I use a Sony SLT A-57 with the Sony 18-250 3.5-6.3 zoom lens for most of my photography. While I am generally pleased with the results, I occasionally get images that are distinctly blurred on the right hand side. This happens unpredictably under circumstances where the image should clearly be in focus all the way across the image. I have attached a few images below to demonstrate the issue.

I am wondering whether anyone with similar kit has had a similar problem and has had it fixed successfully.

I have been thinking of doing an extensive evaluation of the problem, but the effort looks pretty daunting. The following are factors that I suspect could influence the outcome, and the number of combinations to check would be huge.

First, some of what I believe are non-issues:

1) the field of view is flat
- I am positioned perpendicular to the field of view (like a wall)
- DOF should not be an issue for L & R objects at the same distance from the camera

2) camera movement is essentially zero
- I am using a good tripod (MeFoto Road Trip) at less than full extension and centre post not raised
- there is little if any wind (interior shots also have the blur problem)
- I use 2 second delay to trip the shutter

3) shutter and shutter speed issues
- the SLT camera has a translucent mirror, so no mirror slap
- I use electronic first curtain, so no shutter movement at start of image recording
- would require multiple shots to check out all shutter speeds just to be sure

Possible image sensor issues:

4) sensor not aligned perpendicularly to the optical axis
- but then why are some images OK?

5) image stabilization system not working correctly
- could try ON and OFF conditions, but even in the ON position the amount and direction of corrective movement may vary

6) stabilization is turned ON while camera is on tripod
- yes, that would be my fault, but I have definitely had it OFF and still get the blur
- I also know I have had it ON and did NOT get blur

Possible lens issues:

7) elements misaligned
- this would be a huge problem to check, because some images are fine

8) elements move for focus and for zoom
- would require taking shots at multiple zoom settings at many different focus distances to check for interaction
- I thought the problem would be mostly at wide angles, but I have included a full-wide shot at 18 mm that has similar sharpness on L & R sides

9) interaction with aperture settings
- DOF could be a factor, but most of my setups have a flat field and should not be soft due to DOF
- most scenery/architecture shots are on tripod and f8 to f11, so near sweet spot for aperture
- would require taking shots at multiple apertures to check for a problem

10) in-camera image processing to JPEG (software)
- even raw images are blurred, so I suspect this is not an issue


As you can see the number of combinations to shoot would be daunting, to say the least.

Another option is to search my images and pull out those where there is a problem, as well as those that could have had a problem but did not, and then look through the EXIF data for a pattern (zoom setting, focus distance, aperture, shutter speed, stabilization setting, etc). Again, huge effort.

Apart from my question as to whether anyone has had a similar problem and had it fixed, have I missed something obvious as to possible cause? Any suggestions of how to narrow down all the possible combinations to zero in on the likely problem? Would a camera repair facility be able to zero in the problem or would I probably get a general overhaul followed by a 30 day warranty on the service, during which time I may or may not encounter the problem again?

And NO, I don't need suggestions to scrap the Sony and go Canon or Nikon. If I ditch the A-57 I would go for the new Sony mirrorless anyway.

Thanks for any help/guidance.

Any chance that lens might have been bumped or dropped somewhere along the way? Do you feel any unusual play between the two sections as you zoom it in or out? Sometimes it doesn't take much of an impact to make something loose that was tight or to make something crooked that was straight. I agree that if this is an IS lens, that might be a suspect area, but I'm guessing that your IS is in the camera. Things wouldn't have to move a lot or be very loose to allow elements to be out of place enough to disturb the ability to focus properly.

I know that I have often left IS in the ON state when I put the camera on the tripod (I keep it ON for handheld shots, and turning if OFF means visiting the menu system; damn... why isn't there a tripod detector in the base of the camera!!!).

But here are two shots taken seconds apart with IS turned OFF both times, camera on a tripod. The main difference is that the second was taken with flash and auto-ISO. This altered ISO, shutter speed, aperture and metering pattern; all else stayed the same ( including zoom focal length and focus distance). The surprising thing is that the blurrier image was shot with a significantly higher shutter speed, so I really don't think camera movement is a factor at all.

There is some difference in the degree of blur on the right between the two images, probably related to aperture. But the point I am making is the IS was OFF in both images, yet there is a problem with the RH side of the photos.

On or off, IS is still in the optical path. I'm not saying the problem is
camera shake or that IS is on. I'm saying IS is broken and it's affecting your
image even when IS is turned off.

I don't know anything about Sony's implementation, but I'd guess it's similar
to Nikon's (VR) and Canon's: a floating lens element that is actuated by
electromagnets. When it's turned off, the the floating lens is supposed to
return to the center position and not move. It rorates in two axes---if one
of them is sticking, you might not notice unless it suddenly unstuck and
moved. Vibration caused by the shutter might be the trigger.

Generally, features that you don't use can hurt you in most optical and
mechanical systems.

I use a Sony SLT A-57 with the Sony 18-250 3.5-6.3 zoom lens for most of my photography. While I am generally pleased with the results, I occasionally get images that are distinctly blurred on the right hand side. This happens unpredictably under circumstances where the image should clearly be in focus all the way across the image. I have attached a few images below to demonstrate the issue.

I am wondering whether anyone with similar kit has had a similar problem and has had it fixed successfully.

I have been thinking of doing an extensive evaluation of the problem, but the effort looks pretty daunting. The following are factors that I suspect could influence the outcome, and the number of combinations to check would be huge.

First, some of what I believe are non-issues:

1) the field of view is flat
- I am positioned perpendicular to the field of view (like a wall)
- DOF should not be an issue for L & R objects at the same distance from the camera

2) camera movement is essentially zero
- I am using a good tripod (MeFoto Road Trip) at less than full extension and centre post not raised
- there is little if any wind (interior shots also have the blur problem)
- I use 2 second delay to trip the shutter

3) shutter and shutter speed issues
- the SLT camera has a translucent mirror, so no mirror slap
- I use electronic first curtain, so no shutter movement at start of image recording
- would require multiple shots to check out all shutter speeds just to be sure

Possible image sensor issues:

4) sensor not aligned perpendicularly to the optical axis
- but then why are some images OK?

5) image stabilization system not working correctly
- could try ON and OFF conditions, but even in the ON position the amount and direction of corrective movement may vary

6) stabilization is turned ON while camera is on tripod
- yes, that would be my fault, but I have definitely had it OFF and still get the blur
- I also know I have had it ON and did NOT get blur

Possible lens issues:

7) elements misaligned
- this would be a huge problem to check, because some images are fine

8) elements move for focus and for zoom
- would require taking shots at multiple zoom settings at many different focus distances to check for interaction
- I thought the problem would be mostly at wide angles, but I have included a full-wide shot at 18 mm that has similar sharpness on L & R sides

9) interaction with aperture settings
- DOF could be a factor, but most of my setups have a flat field and should not be soft due to DOF
- most scenery/architecture shots are on tripod and f8 to f11, so near sweet spot for aperture
- would require taking shots at multiple apertures to check for a problem

10) in-camera image processing to JPEG (software)
- even raw images are blurred, so I suspect this is not an issue


As you can see the number of combinations to shoot would be daunting, to say the least.

Another option is to search my images and pull out those where there is a problem, as well as those that could have had a problem but did not, and then look through the EXIF data for a pattern (zoom setting, focus distance, aperture, shutter speed, stabilization setting, etc). Again, huge effort.

Apart from my question as to whether anyone has had a similar problem and had it fixed, have I missed something obvious as to possible cause? Any suggestions of how to narrow down all the possible combinations to zero in on the likely problem? Would a camera repair facility be able to zero in the problem or would I probably get a general overhaul followed by a 30 day warranty on the service, during which time I may or may not encounter the problem again?

And NO, I don't need suggestions to scrap the Sony and go Canon or Nikon. If I ditch the A-57 I would go for the new Sony mirrorless anyway.

Thanks for any help/guidance.

Correct, I should have been more careful to call it IBIS rather than just IS; I guess I was wrong in assuming most folks know that Sony uses IBIS.

A later post mentions the possibility that the sensor is not returning to the correct rest position between shots and that it might be sitting off-axis for some shots (IBIS ON or OFF). I accept that as a possibility, but I certainly have no way of checking that. I suppose there could be dirt under the sensor, but I rarely change lenses and I am very careful with my camera gear, so even that should be an unlikely thing. The camera periodically goes through a self-cleaning cycle on power-down, which I expect would dislodge grit under the sensor. But who knows... I can't dismiss this one outright.

Does anyone know the range of movement of the sensor during stabilization?

I use a Sony SLT A-57 with the Sony 18-250 3.5-6.3 zoom lens for most of my photography. While I am generally pleased with the results, I occasionally get images that are distinctly blurred on the right hand side. This happens unpredictably under circumstances where the image should clearly be in focus all the way across the image. I have attached a few images below to demonstrate the issue.

I am wondering whether anyone with similar kit has had a similar problem and has had it fixed successfully.

I have been thinking of doing an extensive evaluation of the problem, but the effort looks pretty daunting. The following are factors that I suspect could influence the outcome, and the number of combinations to check would be huge.

First, some of what I believe are non-issues:

1) the field of view is flat
- I am positioned perpendicular to the field of view (like a wall)
- DOF should not be an issue for L & R objects at the same distance from the camera

2) camera movement is essentially zero
- I am using a good tripod (MeFoto Road Trip) at less than full extension and centre post not raised
- there is little if any wind (interior shots also have the blur problem)
- I use 2 second delay to trip the shutter

3) shutter and shutter speed issues
- the SLT camera has a translucent mirror, so no mirror slap
- I use electronic first curtain, so no shutter movement at start of image recording
- would require multiple shots to check out all shutter speeds just to be sure

Possible image sensor issues:

4) sensor not aligned perpendicularly to the optical axis
- but then why are some images OK?

5) image stabilization system not working correctly
- could try ON and OFF conditions, but even in the ON position the amount and direction of corrective movement may vary

6) stabilization is turned ON while camera is on tripod
- yes, that would be my fault, but I have definitely had it OFF and still get the blur
- I also know I have had it ON and did NOT get blur

Possible lens issues:

7) elements misaligned
- this would be a huge problem to check, because some images are fine

8) elements move for focus and for zoom
- would require taking shots at multiple zoom settings at many different focus distances to check for interaction
- I thought the problem would be mostly at wide angles, but I have included a full-wide shot at 18 mm that has similar sharpness on L & R sides

9) interaction with aperture settings
- DOF could be a factor, but most of my setups have a flat field and should not be soft due to DOF
- most scenery/architecture shots are on tripod and f8 to f11, so near sweet spot for aperture
- would require taking shots at multiple apertures to check for a problem

10) in-camera image processing to JPEG (software)
- even raw images are blurred, so I suspect this is not an issue


As you can see the number of combinations to shoot would be daunting, to say the least.

Another option is to search my images and pull out those where there is a problem, as well as those that could have had a problem but did not, and then look through the EXIF data for a pattern (zoom setting, focus distance, aperture, shutter speed, stabilization setting, etc). Again, huge effort.

Apart from my question as to whether anyone has had a similar problem and had it fixed, have I missed something obvious as to possible cause? Any suggestions of how to narrow down all the possible combinations to zero in on the likely problem? Would a camera repair facility be able to zero in the problem or would I probably get a general overhaul followed by a 30 day warranty on the service, during which time I may or may not encounter the problem again?

And NO, I don't need suggestions to scrap the Sony and go Canon or Nikon. If I ditch the A-57 I would go for the new Sony mirrorless anyway.

Thanks for any help/guidance.