Sony A7 IV Sony RMT-P1BT remote intermittent

[rgarven]

Friends,

Another one of my weird problems. I have this relatively brand new Sony remote with a brand new battery. It’s paired properly to my camera. Airplane mode is off seems to be working perfectly and then it just doesn’t. Trying to do some Astro photography and it’s a real pain in the ass. So I come inside I’m gonna swap out batteries even though it has a brand new battery in it. Take the battery out put it back in and it’s working perfectly, but then after around 20 shots or so it just stops functioning as anyone else had this problem to think it’s a malfunctioning unit?

Does anyone have this model remote control and his camera and have they had any similar problems?

Thanks to all,

Rob

 

[Tim Mayo]

I’ve not had that issue with mine. What lens are you using? If third-party that could potentially cause issues, I’d try it with a Sony lens. Otherwise it might be faulty and I’d send it back if still in the returns window.

 

[rgarven]

Tim,
After typing my question into Google, I found I was not alone. A lot of people have had a similar problem. I tried doing everything Sony suggested, un pairing, repairing the device restarting the camera of course all my firmware is up-to-date..

I was looking to buy a new one, but even on Amazon most for sale are used, just a handful of people offering new ones so maybe they’re going to discontinue it or replace it with a new model.

I’m using my new Sony GM lens so I’m pretty sure that’s not it. Some of the suggestions of people on line is to clean the contacts with alcohol so I will try that. I may also try to pry up those two contacts under the battery so they make a firmer contact. If I can’t fix it, I may look into a generic brand several have good ratings.

I’m pretty bummed because most of my Sony products work pretty good including my new double battery charger but this thing it works and then sometimes it doesn’t.

 

[evacguy]

Any luck with the remote? On a completely different tack, what was your target for the astro shoot and are you tracking?

 

[rgarven]

No luck it’s still intermittent working… I’m out in the desert for a few days so I was just trying to get some store shots. I’m using my Sony A74, 16 to 35 GM lens, 10 seconds, 8000 ISO. got a few good shots, but I’m so frustrated with the remote. I’ll try again tonight. I got a maven star filter. focuser that I wanna try out. I’m really frustrated with this remote. I’m pretty sure it’s it and not the camera cause if you take the battery out and put it right back in towards working instantly.

 

[evacguy]

No luck it’s still intermittent working… I’m out in the desert for a few days so I was just trying to get some store shots. I’m using my Sony A74, 16 to 35 GM lens, 10 seconds, 8000 ISO. got a few good shots, but I’m so frustrated with the remote. I’ll try again tonight. I got a maven star filter. focuser that I wanna try out. I’m really frustrated with this remote. I’m pretty sure it’s it and not the camera cause if you take the battery out and put it right back in towards working instantly.

I'll be interested to hear how you get on with the filter, I have the same one, but haven't used it yet. I also have the same camera - I love the A7iv.

 

[Richard A]

I'll be interested to hear how you get on with the filter, I have the same one, but haven't used it yet.

Me too. I was actually looking at the sky just out the front of my house last night. Is a good time of year here for Orion. Just have to find some interesting foreground.

 

[Tim Mayo]

No luck it’s still intermittent working… I’m out in the desert for a few days so I was just trying to get some store shots. I’m using my Sony A74, 16 to 35 GM lens, 10 seconds, 8000 ISO. got a few good shots, but I’m so frustrated with the remote. I’ll try again tonight. I got a maven star filter. focuser that I wanna try out. I’m really frustrated with this remote. I’m pretty sure it’s it and not the camera cause if you take the battery out and put it right back in towards working instantly.

If you not already using it then you could try installing Imaging Edge Mobile and use this as a temporary fix whilst away from home.

Imaging Edge Mobile | Creators' Cloud

creatorscloud.sony.net

 

[lodbrok]

Get one of these. Love this remote. Can see the time when doing long exposure - timelapse etc.
Both the reciever and transmitter uses trippel AAA. which you find everywhere.

https://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Remote-Shutter-Release-Control/dp/B07VMX8XD7/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1S0XD2GPUER2N&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.IiuWSf51ZB2UO_BpkraN0XajvNBilxO0Ytx91YJOQTC6gqTiSTXfizIFo_yIbd-Sha5tHaU16xVzOxqQPC8OGuJCDPzIfOHyC9pUIIST28ELOfoaffd1-Fko7tFqc_ORu1ju_KnBIdOI-diEGpurUToLpNwJ_zMsVpEyP9WV1Ai7FaPLuQpbwrW_NN9Vy8k5ItCR2c_7C42CxKfrDNkTZ9f28c0wRmmob1tZYN2mRJQ.k8RMdvqYxH3PPmw0OaEYh5wJ-gIIS6hESLL69ngy_S8&dib_tag=se&keywords=remotecontrol%2Bsony%2Ba7iv&qid=1735662367&sprefix=remotecontroll%2Bsony%2Ba7iv%2Caps%2C174&sr=8-2&th=1

 

[rgarven]

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions and ideas. Where I’m at is pretty cold like 20°F so I was outside trying to shoot some star photos. I ended up using the two second timer on the camera which works well. I had my fancy Sony remote around my neck on a lanyard and it would not work at all until I came back inside the Room took out the battery and put it back in. I’m wondering Tim or anyone else who has one of these that’s working if you could open it up and tell me what brand battery you are using, because I’m using an energizer 2032 and I know some batteries have different Profiles. Maybe this one is not letting the contacts of the remote control work as well??

As for that star focus filter, I forgot the Russian name of it. It works pretty good, but I’m not sure works any better than not using it. There was no real instructions, but what I did was put it on the camera. Try to focus it on the brightest star that I could find while zoomed in on my lens. Then I took it off on Zoom back down to 16 mm and took the shots. The brighter the star the better it works. Basically you get some little rainbow colored spikes going off in four direction, for smaller stars only in two directions. It’s funny I used to have some psychedelic sunglasses from the 70s. That did the same thing at any light you looked at.

I looked at the remote you posted, but I already ordered another one on Amazon kind of a cheaper one that had like 95% positive reviews but I’ll certainly consider that one. The only drawback on that is you have to have the receiver plugged into the camera and I was looking for some kind of simple solution, but I do like the fact that you can see on the LED screen how long exposure you’re using. What’s funny on some of my cheaper cameras you could set the exposure for longer than 30 seconds, I wish this camera had that, but anyway I’m having some fun, the place we’re staying is a Hot Springs resort and every room has a fireplace so there’s a lot of smoke coming out of chimneys and a lot of light pollution around here That I tried to avoid with no luck, when I get home. I’ll post a few pictures. I’m hoping I get at least one good one.

Once again, thanks for everyone being part of this community it is really important and has really made my A7 IV Sony experience much better so thanks to all of you and for Tim our host!!!

I like my new GM 16-35 lens but I keep going back to my 24-105 G for walking around and taking pictures. It seems like the perfect zoom ratio. And I bought it from a suggestion from Tim when I first joined the website.

Rob somewhere in the wilds of New Mexico

 

[Richard A]

Can you not use an app on your phone as remote for your camera?

 

[rgarven]

Of course, I was just trying to keep all the light pollution down to a minimum plus the old app I had on my phone‘s not working. It seems like they switched to a newer one.

 

[Richard A]

I have an A7RV which uses the new Creators App. Not sure about the A7IV. But I would think that a wireless controller that needs a transmitter fitted to the camera would just be a pain. I’d prefer to have a wired one. I should say though, that I haven’t really used the Creators App as a remote.