Blackmagic Forum

On occasion and more frequently of late, the BMPC does not have the focus, iris function and display. Sometimes it activates if I turn the camera off and on again. Other times, these features come on and then go off. Recently,
theses features don't come on at all.

The camera is about a month old. I am using the Panasonic 20mm, F1.7, Olympus 45mm, F1.8. and the Panasonic 12-35, f2.8.

Please advise if there is something I can do, or if I need to send it back to Blackmagic.

Also how to I check if a firmware update is required. So far I have not have the white dot/black orb issue.

Edit added: the camera is always turned off before a lens is changed. The problem, however, is not limited to when a lens is changed.

The contacts on the (MFT) lenses are fine since they work on my GH3. Not certain how, or why, contacts on the BMPCC would have to be cleaned with normal use. I have sent an email to Blackmagic for their fix advice or an RMA to return the camera.

Needless to say...disappointing after only a month. I love the image, so hopefully the delay won't be long.

I appreciate any advice.

Best,

Chuck

Do you power down the camera before changing lenses?

You, wrote: "Do you power down the camera before changing lenses?"

Of course. The camera is always off before changing lenses.

Any ideas or recommendations other than sending the camera back?

iconoclast6 wrote:On occasion and more frequently of late, the BMPC does have the focus, iris function and display.

You probably lost a "not" in this sentence somewhere? You are _not_ having iris and focus functions, right?

I guess that's because the camera can't communicate with the lens. The reasons could be changing lenses while the camera is still on (you don't do that, ok). Or the contacts at the lens mount or lens could be dirty. Or, to assume the worst, some circuitry inside the camera is broken. Try cleaning the contacts, yet if the problem persists you may have to send the camera back to BMD.

The contacts on the (MFT) lenses are fine since they work on my GH3. Not certain how, or why, contacts on the BMPCC would have to be cleaned with normal use.

I have sent an email to Blackmagic for their fix advice or an RMA to return the camera.

Needless to say...disappointing after only a month. I love the image, so hopefully the delay won't be long.

I've had major problems with the Lumix 20mm. Essentially the auto iris and focus would happen without even touching the buttons. After a few chats with BM support they suggested sending it in since they didn't really have an answer. Some users have been experiencing this, some not. Frustrating since this is such a common m43 lens. However, I also have the Olympus 17mm 1.8 and haven't had any problems (this lens is actually supported). Anyway, I'd give them a shout.

I started a thread about this a little while back.
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=13743

You say it happens with all three lenses? Then it surely isn't the lenses fault. Otherwise, if only one lens shows problems, i'd blame the lens and would first try to update the lenses firmware.

iconoclast6 wrote:On occasion and more frequently of late, the BMPC does not have the focus, iris function and display. Sometimes it activates if I turn the camera off and on again. Other times, these features come on and then go off. Recently,
theses features don't come on at all.

The camera is about a month old. I am using the Panasonic 20mm, F1.7, Olympus 45mm, F1.8. and the Panasonic 12-35, f2.8.

Please advise if there is something I can do, or if I need to send it back to Blackmagic.

Also how to I check if a firmware update is required. So far I have not have the white dot/black orb issue.

Edit added: the camera is always turned off before a lens is changed. The problem, however, is not limited to when a lens is changed.

The contacts on the (MFT) lenses are fine since they work on my GH3. Not certain how, or why, contacts on the BMPCC would have to be cleaned with normal use. I have sent an email to Blackmagic for their fix advice or an RMA to return the camera.

Needless to say...disappointing after only a month. I love the image, so hopefully the delay won't be long.

I appreciate any advice.

Best,

Chuck

I had my first BMPCC do this straight out of the box...basically the MFT electronics on the camera were dead. No I do have a somewhat related problem with my Lumix 20mm and apparently a couple of other users were having this same issue with the exact same lens. If it's happening with all your Lumix lenses then I would say your mount electronics are dead...if it's just the 20mm then I would say that's probably an incompatibility issue with that specific lens since it's not officially listed on their supported list of lenses. Would be interested to know what BM support have to say.