I know from trusted sources that a new A77 firmware is coming this summer. Yesterday a new source sent me some details. I don’t know yet if what I got is correct or not. So don’t get to excited yet. As usual I hope trusted sources can answer me soon on this to tell me if it’s correct or not. Thanks!
The source told me that the new A77, A65, A57, A37, A58 firmware with new jpg engine will be released in early July. The changes will be:
1) Added Lens Correction
2) Updated Jpg Engine (based on the honami smartphone project).
3) Revisions to menu structure
4) Revisions to video capture rates
As usual with SR2 rumors you know that they can’t be trusted for now! Certainly I would be very happy if that one turns out to be correct! That would be the second good news after yesterdays amazing A77 price drop:
SLTA77 Body $300 Instant Savings + Free vertical grip $300= $600 in Instant Savings at Amazon (Click here), Samys (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
SLTA77 with 18mm-135mm $300 Instant Savings + Free vertical grip $300= $600 in Instant Savings at Amazon (Click here), Samys (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
SLTA77 with 16mm-50mm $300 Instant Savings + Free vertical grip $300= $600 in Instant Savings at Amazon (Click here), Samys (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
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Reminder (SR = Sonyrumor):
SR1=probably fake rumor
SR2=rumor from unknown sources
SR3=50% chance it is correct
SR4=rumor from known sources
SR5=almost certainly correct!
82 Responses
Hopefully soon the SR2 will become SR5.
Two fixes needed on the A65…
The WB is too easy to get turned all the way to yellow by accidentally holding the right shift button.
Magnification when pushed is too strong and you have to hit the negative button repeatedly to zoom out. You should be able to hold the negative button and have it repeat like the space bar on a computer.
Cheers,
“Revisions to menu structure”
If true, I wonder if that would include Quick-navi. Sony have re-introduced it in the A99 and NEX-6, so would be nice if they could put it back in older models with a firmware update.
I miss it on the A77.
more important is new firmware for A99…..it’s too slow….to long shutter lag
+10n°
Wow, good news (rumors) indeed! Now AF range limiter is the only thing I wish to be added. And possibly manual audio level control in video. We are never satisfied are we? 🙂
will the firmware enable tethering or is this not possible.
and off topic any news on a release for the new 70-200 G II
Since they are releasing FW update, why in the name of god can’t they do the same for NEX?
1. Menu structure update (make it more logical) – not hard right – many complains – known issue – why not make it right, since they are doing that anyway?
2. New jpeg engine – if they done it for A77 – what’s the difference for NEX? I believe they all had the same engine before and even the same processor. Ughhh…
3. Correction for new lenses – NEX will need that anyway for Touit lenses right?
4. Video capture rates – also known issue, downsampling 4:0:0? Really? Basically wasting such a great hardware NEX has? Come on, if Panasonic can do better, and even Magic Lantern made Canikon do wonders, why can’t NEX have the same FW update?
It almost looks like A mount engineers are not communicating with NEX engineers 🙁
I hope they can still add tethering for those who beg for it.
<3 a77
+1 for a better jpeg engine
Nothing for the a99 with that? 🙁
Improvements to the jpeg engine would be welcome indeed. It’s only when you shoot jpeg with another brand that you realise how far behind Sony is. I’d like to take some general snaps without having to work with RAWs in PP to do what the camera should do for me.
Yay for SR2! I love SR2 rumours 🙂 More please!!!
+++++
I think jpg engine is not so bad as people say. It has very good white balance and color and color noise removal is very good… its just that the balance between luminance noise and detail could be better.
If you shoot sports in JPG mode than the Low setting with noise reduction has bad Image quality that I already experienced
Where is auto-iso in manual mode?
Tether would make the camera better too
Even at base ISO the Sony jpegs look smeared in comparison to Canon and Nikon.
Tiff format would be a good option. An uncompressed file that doeas not need post processing would be a real timesaver.
Is it possible to improove ISO preformance with a firmware update?
Just wondering, if the new JPG engine will be updated to NEX-6?
Why just NEX6? What about NEX5R, it has the same sensor and same BIONZ processor. Hopefully, new JPEG ENGINE firmware update will be available for most NEX cameras as well. I don’t see a point to change that only in a77 – whas it especially bad in a77 – I doubt it, isn’t it the same engine for all Sony alpha cameras?
Sure,5r should be involved ,if nex have the chance
Actually ,i also wish my old a850 can have the chance as well . Haha
poor … as expected…
It’s an SR2, people like you are the reason the admin holds back on this sort of unconfirmed stuff.
… people like you are the reason why I have to think you’re an uncritical fanboy 🙂
Idiot.
please, don’t hurt me so much … 🙂
+1
So you where expecting an SR2 rumor on firmware today????
by the way … no price drop in Germany …!
Sony, please, make possibility to remap “zoom” and “?” buttons on A57…
+1! More programmable buttons = better! Zoom button can’t be used in RAW so it is useless.
In addition, change the PASM mode algorithms so that they favor larger aperture and lower shutter speed values over increasing ISO values; even better, let the user decide by setting lowest permissable shutter speeds depending on focal length. AFAIK, this problem holds true for all current A-mount cameras.
So….Where is NEX?
A dial in NEX-6 left unused in A mode really needs an update. Revisions to menu structure also is a huge welcome.
+1 This should definitely be changed. It would also be nice to be able to remap the WiFi button for example to manual focus magnification.
+ Auto ISO in M mode.
Yes, wouldn’t it be great to be able to use the zoom in RAW.
It would also be great to have Jpeg Fine when using RAW/Jpeg.
Looking forward to a much improved Jpeg engine.
Not bothered about video. If I wanted to shoot video, I’d get a dedicated video camera to do the job properly. Just MHO 🙂
well, I’m *really* interested in video capture rates: the main reason that SLT mirror is there at all is because of video 🙂
Hope they are putting in better video rates rather than just making the existing ones non-region specific.
What would be really great would be if they could do a 1080p size image burst mode in RAW (with electronic shutter), as Im hoping the buffer could keep that up for many seconds. Good for stills shooters, very very good for video shooters as its effectively RAW video…. probably wishful thinking though!
How can you believe that a DSLR will have the same JPG engine as a cellphone? Do you even know how *bad* cellphone JPGs are? Do you even know that most cellphones do not even process RAW to JPG to begin with and that the RAW conversion is done mostly by the image sensor module not by software running on the cellphone?
I thought the same. Does a honami based JPEG engine mean something good or bad? In a cellphone, it’s about efficiency. In a DSLR it’s about best quality. They should make NR completely optional and just set JPEG compression to 100 (or 10 or whatever). If my JEPGs are 20 MB large, I’m fine. If it’s 15 MB, I’m fine too. But 6 MB, like currently on the A77, is like the size of my old Dynax 7D – but it only had 6 MP. I just don’t want to see any compression artifacts. And I’m fine with ISO noise grain.
I wonder why they can’t use PNG? PNG needs more power to be encoded. But does this matter nowadays?
I’ll take a guess that you have no idea whether or not the Honami engine is flexible enough to be used in a wide range of photographic devices. The parameters in relation to compression could well be adjustable to fit the needs of the relevant device.
Take your bile elsewhere.
Just want to correct something that is causing this misunderstanding. Either Andrea or the source worded this wrong. Based on current rumors, the JPEG engine that Honami is supposedly getting is based off of the new JPEG engine that will be for SONY’s camera’s(NEX, Alpha, P&S?), not the other way around.
If they add tethered shooting to the a77 it becomes a buy. Otherwise it stays a “sell”.
Why do my posts not appear?
I don’t believe for a second the rumour about new JPG engine.
I call @#$%^ on this rumor. A firmware update is possible, but it will be to add lens profiles and make slight edits to bugs. The idea of releasing an entirely new jpeg processing software-firmware based on a phone release is simply @#$%^ and never going to happen. This is the same @#$%^ I called on the rumored Nex 7n release in May 2013, I said that was @#$%^ and as right, and this is too. The new pricing offer on the A77 (stand-alone) is very competitive; Sony might want to consider pricing plans as such for the A99 and move some inventory.
I agree on the conclusion.
“Revision on video frame rates” , somewhat indicating that all regions will support the same video rates, seems very unlikely.
I have no doubts that Sony’s next generation of cameras will be pushing boundaries but I sincerely hope that they are hard at work ensuring that this generation to come goes well beyond hardware upgrades no matter how significant they are. With a bit of luck a system wide improvement is what their CEO is pushing for and, in that sense I suppose that this upgrade might give us a sneak peak of things to come in terms of the menu layout and level of customisation.
what about A99? Or are Sony full-frame owners 2nd class citizens now?
Hope sony will finally allow us to set minimum and maximum shutter speeds on PASM modes as well as allow us to set max iso. This and a much improved jpeg engine would be really welcome
also pls improve the flash exposure on ur cameras
Auto ISO in M!
The a58 has it, the a99 has it, but the a77 doesn’t.
So if you want to buy a camera with this feature and don’t have the money for a99, you have to buy a cheaper model than the a77. That simply doesn’t make sense.
Yes please! I want auto ISO in manual mode too!
maybe not cost very more, for update on A55
A55 owners would love another firmware update as well…
Tethering please!!!
I hope it’s true plis plis plis pliiiiiiiiiiiiiisssss…
still hope for:
– tethering with Live View on PC/Mac and full camera remote options
– custom HDR bracketing rates and steps
– custom configuration of HELP button (I don´t need this help menu, but an additional direct-button for format, quality,…
– AF range option
– Direct Manual Focus like A99
– JPG size option when taken pictures in RAW+JPEG
“- Direct Manual Focus like A99”
How does DMF on the a99 differ from DMF on the a77?
What about updates on older cameras like my A35 ??????
I doubt that discontinued cameras ever get updated. Besides, what is wrong with the A35? If you want to upgrade, you can sell your A35 and get an A57 or A58 for a handful of extra cash.
HOW ABOUT – ?? LIGHTING THE FLASH
HVL-F60 NEW FLASH CONSTANTLY OVER HEATS
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
THERE IS ONLY ONE, JUST ONE, FLASH FOR THE
NEW SONY SHOE ON THE A99, NEX6, RX1 AND A58
AND SONY DID NOT MAKE IT WITH A HEAT SINK TO DISSIPATE THE FLASH HEAT
OR USE A QUARTZ FLASH TO REDUCE THE HEAT PER FLASH
TTL LIGHTING IS MANDATORY NOT OPTIONAL
SONY SUPPORT YOUR USERS
Sony, pls add a Caps Lock key too.
There are two flashes, atleast.
Isn’t all original flashes from all vendors TTL only? and manual of course.
I don’t use caps lock, would you like to buy mine?
CHange the accu and the flash is working again, the same with hvl 58, just check it. I was so amazed, that overheating is not a electronics problem but more often accu.
When flash is verheaated wit accu inside you must wait years to start again. But when you put new onesthat are cold flash works at first shot.
When my flash is overheating i’m just changing accu and it works again, and the hot accu are cooling in my pocket to replace the ones in flash when they become hot, and so on.
Am I really the only one that would like to have DIFFERENT Auto Review times for EVF and LCD on my SLT? None for EVF and 5 or 10 for LCD! Or is it already included and I just can’t find it… then the menu structure definitely needs improvement.
no, you are not the only one, I just think it is not possible from a hardware point of view…?
Auto ISO
– Set default ISO
– Set max ISO
– Set min Shutter
Eye-Fi
– Option to send via Eye-Fi
Image Ratio
– Allow 1:1 in RAW
max iso is already there
SR2 to more like SR-1
The only SR5 for the A77 is our being kicked to the curb
We’re well past July, with no sign of a new update … or more rumour. Are Sony listening, asleep or complacent?
Any update on the release of firmware v.1.08?
I guess it off to the island of misfit/unsupported tech for us and no Rudolph in sight.
It seems that Sony has no interest in supporting its customers of what was (and still largely is) an expensive DSLR. How then do they expect those customers and new ones to trust them to maintain the new cameras they are bringing out? “Customer service” is not about new releases, it’s about keeping your existing customers sweet. Despite heavy investment since my Minolta days, I will not buy another Sony camera or electronic product. And I was thinking of asking Santa for a 32Gb Xperia Z for Christmas. Now I won’t. Another customer lost, Sony. Are you listening?
Sony seems to be doing it’s utmost to destroy it’s customer base, while also stopping the progression of great platforms, for example; the a580 was the finest DSLR following years of progression, the a77 is one of the finest dslt camera’s and we’re still waiting for firmware 1.08, if said firmware does’nt come and Sony pushes forward with it’s new toy camera’s (when will the a7 platform be dropped, within a year or two maybe ?), I will most definitely go to Nikon, and given that I’ve had the a100, a200, a300, a500, a55 and now a77 I can’t emphasize how shafted I feel, Sony as a brand does not encourage loyalty and because of this many will jump ship, when in reality it could have overtaken the big 2 with an once of common sense. The s in Sony doesn’t equate to suicide does it?.
Yes but when?! I love my A77. My first proish camera. Have invested $5k+ in Glass. Sony has great tech and innovation but they need to learn to keep exsisting customers happy! I plan on buying a new A mount FF in 2014 or 2015 and keeping my A77 but if they just want to do the Apple thing marketing an upgrade or two at a time thinking they can sell us a new version each year they are sadly mistaken. I own nothing apple BTW!
I hereby,in the absolute absence of demonstrable proof to the contrary, pronounce that any continuing meaningful support from Sony for the a77 and most likely the a99 will no longer be forthcoming. They are now dead-end tech.
I wish I’d traded in my extensive Minolta lens collection and bought a Canon or Nikon instead of spending GBP1,200 on an A77. Sony has destroyed the last vestiges of respect I had for them.
I had a top-end Xperia on my Christmas list … not any more. When it comes time to replace any electronic devices where Sony has a model, they won’t get a look in.
Fitz, I totally agree, I to am going to boycott all Sony products, as very clearly they have no comprehension about loyalty to customers or what they want, who has a desire to spend £1600 on a toy camera that will not be supported beyond 2 years from release. My next camera will definitely not be a Sony, Do they read these comments and do they care, time to talk with our feet me thinks.
i was hoping for that summer firmware release. guess no mas support for the a77. i really like the frequent updates my fuji x cameras get.
I will buy Canon, as next camera, i was canon user since 2001, than i decided to buy a55, than a77 and two a99 and a bunch of glass. right now i know all the + of sony, all that slt thing, lens comp, very useful assist on manual lenses and so on. But….. No support over 2 years… no wireles trigerring for flashes. no open firmware (canon has got magick lantern that rox) no good glas for pro. lens price is a sain (much much cheaper in other systems) tue, you can buy sigma or tammy, but no lens comp, no additional af points…….
in 2014 only a few lenses with SSM drive in XXXX $$$$$$ (canon has got them in every lens)
And ancient remote light support. 10 batteryes costs as much as new body…..
No third party accesories because of close patents and so on.
Conlusion:
Sony is for people who likes new toys, are richs and do not bother about spending money, and they are not PRO. Pro tog. will buy hardware that works, that is supported by manufacturer, that has got all the equipmant you need without spending 100 hours with iron making your own radio triggers from the canon version (ofcourse you can buy sony version for 4 times more, the difference is in that stupid hotshue, electronics are the same)
And that stupid hotsue. Thay have changed to a “new” iso , but iso is not iso it is “sony” iso 0,5 milimeter back, and do not fit to iso, center contact is misplaced.
Sorry for my english i’m speaking better than writing.
I will miss my tilty-filty screen, focus peaking, and inbody stabilisation… but i will make much more good pictures with proper lighting on better lenses that are cheaper. So welcome Canon.
And a new firmware for A77/99 you will get when you buy A77II or A99II for 4000euro – no thank you sony
Alpharumors are not publishing all negative comments, i have send comment about negative sides of sony system, and it was not aproved. I bet sony is “supporting” this website with $$$ for marketing. I’m with the rest here, i will not buy a new sony. I have got 2x A77 3x A99 and glss worth over 20k $ plust lighting. Everything is going for sale next month. I’m going back to Canon. Better for pro tog. Cheers.
And yes, i do like the minolta colors 😀