Sony Japan (Google translation here) issued a new firmware update for the A99, NEX-7, NEX-6 and NEX-5R. Sony Australia posted the full info in english:
A99 Update Details (Sony AUS):
- Provides support for the Dual AF function compliant lens: SAL50F14Z
- Addition of HDMI simultaneous output mode
In addition to the existing HDMI simultaneous output during movie recording, the camera will be able to display smooth smooth 60fps(NTSC)/50fps(PAL) video on an external monitor connected via HDMI and on the LCD screen of the camera simultaneously also during movie recording standby.
Note: The camera needs to be in Movie mode with [HDMI Info. Display] set to [Off].
NEX-7 Update Details (Sony AUS):
- Addition of AF drive system for movies
AF drive system for movie was added in order to enhance the scalability of future E-mount systems. This feature ensures a higher degree of flexibility in the design of future E-mount lenses. We will be able to provide lenses that can even better satisfy our customers.
NEX-6 and 5R Update Details (Sony AUS):
- Provides support for the Fast Hybrid AF function compliant lenses:
SEL20F28 and SEL1670Z. - Addition of AF drive system for movies
AF drive system for movie was added in order to enhance the scalability of future E-mount systems. This feature ensures a higher degree of flexibility in the design of future E-mount lenses. We will be able to provide lenses that can even better satisfy our customers.
63 Responses
In english here:
http://www.sony.com.au/support/download/568997/product/nex-7
and here:
http://www.sony.com.au/support/download/568998/product/nex-6
and here:
http://www.sony.com.au/support/download/569003/product/nex-5r
and here:
http://www.sony.com.au/support/download/569008/product/slt-a99v
Interestingly that A99 one is dated 19th of August.
thanks!
a99 – “able to display smooth smooth 60fps(NTSC)/50fps(PAL) video”
Wow – Long over Due
Highly required for Pro Video Shooters
but what is also crippling A99 for video
SONY Lens of Variable apeture – for Video
Take the Highest f-stop for Video
when used on the A99
Not Good
Nothing for A77!?
Did anyone notice, that the a3000 has the exact same Body of the HX300, inlcuding button layout and EVF?
Any news about a a77 firmware update with major improvements? Like Button control and AF-C enabled with AF/MF Button?
Oh, it’s just nearly the same. The HX300 has MORE buttons
What a really poor firmware update for the Nex 7 !!!!
It prove sadly that Sony never read all the suggestions we made on SAR …
The technical support of what have been a “high end” camera like the Nex 7 is disappointing !!
That’s the sad truth … It’s a SONY.
Don’t worry – it’s mostly the same with most other companies.
In the eighties and nineties I could at least appreciate the Japanese quality ethics to provide a superior product but now it’s disposable junk like everywhere else.
And when the warranty period is gone they make the replacement parts and repair time so costly that you rather buy a completely new product.
Sony is especially bad here and it doesn’t matter how pricey the product (the only exception seems to be professional equipment for video production but that’s a different price level).
As for camera makers Nikon is definitely as bad, if not worse: They often have very long repair times and they only provide software updates if something is broken but practically never to enhance the product (like Canon for example did with their latest update for the years old 5D Mark II).
I believe the Firmware limitation is due to the hardware limitation for Nex 7. Nex 6, Nex 5 has more advance hardware components really for upgrading.
what does mean “AF drive system for movies”?
well i’, downloading it to update my 5R, i’m not expecting any changes though as i don’t have and don’t planning on buying those lenses 😛
admin! the links you posted are for MAC, can also get Windows link for those of us who don’t use MAC?
i downloaded thinking it was windows 😛
Just go to your Sony website and enter ypur model name under support 😉
i did, i installed the update and i think it broke the 5R
right now it just turns on the LCD, no menus, doesn’t react to buttons, nothing works… WTF
oh i jus turned it off and it was still powered on for like 2 mins, then it turned off and turned back on and is fine now, v1.02 🙂
“and it was still powered on for like 2 mins”
This was probably the moment it did install the new firmware.
Which again proves that if you provide a firmware update via free internet download that you have to explain the process really well to the layperson doing it…
That happened to me on my 5r. Just plug it back into the computer after and it will fix itself.
It seems like even Sony lies to Zeiss…
Zeiss said a new firmware should come this summer for all Nex .. that would equally enhanced the usability of Touit lenses..
Yeah really poor firmware compare to all we have asking for ..
I remember a more than 300 post suggestions on SAR !!
+1
+10
+1000
No auto bracketing???
A99 needs zoom function on live view to check sharps
focus Magnification? A99 has this since it was released.
No magnification and no histogram in video, and there is where we need them.
But NEX cameras, which are no so professional, have this tools.
Jfcrist!! this is just adding a code line in the firm, shame we can`t do it ourselfs, it would take us a couple of minutes.
And still no focus peeking for my A55
🙂 🙂 🙂
No update for A77?
This really means that they have no intention of supporting the A77 or they would have included it with this firmware update.
Definitively Sony prefer making firmware update by realising new Nex..
Though it could had change since Nex3/5 and its 5 important updates !!
Darn, no PDAF for NEX-7 with Zeiss Touit. Really happy I sold my camera and got the OM-D instead.
Of cause I meant the NEX-6 and NOT the NEX-7!
You must miss your NEX since you keep coming back with your comments. No system is perfect – it’s great that you have one that you’re happy with, as many people continue to be happy with their camera/lens/system choice. Hopefully, you are taking lots of pictures with the camera.
You are correct, I do like the NEX-6 but tend to like the OM-D a bit more – mostly because of the somewhat better optics from Olympus and Panasonic. Zeiss does a fantastic work with their lenses, but for the NEX-series I have found them to be a bit opticaly bad. Great colors but the sharpness and AF is not near the OM-D with a 45mm f/1.8.
Wow… I thought they’d let us download the SLT interface for nex -_- what a lame firmware update.
A99 v1.02 update (besides those mentioned):
Turn on speed similar as v1.01
Dial, button and menu speed improves
Turn off speed significantly improved (less than 1 second)
Also the warm boot (turn off, and turn on again within short period) up time much improved, less than 1 second. And turn off speed actually less than 0.5 second I believe
FUK THIS FOR A JOKE!!!!
1 YEAR and they released a firmware that allows HDMI output with the LCD screen…
They are so RETARDED that they had to even say smooth smooth!
YEAH!!! REAL SMOOTH!!!
OF ALL THE 50 things wrong with the camera and this is what you added…
FUK YOU SONY!!!
“In addition to the existing HDMI simultaneous output during movie recording, the camera will be able to display smooth smooth 60fps(NTSC)/50fps(PAL) video on an external monitor connected via HDMI and on the LCD screen of the camera simultaneously also during movie recording standby.”
So, no fix to the garbage video quality? The A99 goes on eBay and I’ll go back to Canon.
SONY just lies and screws the consumer WITH ITS $3k “FLAGSHIP!” Totally unacceptable.
A99 firmware no surprise. The day I put on my Zeiss 50mm in July and realized that AF-D didn’t work with it I predicted a firmware update coming soon to fix that issue.
I had some problems on installation of the firmware on my Mac. Make sure that USB is set to “mass storage” and not “auto” and also make sure USB LUN setting is set to “single.” Once I made that change, and rebooted everything, the update installed fine.
As for now, functionality feels about the same. Hard to say if dials and turn-on/off is any faster.
Hey Sony! You forgot to fix the A99 flash problems.
+10000000000
I reckon there are a bunch of monkeys working in some sweat shop learning how to program for Sonys firmware releases.
A proper firmware path was due like 9 months ago…WTF is Sony doing?!?!?
@admin
How about A77?
Will there be any firmware update for A77?
Sony NEX-7 Update is on Sony.de…
http://www.sony.de/support/de/product/NEX-7/downloads/FW_NEX7_V103_WIN
Still no clue what it does, but it seems many things it doesn’t!;-/
Future lenses? Lenses…
Has anyone compared HDMI output video quality with v. 1.01? That’s the only place they MIGHT have hidden improved video quality: where it might be recorded on an external device like an Atomos Ninja.
I’ll post if video IQ improved. I’ll post a link to my eBay auction if not.
These firmware updates only server to remind me of the shortcomings of the A99. It’s going to be hard to ever spend money on this system again. They don’t even mention whether it is 60p, or 60i, which leads me to believe it’s 60i….so what’s the benefit?
It’s 1080 60p or 1080 60i out of HDMI. My first test of V1.02 looked less soft than V 1.01. I’ll test in bright light at ISO 100 at high f-stop numbers at wide FOV and compare captured clip IQ in-camera to live HDMI out.
I doubt the in-camera is less soft at wide DOF, but I’ll post what I find.
oh, no more firmware updates for 5N
What happened to the A77 update you reported to be out by the end of the summer?
When i first saw Nex 7 firmware update I was starting having a smile.. But after reading the few word explaining what all the improvement are ….. I think I was near to going mad … The time when the Nex 5 had 5 great firmwares is far ..
I though Sony had changed by respecting more the customer of high end camera .. But just a dream…
What a useless firmware for the Nex-7 !!!!!!!!!!
What is wrong with Sony.
Do they really care about our demands ??
I’m so disappointed that this time I sell my Nex-7
Even a Pimp looks after his girls better than how Sony looks after their loyal customers.
Hi … Iam Sony costumer for the tme, when the A100 was new model. Now I have 2x DSLR Sony Alpha, many lenses and accessories. One of my DSLR is A77. I was waiting for firmware update – quality of photo is terrible !!! I have the same quality from many compact camera !!! ISO 100 is ok, but others is terrible ! So If u cant do the firmware for SEMIPRO DSLR -> I sell all my parts of accesories and going to Canon or Nikon !!! Its big mystake with Sony !!!
I did lots of firmware upgrades before on A230, A55, A57.. interesting thing is this was the first time I had a slight problem in applying the upgrade to my A99. More interesting thing is I hear other people who had problems. Luckily my camera works fine after 2 trials of upgrade process.
Disappointed a99 firmware update did not address slow buffer time (if possible w/firmware update), turn on time (which to me is no different and definitely way too slow), flash issues, auto ISO/F stop selection, and shutter lag which is inexplicably slow, with all issues not present with my a900. Believe the a900 has dual Bionz processors to the a99’s single one, and at the price point doesn’t make any sense. BOO! BOO SONY! BOO!
All that being said, how do I leave Sony when my a99 and a900 both take great photos with my Zeiss primes and 70-400mm (which now has a new version that reportedly focuses much faster). It’s either change my entire system or upgrade the 70-400mm to the newer version and live with the a99 shortcomings (cited above and which are inconvenient at times) and the fact that my a900, which doesn’t have those shortcomings, delivers just a bit less color, sharpness and dynamic range and doesn’t have focus peaking. I carried both the other day for a car show (with the Zeiss 24mm and 135mm lenses) and wished the A99 and a900 were a combined camera and I had 2 of them.
Message to Sony: Please address the item’s cited above in the next A mount full frame (and update the Zeiss lenses with dust and weather sealing) and I will gladly stop considering the Canon or Nikon, but mostly so I can be just about completely satisfied. As a side note, every time I look at the Canon and Nikon websites I never see a camera and set of lenses I would rather have than the a99 (a900) and Zeiss lenses and the 70-400mm, which is just plain awesome for it’s F stop range.
WHAT WE REALLY WANT FROM THE A99 IS WHAT WE WERE PROMISED IN 4TH QUARTER OF 2012: 24P HDMI OUT (SCRUBBED FROM THE SONY ONLINE SPECS IN 3RD QUARTER OF 2013) AND VIDEO IQ THAT RIVALED CANON AND NIKON!
WE GOT GARBAGE VIDEO AND 60i HDMI OUT INSTEAD! AFTER NEARLY A YEAR OF WAITING FOR REVISED FIRMWARE!
Okay — firmware “update” V 1.02 video IQ in-camera AND viewed live through HDMI in both 1080 29.97i and 1080 60p:
GARBAGE! 1080i/60p/24p all show unacceptable noise, aliasing and moire in deep DOF shots, AND SHALLOW DOF. Horizontal lines — both straight and curved lines shimmer like STANDARD-DEFINITION INTERLACED VIDEO!
My procedure:
ISO 100, sunlit exteriors shot at 28-70mm focal length with pro glass (Tokina Angenieux-formula ATX Pro 2.6-2.8 zoom @F 7.1-F22, 1/50 shutter; and 50mm 1.7 Minolta OEM AF prime with similar f stops and shutter speeds. Bricks, evergreen and deciduous leaves, grass and roofing shingles. Standard picture style with no adjustments. Steadyshot off, DRO off.
GARBAGE! Aliasing and moire in all cases, with a soft-focusy look. Terrible detail
Same old bad full-frame-to-HD downsampling issue — bad algorithms equal bad video.
Good luck with your A99s.
V 1.02 with a mention of a 1.04 in the firmware description?
Seen here: http://esupport.sony.com/US/p/swu-download.pl?mdl=SLTA99V&upd_id=8915&os_group_id=3
“Benefits provided by previous updates and included in version 1.04:”
WHAT version 1.04? Will there be an update to 1.02? PLEASE tell us the video is fixed in 1.04.
Crickets from sony support as usual, I expect. . .
Yeah this is some bullshit. Still no Touit focusing update for NEX-6? You gotta be kidding… but they release a firmware for a lens that isn’t even available yet (the 1670CZ)… *sigh* Glad I got a lens turbo and my 50mm ZE.
I will also say that upon testing the new firmware it may be slightly faster on the Touit–perhaps a hidden update but it still seems pretty slow.
This firmware turned my NEX-6 into a useless paperweight. Sony’s estimate to fix it is more than the cost of buying the camera new.
They want me to pay for the damages caused by their broken update tool. I wish I had some of these other problems stated here and could actually turn my camera on. I am so angry at Sony.
Reading all the negative about the A99 is putting me off at the last minute just as im about to switch from canon, i had one for a days trial and noticed the dials had a lag, buffer was slow to clear and very slow to turn on and off, this was on version 1.00 firmware so im presuming even on version 1.02 those things have not been sorted… i read above it also has flash problems ? think i might go for an olympus EM1 instead… unless you all can confirm that things have improved…. help !!
I have been looking at buying a new camera, maybe a Panasonic G6 or Sony NEX 6. Just changed my mind about the Sony after reading all this.