Last update: 2012-5-28
Nothing is perfect. Digital cameras and lenses are complex systems. Often there are unexpected problems. This list is NOT made to tell people to avoid these cameras – instead it is my intention to let people know of these limitations before they buy these systems, so these problems do not show up as nasty surprises, and help them choose.
This list is not exhaustive. Cameras that do not show up in this list do not mean they have no defect. Only worthy cameras are listed here. There are more entries for Canon and Nikon here only because they make the best cameras and have the largest user base, so any issue will be found and reported. Unworthy cameras (with sensor size at 1/2.3″ or smaller) are completely ignored.
I’ve informed several camera news sites about this article, but most of them have ignored me (except Sonyalpharumors). I don’t blame them, perhaps this article would mean fewer sales and therefore fewer advertising revenue for them. I just hope potential customers will find this article useful and help with their purchases. If you find it useful, please post the link to this article in your blog or forums.
Disclaimer: I own an Olympus OM-D E-M5.
Canon EOS 1D Mark III
Type: Weakness (not a defect)
Problem: AI Servo AF does not perform up to standards expected by professionals shooting sports
Description: See this link
Solution: Repair by Canon and upgrade to the latest firmware for some improvement. Upgrade to newer EOS camera.
Canon EOS 5D (Classic)
Type: Reliability
Problem: Mirror falls off.
Description: This is described in the Canon USA article “EOS 5D Main Mirror Detachment Issue“. In the worst case it may damage the sensor or lens. It is best to get it repaired before this actually happens.
Solution: Repair by Canon.
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Type: Weakness (not a defect)
Problems: (1) Poor AF (2) Banding (Pattern noise)
Description: The poor AF in 5D Mark II is by design. It was meant to reuse the 5D Classic AF system instead of the latest AF technology available at the time of the introduction of Mark II.
Solution: None. Upgrade to Mark III: AF is reportedly excellent. Banding is much reduced and will not be seen normally unless one performs a shadow recovery. Those people who need shadow recovery should consider Nikon D800.
Canon EOS 5D Mark III
1. Type: Incompatibility
Problem: Loud IS noise with Canon EF 200mm f/2.0 L IS USM Lens and the Canon EF 800mm f/5.6 L IS USM Lens.
Description: See this link
Solution: (to be updated)
2. Type: Minor flaw
Problem: Light leakage through top LCD panel
Description: Korean users have discovered a light leakage through top LCD panel to the camera meter, affecting long exposure photography at night. In dpreview forum quite a number of users have been able to reproduce this problem by turning on the top LCD panel illumination, not many of them are able to affect the meter using an external light on top, and some of them cannot reproduce this at all. It also appears some other Canon models behave similarly. This problem is described in a Canon advisory which states that those units where the sixth digit in the serial number is 1 or 2 are affected.
Solution: Repair by Canon (using a black tape).
Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM
Type: Image quality / QC
Problem: Focus problem at close distance causing out of focus photos especially from f/2 – f/4.
Description: When one presses the shutter, the aperture is shrunk from f/1.2 to the needed aperture. This causes the focus to shift. This problem does not exist in all copies of this lens. Some, but not all, copies manufactured recently reportedly do not suffer from this problem.
Solution: None.
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
Type: Reliability
Problem: Stuck focus
Description: Quite a few people have their EF 50mm f/1.4 failing to focus due to being stuck.
Solution: Read this link and some video. A coworker of mine followed these instructions and added some WD-40 to lubricate the problematic part and successfully fixed it.
Canon Speedlite 580EX II
Type: Reliability
Problem: Fail prematurely
Description: See this link
Solution: None.
Canon PowerShot G1 X
Type: Image quality
Problem: Light leak
Description: Light leak shows up in the photo if there is a light source in the bottom at high ISO and a fast shutter speed is used.
Solution: None. Canon admitted this problem but will not repair it.
Canon PowerShot G9
Type: Reliability
Problem: Cannot power up
Description: A screw becomes loose and shorted the camera circuit board.
Solution: Repair by Canon or read this link.
Fujifilm X100
Type: Firmware issues
Problem: X100 has more firmware issues than usual
Description: Read this link at dpreview
Solution: Upgrade to latest firmware to solve a few of these issues
Fujifilm X10
Type: Image quality
Problem: White Blob / Dot / Spot syndrome
Description: White blob shows up in photos as a result of sensor blooming at low ISO.
Solution: Upgrade to latest firmware and shoot at ISO 800. Wait for a new sensor that is scheduled for May 2012.
Konica Minolta 7D / 5D
Type: Defect
Problem: First Black Frame
Description: After turning on the camera after leaving it for some period, the first shot may be a black frame and the camera freezes. It resumes normal operation after being turned off and on again. This is caused by a part that has bad dimensions.
Solution: Repair by Sony.
Nikon D5000
Type: Reliability
Problem: Camera cannot be operated
Description: Electronic component(s) related to power control were defective in some batches of D5000. See this Nikon service advisory.
Solution: Repair by Nikon.
Nikon D70, D2H, F55 / N55
Type: Reliability
Problem: Blinking green light of death
Description: This symptom has affected various Nikon DSLR: D70, D2H, F55 / N55. See this Nikon service advisory.
Solution: Repair by Nikon (before 29 February 2012 in case of D70).
Nikon D800
1. Type: Firmware issue
Problem: Occasional lock-up with the original firmware
Description: Some people found that their D800 (and some other Nikon models) as well lock up occasionally, and the only way to recover from this lock up is to remove the battery.
Solution: Upgrade Firmware. (Previously: Turn off Highlights and RGB Histogram in Playback Display Options. Some people have suspected the issue to be related to the storage medium and/or mode of operation, since different storage cards cause the D800 to behave differently.)
2. Type: QC
Problem: A batch of D800 has viewfinder / focus alignment issues
Description: Read this link
Solution: Repair by Nikon
Nikon D90
Type: Reliability
Problem: Blinking green light of death
Description: Not admitted or confirmed by Nikon. See this link.
Solution: Repair by Nikon. Also see this link.
AF-S Nikkor 24mm f/1.4G ED
Type: Focus issue / QC
Description: There are enough reports of focus issues to indicate a potential problem with some copies of this lens, but some people have found no problem.
Solution: Repair by Nikon.
AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
Type: Minor flaw
Problem: Light leak through the distance window
Description See this link and this link.
Solution: Cover the distance window with a black tape.
Olympus OM-D E-M5
1. Type: Cosmetic
Problem: Paint peels off
Description: None.
Solution: None.
2. Type: Incompatibliity
Problem: Cannot wakeup from standby with Panasonic lenses
Description: When the E-M5 goes into standby, sometimes it will freeze and no longer wakup when a Panasonic lens is attached. This does not always happen. When it happens, some users find that unplugging the battery is necessary.
Solution: (To be updated).
3. Type: Incompatibility
Problem: High ISO banding when using Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 lens
Description: At ISO 1600 or above, sometimes shadow areas may show a banding pattern with Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 lens. It does not occur with any other lens, and happens independently from the type of lighting, JPEG or RAW, shutter speeds, stabilization settings, etc. This appears to be caused by some kind of interference from the lens that affects the E-M5 sensor. Read these threads: thread1, thread2, thread3
Solution: As this issue is acknowledged by Olympus, wait for a solution or workaround. May also consider using Panasonic Leica Summilux DG 25mm f/1.4 instead.
4. Type: Firmware bugs
Olympus PEN E-P1
Type: Image quality
Problem: Blurry photos with kit lens at 1/100 – 1/200 shutter speed
Description: The movement of the shutter mechanism causes vibration in the kit lens element.
Solution: Upgrade to latest firmware. Avoid these shutter ranges.
Panasonic (GF5, GX1 and GF3X kit lens) Lumix G X Vario PZ 14-42mm, 45-175mm
Type: Image quality
Problem: Blurry (edge doubling) photos at 1/60 – 1/200 shutter speed
Description: The Power OIS system on these two X lenses causes blurry photos at 1/60 – 1/200 shutter speed regardless of OIS on or off, using a tripod or not, with a Panasonic or Olympus body. Firmware upgrade to 1.1 helps some users but not all of them. Using a heavier body such as GH2 may have less problem than a lighter body such as G3. Many users have this problem to varying degrees, but some of them do not. People have notified Panasonic but there does not seem to be an official response to this issue. Note that this problem is very similar to that of Olympus PEN E-P1.
Solution: For the 14-42 X, try Kevdog’s Wobble Fix – use your finger to support the extending portion of the lens while shooting. Change to Lumix G 14-45mm (better image quality), 45-200mm (heavier but does not offer better image quality).
Pentax K-5
Type: QC
Problem: Sensor Stains
Description: See this link
Solution: Repair by Pentax
Pentax Super Sonic Drive Motor (SDM) Lenses
Type: Reliability
Problem: SDM Lenses appear to be more prone to failure than other types of Pentax lenses and other brands of lenses.
Description: See this link and this link.
Solution: Repair by Pentax
Sony A700
1. Type: Reliability
Problem: Main Mirror Retainer Falloff
Description: After a certain number of shutter actuations, small pieces come off from inside the camera.
Solution: Repair by Sony or replace the parts.
2. Type: Reliability
Problem: Skipping Control Wheel
Description: Menu items are skipped when using the control wheel due to dust or poor contact.
Solution: See this link and the comment to this post by oldmanv
3. Type: Reliability
Problem: Hot shoe broken
Description: The hot shoe can be broken by dropping or other means.
Solution: See this link and this link.
Sony NEX-5N
Type: Video
Problem: NEX-5N produces a “clicking” noise in video recording when there is camera movement.
Description: See this link for the cause and Sony’s response
Solution: Repair by Sony
Sigma lenses for Canon mount
Type: Weakness
Problem: Inaccurate AF on Canon bodies
Description: Many sigma lenses have less accurate AF on Canon bodies than Canon EF or EF-S lenses do. Some people do not suffer from this problem, but some people do. AF inaccuracies are model, copy, and body dependent. Some models are worse than others.
Solution: Recent Sigma lenses can be calibrated by Sigma, but these calibrations may not eliminate the inaccuracies.
Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di-III VC for NEX
Type: Incompatibility
Problem: Sweep panorama will be heavily blurred (other than the first frame at the left)
Description: People have sent their lenses to Tamron for repairs but there appears to be no improvement for this problem.
Solution: Change to Sony E 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS or do not use sweep panorama.
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1041&message=41466000&changemode=1
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Oldmanv said:
I can share some info about konica minolta 5d or 7d and Sony a700.
How this can be done?
moonlightknighthk said:
Perhaps you may write/paste it here? Thanks.
Oldmanv said:
So:
Both Konica minolta 5d and 7d could have problem called “first black frame”. After power on and pressing the shutter button camera makes an exposure and then don’t react to anything exept power off. Ocasionnaly the exposure could be normal, but in most ways it turs out to be black=very much underexposed. Minolta knew about this problem and repaired cameras, but sometimes the problem returns.
That one was pretty official, but some users reports about problems with control wheels on konica minolta 7d.
Sony a700: ocassional problems with control wheels(rear mostly), sometimes bad hot-shoe contact and broken main mirror retainer(some users say it breaks almost every 50.000 of shutter actuations). If the camera is on warranty period – these are fixed by Sony usually without any questions or problems.
There are some unofficial way to solve for some time problem with control wheels – a tiny drop of alcohol on the problematic control wheel when the camera is shut off, then some minutes user should turn the wheel each direction.
Theoretically – the main mirror retainer could be replaced by user with some skills, but it’s allways higly recomended to send faulty camera to repair shop, whatever the problem is.
Due to in-body image stabilization both minolta and sony digital SLR’s are vulnerable to strong shakes and/or falling to hard surface.
(excuse me my bad English)
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Micheline Peery said:
I love canon, I still get so much use out of my 1d classic