The new Sony NEX-3/4 firmware version 4 is now available for download at Sony Japan (Click here). It’s a multilanguage version!
The Sony A33 and A55 firmware is here at Sony Japan (japanese!).
UPDATE: First picture effect tests made with the A55 at sonyalphaa55.wordpress.com (Thanks Roni!).
UPDATE_2: More download links (Thanks to all who esnt this in):
Now available in Europe too! See NEX-5 in Uk (change the country and camera if you want a different download): http://www.sony.co.uk/hub/nex-compact-camera-system/latest/firmware-updates
Australian site Mac downloads:
A33 – http://www.sony.com.au/support/download/459588/product/slt-a33y
A55 – http://www.sony.com.au/support/download/459587/product/slt-a55vy
NEX-5 – http://www.sony.com.au/support/download/459582/product/nex-5d
NEX-3 – http://www.sony.com.au/support/download/459584/product/nex-3k
Asia Windows download:
NEX-5 – http://www.sony-asia.com/support/download/458715
NEX-3 – http://www.sony-asia.com/support/download/458755
116 Responses
http://www.sony.jp/ichigan/info2/20110620_01dl_win.html
http://www.sony.jp/ichigan/info2/20110620_01dl_win.html
This is the A55 A 33 one
Thanks for the links!
Just updated my A55 firmware: ver 1 –> ver 2. Haven’t done any shooting with it yet, but at least the new menu options are there.
Perhaps I’ll start using more scene specific white balance settings now that the menu is accessible with a single press of a button.
Too bad I can’t convert the NTSC(60i) version into a PAL(50i) one through a software update.
Great! 😀 I don’t want to download the japanese version, it must be in japanese 😛 I’ll wait until Sony Argentina publishes it
http://support.sony-europe.com/dime/crl/nex/nex.aspx?site=odw_en_GB&m=NEX-5
Sony Europe Support site still lists v03 🙂
May be sometime in the afternoon. Anyway I will take a spare battery and USB cable along. Really keen to see the Peaking feature in action with Jupiter-8
Installing japanese fw on Canadian NEx .. will keep you posted
If it’s like the previous firmware, all languages are included, no worries.
http://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/download/DSLR/ErWPkeXQ1r/NEX-5V4_Update1104a.exe?fm=jp
There’s no mention of any language in the firmware name here.
No issues for me .. Japanese FW on Canadian NEX. English menus .. Testing Peakig now
Thank Me coz i got more ballz
HAHA so extreme… although this is probably the most useless update ever
I got v4 !!!! The Japanese site version contains English too
Installed JAP FW on Philippine NEX (lol). working fine
anyone had luck with the Mac version of the updater? mine just hangs after step 1.
it is kinda stupid these days to make firmware in different language packs, it is a small word nowadays. Therefore smarter software developers such as Sony cam division will make one version that fits most languages…Apple has done that for iphone since iOS2 and Winfone 7.1 going to be the same.. and yes bloody Nokia still hasn’t take a hint!
Smart move: One fw to rule them all!
Worked for me on my Swedish camera and I don’t even have Japanese as a language choice. Thank you Sony!
I updated using a Mac (Snow Leopard) on a Macbook Air 11″.
JP firmware works. Its awesome!
Update an a33 is done.. Now waiting for some New pictures of the a77 🙂
same problem on mac it freeze at step 1
works fine on PC
I updated mine in french, no probelm with the Japanese firware download : french is included as well
Here are some early photos with Firmware 2.0 on SLT A55
http://sonyalphaa55.wordpress.com/2011/06/20/sony-slt-a55-firmware-upgrade-1st-results/
yup…Japanese firmware support English Menu…no problem at all…
Thank you!
Sony sent me the best father’s day gift, and it is free too!
Thank you Sony.
Expect the combined use of ‘Picture Effect’ may affect the last menu option 🙁
NEX 3 firmware 04 peak mode test vdo
very easy and very fast to focus,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJxUiLqPUgQ&feature=player_embedded
When Sony published their last NEX firmware update, each update file (from Sony Japan, Europe, US, etc) were the exact same file, bit-for-bit.
That means it’s just one single firmware used to update every regional variation, and your specific unit will auto-select/enable languages relevant to your region.
Why do people still believe that the firmware from Sony Japan is Japanese-only?
Exactly. Sony don’t do regional firmware and yet every time there’s a new release we go through this charade.
we kept thinking each region has different firmware because it USED to be like that…
Even today, big company like Nokia’s S60 / S40 phones has DIFFERENT firmware for different markets / regions.
Then we got the bloody TV regionsm PAL / NETC nonsense, plus the stupid DVD Bluray regions codes… SO regional protectionism mindset is long and deep…
Apple was the first to let go of his nonsense… Since iOS 2.0 it is one firmware to rule them all… ANdroid picked that up and then Windows Fone 7 follow suit…
SOny’s Camera department is good, giving one firmware, worth the support!
A55 new D-range button setting is handy, i set that to ISO setting!! 🙂 YEAH!
Woohoo! In case anyone is still in doubt, working on US NEX 3!!! Peaking makes manual focus so much easier! I’m also really glad that Sony gave its users these freebies instead of trying to make everyone buy a new camera. Way to go Sony!! 😀
The Japanese Firmware works fine for me and my European NEX-5. Thanks Sony for having a multilingual and multiregional firmware.
Focus peaking is that great. For me it is the best feature ever added to the functionality of a camera, I’ve ever seen. Thanks to the guy who had this great idea, it makes the NEX-series the best camera for MF-lenses.
WolfiKrenn
I have installed it on my spanish NEX-3 and it works, but…no see peaking mode, mode dial now is slooow and don’t see the five options customizable central button ¿?
Ok, my fault, peaking was there… five options with customizable button “C”… maybe it wasn’t
Update:
Firmware 2.0 for SLT does not fix flash related problems. Neither the delay (even with manual flashes) nor the dark EVF are resolved.
Thanks for that, I was wondering if they would fix the flash and dark EVF studio problem. Pity 🙁
The Australian a55 and presumably a33 are now available – mac version here:
http://www.sony.com.au/support/download/459587/product/slt-a55vy
Though still no NEX
Sorry that is not to say it is any different to the version from .co.jp – just to say it is available through the aus sony site.
For anyone looking for the NEX3 on the Aus site, choose the 3K not the Twin lens 3D and you will find it. NEX5 also appears to be available now. I think they are updating these pages as I write this.
Looks like the one in Australia has been pulled. I’ve tried but the browser keeps bouncing back with ‘File not found’. So someone must have forgotten to upload the file.
Australian site Mac downloads:
a33 – http://www.sony.com.au/support/download/459588/product/slt-a33y
a55 – http://www.sony.com.au/support/download/459587/product/slt-a55vy
NEX5 – http://www.sony.com.au/support/download/459582/product/nex-5d
NEX3 – http://www.sony.com.au/support/download/459584/product/nex-3k
sadly the mac download does not work
Doesn’t work how? I am at work at the moment, but plan to try this out tonight. It does say that it won’t work with 64bit Mac Kernel – I didn’t think you had a choice when it came to Mac Kernels?
Really?? That’s pretty poor. I’m very disappointed.
The japan version works as a charm – I already updated my nex5 first thing in the morning. This peaking function makes a HUGE difference in usability, it is so good, you do not need autofocus lenses any more… it is just more usable and faster, escpecially in low light, where AF sucks. Buy some cheap MD manual lenses and those are available for buttons, that is all you need… I love it 😀
Have really been hanging out for this as I use a lot of manual lenses – one thing I really love about having manual lenses on the NEX is the extra control dial for the aperture, ie an actual aperture ring. Chuck it on manual, control shutter with the rear dial and quickly switcheble for ISO etc. Used to use it with a Proaim loupe, but this will render that nowhere near as needed as before – in fact I might just get one of those screen hoods for outdoors and ditch the loupe altogether.
The Mac download worked for me. When starting it the first time it installs a kernel extension, but doesn’t recognize the camera later on. It says you should turn off the camera, put the battery out and restart the program. I followed the instructions and it did work then.
Whee!
Japanese firmware installed on European Nex 3 this morning, using the Mac installer (which worked, on Snow Leopard).
I don’t find the function deadly accurate, but I only tested with a Jupiter 3 at full aperture and this lens is soft…
mac version from Australia website was not working (error message) but has become operational again.
http://support.sony-europe.com/dime/downloads/downloads.aspx?site=odw_de_DE&f=FW_A55_V2_WIN&m=SLT-A55
for german users
a33 not available yet :/ ?
A33 Firmware V2 English Version
http://www.sony.com.au/support/product/slt-a33y
Im just wondering..Is there any camera that use peaking mode to except SONY..??
If no..Sony must be doing a very great job on the software..!
I see it on plenty of small sensor video cameras, utilizing the contrast detect AF with manual control and I am sure there are some P&S’s out there that do, but most of the ones I have tried are push button focus *shudder* so probably not much help. I find this working really well with actual manual focus lenses, not so much those fly-by-wire jobbies
Hey! I just updated my a55 but did’t find the new Picture Effect feature…
Can Someone please tell me where it is?? Thanks
I am asking that to…where is the new a55 picture effect feature?
Its under shooting mode.
Installed V4 on Uk Nex-5 all works perfect.
I love the new features, the peaking mode is amazingly useful and the picture effects are brilliant.
Hope peak mode can make it to VG20!
where are the a77 news ? 🙁
Somebody has a link for the nex-3 windows 7 64bits
Downloading german-version!!! Updating right now!! Jippie
I’m kind of disappointed. I tested peaking with my Nokton @ f1.4 and it’s pretty much useless for shooting at wide apertures. You still need to zoom in to get good focus; relying simply on the color overlay will produce completely misfocused photos because it’s so inaccurate (on all 3 available levels). It’s only at around f5.6 where you can get acceptable results without zooming in.
I feared this might be the case as I have only ever really seen it on small sensor cameras (deep deep DoF) before and one of the reasons why contrast detect AF on dSLR’s is rather crap and incredibly slow. Still better having it than not I guess – this is why I still prefer phase detect AF confirm on the SLT’s to peaking, even if it does have limitations.
I tried it with my OM 50f2 macro and it was very accurate. However, I think it only works in scenes where the actual light levels are at least a little different. When I tried last night, a lot of the time I wouldn’t get any peaking, again, presumably because the light levels were all about the same. When it shows up it’s really accurate though.
Can anyone tell me if the peak function works whilst recording video? I suspect it doesn’t (but I really hope it does!)
I guess I’ll find out tonight when I try it for myself 🙂
Focus peak?
Are they studying magic lantern’s features o_O?
yes it does. also while you are in all the art filter modes
So peaking is just for nex and not for a55, is that correct? I understand they use different focusing but for Macro I like the peaking feature.
Does anyone notice that the mode selection ‘dial’ is slower on the Nex?
Whenever I spin it, I can hear the aperture changing when I switch to M and P modes.
I saw the same thing. Could it be that the slowness is one of the bugs they haven’t seen? If so, I hope that they will fix it quickly cause it gets irritating after a while.
Yes, the dial got slow. Thank god it’s the only bug I could notice, not a great deal
I’m a little disappointing with the picture effect where it is standalone mode instead of a filter that we can choose in all shooting mode like M…
Agreed. The peaking and fast startup is fantastic, but I was hoping for more flexibility with the picture effects. Beggars can’t be choosers, I guess!
Now awaiting the ‘major post’ 😉
yeah, me too
Me three…
Me 4 … I mean me too ..
Me 5….I mean me too 🙂
No necesitas otra version , la version de la pagina japonesa es multilenguaje, igual sirve.
OMG! NEX is now manual lens’ heaven! 😀
ho ho… try to use retro mode in complete darkness. you will be amaze
I notice that the peaking function doesn’t work in 7x/14x mf assist mode. That’s a bummer!
Yes it does! At first I though it didn’t either but I kept playing around with it and the peaking function actually does kick in!
I take back my earlier comment. Putting the peaking level on High, I do see the effect in 7x mf assist mode. You need a really sharp edge in 14x mf assist mode to get the peaking to show up. I can deal with this!
Still miss the ISO “value” in the display on a A55.
Is it my imagination or it starts a bit faster?
A bit faster? With a manual lens attached it’s completely booted nearly after switching on. Only with the SEL1855 attached it takes a little longer, but this also seems much faster than before.
Cool! I haven’t tried it with my MD lenses yet, I will in a minute!
I think so, and is the alpha logo when you shut the camera off new?
Yes, the Alpha logo is an addition from the 4.0 fw 🙂
I did the update also. Camera is starting noticably faster, Alpha logo looks cool. Focus peaking might be the best thing ever that happend to this camera. Picture effect are not my primary interest but will play with them to see what they can do. And yes, I also think selection dial changes slower, but can live with that.
OMG OMG! Focus peaking works in video mode!
Definitively with 4 upgrade on the nex5 it give really trust in this system ! i really enjoy and apreciate the way sony take care of (old) customers ! i hope their will be an other upgrade in the futur for NEX 3-5, and by making trust in this product i will probably purchase other accessories : may be the Flash 20 NG and of course i’m waiting for the CZ 24 mm !!
SONY please continue this way !!!
yes dial mode access is really slow now…
hope they will fix
A
N
D
R
E
A
Waiting for your “huge rumor”… 🙂
+1
I want photo of the bloody A77 :p
hmm maybe tomorrow .. 🙁
I recently shoot a PWM-F3 and during that occasion I also tried out the Zebra Function of that camera. Well it was no help at all, it was more of a distraction then being even close to help focusing. Astonishingly the Zebra equivalent shown here looks pretty useful, what a pity that a 500$ Camera outperforms a 20.000$ Camcorder regarding this feature. (I guess Sony should work a little on the PMW-F3 Firmware, too. Beside from that and the fact that i could only control the gain at tree preset levels (there might be an other way I didn’t know about) I was relay impressed by the PMW-F3.
waiting for the a77 rumor ?? press F5 … 😀
Sorry, there was a new rumor in betwen I am going to post tomorrow.
“Zebra Pattern” is used to set exposure, NOT focus. Here’s a quick explanation http://eyefish.tv/production-guide/technical-guides/exposure-and-zebra-patterns
From the F3 manual “A zebra pattern(s) can be inserted to the picture on the LCD monitor/viewfinder screen to check the appropriate luminance level.”
What a useless update for a33/55. None of the problems are fixed and no peaking…bracketing is still at .3/.7
Sony obviously did not listen to their customers.
totally agree!
the effects are nice, but nothing compared to what you can do with PS, that function is only there to show off to friends and family.
I’m also disappointed about the D-Range button functionality you can change. That list should be much longer
One of my biggest problems with the controls is still there:
When I want to shoot a HDR in between my RAWs I have to go to the menu, set the camera to JPG go back to shooting mode and only then I’m able to make a HDR. Can’t the camera for itself change to JPG when I want to shoot a HDR like it can with panorama/picture effects/scenes. Maybe make HDR-shooting a choice on the SCN option on the dial.
And, as you say, bracketing needs to be expanded. Bigger range and >3 photos (with that speed (10FPS) it can be a fantastic camera to shoot RAW HDR’s
Just updated my Nex-5 from the Sony UK site (I live in the USA) and everything went smoothly.
The Picture Effects are a novelty and just something to play with since I always shoot in RAW anyway. I really do like the Peaking feature though, I just tested it with a Lensbaby Composer Pro with the Double Glass Lens and 10x Macro filter and it worked great ! I will be using Peaking whenever I do any close up / macro shooting with my Nex.
Why have they not posted the updated firmware to the Sony US support site? Can you use the firmware from Australia without messing up a US a55?
Yes. I used the one from Australia and everything is working on my Canadian a55. I was hoping that it would change the video to PAL 25fps but it didn’t. You can safely use the update from any country/region.
I didn’t get the “soften skin” effect on my nex-5 after the v4 firmware update. Is that only available on the nex-c3?
hi, i thought Ed’s Nex 5 with the update have peaking mode? But Knurd said no peaking mode! Strange!
The NEX-5 update I flashed has peaking mode. I believe knurd was referring to the A33/A55 update as not having implemented peaking mode on those cameras.
Did the live chat with Sony and he stated that Firmware should be up tonight or tomorrow am for US.
any link for usa update for a55?
It is similar to Magic Lantern’s “hack” feature for canon dslrs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2-4D4njQOs
but I find Sony’s focus peak better
http://www.sony.com.au/support/download/459586/product/slt-a55vy
A55 for Windows
I was planning on doing a little video review of the new NEX features, but my second camera died 🙁
Lesson of the day: Don’t trust Nikon lol 😛
Here’s the US download if I’m correct
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-list.pl?mdl=SLTA55VL&SelectOS=30
No manual controls for video, lame. Waste of hard drive space. Looks like all the Rebel users will still be laughing at Sony DSLR film-makers.
you can manual focus though;)
Sony’s US site now list the NEX 3/5 downloads….and no surprise the download link at the last page links to the same file on Sony’s Japan site. MD5 also matches.
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=NEX5&upd_id=6765&os_id=7
Did they change the max exposure in HDR mode from +-2 to +-6? If i remember it correctly FW03 only had up to +-2?!
Two death pixels or something else afther 2.0 upgrade on my slt-a33. Changed lenses, cleaned sensor – still there: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/T9HqxZduGhkqKia1rZUvJXzP8PFb4gJLp0t-KDfS4cg?feat=directlink
Dust. Should i use a usb-cable next time to upgrade !??