Sony Firmware Updates (Page 4)
Sony has released a firmware updated for its FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM that resolves an issue when the lens is used with the Sony a7 III and a7R III mirrorless cameras. (thanks Niklas)
From Sony:
Benefits and Improvements
- Resolves an issue where, in rare cases, a SEL1635GM lens is not properly initialized when used with an ILCE-7M3 (a7 III) or ILCE-7RM3 (a7R III) camera.
Download: Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM Firmware v.03
SAN DIEGO, Jan. 15, 2019 -- Sony Electronics Inc. today announced a major upgrade to its a9 mirrorless camera that will be available via a firmware update.
Sony's revolutionary a9 camera will receive several major enhancements to its award-winning autofocus (AF) performance and image quality, as well as receive a variety of new features that are designed to improve the overall workflow for professional photographers. In addition, new firmware updates for a7R III and a7 III will be available that update these cameras with the latest enhancements including Real-time Eye AF performance and add interval recording capacities.
"These new firmware upgrades demonstrate the strong commitment that Sony has to our customers," said Neal Manowitz, vice president of Imaging Solutions at Sony Electronics. "Their voice is critical to everything we do, and being able to provide our customers with new capabilities is a source of great pride for Sony."
Firmware Ver. 5.0 and Ver. 6.0 for a9
The upcoming firmware version 5.0 for a9 adds Sony's newly developed Real-time Tracking mode for object tracking. This mode utilizes Sony's latest algorithm—including Artificial Intelligence-based object recognition—and processes color, subject distance (depth), pattern (brightness) as well as spatial (distance) information to ensure that all subjects can be captured with extreme accuracy and precision. When photographing or videographing humans or animals, face and eye position information is recognized by AI and the subject's eyei is monitored in real time with extremely high tracking precision. In addition, "Tracking On" helps initiate real-time tracking at any time by simply pressing a custom-assigned buttonii and "Touch Tracking," which quickly activates through the touch screenii.
With this new firmware version 5.0, Sony's acclaimed a9 camera will receive advanced "Real-time Eye AF," the latest version of Sony's acclaimed Eye AF technology. This exciting new capability employs AI-based object recognition to detect and process eye location data in real time, resulting in improved accuracy, speed and tracking performance of Eye AF. In all autofocus modes, the camera can automatically detect the eyes of the subject and activate Eye AF with a half press of the shutter button, and the camera will seamlessly track the eyes at all times when in AF-C mode. The new firmware will also enable photographers to select the preferred eye (left or right) of their subject as the focus point.
Other focusing capabilities that will be available with the new firmware include Touch Pad, Touch Tracking, an extended phase-detection AF aperture range that has been increased from F11 to F16, and Fast Hybrid AF for movie shooting that provides smooth, automated focusing for movies.
Image quality will also be enhanced with the new a9 firmware version 5.0, specifically in the areas of color reproduction. The camera will more accurately account for subtle changes in light for smoother, more natural tonal gradations in elements like the sky. There is a new auto white balance algorithm that gets added as well, which produces more consistently balanced images while burst shooting. Other new functions for efficient controls and data management include My Dial and Dual Slot media menu improvement, rating and protect functions.
In addition to the several new capabilities, the firmware also adds compatibility with Sony's new Imaging Edge Mobileiii application - the successor to the PlayMemories Mobile application. The new Imaging Edge Mobile application features a 'Transfer & Tagging add-on'iv function to assist professional workflow. This allows photographers to transfer images from their camera to their smartphone during capture using the FTP transfer functionalityv, and adds support for including IPTC metadatavi on transferred images.
Version 6.0 firmware for the a9 camera will add Eye AF for animal eyesi, an exciting new feature for wildlife photographers that will enable interval shooting functionality for creating time-lapse moviesvii.
The new system firmware update version 5.0 is scheduled for launch in March 2019, and version 6.0 is scheduled for Summer 2019.
Firmware Ver. 3.0 for a7R III and a7 III
Sony's popular a7R III and a7 III full-frame cameras will both receive enhanced Real-time Eye AF performance with the upcoming firmware version 3.0. This will be available in AF-C mode with a simple half-press of the shutter button. Real-Time Eye AF for animalsi will also be available.
The cameras will also receive interval recording functionality that will allow for simple creation of time-lapse moviesvii. The new feature can be set for anywhere between 1 and 60 seconds, with a total number of shots from 1 to 9999. AE tracking sensitivity can also be adjusted to "High", "Mid" or "Low" during interval recording, allowing for reduced changes in exposure over the shooting interval.
The new system firmware update version 3.0 is scheduled in April 2019.
i Accurate focus may not be achieved with certain subjects in certain situations
ii Function must be set via the menu beforehand
iii A successor application of PlayMemories Mobile. Existing PlayMemories Mobile users can use this by updating PlayMemories Mobile
iv Add-on mobile application for 'Imaging Edge Mobile'. Available countries: US/Canada/UK/France/Germany/Hong Kong/China/Australia/Japan. User registration is required to use this application.
v Compatible with ILCE-9 with firmware update Ver.5.0 or later, ILCE-7RM3, ILCE-7M3
vi IPTC metadata for digital image metadata is a standard created by the IPTC (International Press Telecommunications Council)
vii The latest version of "Imaging Edge" 'Viewer' and PlayMemories Home desktop applications is required
Additional Information
From Sony:
Benefits and Improvements from the latest update
- Resolves a problem caused by specific third-party memory cards, where the cards cannot be recognized by Sony cameras
[Note 1] When updating to this version from a lower version than "Ver. 4.00", the FTP transfer feature and Wired LAN settings are initialised. You will have to configure these two items again. The names of FTP server 1, FTP server 2, and FTP server 3 will be kept, but other items will be initialised. If you have set the Wired LAN Settings to Manual, each of the manually configured settings will be initialised and the Wired LAN Settings will be set to Auto.
[Note 2] When the camera is updated from Ver. 3.00 to this version, the registered settings for Fn (function) menu may not be kept. In that event, please customise the menu to your preferred settings again. Setting: [MENU]-[Camera Settings2]-[Function Menu Set.]
Sony has just released new firmwares for its a7R III and a7 III MILCs. See below for details.
Sony a7R III / a7 III Firmware v.2.10 Changes
- Resolves a problem caused by specific third-party memory cards, where the cards cannot be recognized by Sony cameras
- Fixes an issue where, in rare cases, images may not be displayed or the camera may stop functioning while writing RAW data onto an SD card that has been used multiple times
- Improves the overall stability of the camera (Sony a7 III only)
Download:
Sony a7R III – Windows | Macintosh
Sony a7 III – Windows | Macintosh
From Sony:
Benefits and Improvements over the previous update
- Allows you to transfer still images during record and playback operations
- Adds the following new FTP transfer functions:
- Allows you to narrow the transfer target, such as protected images or non-transferred images, and transfer the applicable images together as a batch
- Allows you to transfer the image being viewed by pressing the assigned custom key
- Allows you to transfer all images automatically while recording
- Allows you to select the transfer target file formats when transferring images records in RAW+JPEG format to an FTP server
- Updates the destination folder configuration with the following options:
- Allows you to register up to nine FTP servers
- Allows you to change the destination folder configuration flexibly on the FTP server
- Allows you to save image data in the folder that you choice
- Allows you to register [media card slot number] in the folder configuration
- Allows you to make the folder configuration the same as on your camera
- Improves the overall stability of the camera
Notes:
- When updating to this version, the FTP transfer feature and Wired LAN settings are initialized. You will have to configure the two items again.
- The names of FTP server 1, FTP server 2, and FTP server 3 will be kept, but other items will be initialized.
- If you have set Wired LAN Setting to Manual, each of the manually configured settings will be initialized and the Wired LAN Setting will reset to Auto.
- When the camera is updated from Ver. 3.00 to this version, the registered settings for Fn (function) menu may not be kept.In that event, please customize the menu to your preferred settings again: Setting: [MENU]-[Camera Settings2]-[Function Menu Set.].
- Refer to the HelpGuide for more information on how to update functions.
Download: Sony a9 Firmware v.4.00
From Sony:
This update (version 3.01) provides the following benefits:
- Function menu correction for cameras updated to firmware version 3.00:
- Corrects a condition where the camera may not operate properly after updating to firmware version 3.00
Note: For cameras updating from version 3.00 to 3.01, the registered settings for the Fn (function) menu may not be inherited. You may need to customize the menu to your preferred settings again. - New lens support (SEL400F28GM):
- Optimization of optical image stabilization performance, and support for new image stabilization mode of the lens (Mode 3)
- Addition of Function Ring(Lens) to the menu
- Note: For the SEL400F28GM lens, the APS-C S35/Full Frame Sel. setting is assignable to the Function Ring in addition to Power Focus.
- Addition of Aperture Drive in AF to the menu
- Note: With the SEL400F28GM lens, focus will not be locked even during continuous shooting at F-values greater than F11 under the following conditions: AF-C, electronic shutter, and the Aperture Drive in AF menu set to Focus Priority. Continuous shooting speed might be slow when the F number is over F11.
- Added functions for professionals engaged in sports/news media:
- Adds the Write Serial Number option (On/Off) to the menu for selecting your preference in writing the serial number to the Exif data
- Improvements in auto focus performance and functionality:
- Improves tracking performance of moving subjects in AF-C mode
- Improves auto focus speed in low light
- Adds AF Track Sens as a selectable option for custom key settings
- Adds support for all focus areas when using LA-EA3 mount adaptor
(Focus Area options added: Zone, Expand Flexible Spot, and Lock-on AF) - Improvements in flash control performance and functionality:
- Reduced release time lag when shooting with flash
- Adds support for Slow Sync and Rear Sync when using flash wirelessly
- Adds support for white balance automatic correction when using color filter of external flash (HVL-F60RM)
- Other Improvements:
- Stabilized release time lag when shooting in AF-C mode
- Improves overall stability of the camera
Download: Sony a9 Firmware v.3.01
Want to know more about the Sony a9? Check out our full review here.
From Sony:
This utility updates the SELP18110G lens system software to version 02 and provides the following changes and benefits:
- Improves rare cases where the focus does not fit in FullMF mode
- Improves focus tracking accuracy and stability
IMPORTANT: The lens must be attached to an E-mount body camera to perform this update.
Note: The NEX-5, NEX-3, NEX-C3, NEX-VG10, and PXW-FS7 model cameras cannot be used for this update.
Determine if you need this update
- Attach the lens to the camera.
- Note: Please make sure the camera is off before you attach the lens.
- Turn on the camera.
- Press the Menu button.
- At the Menu screen, select Setup.
- At the Setup screen, select Version.
- The System Software version is displayed on the LCD screen.
- If the current version is Ver.02 or higher, the camera lens doesn't need this update.
From Sony:
This update (version 1.10) provides the following benefits:
- Adds the menu option to select Pixel Shift Multi Shooting (On: Shooting Interval 0.5 sec)
- When using an A-mount lens via an adaptor (LA-EA1/ LA-EA2/ LA-EA3/ LA-EA4), the interval might be slightly longer
- When the camera is connected to PC, please use the latest version of the Imaging Edge software
- Adds support for bracketing during silent shooting with uncompressed RAW
- Adds support for tuning of the peaking display level for S-Log shooting
- Makes improvements for a condition where the Eye AF does not work with certain camera settings
- Makes improvements for a condition where Viewfinder Brightness is not reflected correctly in the Manual setting
- Improves overall stability of camera
Download: Sony a7R III Firmware v.1.10
From Sony:
Benefits and improvements from the latest update
- Enhance Continuous AF
- Enhances continuous auto focus on moving subjects
- Enhances AF-C stability while zooming
- Adds new or enhanced functions for sports/news media photography professionals
- New function: assign protecting images to custom key
- New function: FTP transfer protected files at once *1
- Displays wired LAN MAC address
- Inputs IPTC metadata to files *2
- Inputs camera serial number to metadata
- Others
- Improves all-round operational stability
- Improves the accuracy of the overheating warning
*1: Only the images protected on Ver.2.00.
*2: Need to create IPTC information beforehand by using the "IPTC Metadata Preset" software.
Download: Sony a9 Firmware v.2.00
B&H carries the Sony a9 Mirrorless Digital Camera.
From Sony:
This utility updates the camera firmware to version 1.01 and provides the following benefits:
- Resolves and issue where the Set File Name menu doesn't display correctly
- Improves the overall stability of the camera
B&H carries the Sony a7R III Mirrorless Camera.
Sony recently released a firmware update for its FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens. See below for details.
From Sony:
This update (version 05) improves the accuracy of the contrast AF at distant shooting, making it easier to focus when the aperture is narrowed down to F11 or higher.
Download: Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens Firmware (v.05)
From Sony:
Benefits and improvements from the latest update:
- Supports "Eye AF" function for A-mount lenses via the LA-EA3 mount adapter*1
- Fixes an issue where RAW files may disappear when SDXC or microSDXC memory cards are used in certain smartphones *2
- Improves the image quality and overall stability of the camera
*1: This function is only for A-mount lenses which can adapt to 8 or 10 fps (maximum) tracking AF-C shooting. See here for details.
*2: Raw data recorded by the ILCE-9 with firmware Ver. 1.00 or 1.01 could disappear. Please backup your raw data files, even if you’re updating the system software to Ver. 1.10.
Download: Sony a9 Firmware v.1.10
Sony has just released a slew of firmware updates for its Alpha series mirrorless cameras, including a fix for the a9's premature overheating warning. Details are below.
Sony a9 Firmware v.1.01
- This utility updates the camera firmware to version 1.01 and improves the overheating warning functionality.
Download: Sony a9 Firmware v.1.01
Sony a7R II Firmware v.4.0
- Adds the Auto Pwr OFF Temp function
- Improves operability of the camera:
- Improves operability when the AF area is set to flexible spot
- Adds Live View Display into custom button assignment
- Adds the Set File Name function
- Supports visible light LED with external flash for AF (HVL-F45RM External Flash)
- Improves release time lag when wireless flash is used
- Optimizes exposure algorithm during focusing when Live View Display is set for Setting Effect OFF
- Improves image quality when Long Exposure NR setting is OFF
- Improves overall stability of the camera
Download: Sony a7R II Firmware v.4.0
Sony a7S II Firmware v.3.0
- Adds the Auto Pwr OFF Temp function
- Improves operability of the camera:
- Improves operability when the AF area is set to flexible spot
- Adds Live View Display into custom button assignment
- Adds the Set File Name function
- Supports visible light LED with external flash for AF (HVL-F45RM External Flash)
- Improves release time lag when wireless flash is used
- Improves image quality when Long Exposure NR setting is ON
- Improves overall stability of the camera
Download: Sony a7S II Firmware v.3.0
Sony a7 II Firmware v.4.0
- Improves operability of the camera:
- Improves operability when the AF area is set to flexible spot
- Adds Live View Display into custom button assignment
- Adds the Set File Name function
- Supports visible light LED with external flash for AF (HVL-F45RM External Flash)
- Improves release time lag when wireless flash is used
- Improves overall stability of the camera
Download: Sony a7 II Firmware v.4.0
B&H carries the Sony Alpha series of cameras.
Sony recently rolled out firmware updates for 10 FE lenses and 1 lens adapter with various improvements and/or bug fixes.
Sony FE Lenses with Firmware Updates
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