Sony E mount lens doesn't lock: More often than not, I'm out birding with my Sony 7AR4 and Sony 200-600 lens. I see GBH rise from marsh, hit the back-button focus and nothing happens.

jonjacobik Loc: Quincy, MA

More often than not, I'm out birding with my Sony 7AR4 and Sony 200-600 lens. I see GBH rise from marsh, hit the back-button focus and nothing happens.
My lens, having been lock in place is no longer locked and has slipped a couple of degrees away from the normal locked position. As soon as I move the lens a little clockwise, press the lens lock button, I'll hear the click and as I watch the GBH move toward the horizon, my focus is working again.

I'm coming up on the 10 or 11th month since I purchased it, I'm considering getting it back for warranty repair, but if it's something I can fix . . . I would.
The lens is heavy, and E mount is smaller than most mounts so strain is expected but it should last more year.
The lens lock button and pin seem to move freely.
Any ideas that might lead to an secure lens? Thanks

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

jonjacobik wrote:

More often than not, I'm out birding with my Sony ... (show quote)

I would send it back for warranty repair.

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

Any chance the range switch was set to 10m+ and the bird was originally inside this distance?

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

jonjacobik wrote:

More often than not, I'm out birding with my Sony ... (show quote)

Are you sure you are not detaching the lens yourself?
The release button is right where you grip the camera and I would guess you are releasing the lens while gripping the camera. Especially with a large heavy lens you will be making sure you have a complete grip.

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

Architect1776 wrote:

Are you sure you are not detaching the lens yourself?
The release button is right where you grip the camera and I would guess you are releasing the lens while gripping the camera. Especially with a large heavy lens you will be making sure you have a complete grip.

I've done this a couple of times on my Sony cameras/lenses...

bwa

User ID

PixelStan77 wrote:

I would send it back for warranty repair.

But all the moving parts involved with latching are in the body.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

I have had the same problem with my a7r3 and smaller lenses. I attribute it to the motion of my hiking and inadvertent contact with the lens release in handling.

jonjacobik Loc: Quincy, MA

You are probably right in that it's easy enough to hit the lens release button. I'll watch for that.

Thanks.

User ID

Never happens to me anymore. There’s a style hair tie back or “skruntchie” that looks like a cloth covered O-ring. The cross section maybe 3/16”. It resides over the seam between the lens and body flanges, like some extra weather sealing. It’s thickness makes it a minor special effort to intentionally unlatch the lens, so accidental unlatching is just not happening.

Stretch it over the rear barrel, mount the lens, then roll the “O-ring off the rear barrel and it snaps itself into place, obscuring about half of the latch button.

Carry spares. Easy to forget to catch it when unmounting the lens, so these little black items often hit the ground unnoticed and get lost. After a while you forget less often but it will still happen from time to time when you’re in a hurry.

Canisdirus

Architect1776 wrote:

Are you sure you are not detaching the lens yourself?
The release button is right where you grip the camera and I would guess you are releasing the lens while gripping the camera. Especially with a large heavy lens you will be making sure you have a complete grip.

That sounds like the problem. If it were loose..it would be loose from the get go. I have the same setup...and the 600mm locks tight.

jonjacobik Loc: Quincy, MA

A quick follow up. My local camera shop - Hunts Photo took a look at my problem and quickly diagnosed a bent camera mount. It seems that this, the heaviest E mount lens is a much for the thin steel mounting plate.

It's back at the Sony designated service center for a warranty repair.

Thanks everyone.

Canisdirus

jonjacobik wrote:

A quick follow up. My local camera shop - Hunts Photo took a look at my problem and quickly diagnosed a bent camera mount. It seems that this, the heaviest E mount lens is a much for the thin steel mounting plate.

It's back at the Sony designated service center for a warranty repair.

Thanks everyone.

It's more likely that either you received a defective mount...or you have been using a strap or gimbal on the body and not the lens.

If it was a problem of engineering...there would be many articles pointing out the problems...there isn't.
A lot of folks use the A7RIV with the Sony 600 f/4 ...even heavier.
Same result...no posts about mount failures.

jonjacobik Loc: Quincy, MA

Strap is always on the lens bracket. I shoot at least 2000 photos a month, mostly over trails. It's the same mounting plate used on a small 50mm prime. Someone didn't test it like I use it. My s/n is 670, one first made. If it was defective, the problem would have shown up last October when it was new. It just wasn't build for wear and tear.

You seem to be one of those blame the user people. Bad manors.

Canisdirus

jonjacobik wrote:

Strap is always on the lens bracket. I shoot at least 2000 photos a month, mostly over trails. It's the same mounting plate used on a small 50mm prime. Someone didn't test it like I use it. My s/n is 670, one first made. If it was defective, the problem would have shown up last October when it was new. It just wasn't build for wear and tear.

You seem to be one of those blame the user people. Bad manors.

I'm just looking at the options...
Believe me...there are plenty of folks out there who have put the A7RIV and the Sony 200mm-600mm lens through the paces.
It's just not come up on the web.
Which leaves me to believe ...it's not a problem.
So...either you had an accident (perhaps unknowingly)...or you got a defective unit.
The body certainly isn't heavy enough to bend a mount.