7iii to the Tasman Sea in New Zealand (long story). I shoot a lot of time lapse and it was already showing signs of shutter failure after one year (a dark curved vertical shadow across the middle of the picture). With the new one I`m therefore shooting only in electronic. I don`t read of many disadvantages to full electronic but presume there must be?
On some models like A7RII electronic shutter takes 12bit RAW files and 14bit with mechanical shutter. I don't know exactly about A7III. Also for fast moving objects you can get rolling shutter effect and sometimes some banding with strobing artificial light
Oh and I thought the Sony released firmware while ago to close the shutter when camera is off so the dust and particles do not end up on the sensor but between shutter blades.It is brilliant idea how to increase income due to failing shutters.Hey but they are improving from a7 and a7II failing main board and card reader slots ,now we have a shutter.
The ending 😂
Good Luck finding the card! 🍀
I had to send my A7iii in twice for them to replace the shutter, which Sony did at no coast to me.
Was it outside of warranty period or were you still in the warranty period?
*laughs in Nikon*
Is it possible to distinguish a7iii generations by serial number or something similar? Still thinking about getting a7iii or x-t3 and keep hearing this shutter issues makes me think that x-t3 gonna be much more valid choice.
It'll be possible to issue a recall based on serial numbers, but it depends on what is causing the issue, if its a bad batch of shutter assemblies then it should be easy to trace and recall but if its something more random then they'd have no way of knowing who could be affected.
First problem, you bought a Sony lamo I'd rather get a canon and I hate canon.
You could always go with a Fuji.
A repair worse comes to it is about £136 sony uk has a fixed price service i had a shutter replaced and hotshoe and rear screen cover all for that price
that's amazing price
One note: if you are someone who likes to buy something, try it out for awhile, and then sometimes send it back to your retailer within the usual 30-day period for a full refund, do NOT apply for the extended warranty until you are sure you will be keeping the product. Otherwise you are likely to have voided your chance to return the product.
It took me 3 minutes and 45 seconds to notice that your film quality is so excellent.... that I can see all the dog hair on your hoodie. 😂
Keep looking. You may see the virus.
I have a very small nick in the bottom of my a9 shutter, while my a7iii shutter is still more or less pristine.
my co worker's brand new A9 shutter failed in 8 months...
The whole online activation thing is because they want data on sales and their customers.
That's what store loyalty cards are for, they want to know what and when you're buying things. The marketing data is important to these companies.
I get why the do it, although if they wanted that just get it from the retailers :D
@@DaveMcKeegan nah that's the worst part, they're greedy about their consumer data
They treat it like Gollum treats the ring.
*_Preciousssssssss_*
One usually always has to register for extended warranty (it was the same withthe canon). I got an a7r4 with an extended warranty of 3 years - also only on registration. Hope that you manage to sort out the issues
I was shooting with an A7iii and sold it due to being sick of the weight being ridiculously unbalanced with the big lenses I use and the fact that they have some serious vulnerabilities with weather sealing in a couple of spots. There is a spot on the hot shoe where a single drop of water can short the entire camera out, and in the second generation of A7 cameras, I had a friend who had just the humidity in the air kill his camera which is a bit ridiculous imo. This opinion comes from me having shot Pentax and Nikon DSLRs for so many years in the rain with zero issues for about 10 years so yes I'm a bit biased lol. Sony really could do better than this. In January I decided to sell my A7iii before something randomly killed it (such as this new shutter issue that at the time I wasn't even aware of) and I bought a Panasonic S1 instead and I absolutely love it. It's the closest thing I've found in the mirrorless world that even comes close to the weather sealing my Pentax, and the bigger, and more rugged bodies of my Nikon DSLRs. Bigger, professional lenses are a much better match on the bigger S1 body, and the autofocus is nowhere near as bad as the reviews using pre-production firmware had led on. Panasonic also thought of just about every feature to pack into the S series. It really is "no compromises" like they said it was in the marketing. So if you do consider switching brands I can definitely recommend the S1. I'm honestly shocked at how good it is.
I think that its much more expensive for Sony to have custommers that Are unhappy with their product and the service of Sony then too just repair All broken shutters with or without activation key.
I think your best move would be to get it fixed and then either sell it or keep it as a second body when the fourth gen. camera come out.... Thanks for this, Dave and we are all feeling your pain. I also have an a7iii and will be on the look out for this . So, in your opinion, should the front E curtain be switched on or off in the settings?
I generally don't use EFC - I either want full mechanical so I don't get rolling shutter, or when I want to be quiet or avoid camera shake I use full electronic ... however I suppose EFC would cut the number of shutter actuations in half over using fully mechanical
What is your shutter count?
Good luck finding the extended warranty card mate, hope you get it fixed for free. I recently jumped to an RIII and presumed they have a different shutter unit as it has twice the rated lifespan, who knows.
After your video, I did check my MySony account to see when will expire my warranty (bought my camera in 2018 plus 3 years extended warranty) and to my surprise, both registrations are missing (both registrations done successfully the same day of purchase)! I did contact the seller and I'm waiting for replay about that matter. Crossing fingers for your free repair.
I still owe an epilogue to my own matter if it ever comes helpful to anyone. I must point out the extraordinary responsiveness of the Sony support, I got answered on my question immediately on Monday morning, saying that I should not worry that their system registered both, camera and a warranty extension. I was warned that upon registering the extension by mail, I received a Sony Warranty Agreement, which is the basis for the service process if occurs. I explained that I do not remember any contract and that I had checked the e-mails twice, but it was not included in my box. And an immediately reassuring message that they will send me again. Received it today, printed it right away, and put it in with the bill. And thanked the lady sincerely. Happy!
Thanks Dave, useful as usual. My question is that after how many shots you got this problem?!!
Any ideas if the issue is subject to a certain batch or batches or date of A73`s , or even a certain country ?
it is not uncommon to have bad batches of parts on anything man made ..
touch wood .... no problems with mine as yet , all the best getting yours repaired sir .
Edit , this problem could even be an assembly problem , again location dates , and or location relevant .
This saddens me. If I could afford it I would have one of those cameras because they are so amazing in so many ways.
How many shots u did on a7iii with mechanical shutter?
total shot count is around 31k but that's a mix of mechanical and electronic, so i'd guess somewhere between 20-25k
Cant believe how dirty that sensor is.
It might be worth having a chat with Citizens Advice and seeing how many shutter actuations the camera has had.
Always the shutter on Sony. My A7ii freezes. And now maybe a new problem with my A7iii🤬. It is not good enough...
My sony a6400 screen got broken the Wire supply its Display just got damage by just flipping it front and back Im so disappointed
This should be a recall. Sony shouldn’t be putting the onus on the customer to find or activate some extended warranty to resolve a manufacturing issue of this sort.
any example/reference of the artifact?
@1:27
What looks like a strip of sunlight is actually a band of more exposure over where the hole in the shutter is travelling
Sorry to hear that. Hope you can use your warranty.
Last year I got an A7RII with broken shutter and I replaced it by myself. A new shutter costs between 60 and 80 euros. But to replace it you have to completely disassemble the camera. And there is a high risk to broke a connector on the motherboard or somewhere else.
A7RII and A7RIII use AFE-3379 shutter. Last year there was two generations of this shutter. Now I can see four generations.
It seems that A7III use AFE-3360 shutter. And now there are also four generations. You can check for example at encompass.com. It's one of officials distributors of Sony parts.
Other thing is that Sony refuses to give official repair manuals. Fortunately somebody sent me one for my camera. Otherwise they are on sale at ebay.
And by the way shutters are made by a third company. There is no Sony logo on it.
I think i found the problem, the first part of the shutter courtain that starts to break bends upwards a little bit, that starts to crack the part itself.
Its clearly visible in the picture
Picture how it bends: cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/519960408103321603/711658211027058768/DSC00824.JPG
Picture if the crack: cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/519960408103321603/711659405091012638/DSC00854.JPG
First of all, sorry to hear that. The big question is if you can't find the warranty card, what would you do with the A7III?
1) If you would just use another camera, then it may be better to fix this then sell it, since end the end, that'll still give you back money (or you may be able to sell it as-is and someone else may take a slight hit to fix it)
2) If you're just doing video, you could probably use it as-is (not a terrible idea since you do so many videos)
3) If you can make do with just the electronic shutter for outdoor subjects that don't move much, you may be able to use it as-is
4) If you want to use it again, well then you'd pretty much need to fix it (but you already knew that)
5) If you really want to give it to me, I'll happily take it! jk
I primarily use the A6400 for video and A7III for stills - my intention is to get it repaired but that might depend on repair costs
The instagram hyperlink is not clickable, it's missing the : instead of the www.
Hmmm I just purchased an RIII used from B&H with about 1500 shutter clicks at time I bought it. I'm assuming since I bought it used, I'm hosed and on the hook for $400 if this happens to mine.
There have been some reports of RIII issues however I think its more an issues with the A7III as it uses a different shutter assembly, so hopefully you'll be fine
@@DaveMcKeeganFingers crossed, thanks!
Own both A7 iii and a7r iii and have no problem with any of them both cameras over 50k
Hope u find the card!
On the repair thing. I would go for the repair anyway. If its still good and u don't need the new features of the a7r4.
My A73 filed 30 days after the end of my warranty. But, I still love the camera.
You should get it repaired even if you do upgrade just for the resale value.
found that warranty card yet Dave? I bought an A7III last august - 31k is hellva low for a shutter failure
Dave, thanks for this. I just put up a A7iii on eBay, going to make sure there is no issue now as I don't want to send this on to a buyer. I use my A7Riv a lot more for every type of shooting these days, I suggest you pick one up and leave the A7iii behind. If you have a grip or other reasons to stay under that budget, you can get those cheaper now. A7iv is a ways off with COVID-19
There are rumours of an announcement coming around June/July - fingers crossed :P
So it now makes sense what all that dirty is on Sony sensors. It’s part of the shutter 😜
Seriously though, if you've not exceeded the shutter count they should fix it even if not under warranty? I remember when I had the original 5D. There was a mirror issue on some batches so Canon just made a statement that if anyone had the issue it would be fixed FOC. Just send it to a repair firm. These are pro tools so you should get that level of service. A shutter should not break like this.
I had this on my A7R, so it's not just the newer generations, cost me a few hundred dollars to get it repaired
Dave Mckeegan - Check your rights with Which the UK Consumer Association before you spend a penny more...they will tell you clearly what your consumer rights are in relation to your purchase of the Sony A7iii!
the vibration unit breaks down easilly as well...
From Which's website:
Six months or more
If a fault develops after the first six months, the burden is on you to prove that the product was faulty at the time you took ownership of it.
In practice, this may require some form of expert report, opinion or evidence of similar problems across the product range.
Find out more about how to return a faulty item and claim a refund, repair or replacement from a retailer.
You have six years to take a claim to the small claims court for faulty goods in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and five years in Scotland.
This doesn't mean that a product has to last six years - just that you have this length of time in which to make a claim if a retailer refuses to repair or replace a faulty product.
www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/regulation/consumer-rights-act
www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/what-do-i-do-if-i-have-a-faulty-product
Thanks Paul, luckily I've found my warranty card so hopefully will be able to get it sorted without hassle, however if they put up a fight i'll be sure to bare this information in mind
Sorry to hear this, from what i have seen its more an issue on the A7III and less under A7RIII they have a different shutter. But i do really like my A7R4 that has a even better shutter and so much more new features you will love but its not cheap...
Here in New Zealand we have a law protecting consumers from bullshit like this . Product warranty is irrelevant here and a product must last a reasonable amount of time so if it doesn’t the retailer must repair or replace it or refund the purchase price . Extended warranties are just a money making scam
Also here in NZ Canon has a 5 year warranty on their interchangeable lens cameras and EOS lenses whereas Sony NZ has only 2 year Warranty so perhaps Canon is better choice if you want a product to last but don’t know about UK
I also have an early (1992) L lens (EF300mm f/2.8 ) which I bought on eBay and works perfectly even though it’s had a very hard life but I worry that Canon no longer supply parts for them so if the focus mechanism dies my lens can’t be repaired which I find frustrating as these high quality lens can last for decades as mine already has but cameras don’t (and of course the latest ones are much better whereas lens are only slightly better)
Just looked up warranty for UK Canon and UK Sony and they look terrible: only 1 year standard plus bullshit extended warranties , you guys are treated really badly