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I contacted Olympus over a weird noise that my EM1 with 12-40mm makes, it kind of sounds like static on an old radio and then at times like an old modem. My first thought were IBIS or constant AF so turned both of these off yet the noise is still there. It's very sporadic and I can get it to stop by half pressing the shutter. Olympus asked for a video which I duly sent. On the video the noise kept happening every time I tilted the camera, but this isn't always the case, and it can do when just sat on my desk etc.
https://youtu.be/9az1UMDCrmE
Anyway Olympus' reply was this.
Thank you very much for sending this video through for me to see/ hear.
I can confirm that this is the noise of the cameras image stabiliser, which works off 5 motors and a floating electromagnetic cushion it is the amalgamation of these noises that you are hearing, I am happy to verify that this is normal for this camera.
Should you require any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me and I will be happy to help you further.
I replied back asking why IBIS would be working even though it's turned off, and why it's intermittent. To which they replied.
Do you have the camera set to C-AF (continuous auto focus)? as this would keep everything active.
If you are unhappy with the noise and/ or performance of the camera please send the camera to us for a check up/ service and we can test it along side our master camera at our repair facility.
I recommend sending in your camera so we can check it out and give you some peace of mind when using the camera in future.
I then replied back saying that I wanted to get to the bottom of whether the problem was normal or not without having to send it in as I'd rather send my camera back for a replacement rather than having it repaired, to which I got this response.
Yes, please take it back to the retailer for an exchange.
Should you require any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me and I will be happy to help you further.
I'm really baffled as they initially appeared quite sure that the noise was normal but quite quickly backtracked and then were quite happy for me to send the camera back. It doesn't fill me with the greatest of confidence about Olympus service tbh.
Anyway, in the meantime I was directed to this thread and the noise described sounds very similar to that of mine.
http://e-group.uk.net/forum/showthread.php?t=30236
If you go to post 38 on page 3 olympus inform the op that it's the 12-40mm lens and not the body. I will conduct some tests with other lenses and if I still get the noise it demonstrates that it's the body and not the lens, but if it doesn't occur then it would confirm that it's the lens or body/lens combo as described in post 38.
"I have checked this phenomenon with OIMC colleagues in Tokyo last week,
This is noise from 12-40 lens which can not be avoided. As 12-40mm lens uses linear motor for focusing mechanism, it needs to be working time by time to keep its position and to be able to focus fast & accurate. Our R&D dept has checked it and confirmed this is not a defect."
My gut feeling is that it's normal based on the thread above, but it would be nice to get my hands on another to test them. It doesn't really bother me, other than the slight uncertainty that it might not be right.
https://youtu.be/9az1UMDCrmE
Anyway Olympus' reply was this.
Thank you very much for sending this video through for me to see/ hear.
I can confirm that this is the noise of the cameras image stabiliser, which works off 5 motors and a floating electromagnetic cushion it is the amalgamation of these noises that you are hearing, I am happy to verify that this is normal for this camera.
Should you require any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me and I will be happy to help you further.
I replied back asking why IBIS would be working even though it's turned off, and why it's intermittent. To which they replied.
Do you have the camera set to C-AF (continuous auto focus)? as this would keep everything active.
If you are unhappy with the noise and/ or performance of the camera please send the camera to us for a check up/ service and we can test it along side our master camera at our repair facility.
I recommend sending in your camera so we can check it out and give you some peace of mind when using the camera in future.
I then replied back saying that I wanted to get to the bottom of whether the problem was normal or not without having to send it in as I'd rather send my camera back for a replacement rather than having it repaired, to which I got this response.
Yes, please take it back to the retailer for an exchange.
Should you require any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me and I will be happy to help you further.
I'm really baffled as they initially appeared quite sure that the noise was normal but quite quickly backtracked and then were quite happy for me to send the camera back. It doesn't fill me with the greatest of confidence about Olympus service tbh.
Anyway, in the meantime I was directed to this thread and the noise described sounds very similar to that of mine.
http://e-group.uk.net/forum/showthread.php?t=30236
If you go to post 38 on page 3 olympus inform the op that it's the 12-40mm lens and not the body. I will conduct some tests with other lenses and if I still get the noise it demonstrates that it's the body and not the lens, but if it doesn't occur then it would confirm that it's the lens or body/lens combo as described in post 38.
"I have checked this phenomenon with OIMC colleagues in Tokyo last week,
This is noise from 12-40 lens which can not be avoided. As 12-40mm lens uses linear motor for focusing mechanism, it needs to be working time by time to keep its position and to be able to focus fast & accurate. Our R&D dept has checked it and confirmed this is not a defect."
My gut feeling is that it's normal based on the thread above, but it would be nice to get my hands on another to test them. It doesn't really bother me, other than the slight uncertainty that it might not be right.
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