Sony A7 IV Houston, we have a problem!

[Jeff A]

Today I went out to a Car Show with my A7M4, shot 58 images then went home early due to 104° heat and started to do my Post Processing.

In my A7M4, I have an 80GB Sony CF Express “Tough” card in Slot 1 and I have a 64GB SanDisk “Extreme PRO” SDXC card in Slot 2. I shoot RAW to Slot 1 and JPEG to Slot 2. I don’t use the JPEGs for anything but a preview of what I had shot in the session.

I downloaded the JPEGs from the #2 card using a slot in the front of my PC. I then placed the CF Express card from Slot 1 in a dedicated CF Express Type A card reader which I purchased just before I took possession of my A7M4 on Christmas Eve (2021). It has been serving me well. I plugged the card reader USB-C cable in the front of my PC. Nothing happened. There’s a tiny light on the card reader and it was lit, but other than that, no response from the card reader. I tried several different new, high quality (?) USB-C cables that I had purchased for another project. Nothing I tried worked. After I gave up all of my attempts do download my RAW images, I was able to copy all the images from my CF Express card to the camera Slot 2 using menu functions in the camera.

I called Sony support and the Tech had a few things that I didn’t try, but in the end, it was a failed attempt. I boxed up the camera and sent it in To Sony for Warranty repairs, in Connecticut! Since I’m in California, it could not take a longer, time killing route.

In a few weeks, my Wife and I are headed for a family gathering in Idaho. Naturally, I had planned a lot of photos. I still have my A7M3 , but this is a let down. Has anyone had troubles like this here with a card slot? Let me know and we can compare notes. What worries me is that my card reader stopped working as well. That part of the puzzle is a big mystery.

 

[Uncle Kevriano]

Today I went out to a Car Show with my A7M4, shot 58 images then went home early due to 104° heat and started to do my Post Processing.

In my A7M4, I have an 80GB Sony CF Express “Tough” card in Slot 1 and I have a 64GB SanDisk “Extreme PRO” SDXC card in Slot 2. I shoot RAW to Slot 1 and JPEG to Slot 2. I don’t use the JPEGs for anything but a preview of what I had shot in the session.

I downloaded the JPEGs from the #2 card using a slot in the front of my PC. I then placed the CF Express card from Slot 1 in a dedicated CF Express Type A card reader which I purchased just before I took possession of my A7M4 on Christmas Eve (2021). It has been serving me well. I plugged the card reader USB-C cable in the front of my PC. Nothing happened. There’s a tiny light on the card reader and it was lit, but other than that, no response from the card reader. I tried several different new, high quality (?) USB-C cables that I had purchased for another project. Nothing I tried worked. After I gave up all of my attempts do download my RAW images, I was able to copy all the images from my CF Express card to the camera Slot 2 using menu functions in the camera.

I called Sony support and the Tech had a few things that I didn’t try, but in the end, it was a failed attempt. I boxed up the camera and sent it in To Sony for Warranty repairs, in Connecticut! Since I’m in California, it could not take a longer, time killing route.

In a few weeks, my Wife and I are headed for a family gathering in Idaho. Naturally, I had planned a lot of photos. I still have my A7M3 , but this is a let down. Has anyone had troubles like this here with a card slot? Let me know and we can compare notes. What worries me is that my card reader stopped working as well. That part of the puzzle is a big mystery.

Did you try a direct import from the camera?

 

[Hank]

I'm confused by your description Jeff.
So the card reader didn't work, but the RAWs were correctly written to the card I assume, hence being able to write them to the SD Card in slot 2? Where the RAW files fine? Were you able to then access them on the computer as normal?

From what you wrote, the message I am getting is that the CF Express card reader is the issue. Like Kev said, did you try connecting a USB C direct from the camera to the computer?

I

 

[Deleted Member 777]

By your description it doesn't sound like a camera issue. Hank's assessment of your post is the same as mine.

Is there some information missing that we're not aware of, or did the Sony tech suggest a specific problem?

Did you try a different computer or card reader, maybe a different USB slot?

 

[MrFotoFool]

It sounds like the card reader is defective, not the camera? I bought a multi-card reader from Best Buy and it stopped working almost as soon as I got it. I replaced it with a single slot SD reader from my local photo lab (since I only use SD) and it has worked fine.

That being said, there is a known issue with the A74 and slot 1. It has been an issue with the slot 1 SD slot, not reported (that I know of) with the CF Express slot. See this thread: https://www.alphashooters.com/community/threads/sd-slot-failure-on-a74.4128/

 

[Jeff A]

Did you try a direct import from the camera?

Yes, I did. I used 3 different new USB cables that are supposed to allow large data flow. I had them here for another, non photography project. I also have a USB-C male to USB-C male that my Card Reader uses. I can transfer using Slot 2 without an issue. If I move my Slot 2 card to Slot 1, it does not work either.

 

[Jeff A]

I'm confused by your description Jeff.
So the card reader didn't work, but the RAWs were correctly written to the card I assume, hence being able to write them to the SD Card in slot 2? Where the RAW files fine? Were you able to then access them on the computer as normal?

From what you wrote, the message I am getting is that the CF Express card reader is the issue. Like Kev said, did you try connecting a USB C direct from the camera to the computer?

I

To the 1st point, the RAW files were fine. I have a link elsewhere on this Forum of the Images that were processed in Lightroom that came from Slot 1. I just had to copy them to Slot 2 to get to them.As to a direct connection, yes, I tried with 4 different cables.

 

[Uncle Kevriano]

Yes, I did. I used 3 different new USB cables that are supposed to allow large data flow. I had them here for another, non photography project. I alson have a USB-C male to USB-C male that my Card Reader uses. I can transfer using Slot 2 without an issue. If I move my Slot 2 card to Slot 1, it does not work either.

Most odd. Have you thought of cleaning the SD card slot?

 

[Jeff A]

It sounds like the card reader is defective, not the camera? I bought a multi-card reader from Best Buy and it stopped working almost as soon as I got it. I replaced it with a single slot SD reader from my local photo lab (since I only use SD) and it has worked fine.

That being said, there is a known issue with the A74 and slot 1. It has been an issue with the slot 1 SD slot, not reported (that I know of) with the CF Express slot. See this thread: https://www.alphashooters.com/community/threads/sd-slot-failure-on-a74.4128/

Thanks for your reply. I tried 3 or 4 different cables connected to the camera and direct to the PC. The only thing I got was a Windows message saying the device was not recognized. I would have provided a Screenshot of this message but it disappeared too quickly.

 

[Jeff A]

Most odd. Have you thought of cleaning the SD card slot?

I have not. Not sure how to clean the slot anyway. If it was a dirty slot, it got dirty on my card reader as well.

 

[Jeff A]

Not a Prograde. It's this one.

I have a suspicion that in the entire country of China, there is one Factory that builds all the products made in China and markets them with many different Brand names. Of course, I may be wrong about this. Maybe?

 

[Jeff A]

I'm confused by your description Jeff.
So the card reader didn't work, but the RAWs were correctly written to the card I assume, hence being able to write them to the SD Card in slot 2? Where the RAW files fine? Were you able to then access them on the computer as normal?

From what you wrote, the message I am getting is that the CF Express card reader is the issue. Like Kev said, did you try connecting a USB C direct from the camera to the computer?

I

I tried my card readere in my Wife's 6 month old Lenovo Laptop. Attached is the error message.

Not different cables, different USB port.

If Windows said the device was not recognized it was referring to the card reader, not the card itself.

I have 3 USB 3.0 Ports on the front of my PC in addition to one USB-C Port. Trust me, I tried them all. I was getting the same error message using cables only to connect. I stoppped using the card reader early in the game to eliminate a device. Not my first Rodeo!

 

[Hank]

I tried my card readere in my Wife's 6 month old Lenovo Laptop. Attached is the error message.

I am now more confused than I was initially Jeff. We are all on your side it just appears to a breakdown in communication as to what actually transpired.

Is that an error message from your wife's laptop with the a7iv connected to it via USB C? Or the card reader via USB C? Are you saying both the card reader AND the #1 slot on the a7iv are knackered or only 1, or just the card?

Anyway, I hope you get a quick turn-around.

 

[Uncle Kevriano]

I have not. Not sure how to clean the slot anyway. If it was a dirty slot, it got dirty on my card reader as well.

I have cleaned my by first air dusting, and then I get an old card, put a little WD40 on the contacts, and put it in and out of the slot a few times. It solved an issue on my old camera when it wouldn't see a card.

 

[Deleted Member 777]

I tried my card readere in my Wife's 6 month old Lenovo Laptop. Attached is the error message.

I have 3 USB 3.0 Ports on the front of my PC in addition to one USB-C Port. Trust me, I tried them all. I was getting the same error message using cables only to connect. I stoppped using the card reader early in the game to eliminate a device. Not my first Rodeo!

Ok, much better seeing the actual wording that 'device failure'. What's still odd is that it works in-camera. Hopefully Sony can sort it out.

 

[liggy]

I had a similar problem that ended up being a file corruption problem. Iirc I used Sony’s data recovery software to get the files back.

 

[Jeff A]

I am now more confused than I was initially Jeff. We are all on your side it just appears to a breakdown in communication as to what actually transpired.

Is that an error message from your wife's laptop with the a7iv connected to it via USB C? Or the card reader via USB C? Are you saying both the card reader AND the #1 slot on the a7iv are knackered or only 1, or just the card?

Anyway, I hope you get a quick turn-around.

The error message is from the Laptop with the card reader in place. I now wish I had tried the camera with my Wife's laptop before I shipped the camera to Sony, but I did not. I'm hoping for a quick turn-around as well. I will be at a family gathering this evening and will take a few photos. Right now, I'm loving my decision to not sell my A7M3 when I got the M4. It's no A7 IV, but it's a pretty damn nice camera in it's own right and hey, I have a couple of lenses for it!

 

[Jeff A]

Ok, much better seeing the actual wording that 'device failure'. What's still odd is that it works in-camera. Hopefully Sony can sort it out.

Regarding Windows error messages, they are notorious for describing a non-existent problem.

 

[Jeff A]

I had a similar problem that ended up being a file corruption problem. Iirc I used Sony’s data recovery software to get the files back.

Interesting. I worry that it's a problem with the CF Express card. What is the software you used and where did you get it?

 

[liggy]

Interesting. I worry that it's a problem with the CF Express card. What is the software you used and where did you get it?

Sorry- off the top of my head I don’t recall. Fairly certain it was on the Sony website. I’ll look later and follow up.

 

[liggy]

Was definitely Sony data recovery software though.

 

[liggy]

Might have been this:

https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/downloads/00015801

 

[Clix Pix]

I would buy an official Sony card reader, the one which is a combo CFE Type A / SD card reader. Yes, it is more expensive but in the long run that may be a good thing. I have had mine nearly a year now, as I bought it at B&H just prior to getting my A1. Since I use Sony Tough SD cards in my A7R IV and RX10 IV, in addition to using two Sony Tough CFE Type A cards in the two slots in my A1, the combination works really well for me. In my A1 Card Slot 1 automatically rolls over to Card Slot 2 when I have filled the card in Slot 1 and as I keep shooting the sequence continues.

 

[Jeff A]

I would buy an official Sony card reader, the one which is a combo CFE Type A / SD card reader. Yes, it is more expensive but in the long run that may be a good thing. I have had mine nearly a year now, as I bought it at B&H just prior to getting my A1. Since I use Sony Tough SD cards in my A7R IV and RX10 IV, in addition to using two Sony Tough CFE Type A cards in the two slots in my A1, the combination works really well for me. In my A1 Card Slot 1 automatically rolls over to Card Slot 2 when I have filled the card in Slot 1 and as I keep shooting the sequence continues.

I just might do that, but I'll wait and see what the outcome of the repair is. The Service facility received my camera Wednesday the 15th. I spoke to them today and they said it normally takes 5 - 7 working days for repairs. Hopefully they have the needed parts.

 

[MrFotoFool]

I just might do that, but I'll wait and see what the outcome of the repair is. The Service facility received my camera Wednesday the 15th. I spoke to them today and they said it normally takes 5 - 7 working days for repairs. Hopefully they have the needed parts.

Yes hopefully they do have the parts. Mine were on backorder and the repair took six weeks! (And I had it sent in by my local repair shop who knows someone there and kept on them).

 

[Jeff A]

Yes hopefully they do have the parts. Mine were on backorder and the repair took six weeks! (And I had it sent in by my local repair shop who knows someone there and kept on them).

Ouch! Don't even think that. It might stick!

 

[Jeff A]

Houston, we have a problem! (Update)​

So, I got an email from the repair facility yesterday. I'll paste the bulk of it below. I would appreciate it if anyone who owns an A7 IV and has had warranty repairs, please share all the details with me, please.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Hello Jeffrey Atchison,

We wanted to provide you an update on your repair status. Parts to complete your repair are currently on order. Once received in our facility we will process and work to diligently finish your repair. Many parts are currently taking 1-2 weeks to arrive, creating a delay in completing the repair. Should the parts arrival extend beyond two weeks we will contact you again to update repair status.

We are sorry for the delay in handling your repair and are doing everything possible to expedite the parts needed to complete your repair. Thank you for choosing Sony DI Repair at PCVR. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Please note, for real time status updates on your repair please go to: https://www.precisioncamera.com/sony

Sincerely,

The Sony DI Repair at PCVR Team

PCR Repair #: ???????
Make: ILCE-7 IV
Model: Sony
Serial: 6123###
Accessories Received:

 

[MrFotoFool]

I had my A74 repaired for slot failure, here are the details. It was only a couple months old when it happened, the SD card in slot 1 (the only one I had been using) was in the permanent eject position and would not allow a card to be inserted. I took to my excellent local repair shop, Tucson Camera Repair. He could not fix it and said he would have to send it in to the only authorized Sony repair facility, which he offered to do on my behalf. The parts were backordered and it took about six weeks to get repaired. It was fixed under warranty, but I had to pay the shipping cost to my local repair shop. I have since been using slot 2, the single slot, since reports on this forum suggest slot 1 (the dual slot) is more prone to failure.

 

[Jeff A]

I had my A74 repaired for slot failure, here are the details. It was only a couple months old when it happened, the SD card in slot 1 (the only one I had been using) was in the permanent eject position and would not allow a card to be inserted. I took to my excellent local repair shop, Tucson Camera Repair. He could not fix it and said he would have to send it in to the only authorized Sony repair facility, which he offered to do on my behalf. The parts were backordered and it took about six weeks to get repaired. It was fixed under warranty, but I had to pay the shipping cost to my local repair shop. I have since been using slot 2, the single slot, since reports on this forum suggest slot 1 (the dual slot) is more prone to failure.

Well, since I have invested in a CFexpress card, I'll continue using both slots. I can tell you that card insertions and removals have been smooth as glass. Even though I got the word from the repair facility, I don't know what they have found. In my case, the card could not be read with a card reader or a cable connection but could be read by the camera and the other slot. That just makes no sense. I have no knowledge of the workings of my camera but my GUESS is that in my case, it was an electronic problem and not a mechanical problem.

 

[Jeff A]

I just tripped over this thread that I started half a year ago. Once the problem was solved, I should have made this post, but I didn't. I'm so sorry to the responders for this. So NOW, Finally, this is the answer. The card slot was the problem. They replaced the card slot, which BTW was an integral part of the main board. A long and painful experience, but it's done and now.