A source let me know that the next NEX-7 and likely also A77 firmware updated are scheduled for a summer release.
I have been specifically asked to ask you SAR readers what you absolutely need to be fixed or done with the new firmware update! 🙂
P.S: There may be tethering coming too…
Go!
393 Responses
Zeiss lenses are coming so this’ll probably be just a lens info update.
Exactly. Just a lens update. Sony will not enhance the “old” NEX-7 with new or optimized features when the NEX-7n is already in the stores all over the world. Never ever.
wish list:
– smaller AF fields for more AF precision
– smaller AF fields for more AF precision
– smaller AF fields for more AF precision
– custom presets
– smaller AF fields for more AF precision
– faster AF
– more accurate AF
An Option for clean HDMI output would be highly appreciated!
+1
NEX (inlc.7,6 etc.) need have selectable High/Low ISO limits when in AUTO_ISO
Yes, a high ISO limit would be very useful and should be quite easy to implement.
+1
USB tethering would be more than welcome 🙂
This.
@Source
I’d recommend reading through this topic: http://www.dyxum.com/dforum/wish-list-for-the-next-firmware-upgrade-of-the-a77_topic87191.html
There’s most comprehensive list of wishes for A77 firmware.
My favourites include:
– ? button should also be configurable
– Temporally switch to JPG when using one of effects that are not compatible with RAWs (eg. sweep panorama)
– A view where histogram and level gauge are visible at the same time
– An option to assign peaking settings to the customizable buttons (no idea why it was skipped)
– lot people asked for having an option to start recording with shutter button while video mode is selected.
– Improve JPG image quality at high ISO? (don’t know how doable it is in short period of time)
– an icon to see how far SteadyShot is pushed
(like in Alpha DSLRs – somehow it disappeared while moving to SLT)
ps. sorry for splitting it into so many posts, but commenting system on SAR got loads of issues with accepting comments.
Cropping in RAW, as is in A99 with DT-lenses. E.g:
cropping OF
cropping 1.3X
cropping 1.5x
croppin 2.0x
cropping in RAW?? that doesnt make sense…
Exactly, RAW is RAW. If you want to crop RAW, do it in your RAW converter!
Cropping on the A99 with DT lenses is a different concept altogether.
Make sense for me, faster recycling and buffer is not filled even with continous shooting!
If you want more proofs, then search Nikon D7100 and 1.3x cropping with it.
I’d prefer if Sony wouldn’t fall down to this level.
And it doesn’t seem to help D7100 buffer at all – it’s more shallow than the one in A77!
OVF
tethering and auto gain control off in movie mode!
For A77
– Auto-ISO in “M”, manual mode, very useful feature which a lot of other brands had and now the a99 has.
– Shutter priority in auto-ISO, Nikon alike.
– Would be great if the additional crop is removed while shooting video, with the SSS off (a99 has this feature).
THIS!
Auto ISO in M would be awesome.
+1 on the left/right video crop when SSS is turned off. Makes no sense to still have this unresolved especially with the a99 do this correctly and also with the NEX-7 (with no SSS) having no crop on the left/right.
– a way to tell the nex which manual lens is currently attached so it saves it to the metadata.. even a “lens1-20” would be fine so i can sort it in lightroom later
– rating in playback mode (currently all 3 trinavi wheels do the same in playback)
+1 on those features
I agree. I would like a way to have a manual lens profile or at a minimum a way of setting the F stop as I often forget to take note.
this is a very good idea!!
nex-7/6 – optimized navigation with magnified live view – not really easy to find the area you want to set-up focus for in manual focus mode
+1 on this one~
Selectable RAW on high contrast and HDR
On a77 how about customisation of the centre joystick click during review such as zoom in or zoom out plus how about customisation of the dedicated zoom in buttons amount of zoom I.e 50% as opposed to the automatic 100%?!
Please enable remote for auto-bracketing. I do not want to introduce camera shake during bracketing even on tripod. It is worse when you have long exposure.
Auto ISO limit function.
Button to turn on/off EVF
Yes!!! Totally agree – missing remote shutter for bracketing is silly. It would also be nice to extend the bracketing series of shoots to 5 with 1EV step.
Agreed to your suggestion as well!!!
Yep, this is a big oversight on the NEX. There’s no way to attach a cable release, and the IR control is useless for bracketing on a tripod, as bracketing and IR remote control are two seperate options in Drive mode.
And definitely an intervalometer for the a77 built in! Gotta be the easiest firmware inclusion going!!!
I want them to add the JPEG engine from Fujifilm to the firmware of the a99 and the a77.
For A77:
Pic effects on JPGs in RAW + JPG,
Intervalometer
Multiple exposure
and damn it it’s easy! DO IT SONY
– the rumored new peaking features also for the Nex 6 / older Nex 7
– Auto-ISO in “M” would be cool
– and last but not least the possibility to use the remote control also for bracketing mode (right now it is in the same menu and bracketing can´t be started via remote control, which is silly)
Yeah it would be great to have all the new software enhancements made for the new 7n given to the older 7. I doubt though that there are many changes to the software or that sony will enhance the older model.
NEX
1. Option to manually turn on magnify view during manual focus with E-Mount lenses
2. ISO in 1/3 step or 1/2 step or 1 step increment options
3. USB Tethering support
4. USB remote trigger (unlikely but better then IR and see your battery drain out)
Auto ISO in manual mode
For A77, I wish the new Firmware can improve quality of high ISO, the fluency of operation, and change the color of the selected AF point to more obvious color like A33/A55.
+1 for me also. I have trouble seeing which AF point I’m selecting most of the time.
Nex-7
* Allow bracketing and hdr with remote
* remain in focus settings between frames like other nex cameras
* max auto iso
* minimum shutter speed with auto iso to push higher the speed then the one determined by focal lenght. d600 like operation
* more accurate and sensitive peaking
* app support
Two more
* option for smaller focus zones. Current setup is problem with portraits
* option for reduced number of selectable focus points for faster operation
I hope they implement the lens correction in RAW.
– the terrrible backfocus
– exposure compensation results in EVF
– uncluttered menu structure (like A77 or RX1)
– improved AF algorithm
– longest exposure time can be set for auto-iso
BF is due to the big focus points in my experience
Recomposing slightly usually helps. DMF with peaking helps detect the issue before taking photo
tethering, after all this time ? what a joke… It will be only support new lenses as usual…
Although I don’t care anymore for these two cameras (sold my A77, and my Nex7 is going to be sold shortly), I would like to recommend three changes I expect from the 7n and partly from the next A99 update.
-Auto ISO in M, no limitation
-Quality setting “Raw & Xtrafine”
-Autoswitch mode to Jpeg when Raw&Jpeg is set and aiming to shoot HDR
One more for AUTO ISO in manual mode!!! It really sucks to use prime lenses without this basic capability.
Min shutter speed for AUTO ISO would also be great (e.g. as on Nikon and newer Canons).
These functions are so convenient that I’d never again buy a camera without them.
If the ISO is Auto, it isn’t really a manual mode. It would be better to add a new mode called I, with everything manual except the ISO.
Or just change ISO manually! Why go to the trouble of creating a whole new mode?!
This is great news – I was almost giving up on Sony.
A77:
– Video AF on < f/3.2 (my Nex6 can shoot video with AF on f/1.8!)
– Manual audio gain control (to get rid of the audio noise)
– Auto magnify option when you manually focus (like on Nex 6)
– Tethering
– AF range limiter like on A99
– The new focus tracker feature which recognises moving Subjects like on new entry level nex and a57
– The new iso noise reduction algorithm of the A99 which protects details
almost half of your requests are impossible due to hardware limitations.
Importance in order of appearance:
1. Less noise (if possible)
2. Better JPEG quality (keep more detail / sharper)
3. Ability to shoot RAW+Jpeg Extra fine (it’s ok to sacrifice 1 or 2 fps for this)
The so far released lens corrections don’t help us who shoot in RAW (I’ve got the impression that most do so)… Better jpeg quality would hopefully make more people use JPEG and therefore also obtain lens corrections (and appreciation towards Sony!).
4. Auto-ISO in M mode
That’s all for now
This was for a77
A77:
– tethering
– RAW + JPEG with small / medium / etc. settings for the JPEG
– contrast detection AF
– automatic lens-calibration by comparison of CDAF and PDAF
– store EVERYTHING in those memory banks: eg: live-view effect on/off; auto-review; etc.
– customizable Fn Menu
For A77:
– show the elapsed time in bulb mode!useful and easy to implement
– More bracketing mode
– Tethering mode…
Hope for my A77:
– tethering
– Bracketing with 5, 7, 9 exposures and 1 EV stops each shoot
– free configuration of “?” Button
– AF range stop function like A99
For NEX 7: Enable wireless triggering with the pop-up flash.
That would be great, but I wonder if it’s a hardware limitation.
and also RAW+JPEG with size modification of JPEG (small, medium, ect.)
For NEX:
Everything that is done for the NEX-7 to be implemented for the NEX-5N also. Except TRI-NAVI changes, of course.
+++++
For A77:
Remove or reduce the 15 shot limit on wireless flash.
Improve wireless flash response time.
More accurate flash exposure.
A77:
– Faster menus. The A77 display still lags when changing aperture/speed. It’s more laggy than the A99 and even slower than my old Dynax 5D. This is better handled in the NEX-6
– EVF eyestart sensitivity: with eyestart activated and when wearing the A77 on my shoulder, the EVF will keep on turning on and off when I’m walking (due to the viewfinder hitting my body and moving away and so on)
– Faster photo review and zooming (even though I understand this is a hardware limitation and cannot be improved – but I’m always optimistic that some serious coders could optimize that)
– AWB correction: usually, soon after taking a shot, the automatic white balance will change (usually cooler, immediately visible in the EVF)
Apart from that I love my camera 🙂
oh… yea. Good point.
+1 for faster menus. (easiest way to check it is probably by playing with exposure compensation – it should react instantly. Sadly: It doesn’t)
Indeed. I’m afraid this is a hardware limitation too… The A99 doesn’t exhibit the same behavior and is much snappier.
And auto ISO in M mode of course
Wireless flash to work with the in-built Flash as the trigger (like on the Alpha range).
-time lapse
-agree with customizable fn menu
– Make ? customizable
– Special option to enable the digital stabilizing of the video mode to general viewfinder use (in photo mode!) – perhaps configurable on button press. So one can drop 100% view for stabilized view in certain circumstances (working with long telephoto lenses)
– Rise Shadows like with DRO in “Non effects Live View” (Dynamic Range Problems)- Setup Whitebalance, Colors, DRO a. s. o seperately (so also differently) for the “Non effects Live View” and real picture recording
(e.g. Setup EVF to “low contrast” and picture recording to “higher contrast”)
– Auto-ISO in M
– Convert RAW-Image to JPEG with current Picture Settings
The starting question is simply nuts ……
….. there are many threads around in several famous forums about the alpha system in an abundance of languages.
In all of them there is a column/thread for F/W improvements on several models.
If SONY would care at all, they just could have a quick read just right there; and the funny thing is, that the wishlist on all those sites is most likely to 99% identical.
So what the heck pretending here, just ask and SONY will read and listen to you?
They never did!!
A77:
-Pelase!!! Remove extra crop on video mode when ibis is turned off.
-Option for 30fps at 1080P in video mode.
Other than that, I love my camera.
also….
-ability to turnoff display and evf completely in remote mode for battery saving (usable with external timelapse with remotes with locked on focus – no need to light up surround with display at all)
better video quality: higher bitrate
+1
Better focus tracking, especially for objects coming straight toward you.
My wish for Auto ISO is to be able to set both minimum shutter speed and max ISO in 1/3 increments all the way up to 3200.
Please pretty please let me access some menu hidden options more directly, via “my menu” type of thing for instance, so I can have Format, Settings Effects on LCD, and Peaking color and level in one same, easily accessible place (or allow them as choices for the TriNavi screens).
Give us 1:1 in camera format !!
When zoomed in in Playback, give us a way to browse thru pictures at equal magnification.
That’s about it.
More picture formats than wide and more wide. I want 4:3 and 1:1.
This would be nice, but you can easily do this in post.
It’s always easier to compose when having the actual crop in the EVF 😉
Absolutely, yes!
+1 for 1:1 proportions view option.
+1 for 1:1 format
For NEX-6/5R…The firmware has to be updated for:
1. Better customization and usability of the two control dials.
2. The downloadable APP functions should be integrated into normal UI mode rather than a APP selection mode. For example, when a multi-frame ISO APP is installed, then it can be used right from the ISO setting menu, etc.
3. When showing histogram on the LCD, users should be alowed to see the histogram when setting the EV value.
4. Sometimes, the NEX-6 will make a shutter sound when user turn it off without taking any shots.
5. The firnware should be improved for more responsiveness.
6. When the camera just goes into sleeping mode, it will have a several minutes lag when user wants to wake it up.
7. When using power-zoom lens, the camera(or lens) should be allowed to set whether or not to remerber its zoom state and to draw back before the camera gose into sleeping mode. Users may waste some time waiting for the len to extend and seting zoom state…
On 4. this is normal, this is the sensor cleaning function.
+10000 for 1 & 4 !!!
Sorry, I meant 1 & 7…
I’ve photographed and filmed around the world with the A77 and these are the biggest needs for improvement for me.
For A77:
1) Internal timelapse option
2) Better image quality at 1600 ISO
3) When finishing a video clip the camera says “Recording” please replace it with “Finishing” instead.
4) Faster response time from finishing a video clip to being able to take your next picture.
+1 on the internal timelapse option. It would be great just to have a built in intervalometer even if you have to render it in post.
1) Internal timelapse option – i like this idea Jeffrey.
and would also like to see tethering on the a77
A77:
– Histogram in Video-Mode (please please please sony)
– MF-Magnifying in Video-Mode for besser manual focus
– remove crop when SSS is off
– ISO higher than 1600 in Video-Mode
I need a firmware update for my Nex-C3 for lens correction profiles of the latest lenses such as the SELP1650 and SEL20F28.
NEX-7 New Movie button option. With current firmware you can have it set to OFF, but you then have to dive into a long menu list to take a movie. Another option, say a double press to start movie, would be good. Also addition of Quick Navi menu which was added to the NEX-6 would be good.
+1. Nice proposal.
nice idea with doubleclick!
Yeah +2 !!!
+3 …great idea with doubleclick!
+3
and jpeg automatic compensation for new and upcoming lenses
quick navi +++++
*** Better “live view” image quality in low light, as in NEX-3 or NEX-5.
*** Regulable (saturation, contrast) EVF.
I just need for the A77:
1. Option to disable noise reduction in JPEG at all.
Yes, the APS-C size makes it noisy. Everyone knows. But that aggressive noise reduction makes it even worse. As so many features require JPEG-mode, it’s mandatory to be able to disable NR at all. I can get rid of ISO noise in post-production with the weapon of my choice.
2. Less aggressive JPEG-compression.
Even JPEG extra fine has visible artifacts. Why do I need 24 MP if the firmware kills it anyways? We all have 16, 32 or even more GB of SD-cards. Size is no issue. My old Konica Minolta Dynax 7D with it’s 6 MP produces larger files (and therefore more details) then my new A77. Again, if so many features require JPEG-mode the jpeg image should be of best quality possible.
+1 with jpg
For A77:
– Improve the severe lag of the buttons to operate. I got to wait two seconds or more for the camera to realize I pressed a button and display the proper screen.
– Improve the start up time, my A77 can take up to 5 seconds to start sometimes when my A700 takes just half of one!
– Either allow RAW quality when using 3D, Panorama or Picture Effects or have the camera switch automatically to JPEG and do so without the annoying “JPEG FUNCTION ONLY” screen. Another option could be a RAW option where a RAW file is shot with the effect but another one is kept with no effect aplied.
– Allow JPEG quality to be set: Extra-fine, fine, standard.
– Allow JPEG quality to be set when using RAW+JPEG.
– Is better noise reduction possible? If so, bring it.
– Allow the option of letting lens corrections to be applied to JPEGs only. Lens corner shading also affects RAW right now and I got a program to take care of that already, but I’d like to turn all of those on for my JPEGs.
– NR OFF Option.
– Quick Navi menu system back. For the love of God, please, bring that back, it made life so much easier on my A700. I hate having to press the Fn button, that’s just another button press I don’t need.
– Tethering please!
– Allow the menu screens to rotate 90 degrees when the camera is on the portrait position (vertical). The A700 does this and it lets me look at the menu with no fuss, while on the A77 I got to read the menus with my head in a funny position.
– Steadyshot icon bars on the screen with real time vibration indicator bars. Another dropped function from the A700, I could tell how much I was shaking with the bars, now I don’t even know if the SS is actually working at all. If the movie button is disabled and only works in Movie mode, they can remove the movie icons on the screen and replace them with SS bars.
– If possible, get rid of the crop when using video. Why is my 16mm turned into 20mm or something due to that?
– If there is no update done, let the GPS Assist Data of the last location be used as a reference until the user updates that data. Allow this to be turned On or Off.
– I suppose better battery life is not fixed through firmware, right? It could definetely use it if it’s possible…
– A better tracking focus algorithm. Whenever I use it, mine dances all over the place unless the subject stays within the center of the frame.
– Better writing speed to memory card to clear the buffer faster. I’m aware the buffer is a physical part, but the writing speeds can be fixed through firmware. I use a 95MB/s card, but it could use some improvement.
– Exposure compensation allowed on Auto and every other mode. Why is that only allowed in P, A or S?
– Improved wireless flash response. There is a delay there, no point in denying it.
– Get rid of that annoying gap in the Fn menu. I know the A65 has an option in there, but the A77 doesn’t and it distracts me. Either fill it with another option or just get rid of the gap.
– If possible, display a list in the menu for all the lenses that have correction profiles installed in the camera, so I can know which of them are covered and which aren’t without having to look to press releases.
– Is it possible to allow the camera to bypass the damn AF/MF switches on lenses so that the AF/MF button actually works with them? It’s annoying having to grope my 35mm f/1.8 to switch to manual focus when I already have a button on the camera that’s supposed to do so.
– Auto ISO in Manual mode.
– Allow the use of Movie button to be changed to something else if the function “Movie mode only” is active. For example, let me reconfigure it to work as a Metering mode button.
– Allow for 30p video shooting.
– The digital level needs some tuning up, it can be off by 1 or 2 degrees and still claim it’s level. I’ve found it works more as an aproximation rather than a specific measurement.
– Allow the exposure meter to go beyond +3 and -3 in the EV escale in Manual mode. Why Manual can’t go beyond that but all the other modes can go down or up to 5?
– In Program mode, allow the Program shift to roam freely and not limit it to whatever the camera thinks it’s appropiate. Right now I can’t select a faster shutter speed if I want unless the camera deems it acceptable, what if I want to under expose the shot?
– Allow an option to set the time the auxiliary LCD screen stays on, like the main LCD. Sometimes I press it to check something and 5 minutes later it’s still on.
That’s all I can think of right now. I love my A77 but those things could be improved on it. I hope Sony listens to us.
Cheers.
My a77 takes absolutely max 1 seconds to start, and the buttons respond very well, so I have difficult to require that improvement.
The JPEG quality can be set according to your wish (at least in JPEG mode but in your post its unclear what mode you wish that for, but I agree it should be there for RAW+JPEG).
Do you have FW 1.07?
The rest I agree with.
Run it with timer. I never seen A77 starting up in 1 second. My takes 5 seconds with SanDisk Pro (95MB/s) card and most recent firmware.
Manual audio gain control for movie recording, as long as its coming to the A65 too.
That only would make me very happy.
Few more I thought of:
– Allow for a time display to be shown, either in the main or secondary LCD screen when Bulb mode is used.
– Time lapse and double exposure functions in PASM modes.
– Allow us to set the “?” button to a function we desire. That one and the Movie button just do nothing during shooting.
– Fix the bug of the AF/MF button when reviewing pictures. If I take a shot and I want to zoom in the picture, the button needs two or three presses to react and zoom in. My A700 only needs one and it does it fast. It bugs the hell out of me having to hammer down the button for it to respond.
A77:
Auto-ISO in M.
Tethering.
Make ? a custom button.
Improve jpeg engine.
When using a setting not available in RAW, switch to RAW+jpeg and record both the untouched RAW file and the processed jpeg file.
Auto Gain Control for movie recording.
Sony will only update lens profiles as always … no improvements with AF, no UI improvements, no photo booth simulation, no better bracketing etc.
How about the video overheating issue being fixed? And an update for the SEL35f18 would be welcome too… lots of vigneting going on…
Please, AF micro-adjustments for A65, so I don’t have to send it back to the supplier for corrections!!
for the Alpha 77 I would like Sony to add a burst option at 5 fps in order to chose between 3, 5 and 8
Ability to use app like 5n and 6
Assign a button to switch between LCD/Viewfinder preferences so I don’t have to dig thru the menus. I have to switch off the EVF sometimes and its a pain.
On NEX-7 that is.
A new face recognition mode for dogs and cats is what everyone is waiting for 🙂
How can we have a A99 without that?
For NEX-7
ISO setting 1/3 EV
I hope this one will be a REAL A77 firmware update, not only new lens support.
My needs:
– better jpeg engine (like A99)
– real zoom on RAW file preview!
– better noise reduction
– effects and lens correction in RAW files
– tethering
– better flash compensation
– auto-ISO in M
– time lapse feature
In-ter-va-lo-me-ter
My hope is that Sony are asking this question to make sure they get the right features and performance into new A78 which is rumoured to be released this Summer. If some of the suggestions make it into an A77 firmware upgrade at the same time then I’ll be pleased.
A few little niggles I have with the A77 is …..
Allow the picture effects to be used in RAW&JPEG without the warning.
Colour the AF point that is being selected.
Better JPEG engine.
Reduce JPEG compression. I want to get more use out of the picture effects.
Less aggressive noise reduction in camera. LR4 handles noise well.
More bracketing options for HDR.
For A77
Allow JPEG quality to be set: Extra-fine, when using RAW+JPEG
INTERVALOMETER FOR THE NEX-7! THIS ABSOLUTELY GREAT CAMERA IS USELESS FOR TIME LAPSE!
All the relevant have been named “apps” and i would predict they will be available only in the next model, able to connect to the relevant “shop”. Only ~8 apps so far.. (excluding keyb-sets), one of them time-lapse.
I totally agree! The system is in dire need of a timlapse function. Something with bramping would of course be ideal, but I’d settle for apature priority mode. Additionally it would be great if you could also run a te lapse in miniture mode (tilt/shift).
I’m afraid that from now on the only way you’ll have an intervallometer on a sony camera is by buying it as an application.
Sony if you read this, please :
– Allow us to set a minimum shutter speed (the most usefull – yet missing – feature when you shoot with old lenses).
– Again when shooting with legecy lenses, we change aperture with the aperture ring.
Unfortunately, the Exif datas always show f/1. Allow us to set the correct aperture on the camera body so it matches the lense’s aperture.
– For modes that are Jpeg only, auto-switch from Raw to Jpeg (and back).
It is already the case when you’re in Raw and want to use Creative filters.
So why it doesn’t work the same way when you want HDR ???
– And finally when in Creative Style mode or HDR mode, always record the raw file in addition to the Jpeg. We hate that jpeg only policy for those funny modes.
And fix your Jpeg engine. It is a shame to produce such crappy jpegs starting from excellent Raw files.
Sar: since it is a long time we haven’t heard on “6” and “5”‘s (except for deals) maybe there is anything on them? Usually around summer there is new model.
Ok, in difficult times sony may opt for delaying. Not hearing anything may also contribute predicting such a direction.
* Option to have magenta cast correction (and vignetting) applied to the RAW
* Ability to software zoom to a crop of the sensor with primes or zooms, working in both JPG and RAW
* Ability to make the flexible focus point more precise
* User selectable auto ISO range
* double push movie button
magenta cast is a hardware issue due to using lenses through adaptors. I don’t think you’ll see it ever being automatically corrected.
And you can’t apply corrections to the RAWs – a point of RAW is that it’s _R_A_W_ – as: not corrected.
Except that’s not true. You can apply filters to the raw image in camera. Then, you can turn them off post processing.
There’s no reason this couldn’t be done, much in the same way the lens correction happens automatically.
No. You don’t apply the filters to RAWs. You just store the information about settings in EXIF data that than is read by Sony’s own RAW processing software, but you NEVER apply ANY filters to the RAW.
If you try to open RAWs in different processing software – these settings will be lost.
Yes Sony does ALREADY with the latest firmware on the NEX7.
Check this out: http://verybiglobo.blogspot.com/2013/01/does-sony-nex-7-cook-raw-files.html
So PLEASE Sony stop messing up with my raws or at least give the option to turn it OFF
I will not buy the new NEX7n if you cook the raws & don’t have this option.
Let me add some more salt to the wound, Sony disables half the features on the camera because it messes with the image and they want the RAW files to be untouched….
The very fact that the RAW files are compress lossy as well… well, too bad… so sad…
Sony RAWs are compressed lossy? On which camera? Cause to my best knowledge (and quite through-out Lenstip.com test – where they always find gimmicks like that) – they are not.
*sigh*
Different camera models uses different RAW formats, hence why sometimes you need a different codec driver installed to read the different RAWs.
Apparently the cRaw on the A900 and A700 was lossless. A77 is lossy….
*sigh*
“The A77 has a 12-bit ADC, and the output is stretched to 14-bit space. This expansion (4096 => 16536 levels) results in 1 level every 4 levels, as can be seen in the ISO 100 histogram. There is a curious dip every 16 levels; I do not know why.
As can be seen from the graphs, the true max ISO of the A77 is 1000 . Past that, you will see that combing of the histogram becomes more and more apparent, and that by ISO 12800, there are very few levels left.
This is in line with the 2/3 stop light loss from SLT Mirror; a previous ISO 1600 amplification is now ISO 1000 after accounting for the light loss.
Recommendation : Shoot with ISO 1000 and underexpose for higher ISOs.
ISO 1600: -2/3 stop
ISO 3200: -1 2/3 stop”
*sigh*
“The A77 RAW file exhibits a decompression curve as shown previously by Iliah Borg. I examined the ISO 100 file and determined that Iliah was correct, and that RAW compression was lossy, and in a bad way.”
Wrong Sky_walker… again. It has nothing to do with adapters. Even the native 10-18mm has the issue on the NEX-7.
this is true. i have the 10-18mm f4 zoom and the corners have a magenta cast. i find it strange that sony would offer a lens of their own without having a fix for this problem.
I know it has nothing to deal with adapters. Reason for that is angle of light hitting the sensor. But this usually comes from using lenses from adaptors – like Leica M glass. Obviously adaptor itself can’t cause such issues if it doesn’t have any optical element on the path of the image.
And what the “again” is suppose to mean? Mr. flawless?
So why then did you say it has to do with lenses using adapters??!! It can apply to any lens (especially UWA), whether native or adapted.
Again, meaning that you seem to like spreading misinformation or FUD about the NEX system, but you don’t give the impression of somebody that has ever used one.
AF range limiter on the (?)-button on the A77 and I will forever hold my peace.
But tethering and clean HDMI would also be nice. 🙂
Hi, NTSC to PAL feature.
Better JPEG engine (noise).
I agree with all A77 suggestions! Wish they would continue to update firmware and add features for my NEX-5N too.
as mentioned above for the NEX-7:
– definable Auto-ISO range
– DNG instead of ARW
– intervallometer
– better JPEG-Engine
A feature that would be nice is to enable steadyshot when the shutter button is half-pressed like CaNikon camera does with OS lenses. The Olympus Om-d e-m5 can do that (it has IBIS like Slt cameras).
My 1st gen Nex-5 does that already.
OSS only activates when half pressing the shutter button.
So either they change that behavior in the Nex-7 or you forgot to read the manual …
A nice firmware update would be to allow TIFF as an available file format option
TIFF is not compressd and does not need additional processing to be usable. A good high quality ready to use option.
‘TIFF is not compressd and does not need additional processing to be usable’
Not true. A tiff is just a wrapper (and could just contain the JPEG for example).
I know what you’re actually asking (‘JPEG is a final format, and RAW is too specialised, so we really need something in between that is not lossy but is better supported in authoring tools than RAW’), but its a bit more complicated than just asking for TIFF, because you may end up with the JPEG by another name… and often have in certain camera models that ‘output TIFF’ 😉
Umm tiff is not a wrapper and pre dates jpeg
A TIFF file format option would be good for a65 too.
TETHERING! WTH SONY! wake up!!! we a77 users wanted this since it was born or was being in development. Lightroom is an amazing software for shooting tethered and all that’s benefiting are nikon and canon users so don’t forget to add support on that software too.
+1 the Tethering and factory profile support of Sony lenses in Photoshop .
As a recent A77 owner, I would thank sony if they could fix the following issue:
For Stills:
1.Enable all costumizable functions to the Smart teleconverter/focus magnification button.
Since the focus magnification button is less comfortably located and A77 is an evf SLT with fulltime preview, it is much better that we can access focus magnification on the less frequently used AEL button. The Smart teleconverter button can thus be liberated for other functions e.g Creative style short cut/metering mode/DRO(EVF makes M mode so easy and M mode does not need that AEL)
2. If possible, can the camera automatically enable Focus magnification immediately after AF is acquired in AF-A/DMF mode and automatically set the magnifiction zoom centering the current af point? This is exetremely valuable for glass faster than F2.8. As A77’s AF sometimes does not nail the very critical focus when using F1.4 Glass and the critical focal plane is so thin that even the slight move of the camera will make your focus less accurate than wanted.
3. For jpeg, High iso NR off option just like A99.
4. enable raw shooting for smart teleconverter so better post processing can be achieved than just having jpeg files availabe(If sony camera can shoot raw using 16:9 rather than the full coverage of the sensor, why not allow other crop as raw?)
The smart teleconverter is a great tool for precise composition of tele-shot pictures in emergency, by granting raw shooting option, users can have better control post-process to best exploit the sharpness of the great sony sensor and lenses. If sony’s.ARW file requires the full recording of all pixels(as evidenced of the almost identical ARW file size when using the same aspect ratio), can sony’s engineers make the pixels outside the 1.4 crop area as total black/white or swith them off when using smart tele?
5. Same with No.4. Smart teleconverter is great for far-away action shooting but with only one centre AF point availabe, sad. can we have all 19 AF points for this mode, please?
6.If possible, can we have a slightly better jpeg engine and less noisy arw file when using high iso? I know it is extremely demanding for the 70% light only 24MP aps-c sensor. But…any good is a good thing.
7. Electronic level/live histagram display at the same time as an option. So we can check the exposure and leveling in one go! extremely useful for landscape shooters.
Some for video:
8: Audio control over sound recording! With the uncontroalbe auto audio gaining control, we A77 videographers always end up in getting rather noisy back ground noise. IF we have that control, we could save the time for our video editors as they dont have to manually sync video/audio after shooting. Our post processing crew is now under great pressure indeed, even thinking about moving to Canon 60D/5D MKII/III for this particular reason.
9. Remove the annoying crop factor penalty for video shooting when not using Steadyshot !!! Otherwise we have to get particular wide angle for normally wide angle shots. At least give us as an option, please. I know this is to reduce the heating issue(but, how can it be? the light will not notice that the cropped sensors are not working, they will still strike onto the “dead” pixels anyway!)
10. Zebraing for exposure monitoring, a better idea would be overlaying highlight/black clipping region with colored marks. IF this is either too difficult to reprogramme or too painful to give us without hurting your video cam sales, at least give use live histagram when recording video, please! You can even sell it as an APP for A77, if that only costs us 4.99 dollar! I would pay for it,really, but not the an entire new A78, not at least for now as we are now shooting on a budget.
11. Focusing magnification for video shooting. Some F1.4 lens is just too annoying when manual focusing without magnification, even with Focus peaking on.
12. 60p/50p 25p/24p recording mode as freely chooseble options regardless of the region of the camera body.
All these should be relatively easily done using software tweak without too much cost.
Oh, almost forgot, tethering! so I can instantly check the composition/color with a bigger and fully color corrected monitor.
Don’t worry I bet many things are going to be fix in the next Firmware update which is call A78 🙂
Dng format like leica
I’m quite happy with the a77 firmware now (latest update seems to have flash exposure). I’d like to see an option real-time clipping warnings in the evf, a transparent overlay for the histogram and 1/3 stop options for auto ISO.
Hi,
my wish list
– Tethering
– AF Distance range (like A99)
– Intervalometer
BR
Quick Navi
Tethering
Better low light noise in Raw
Able to use M mode with AF in video so I can set my shutter speed to 1/50th or 1/100th.
Audio control
When I change the af mode can you show it on the info screen so I don’t have to take my eye away from the EVF. The A99 does it and its great!
Sony, please add additional aspect ratios for the Nex-7. All the other brand mirror-less cameras offer them as does the RX100. I often have projects requiring a 1:1 ratio. Yes, I can crop post processing but it’s not the same and seeing and shooting 1:1.
+Dozens. Very important.
One thing that would save me a hell of a lot of time – being able to Flag photos on the camera, and ideally for those Flags to be picked up (as Picks?) in Lightroom.
I’ve tried using an iPad and erm – that app that does that – but downloading 300 ARW files to the ipad takes way too long – and I’m not going to carry my laptop to some of my locations – just spending 5 minutes with the model going through the photos on the camera at the end of a shoot – “like that one, hate that one” – would save me hours afterwards!
I guess tethering would make it easier to look the other way when shooting nudes too…
Stills
Stop the slideshow effect when shooting images: liveview should be on all the time. Even if this is not possible because of data throughput, liveview should show the last view and not a black screen.
Video
Clean HDMI out, better AVCHD bitrates are not expected, but would be a very nice bonus.
Auto-iso in M mode both for stills and video.
Hot pixel removal other than dual exposure.
Make “?” and “+/-” buttons customizeable. No one uses them anyway!!!
Add an option along with disabling video button in non-video modes, to initiate video recording in shooting mode the camera currently is in (Video recording starts in A when I press record button while being in A mode)
I’m quite sure +/- button is customizable already.
How would you do in camera hot pixel removal without dual exposure?
Good news for Nex-7 !!!
Wish list :
– Quick navi like the Nex-6
– Automatic lens correction for 10-18mm, 35mm, 20mm and of course the upcoming lens (G and Zeiss lens)
– Possibility to give to the movie button an other function
– And why not to Give the possibility to download app via USB
Thanks !!!
+2 !!
+ 3
When you set “Focus Assist” to the AF/MF button it should work even when Focus Assist is turned off. In fact, I’d much rather Focus Assist be activated by a button that stays active just as long as it pressed, rather than Focus Assist be activated by the focus ring and potentially delay your shot for 2 seconds while you’re waiting to recompose your shot in full view.
Regardless there’s no good reason for that button to become useless if Focus Assist is turned off. On/Off should ONLY pertain to Focus Assist being activated by the lens.
1. Tethering
2. Clean HDMI out
3. Intervalometer functions
4. Better JPEG engine.
Nothing too hard really
– Tethering
– Improved JPEG algorithm
– Intervalometer
Please Miss & Mr Sony,
. Intervalometer (Timelapse)
. Tethering
. Clean HDMI uncompressed (4:2:2 10bits)
Vidéo :
. 60p/50p 25p/24p recording mode
. XAVC 4:2:2 10bits- 50mb/s OR Better AVCHD bitrates (50mb/s)
Please !
Please Miss & Mr Sony,
. Intervalometer (Timelapse)
. Tethering
. Clean HDMI uncompressed (4:2:2 10bits)
Vidéo :
. 60p/50p 25p/24p recording mode
. XAVC 4:2:2 10bits- 50mb/s OR Better AVCHD bitrates (50mb/s)
Please !
If you do bring tethering, please also update the ancient remote control software as well. It lacks basic functionality that should be super simple to add:
– exposures longer than 30 seconds
– intervals between photos shorter than 10 seconds
– ability to save pictures on camera
– live view for proper framing
I have tethering on my A99 and without these features, for me it’s useless.
For a 3k$ camera, it’s a bit disappointing…
This, this, THIS.
And if I may have additional request: Release SDK like Canon had for remote controlling of a camera.
This would open Sony onto a completely new, specialized markets – you already have an advantage there with focus peaking and excellent aids for manual focusing, but it’s beyond me why you don’t want to open a full potential and let your cameras be useful in, for example: astrophotography. It’s not possible without proper SDK (and than people supporting your cameras through dedicated tools made with help of SDK kit).
+1 man!
+1 for this
+1 from me also. The most important to my view
I agree, JPEG algorithm is somewhat behind competition so far, leaving behind some marvelous sensors and i would add: open playmemories shop to developers. It will help the ecosystem’s total sales more than the income from 8 apps.
+/- button should be settable to adjust flash exposure.
? button should be settable to toggle Steady Shot.
Can it be made so that the remote infra red release will fire the shutter in all the drive modes and include an intervalometer and make it so that it is possible to tether the Nex7 to Lightroom and Helicon Remote.
For NEX-7: (1) precise digital zoom (crop) available also in Jpeg+RAW , today available only for Jpeg recording mode. Cropping and u-scaling could be applied to the recorded JPEG photo, and pure cropping (or, even better, no change) to the RAW picture
(2) possibility to disable/block exposure compensation by right upper dial (I often touch this dial unwillingly and take pictures with the wrong exposition)
For the NEX-7 I’d like to see just like other people mentionned
* User selectable auto ISO range (Or Expand it to 3200 ISO)
* double push movie button
*** Re-work the MF Assist function : We need these magnifications X1, X5.9 & X11.7 instead of only X5.9 & X11.7!!! (as decribed)
I really like the magnification tool to help manual focus.
But it is absolutely annoying that once you turn this on, it will always magnificate as soon as you use MF/DMF… And we do not always need that magnification..
I’d like something more flexible, when MF Assist in turned on, I want it to magnificate only when I press the MF Assist button.
# Auto-ISO with Exp. Comp. in M-Mode
# Quick-Navi
# Custom-Settings for the following Buttons:
– Question Mark Button
– Exposure Comp Button(the button becomes useless when Exp. Comp.
is assigned to one of the wheels)
# Effect of the Exposure Compesation is just visible in the viewfinder between -2 and +2 EV. Neither it gets brighter above +2 nor darker after -2.
# AF-On Function for AF/MF Button, at this time it is not possible to use AF-C when AF is decoupled from Shutter Button
# Change to JPG for JPG specific Features: “camera now shoots JPEG” instead of “function not possible in RAW mode”
# Tethering with LiveView on the Laptop/Computer/(Smartphone)
For Nex7 when movie record button is switched on have it require a confirmation action when it is depressed (eg press shutter button), this would be better than having to delve into the menus to switch on the movie record button when in a hurry.
1/3 stop options for auto ISO on Nex7
1/3 stop for ISO on ALL cameras !
On the A77 there is an annoying feature when using the flash. There seems to be an in-built software that prevents the flash from firing too often. I think the reason for this is to prevent the flash from over-heating. Unfortunately the in-built flash does not have a heat sensor, so the Sony engineers have decided to play things very cautiously. If you fire the flash about 10 times after each other quickly, then after that you can no longer fire the flash so quickly. This extremely frustrating. I understand the reasoning for this but it seems that the sony engineers we “super” cautious. Maybe they can consider trying to make the settings a little less cautious.
I also second the histogram and spirit level to be on the same screen.
Customizable question mark button would be great.
Tethering is an absolute must.
I have one other idea that no one has come up with. There is no provision for a cable release, so I use a wireless remote, however it is a pain that to use the remote you must set for it in the drive mode. I would like to be able to have the remote work in any drive mode, specifically the bracketing mode.
A65/A77
Please –
1 – Improved Jpeg engine. (This is so important to so many)
2 – Less lossy RAW.
3 – Ability to choose Jpeg Fine when using RAW/Jpeg setting.
4 – Better ISO and with less noise.
In other words, anything which improves the picture quality from our cameras.
I would also like to be able to use the Smart Teleconverter in RAW or RAW/Jpeg if possible and the ability to change the functions of some buttons.
Please Sony, Don’t let us down this time.
need 2 stop exposure with 5 shots in bracketing. “continuous bracket 2.0ev 5 image” for a77.
A77 firmware:
– allow custom functions for ALL buttons, especially the ?-Button
– allow Steadyshot On/Off toggle as a custom function
– Auto ISO in M mode like on A99;
– selectable JPG size and compression for RAW+JPG;
– allow all JPG-only features in RAW+JPG by saving the modified JPG and the RAW (respectively save the normal exposure for HDR and the third exposure for multiframe noise reduction as RAW)
– capture full image (not just a crop) when deselecting Steadyshot in Video Mode to benefit more from wide angle lenses.
– reset focus magnifier ONLY by using the focus magnifier button (not even by taking an image – would be highly appreciated for focus stacking Macro Shots)
A77 is a very very good Camera – make it an excellent one by offering these features in a firmware update!
+1 for “allow Steadyshot On/Off toggle as a custom function”
And in next 7-series Alpha: actually add a switch for turning steady shot on and off. It’s sooooo annoying that I can’t turn it on/off quickly.
1:1 square photo format ratio for all cameras, even with just grid lines over lcd if not possible to black-out the unused display portion.
Easier way to switch between playing back movies and viewing pictures. Unless I’m missing something, right now I have to go to setup and change the folder. I admit I’m a slightly new A77 owner and haven’t played with the playback options much.
The ability to shoot with a remote while in miniture mode (tilt/shift)
On the nex 7
Personally one feature I would love is when taking HDR photos, have the HDR photos put into a separate folder than the originals files (separate the originals and HDR photos).
My wishlist for the NEX-7
*ability to assign one of the custom buttons to switch between EVF and LCD
*fix the issue with MF assist magnification (as it is now, if you set auto MF assist to “off” to prevent it from automatically magnifying whenever you turn the focus ring, it also disables the ability to magnify with a button press)
*display an on-screen distance scale when using MF, like the Fuji cameras
*ability to set the AFMF/AEL lever to switch between AF and MF (so I can use the lever for switching focus mode and the button for AEL)
– Automatic switching to JPG mode (and back) if camera is in RAW or RAW+JPG mode and i use a feature that supports JPG only
– Video in 25 + 30 fps (basically all options)
– Lens correction selectable for RAW
– AF video with selectable aperture (not only 3.5)
– Auto-Iso in M-Mode
– Auto Aperture (select aperture range in P-Mode)
– Auto Shutter Speed (select shutter speed range in P-Mode)
Custom settings, custom settings, custom settings!!!
*** Bracketing WITHOUT having to press and hold the release button ***
AND
*** Bracketing with more than 3 exposures – at least make it 5!***
Make NEX7 compatible with the new wired remote or create another shutter release option in the menu.
A 100% Quality option for JPEG
Uncompressed JPEGs, that would be awesome!!!
almost forgot… is it possible to shoot hdr-s in raw + jpg mode, or at least set jpg shooting automatically with warning to appropriate mode (fine jpg) and vice-versa after comeback to dro?
Manual override of the audio input auto-gain. Lack of manual audio level adjustments make the camera useless for professional video unless you record audio separately or don’t need audio at all.
is the outlook for new Sony equipment so turbid that a rumor must be knitted for firmware?
NEX 7
1. Custom Settings (C1, C2, C3) on Dial and/or assignable to any button for direct access.
2. AUTO ISO in Manual Mode + selectable minimum shutter speed.
3. Ability to completely turn off NR in JPG or additional lower setting.
4. Smaller Focus Area Option.
5. Improved JPG engine and JPG compression/quality.
6. Improvements to AF Speed and reliability.
7. Enable Histogram on/off independent of display mode
a77. Zebras and manual audio control. Both are musts for me for video use. It’s very easy to blow out flesh tones without zebras and the exposure meter doesn’t really help. AVC isn’t like shooting RAW where you can bring back a stop or two of overexposure.
Of course improved noise control would be nice as well…
8. Display Distance in Manual Focus.
Fix the EVF problem of it being activated by carrying it. It’s annoying to have to turn the camera off each time I take a picture. Carrying this camera on it’s strap and close to your body activates the EVF running down the battery. Having to go to a menu to activate it isn’t a fix. A dedicated button on say a timer that turns it off after 10 seconds to a minute (adjustable) would be one solution.
focus peaking for A55 … Please…
:d :d :d
CHange the option for disabling Auto-Magnification for manual focus so it doesn’t also disable manual magnification. That’s my primary pet peeve with all the NEX bodies, and my m43 kit does not have that annoying link.
Please
Much better video codec, infra frame for example &/ or bigger frame rate.
Better control of moire
My wish list would be:
1. Option for 5 exposures during bracketing
2. Single shutter press for bracketing
3. Be able to trigger bracketing with IR remote
4. Tethering capability
5. Ability to set ISO below 100
6. Option to change resolutions in the custom Function menus
My wish list was for the NEX7
What about the A99 video issues? Do they have anything planned? They already acknowledged the issues.
For the Sony a77,
1. Tethering (Most cameras of the same price range have it but not a77)
2. Better JPEG engine. (RAW files look so much better than JPEGs and this shows how bad the JPEG engine is.)
3. Ability to turn off High ISO noise reduction for JPEGs.
4. Let the HDR modes work in RAW mode.
5. Improved noise reduction without smudging off too much detail.
Sony, DO NOT DISPLAY USELESS ICONS on the screen.
Why do I have to see these icons on my Nex :
-face detection OFF
-smile detection OFF
-DRO OFF
– etc …
IF IT’S OFF, DON’T SHOW IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And please do something about the magnified view in manual focus.
Copy Panasonic and magnify only the central part of the LCD so we can still see our framing.
Somehow… I expect we’ll receive more lens updates, and it will be promoted like they gave us the moon.
IMHO.
LOL
I have to say, if Sony updated the A77 with even a few of these ideas my faith would be somewhat restored…for a while… 😀
Not going to happen, please flash your camera to the A99 version….
I have posted my firmware wishlists on SAR, on Facebook, on DPR, and I have sent them to Sony via their SonyListens email and surveys. They already know the things I’d like to see fixed or enhanced. Being a development myself, I’m pretty sure I’m asking for stuff that can be changed by software.
Anyway, if I only get to pick one or two, my choices would be:
1. Separate “drive modes” from image processing. Since Sony decided not to support a cable release, they really should be allowing ALL imaging modes of the camera to be used with self-timer and IR remote. It’s ridiculous that you have to physically press the shutter release to shoot with AEB or in-camera HDR.
2. Sort-of part of 1: allow use of HDR without having to switch the camera to JPG only. Either save three RAWs, or don’t save any RAWs, or save just one RAW like it saves one unprocessed JPG, but don’t force me to turn off RAW+JPG every time I want to use HDR. I don’t have to switch to JPG only when I want to shoot in B&W or single color highlight, so why should I have to for HDR?
Thanks,
Paul
Not going to happen, please flash your camera to the A99 version….
I’m sure they’re listening seeing as how you’re “Being a development myself”
Yeah. Sadly doesn’t protect me from typos.
OK, one more, now that I think about it:
Please fix the Soft Key A (aka the Menu button) on the NEX-7 to actually be a Soft Key, as the owner’s manual claims it is. I’d much rather use this button for MF assist than the AF/MF button I currently have assigned.
And, on the enhancement side, I’d love an option for focus assist that doesn’t take up the whole display, but instead leaves the borders of the screen unmagnified – showing the magnified area in the center of the screen – so that composition/context can be see without having to exit magnified view. (http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3397076)
I don’t need new feature with my NEX-7, but there are things I would consider bugs:
* Auto-HDR does not work with remote control and self-timer.
* Vignetting correction cannot be turned off for RAW while still on for JPEG. (Yes, the RAW is manipulated by the camera!)
* While you can set the time zone, there is no DST support. You have to set the clock manually twice per year.
Besides, these things are easy to fix.
Please add a menu option “Auto disable RAW” which will enable shooting modes which does not support saving to RAW. I hate disabling it manually before I can use HDR or panorama.
Two things come immediately to mind:
1) Make the ? button customizable, and
2) Allow the steadyshot toggle to be set via one of the customizable buttons.
Not going to happen, please flash your camera to the A99 version….
stop trolling WTH, please 🙂
Sorry if the truth hurts…. you can keep on dreaming.
FCUK!
How many more lens profiles can $ony add to the A77….
I was so tempted to get the A99 over the weekend…. but I am glad this reminded me why I didn’t buy another $ony camera/camcorder.
I don’t know if the hardware allows it but super slow motion movie modes will be welcome (Nikon 1 has 640×240/400fps and 320×120/1200fps)
For NEX-7 if its possible to reduce or fix the over-heating problem when recording video or taking several burst shots(10fps).
Fix many issues with the SEL35F18 on the NEX-7. Mine makes a very noticeable constant sound. My best description and you can hear it yourself. Go to a quiet place and cup your both ears with your hands and leave only your thumbs open. That is the sound mine and some others make but like 2x louder.
I don’t know if the hardware allows it but super slow motion movie modes will be welcome (Nikon 1 has 640×240/400fps and 320×120/1200fps modes)
Option for full Alpha menu system. Or just replace the NEX menu altogether an have only Alpha menu for everything, like RX1/100 do Alpha. NEX is anomaly alone in the lineup.
Facility for new wired remote.
Diagonal scrolling.
Editing/Delete in magnified view without reverting to shoot mode after every delete.
Separation of all bracketing from single or multi shot.
My NEX-7 firmware wishlist:
+ Allow triggering a bracketing sequence from the remote
+ Allow more than three shots for bracketing (why not 5 or 7?)
+ Allow me to configure dials to turn in half or even full stop increments, so I can more rapidly change shutter speed, for example.
+ Instead of just low/medium/high peaking, allow a dial to set peaking sensitivity
+ Some way to change the grid color for better contrast
we should learn to STOP asking Sony to fix things…… they NEVER listen….. you will have more luck lighting a candle and praying.
This is not true. The whole NEX-6 thing is built to user feedback!
Nex 7 to control flashes wirelessly with the built in flash. Olympus allows you to do this on a TG1 point and shoot waterproof camera. I’d like some quick and dirty off camera flash.
This would be awesome!
Tethered
5 exposure bracketing
Intervelometer
They gave us a quick fix for disabling the movie button, so somebody was listening.
The exception that proves the rule.
They gave us better bracketing. Two exceptions?
-Alpha menu instead of NEX
-AutoISO selectable up to any ISO and any shutter speed
-custom option for a button to manually toggle between EVF/LCD (6/7 users don’t realize how awesome it is on the external EVF)
-lens correction
I’ve wanted an EVF LCD toggle switch since I discovered that the EVF will turn off when the sun shines on the right side of my face blinding the sensor.
More control of settings for peaking.
I’d love to be able to use exposure bracketing with self timer and the remote.
More button/dial mapping, the left Tri-navi dial is not used with manual focus lenses, map the video button to something else, map the Fn button to something else.
Sony please add more aspect ratio options to the Nex-7. The other brand mirror-less cameras and your RX100 offer them. I often have projects requiring a 1:1 aspect ratio. I know I can (and do) crop in post processing but it’s not the same as seeing and shooting at 1:1 and having the file open in ACR at that ratio.
+1 for a77
a77
a) TETHERING!!!!!!
b) Lower noise at ALL ISO’s
c) Clean, unaltered RAW
PLEASE!
+1
One simple feature – possibility to not allow shutter release if sd card is not inserted.
Faster Flash Sync Speeds!
One reason I got into Sony is that they seemed much better with firmware updates than Canon (never had one for my 30D the many years I owned it). Seems like that has changed and Fuji is now the king of firmware updates – albeit to finish the half baked product they released.
I suspect any NEX 7 & a77 updates will be for lens correction. This update will probably coincide with a bug fix update for the 7n & a78. I can’t see Sony adding new features to the legacy models when these could be included with the new and improved models. Especially since it sounds like the 7n and a78 aren’t getting much of a hardware bump.
It’s not really an achievement to have most firmware updates.
Especially when, like Fujifilm, you have arguably most buggy firmware across all camera manufacturers.
TBH: I’d be delighted if Sony wouldn’t release firmware updates at all. And cameras would be flawless (in terms of firmware) right off the box.
Not arguing there, but it is nice to know that a manufacturer doesn’t have a fire and forget attitude when it comes to launching a product. In the couple of years that I’ve followed Sony now it seems like there is a definite move toward rapidly refreshing models instead of trying to perfect a model.
HW & SW is getting so complex that it is impossible to exhaustively test prior to product launch so some firmware updates should be expected for even the best of products.
Just to be clear, I don’t agree with the Fuji approach of releasing an alpha product and relying on your user community to do the testing that is needed to get the product to a usable state. But I do admire them for remaining committed to the product. It will be interesting to see if the commitment to initial X products remains the same now the 2nd generation is coming.
Not sure about the Alpha series, but I don’t see how Sony can improve the NEX without upgrading the hardware. Most of the complaints were about the Movie button and bracketing, and they fixed that. Bad performance with wide-angle lenses? How do you fix that for RAWs? People are just nitpicking now. The NEX-7 is almost as good as it will ever be. I don’t have any problem with it. Except, you know, not that great low-light performance.
Just try and trigger a set of bracketed shots with the self timer or the remote, wait, you can’t, all they did was expand the ridiculously narrow EV step, processing is so much easier when the camera isn’t shaking from pressing the shutter button at the start of exposure.
This is a basic technique now days, my 30D could do it in 2005, I guess Sony needs to hire a photographer to help design cameras.
Lol what?
How abou wheel reprogramming, e.g. Exposure correction instead of aperture control?
HDR bracketing after wait instead of urrent holding the shutter button?
Selected point tracking?
In fact nex control shows total disrespect of sony towards their customers: they didn’t seem to care about it much in fact.
The way how the irmware works, how the af works is horrible as well from my observation.
For a77
Absolutely necessary if Sony wants to keep me as customer:
– fix the “invalid with this quality setting…” message:
Solution: save one ‘correctly exposed’ RAW and do the rest in jpg
The rest:
– choice of color for active AF points (can’t see the black ones)
– double tap on ? button to put camera to sleep as a power save option
– option to show level and steady shot (or histogram for some) icons all the time
– don’t show overlay icons for features that are switched off
(Object Tracking, Face Detection, Smile Shutter, zero flash compensation, Picture Effect)
– Auto-ISO in M mode
– 5 fps
– focus peaking in AF-S mode
– 1:1 square photo format
– option to switch non cross AF sensors off
– ability to use M mode with AF in video
– no cropping in video with SS off
But… I don’t expect anything but new lens profiles 🙁
Hope is long gone.
1) Intervalometer
2) Ability to buy applications
3) Wireless IR remote works with all drive modes (bracketing, continuous etc.)
4) Lock the control wheel side buttons
5) FOCUS DISTANCE displayed somewhere
6) Hyper focal distance setting
7) On board flash used as remote trigger (even for short distances if flash is too weak)
8) Assign SteadyShot to a custom button
9) Quick Navi function assignable to a custom button
10) Auto switch to JPG for picture modes that require it
For the Nex 7 ….. make it work flawlessly with ALL Sony brand e mount glass (10-18 no color shift throughout the zoom and aperture range) the Nex 7 is your Nex line flagship so it deserves to be as good or better than the other models and that would be a big plus for me. I’d like it to work better with wide angle rangefinder glass but I realize you have no obligation there but to not work great with Sony branded e mount glass is inexcusable!
For the a77: the same ole dog (I know downsized this and that but real world on cropped BIF high iso shots … well those that have do this know what we get) please correct or improve the high iso noise issue to at least 1600 iso so we can get better RAW BIF cropped shots without losing detail running them through a noise reducing software. I would love to get 1/1600, f8, 1600iso noise free images I can crop to at least half size and still have a sensible noise level. I am not a software engineer but if it is possible to fix this it would make a bunch of wildlife people happier with their a77.
Also for the a77: focus limiter, auto iso in “M” mode (a big plus for BIF shooters), and that would pretty much do it for me.
There are 2 additional features I want for the NEX7
1) I appreciate Sony a lot in trying to provide a solution to the “record button” problem, but at the same time, makes recording movies a lot more complicate. To record movie with the NEX7, I now need to go through a whole lot of setting to activate the movie record feature, and when finished I need to disable the button again… Can Sony add a movie mode to the shooting menu?
2) Can Sony add the setting to customize the ISO range in auto mode? I find personally prefer the range from ISO100-ISO800 or even ISO100-ISO400.
For NEX-7
1. Save user defined presets.
2. Ability to assign more menue items to buttons–for example, peaking level, peaking color.
3. Ability to scroll through multiple images at magnification in playback.
Way faster AF…in body stabilization somehow hahahah
Nex 7 suggestions
1)When previewing images – Clicking the magnify glass(Enlarge image) always defaults to 100% crop in the middle or something really high. I then have to wheel back out to something less zoomed in to view the crop I like.
Please can this remember the previous zoom ratio dialed in on the wheel or provide an option to set to 50%.
100% pixel peeping is a little to high 🙂
I don’t have a problem with the centering….just the very high zoom.
2) Option to purchase NEX7 “compatable” apps but installed via USB though Playmemories (Like Iphone and Itunes) this would enable Time-lapse(INTERVALOMETER), Photo
Retouch, 3D Panaramic and others apps(Perhaps even a Raw to JPG engine app that users can play with to stop moaning about the one provided in the Firmware).
Apps that use the wifi hardware, newer CPU fuctions, more memory etc could be deemed not compatable.
If done correctly this could extend to older / lower end NEX models…expanding the APP market both demand and surply.
Just a thought. 🙂
Please be serious after the last joke so called firmware update (which mostly turned out to be lens profiles) Sony have a heck of a lot to make up and NOT just for NEX and A77 users I would add.
NEX-7: (in order of urgency)
– Fix Bug: currently, focus AND _exposure_ are locked when the shutter is half-pressed. This should not be the case! (Exposure should only be locked when AEL is pressed!)
– Fig Bug: Eye-detection should NOT keep the camera awake! (or at least only for a restricted time)
– Eye detection is to sensitive! When trying to record from hip level, the screen is often deactivated because my clothes get within 5cm range of EVF.
– display: show battery status in every setting
– allow user-defined presets (MR on the mode dial of A700)
– white balance:
* Auto WB sucks
* Auto WB in lightroom gives different result than in camera
* Allow quicker access to manual WB settings (i.e. make it faster to adjust temperature and make it possible to faster access “custom set” – button)
– allow to set max Auto-ISO
– smaller focus points
– movie button: what about combined activation? I.e. press shutter while pressing movie button = movie on (simple, fast and error-proof)
– remove arbitrary restrictions of which functions can be assigned to which buttons
– make tri-navi more flexible (allow to assign more functions to more positions, maybe a second customizable trinavi-screen)
– enhance bracketing options
– improve interface for magnified view in manual mode (or allow to assign a button for activating magnified view)
– make peaking detect horizontal edges (currently only vertical edges)
– allow to configure standard Tri-Navi settings (I barely ever need exposure compensation!)
– auto-switch to JPEG when enabling HDR or panorama
– it’s strange that panorama modes can only be accessed through mode dial
– allow installation of apps.
I believe it when I see it…
+ 1 !!
A77
1) Better jpeg and image quality
2) Uncompressed RAW files
3) Better high iso results
4) Clean hdmi out
5) Get rid of Fstop limit on AF video
6) Tethering
Nex7
1) Allow the minimum shutter speed (at auto iso in A mode) to be adjusted in the menu (right now it’s 1/60). I like to have a few options, e.g. 1/60, 1/80, 1/100, 1/125, 1/250.
Makes shooting in low light now almost impossible in A mode with moving subjects!
2) Auto ISO in M mode!!
a way to save user defined custom profiles please.
– Selectable JPEG Compression
– No compression for RAWs
– Rework folder structure, to keep movies and pictures together or set 2 child folders within a parent, one containing pictures, another movies. Parent being the top level folder
– Improve High ISO chroma noise
– Modify AutoWB algorithm. It seems to swing a little towards yellow/magenta.
– Enable HDR in JPEG+RAW. Its fine to record JPEG only in this mode when HDR is used.
– Enable recording of multiple RAW files in HDR mode.
– Depth of field calculator, based on the the current zoom and focus distance values. Display the output on the screen. Switchable option.
Correction:
– Depth of field calculator, based on the the current ARPETURE, zoom and focus distance values. Display the output on the screen. Switchable option.
I’m not sure that’s possible, but if it is, it would be a very nice feature.
Well, the camera already knows its current zoom and arpeture. Only question is, does it get the focus feedback as well. If it does, then it’s a simple question of math. There are plenty of DOF calculators available online. It could be tied to a button as well. To display on demand. For example together with Arpeture button below the lens, LCD would display DOF data for that setting. There are lots of ways, only question is about the focus ring. It will not be 100% precise, because the camera doesn’t know about every mm of the lens zoom. But even if 30mm is used, when zoom is somewhere between 28-35mm as an example. Primes are even easier as they have constant zoom value. It is definitely better than no option at all.
I would love to see tethering on the NEX-7.
However, one thing that I really really really want on the NEX-7 is built-in time lapse function. Additionally, if they could fix the time lapse overheating issue, that too would be shweeet!
I really hope the new Nex 7 firmware will be a good improvement !! Not like the last firmware which only give 16-50 lens compensation !
And that will take a lot of those good ideas for the firmware and .not taken like a box idea for the new Nex-7n
When you delete a single photo, it should say “image” and not “images” plural.
Would be nice to see photos & videos together when reviewing.
For a77 NOISE,NOISE, NOISE and NOISE,just fix the NOISE problems once and for all! If not this brand is totally dead. And that’s because of SONY themselves. Why can’t Sony make a better noise engine when Nikon can with the same sensors??????????????
FLEXIBLE AUTO ISO! Ability to set min shutter speed, max ISO.. etc.
Can the magenta cast be addressed by firmware?
– Option to make all dials turn in full stops
– Custom profiles
– Higher bit rate video
– ISO not limited to 1600 in video
– Allow setting max/min ISO (not limiting auto ISO to 1600)
– Allow auto ISO in manual mode
– Allow down button on dial (exposure compensation) to be customized
– Don’t limit customization of some customizable buttons – at least allow them to all have the same options, and for any button to be customized to jump you to any point in the menu
– Ability to customize a button to switch between evf and LCD manually
– Dials should serve diff functions when in playback mode – eg one would zoom by default
if only there were any developers out there capable and willing to hack these sony cameras. sigh…
A new firmware update for the A77 should bring:
– RAW+JPG -> Selectable JPG-Quality
– Option to engage an (on-sensor) Contrast-AF for AF fine tuning -> Phase-AF for direction of focusing + Contrast-AF for accuracy (It’s no problem that focusing needs a bit longer that way … at least for me)
– tethered shooting (an additional wlan adapter for the USB-Port together with a remote-app would be phenomenal
That’s it!
A77
– addition to be able to shoot 24p
– ability to make the hdmi out “clean”
-4k-8k raw 14 bit video
-300 fps
-50+ megapixels
-faster than micro 43 autofocus
-1000+ shots per battery
PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!
The A77 would be a great camera if Sony addressed/added the following
1) Better Jpeg engine
2) Tethering
3) Ability to use functions like HDR while using time delay or the remote
4) HDR video (even the canon 500d can do this with magic-lantern… not to mention the Sony Z phone)
5) Enable the photos and movies to be viewed in the same folder.
6) Time lapse
7) ability to change thresholds for functions i.e how yellow an object has to be before it is shown in yellow only photos.
for the NEX 7
1) Timelapse functionality (sould also work with any mode (example miniture tilt/shift)
2) remote trigger works in any mode (example: miniature mode)
3) 250fps or more some type of slow motion
4) Tethering
a77:
Auto ISO in M.
A quick option for switching between Auto ISO and a fixed ISO. For example by pressing the joystick left and right while in ISO selection mode. Of course remember the selected manual ISO so you will return to it when disabling Auto ISO.
Change ISO by holding ISO button down while turning wheel. This will skip the confirmation step. Just press, turn, release instead of press, release, turn, confirm.
Change exposure correction the same way as suggested for ISO.
HDR and toy modes available in raw+JPG. Save one JPG and all the raws which were used to create it.
Customizable viewfinder info. I am tired of having the viewfinder cluttered with info about the status of all the toy modes which I can’t even use anyway because I shoot raw. But I can’t turn it off either, because there are actually a few pieces of info I want to see. So please give me an option of enabling/disabling each element of info. And please give me an option of having level gauge, histogram and GPS status in the same screen.
AF front dial position viewable in the viewfinder. Is it set to AF-C, AF-A, AF-S or MF?
Total battery charge visible when using a grip. In some screen modes and in the top LCD, only the charge of the currently active battery is visible. If it shows almost depleted, there is no quick way to see if the other battery is full or also depleted. I would rather see a combined charge of both batteries in those screens where both batteries aren’t shown.
“Flash ready” symbol visible in viewfinder when using an external flash. As I remember it, this can only be seen on the rear screen and not in the viewfinder. So I have to take the camera away from the eye and look at the rear of the flash to see if it is ready for the next shot.
More usable histogram – preferably a raw histogram. One color for frame and one color for bars so the rightmost bar (the most important one if you are looking for highlight clipping) is clearly distinguishable from the frame.
Use bars instead of squares for non-cross AF points. And the bar should of course show the rotation of that AF point. I don’t want to remember which AF points are cross and I don’t want to remember their rotation.
Easier access to AF micro adjustment. Going in and out of a menu to test each value is really cumbersome. Why not have access to changing the setting with the scroll wheel while looking at focus magnification or while shooting a series of photos?
Self-calibrating AF micro adjustment based on contrast measurement from main sensor. An SLT should be perfect for this since the AF sensors and the main sensor are in use simultaneously. I really don’t understand why Sony haven’t used this obvious potential for anything.
An option of setting preferred start magnification when zooming in on a photo. Zooming all the way to 1:1 is usually too much to judge anything. And you have to scroll a lot on the wheel to reduce the magnification.
A77
-Better high iso performance
-Assign steady shot to a button
-add clear image zoom
– tethering
1) Auto AF in M mode
2) AF-Range
3) customizable “?” button
4) tethering like with A99
5) Quick-Navi-Pro like A99
6) impoved noise reduction and JPG-engine from A57 or A99
7) improved AF-tracking from A58
Meant Auto-ISO in M-Mode
I was wondering if you meant Auto Auto Focus in MF mode…
A77:
I love this camera by the way, coming from a T2i I’m very impressed. But it could be better:
1. Enable the photos and movies to be viewed in the same folder.
2. No video crop with Steadyshot turned off
3. enable higher ISO durning video… yes it’ll look bad, but it’s necessary sometimes.
4. clean hdmi output for external viewing and recording.
5. this is a bit odd of a request, but since you can’t listen to the audio recording with headphones, to just have a readout of your audio levels in the GUI just to show if you’re getting something (I use the external Sony shotgun mic) or if it looks over modulated that would be great
6. also being able to possibly adjust audio levels would be great. Even in a menu would still be better than nothing.
OK. I thought of another one for NEX-7 (and 6?):
On Nikon DSLR’s, holding a control button and THEN turning the settings dials will have an effect. Tri-Navi dials tend to turn too easily and accidentally when unlocked, but the current feature we have to lock/unlock them is a bit tedious and time consuming too. Why not just make it so that you have to hold the Fn button when using the Tri-Navi dials to change things like Aperture or Exposure Compensation? So: click Fn to change selected setting, hold Fn and turn Tri-Navi wheel to change a setting.
I tried this a bit on my 7, and I see now that I do have the option to click the Fn button and then change settings when Tri-Navi is locked. This then leaves me in Tri-Navi settings mode until I half press the shutter or click Fn a bunch more times. Probably something I could train myself to use, but not as intuitive as just holding the button while turning the wheel.
A77
1) Tethering
2) Audio control or Audio levels EVF/LCD
3) Turn On/off Steady Shot video mode to stop 2X
4) Clean HDMI
5) True Manual control Photo/video free up f-stop
6) Up to date Jpeg-Raw photo engine
7) Improve ISO noise if you can
Thanks Sony for asking
for a77:
– fix flash issues (according to Gary Friedmans archives the last firmware has silently brought improvements…but I haven’t tested this yet)
– bring back quick navi (like we had/have on A700 & A99 & Nex-6)
– bring back time lapse (like we had on KM 7D)
– easy switching to e.g. HDR from shooting RAW (just fall-back to JPEG)
Nex-7:
A video mode with at least 120fps
Firmware that fixes the WOBBLY TRIPOD MOUNT on my NEX 7.
Memory Recall mode. (minimum 1, best 3 positions),
Automatic switching to jpg when you shoot raw and switch for example to hdr mode
Quick navi (like NEX 6)
Wow! Nex-7 is going to beat 7n in summer!
From past experience I’ll anticipate this is a waste of time. But since we were asked so nicely, how can I refuse?!
The NEX-7, at least for my purposes, is generally a great hardware design. My issues, as I see it, are manageable with f/w changes/additions. I’ve provided this info to Sony via their suggested support paths as well as posting on any forum I can find in hopes Sony has monitors there or a web crawler that finds this sort of info (I doubt they’re that interested). Anyway, enough whining…
NEX-7…
– Allow Auto ISO in M(annual) mode
– Allow user-settable limits of Auto-ISO range
– Allow IR remote in any shooting condition/setting/mode
– Add Custom Shooting modes (in addition to current Custom Menus)
– If a setting only permits a JPEG file and I’m set to RAW+JPEG, GIVE ME A *&^%$# JPEG!!!!
– They could have done better than what they did for bracketing; still, the current changes are very welcome.
– Hire a photographer to steer the NEX f/w design team instead of camera designers and marketing staff [I mean this with sincerity! The NEX team has hardware design nailed; it’s the f/w that’s on an unfavorable track.]
No matter how well intentioned, getting in the way of a shot is a sin. I wish there were some way to convey that concept to the designers of the user interface.
For A77:
– tethering ( API/SDK would be awesome, so that at least, others can build tools to work with the camera! )
– Allow RAW+JPEG for the creative modes. (Seriously, just write out the raw file and the modified JPEG)
– intervalometer and programmable digital bulb mode(use the LCD display to let people enter in an exposure of their choosing in HH:MM:SS format, and save it for fast retrieval)
– make [movie] and [?] buttons reprogrammable for other purposes.
– have ONE unified view mode for images and movie files.
– store the lens data to the EXIF files correctly for 3rd party lenses. Or let users choose a lens profile to be imprinted onto their images.
– copyright EXIF/IPTC tagging information in-camera
– in-camera adjustable graduated neutral density filter applied at sensor level!
Intervalometer should be in every camera!
C’mon Sony, you bought Minolta and the 7D had it, shouldn’t be so difficult….
No crop in video mode!
Firmware
1) A Cloaking Device
2) Warp Factor 8
3) A self adhesive 8 to stick over the 7
Time lapse on the Nex 7 please! Faster AF and better battery life too.
I would love usb charging, but I assume that’s a hardware limitation?
– Change screen brightness quickly by long press display button (as with other Sony cameras)
– Change flash exposure setting quickly by long pressing the +/- exposure button.
– “preview” setting for the image to only auto preview IF your eye is removed from the EVF and only on the back screen for x amount of seconds then the screen will go off and not be used/powered to save battery and remove the need to have it turned inwards most of the time to help save battery.
– 2 levels of preview zoom, eg, if default zoom is 100% a 50% zoom first would be good then press again to get 100% zoom.
– Zoom in/out and zoom scrolling needs to be faster and more responsive.
– Fix flash consistency issues
– Faster switching between LCD and EVF
– display both video and photos in display mode (together)
– 720p video mode
– Let users specify to set the camera in PAL or NTSC mode
– Tether support
– Enhanced Tether support if possible, such as: remote live view, full access to all camera settings and changes, Native Adobe Lightroom support (release open standards for developers to use)..etc..etc..
– Customizable “?” button
– Improved start-up and shutdown times
– In general improved reaction/response times with camera operations and changes
– Higher ISO limit in video mode
– Improved buffer handling and faster flushing of cache to memory, it seems even with the slower fps’s settings the A77 does not cope as well as it perhaps could?
– Transfer some of the A99 features into the A77 if possible
– Ability to save camera serial number in EXIF (if a user chooses to enable the option)
Better (less destructive) jpg engine. User favourite presets.
If the nex 7 is having an update, I want:
*Tethering
*Playmemories app compatibility
*In video audio recording volume control
*Ability to choose pal\ntsc for video recording
*Selectable min\max auto iso (like a77)
*More ISO options like 50, 150, 250, 300 etc.
a time machine
For the NEX 7:
1) Wired remote + intervalometer/tethering external software. (A must!)
IR remotes are frustrating to use!
2) Manually toggle between LCD and EFV.
3) Display focusing distance.
I may repeat myself but i feel that most of the requests, intervalometer, 5(or more) exp bracketing, longer than 30sec shots, flash sync speeds, various menu display improvements, focus distance display, motion detection, different bitrate videos would all be already here for ALL wifi cameras, even the existing, if the “shop” was open to developers!
..or there was an SDK
At this point I would even be willing to pay for a real firmware update. No much. Bug fixed free but if you give a nice set of new features 10$ would be fine.
My A65 has back-focus so I had to send it back for correction… A65 needs AF micro-adjustments like its big brother A77! Come on Sony please, this is easy to fix by firmware update!
Hello Sony,
thanks for asking.
Here is my wish list for A77 :
-Improve ISO noise if possible
-Intervalometer
-Tethering
-Allow aperture for video to go lower than 3.5 (ie 2.8, 2, 1.4 and so on)
-videomode with high frame rate (slow motion)
-allow to keep magnification active even when changing settings.
Thanks !
For A77:
Allow RAW+JPEG for all situations. Or alternatively, disable RAW when not appropriate, and return to RAW+JPG afterwards. It is boring to have to go through 5-6 button presses to change quality.
Do not loose MF status when the camera goes to power save.
Make [movie] and [?] buttons reprogrammable for other purposes.
Have ONE unified view mode for images and movie files.
Store the lens data to the EXIF files correctly for 3rd party lenses.
Display F lens / zoom setting in mm
Display focus distance
Lots of requests. Maybe someone who has time should create a master list, then add a +x for the number of times its been requested to assist with prioritizing.
then any new posters can just add a +1 to the item if it exists, or add it to the bottom of the list if new.
just a thought.
+1 🙂
I use the a77 professionally – both stills and video. My company owns 4 bodies. I know these things have been asked for above but I just wanted to add weight to a couple of the more video-centric requests by posting again…
1) Manual control of audio input level – PLEEEAASE. Canon have always done this and it’s not a difficult fix surely…
2) Can the video crop be reduced from 1.86 to more like Nex levels – or none at all as an option if SteadyShot is switched off.
I understand the camera is what it is – and so many of it’s features have got me out of a lot of some serious production difficulties (e.g. face detection, peaking, lightning shutter response, fab video autofocus even with legacy glass, SteadyShot, AEL toggle, intuitive and accurate WB setting etc. etc.) . People and businesses pay us good money for it’s output and as long as you know the camera’s limits and shoot accordingly it is a wonderful piece off kit. All cameras have limits.
Thank you in advance, Sony. My profits paid for my Sony investment many times over.
Just noticed someone saying they would pay (a little) for a serious update. Actually, as long as it made commercial sense, I’d pay the true market value for extra features or performance. For Sony, they’d be getting a high margin income stream – no manufacturing or shipping costs – just money for serious firmware.
It’s always unclear what margins they’re actually making on, say, bodies – but after distrubution, dealer margins etc. – selling beefy firmware for high margins must be a no-brainer.
Time lapse, time lapse, time lapse.
For a77:
1- Better JPEG engine
2- Tethering?
3- More reassignable buttons (yeah, I am talking about you, ? button)
4- Maybe improved buffer depth? If you put it into though, a77’s buffer depth is pretty big
5- Iso 3200 in video mode (hey, 1600 looks ok, 3200 shouldn’t look too bad)
6- No crop in video mode using steady shot (this is important!)
i believe the a77 tethering is a hardware issue so it wont and cant ever happen.
Butid be happy with useable iso noise thanks! 🙂
The A77 on the latest firmware appears to be crashing occasionally when taking a picture and trying to view it very quickly. It’s an intermittent problem but if I’m shooting handheld and snapping away then viewing fast the red light will often flick on permanently as if it’s trying to access the sd card but the camera will hang until switched off and the battery is removed. When turned on the camera work fine again but the picture in question is not available as if it was never saved.
Whilst intermittent it happens a little too frequently! Fixing that would be great.
Give us a 2.0 firmware for the Nex-7 and NOT a 1.0.3 …
I like the fact that we had 5 firmwares on Nex-5
Give a high end support for a high camera !!
Wish list :
– allow app with USB
– automatic lens correction for all Sony and Zeiss e-mount lenses available and upcoming
– change function of the movie button
– thetering
– Quick navi Nex6 like
+1 !!!
+2!!!!
Hi, might be unique to your camera I don’t have that issue at all with my A77
Beside the ?-botton to become reassignable to a wide range of personal settings (especially to switch between JPEG and RAW-Mode) there are two things that I really really wish to be changed by a new firmware for the A77:
1. The Live-View-Bug:
When you are in A- or S-Mode Live-View (on the monitor and in the EVF) works only within a range of -2 to +2 EV around the measure value. Not to be misunderstood: Exposure compensation works within a range of -5 and +5 EV beyond the measured value, but Live-View doesn’t adjust the brightness beyond -2 and +2. What is even worse: Also the histogram (display set to show it by the DISP-Button and exposure compensation done by one of the control dials) doesn’t work beyond -2 and +2!
As in M-Mode Live-View adjusts brightness over the entire range of possible f-stops or exposure values I am sure that this is a firmware bug that can be eliminated by a new version.
2. Similar problem: “Shot. Result Preview” doesn’t adjust the live view image at an exposure time of 1/10 and beneath. Strangely if the button is set to “Aperture Preview” it does work correctly at all times (but then of course you don’t see picture styles and corrections)!
I think I really don’t demand to much If I wish these problems to be resolved and as I think they are real bugs I think this wish is it in the interest of many if not all A77-users!
A77
1: video not limited at 1600 ISO
2: no crop factor in video mode
2: pics at higher iso’s with cleaner output.
all suggestions below are relevant to the NEX-7 camera.
TETHERING!
timelapse shooting mode… preferably three settings: start-delay [X seconds], timelapse period [X seconds], interval duration [X seconds]
programmable memory modes (like 1,2,3 in canon cameras)
better focus peaking. already it is a very good and awesome tool, but for using with wide angle lenses at slow apertures, or fast lenses in low light it is pretty useless because then, either my entire screen is red, or nothing at all is peaked! i would propose that a user is allowed to control not only the size of the markings, but also the sensitivity of the peaking
back-button-focussing. be able to engage autofocus with your thumb using a single button on the back of the camera. half-pressing the shutter is inprecise and annoying! (would love to have this in place
faster button response (control wheels need a split second to get through and adjust- it makes the camera feel luggish and slow)
tethering!! (also lightroom support- not only for sony’s PMB please)
allow the built in flash to work as a trigger for flashguns!
more control with Auto-ISO (set a minimum/maximum iso; maybe even focal-length-dependant)
!!! scroll through pictures whilst in magnified view !!! (now if i check for proper focussing between several images i have to zoom in, and then zoom out again before i can go to next image and zoom in and out again! this isnt necessary and other cameras like a200 used to be able to do this!!)
alpha menu system. this is so very much superior compared to the nex-menus!
better jpegs and auto WB- learn from fuji cameras!
You can already do back button focusing … doesn’t require a firmware change … see luminous landscape site for how to set this up … mine works perfectly.
Solution for: !!! scroll through pictures whilst in magnified view !!!
Just zoom in and if you want to change to the next or previous picture turn the front wheel to left or right and the picture will change zoomed in, a bit slow but it works!
for NEX-7
1. Eliminate the ‘pop up’ when the video button is pushed – better still change it to being able to turn off the video function of the button by a double push … even better still … allow us to program the button for another function.
2. Allow lower range ISO on Auto (e.g., maximum 400 or 800 rather than just 1600).
3. Not sure if this is a firmware issue but it would be great if I could control off camera flash with the built-in flash.
4. Provide ‘user settings’ function that lets us quickly pick a customized set-up of many if not most of the settings that are possible. e.g., My Settings 1,2,3
5. Switch menu and focus buttons – soft key B (menu at bottom rather than under thumb). I would rather have easy access to focus (or some other function) than to MENU.
6. Disable the camera wake-up when the eye-switch is activated … would improve immensely on battery life as the camera wakes-up every time it bounces off of your chest.
Thank you in advance Sony for any and all of these !!!
I just hope all this will not only be ideas for the Nex-7n, but could be integrated in new firmware, even if all suggestion is impossible but few of them could great !
Andrea I think all this will give you a lot of work if you want sumerize in one wish list !!! 🙂 lol
damn yes 🙂
Don’t forget the WOBBLY TRIPOD MOUNT! Please 🙂
My Nex7 is with me all the time. However, it’s missing a couple provisions that seem absolutely basic to an old school photographer like myself. One: a nice, simple cable release. This should be doable via the USB port, and could also allow for more advanced remote devices as well. Two: scale focusing. In MF, there’s no way to set a specific camera to subject distance. I know the E mount system can do this, as it’s a function on my Nex VG20. Simply switch to MF, and a distance indicator appears right in the EVF.
– Tethering
– Auto ISO in M mode
– Focus range button like A99
– buton to temporarily brighten up shadows in the viewfinder
1) modify cam operation in raw mode such that the camera switches to JPEG mode automatically when i chose a setting that is only supported in jpeg mode. THat is, do NOT tell the me that the function is not supported in raw, change the camera to jpeg for the duration!
2) TONE DOWN THE FLASH in AUTO and AUTO+ modes or give me the ability to reduce it in the auto modes myself!! I know this may seem counterintuitive to what AUTO means, but sony’s sense of flash power is simply too much and i want to move it dow—auto mode is unusable with flash a present because the background is nearly completely washed out!
3)allow and support 3 user-defined modes where virtually all parameters are set by the user for each of those 3 modes.
4)improve jpeg/noise algorithms
5)IMPROVE DRO to reduce the exposure for more dynamic range. Presently, DRO only pushes shadows, it also needs to “pull” bright areas down a bit, 1 or 2 stops would be nice. Much more like nikon active-D lighting—
6) Provide more control over creative styles—a HUE adjustment in addition to sharpness, contrast and saturation.
NEX 7…
Clean uncompressed HDMI output
Disable video cropping
Ability to access 2 channel audio and control separate level gains
Ability to disable Automatic Gain Control
Fix over heating issue if possible through firmware
Fix color shift using wide angle lenses
TImelapse mode
If these can’t be done at least add them to the new NEX 7N.
Ideas / Wishes sortet a little bit:
Most wanted:
probably easy to change:
– More Buttons customizable (not only ?, also +/-, WB, …) with SSS on/off as option
– advanced + customizable bracketing
probably more difficult:
– Auto-Iso in M-Mode as an option
– start HDR and bracketing with IR-Remote and/or Self-Timer (reorganize drive-menu, would really make sense)
– Tethering (USB)
Additional wanted:
easy to change:
– Option to keep focus magnifier active when releasing shutter
– Repair Bug: Exposure is not shown correct in Live-view when corrected more than +/- 2 EV
more difficult:
– start Video with shutter-button (in video-Mode)
– show SSS-strength (bars, as in former Cams)
– possibility to show histogram and level gauge
– adjustable microphone-level
– picture-effects, HDR, … can be chosen with RAW+JPG and is applied to JPG
– adjustable JPG-Format in RAW+JPG
– Mode with 5 fps or free adjustable (1..8)
– (Take pictures while making videos – not in video-mode)
probably not possible
– additional contrast-AF
– automatic focus-stacking (using MF-Control)
– configure menu and FN-menu by PC+software
– Video with AF and aperture from open (1.x) to 5.6
christ sake! I remember we have ‘talked’ about this in past 2 years and now comes over again ><" I could suggest Admin to make a poll with a long wishlist, so that in the end we can view statistically which features will be formed as final wishlist to Sony Engineers.
Sistema de enfoque como la A99, nuevo sensor, mejor manejo de ISO alto, grip como la A99!!!
Creo que no entendistes el mensaje. Están hablando de actualización de software, no de hardware. Y estamos hablando es de la SLT-a77 y NEX-7, no acerca de nuevos modelos.
It seems you misunderstood the message. They’re talking about software, not hardware update. And it’s the SLT-a77 and NEX-7 we’re talking about, not new models.
Bigger sensor! (36 MP or more pls)
Split the “drive” menu so the remote shutter release or time delay shutter release can be used at the same time as bracketing or auto HDR. I use a tripod much of the time and not being able to use a remote for either bracketing or HDR is really maddening.
– Fix magenta casting for wide angle lenses
– Customisable saved presets
– Easier access to flash control settings
– Off camera flash control trigger wit pop-up
– More convenient HDR / HDR Raw
– App support via USB
– Focus range function
– Improved remote operation
– Option to reassign video button
– And a commitment to a future program of substantial firmware updates – rather like with smartphones OS upgrades – would be valued considering the size of investment in hardware!
YES, “programming” the popup flash button such that holding it down would access flash settings, like strength and mode, WOULD BE AWESOME!
For sony a65/77
option to control manual off camera flash from within the camera..
Thats all I want..
Excited for the possibility of the A77 getting the much needed features it deserves. I’m just going to put everything I’d like, obviously can’t have them all
– Clean HDMI
– ISO over 1600 in video
– controllable crop in video without loss of quality (use select part of sensor to achieve this)
– get rid of video crop with stabilization turned off
– A or S mode autofcus in video
– tethering
– manual audio control
– downloadable color profiles
– timelapse
– video start by shutter remote
– higher bitrate video
– auto switch to jpg for modes not compatible with raw
– auto-review on back screen only (continue shooting through viewfinder)
– auto iso in M
– quick user set rack focus
– lower noise or cleaner noise like GH2
– Get rid of Fstop limit on AF video
– apps through USB
– zebra for exposure monitoring
– steadyshot toggle assigned to button
Hi, here is my wishlist for the
A77 fw update:
– Auto-ISO also in Manual-Mode (with option to limit ISO)
– better JPEG-Engine
– lower noise at high ISO
– triggering of video function via remote control
– >1600 ISO possible for video
– tethering
Best regards
Hey sony, want to see what a firmware update is supposed to look like?
http://www.canonrumors.com/2013/03/canon-eos-6d-firmware-by-june-cr1/
see how they telegraph it? See how they ADD FEATURES? See how they Correct bugs? add tweaks? Got it idiots at Sony??????????
I’d really like to see a meter showing how hard the steadyshot is working, like I had on the a350 – it really helps you when you are trying to take handheld low light shots.
* Time lapse shooting mode, limited only by power and memory card capacity. This rather useful mode was removed from Minolta Dynax/Maxuum cameras after Sony acquired the camera production.
* Selectable 1.0, 2.0 or 3.0 EV bracketing steps with 3, 5 or 7 frames in series. Today, 2.0 and 3.0 EV steps are limited to 3 frames, and there is no 1.0 EV bracketing mode.
* NO vertical cropping in 4:3 video mode!! By some reason, and unlike most other brands, ALL Sony cameras, including compacts, have exactly the same vertical cropping in 4:3 video mode as in 16:9 “letterbox” mode! This is both silly and completely unnecessary, and is extremely annoying when you want to get the most out of a wide angle lens!
* HD video in 4:3 mode (1440×1080 square pixels), and perhaps 3:2 mode (1620×1080 sq pix), assuming vertical cropping is removed from 4:3 (and 3:2) video shooting! Today, 4:3 video is limited to VGA resolution (640×480 pix).
* Video with digital zoom or digital crop mode, down to “one sensor pixel per video pixel”. Anything more will of course not improve factual resolution.
* Bigger buffer memory, if possible. (I assume this is a hardware issue, but 1.5 seconds in high speed mode feels very limited!)
1) More exposure compensation options. 1EV 5 Images would be nice.
2) Exposure compensation button could use dual dials when flash is up or attached. One dial for Exposure compensation, the other for Flash compensation.
Here’s my A77 recommendation for Sony…
Too little too fkn late… ship has sailed.
I am absolutely loving my A77 but there are a couple things that could be better, namely:
– A menu and HUD interface option that doesn’t have such detailed logos for better performance.
– Video ISO higher than 1600.
– 720p at 120fps
– Less lag on the top LCD panel when changing shutter speed and aperture.
– Ability to switch between PAL and NTSC video!! (Please!!)
– Tethering with full support for video control via computer.
– Less lag booting the OLED viewfinder when sensing eye.
– Ability to change the size of the crop (and therefore sensitivity) of SteadyShot.
– A better zoom feature in photo playback.
– Eliminate black space in panorama if camera isn’t panned fast enough.
– Timelapse photo mode (This would be absolutely wonderful and wouldn’t be that hard for you to do)
– Programmable memory modes
– LESS NOISE ALL ROUND
Come on Sony – Go big on this firmware update, it can only benefit you when bringing out the next model…
One more recommendation for NEX7
Option to activate cleaning for the CMOS on shutdown, this will be a nice feature to ensure minimum dust on the CMOS.
I want TWO things..
Tethering
5 exposure over 2EV mode instead of just 3 so I can leverage the 77 more for HDR (and yes it makes a difference).
GIVE ME MORE CUSTOMIZABLE BUTTONS! I don’t shoot video. Give me the ability to reassign the movie button when not in movie mode. It makes no sense for a photographer to have a dead useless button just sitting there when it could be put to such good use. Which button is more important to a photographer: ISO or Movie? ISO! Yet Sony thinks I’d rather reassign the ISO button than the movie button when shooting photos? That’s nuts.
Give me the ability to add a label to the memory recall positions. 1, 2 and 3 do nothing to help me remember what I assigned there, especially if I occasionally change them.
Change the displays shown for each option on the mode dial so they show me relevant information. For example, when I turn the dial to SCN, show me which scene selection I have it set up to (in my case, Macro) rather than showing me a generic screen and making me click through to get to where I’m shown which scene selection I’ve set up. Keeping the generic screen is fine, but change the bottom half so that it shows which scene is currently selected. I love my A77, but it often takes too many menus and button presses to get things done.
ISO Noise reduction for RAW
Time Lapse capability
NEX7:
Please, please, please: better focus in low light – perfect solution would be phase detection, but other options – improved contrast detection – and how about enabling use of the infra red lighting on external flash guns?
Ability to instantly switch the zoom view in manual focus on and off (instead of having to wait 2 seconds or more)
Assignable pre-set function buttons – so I can preset a few “favourite” settings
Yes – use the inbuilt flash as an external flash trigger!
Better high iso noise performance, especially at iso 6400.
Quicker response times (still feels laggy & slow).
Quicker AF (should be lightning fast and accurate).
More assignable buttons e.g dof button.
Just asking (for the impossible;-) ; slightly better battery life.
Re Payment for updates;providing it was a sensible amount of no more than £5 (about $8), and it was a substantial update, improving the camera (better noise control, faster operation, more options etc, not just more auto lens adjustments), I would be prepared to splash the cash.
Imagine if only 50% of A77 owners, let alone other Alpha owners were to pay a fiver, in order to get a “decent” update, how much revenue would that generate for Sony ?. It would generate cash for Sony, improve our camera(s) and would demonstrate a loyalty to customers,by not prematurely throwing another camera on the unsupported pile (e.g A580 etc), e.g why bring out an A78 so soon after the A77 when fundamentally it’ll probably look the same, could’nt most of the improvements be put into the A77 via an update ?.
I’d love to have these features for my NEX-7 and I would definitely pay for them:
-Interval shooting/timelapse function
-2X lossless crop mode for video
-Custom setting on mode dial/user presets
-Manual audio levels (only makes sense, this is the only NEX with mic input)
-App support via USB
-4:3 video aspect ratio (for anamorphic lens use)
-Option to use Alpha SLT-style menu layout
If NEX did these things I would have a practically perfect hybrid photo/video system.
Timelapse, timelapse, timelapse…
turn off frame display when shooting (especially high 12fps)
better high iso
better jpeg engine
Tethering
what i would like is for them to add as i still think biggist problem not being able to turn off noise reduction so plz sort think get far better images
NEX-7
Timelaps….
please PLEASE allow the use of a wireless shutter release with exposure bracketing!!
Everyone who shoots HDR with the NEX-7 hates that we have to press the shutter release button to take a 3 shot exposure bracket since it makes the camera shake. Even the Sony pocket cameras allow the timer and remote shutter releases to work with bracketing. Why doesn’t the NEX-7???
Now that Sony is dropping the SLT line, will there still be an A77 Firmware update this summer?
The 3 things I constantly find myself wishing were built in to my A77
Tethering.
Focus magnifier in video mode.
Timelapse
Better nose reduction would also be appreciated but not a deal breaker if it isn’t possible. But the other 3 should be considered standard by now.
NEX 7:
1. Improve noise in low light (800 ISO should be noise free which it currently is not)
2. Up to 45sec exposures from the current max of 30.
3. Manually adjust intensity of flash
4. +5 EV and -5 EV brackets for more HDR options with optional 3, 5, or 7 frames
5. Speed up the write to card function and buffer along with faster review of photos
6. Tethering
7. More advanced manual focus tools such as setting focal range
8. Better JPEG compression, especially for Panoramas
9. Add a 50 ISO option
10. How about a multiple exposure mode for Effects work i.e. 2 images merged in a single frame (Of course it can be done in post but in camera would be cool too.)
11. Timelapse ( Can’t believe this function is missing) (Must have lots of functionality options)
12. Anamorphic crop mode for video
13. Manual audio level settings
14. Better and wider use of wireless triggering in all modes (Everything should be able to be triggered wirelessly)
15. Faster and more accurate auto focus
16. Improve stitching to blend better in Panorama mode ( Sometimes get varying exposure levels from one scan to the next which causes lines in the skies or uniform areas.)
Is it possible to have PAL/NTSC switchable through a Firmware Update? I recently purchased a NTSC Sony Alpha a77 however I travel to, and spend time in countries that use PAL.I believe this is not an issue playing back on HDMI Monitors or TV’s and it is only an issue with old Analog TV’s to my knowledge. Being able to change it from NTSC to PAL could have it’s advantages, any thoughts?
Double Exposure.
Time Lapse.
Higher iso for video
More assignable buttons.
Nex-7
Double Exposure.
Time Lapse.
Higher iso for video
More assignable buttons.
1. Tethering (most important)
2. Give me the ability to reassign the movie button when not in movie mode. It makes no sense for a photographer to have a dead useless button just sitting there when it could be put to such good use.
3. 5 exposure over 2EV mode instead of just 3 so I can leverage the 77 more for HDR.
4. better JPEG-Engine
5. lower noise at high ISO
I am not a Pro, but tethering would be important. Thank you.
Regards from Switzerland
Urgent control manual audio gain …
Illustration mode in picture effects, just like the RX100
Any news about NEX 7 firmware update?
Any word on the update? Last day of summer is coming up. Would love to know when this is planned for release if ever.
So, the new firmware is a bust… No tethering and no real new features that anyone asked for. Great job Sony….
Unbelievable. They obviously didn’t listen, and they obviously don’t care.
Dustin, they did listen… I guarantee you these feature will show up in the new Nex7T or 8, whatever they call it. They were using us to get features we want… Really can’t believe this is all they gave us, an update for lens support!
You’re absolutely right, Matt. What’s really disappointing is that they could easily implement a lot of these features through software, but they won’t.
They’d rather we drop another G on a new body. But I suppose that’s pretty standard practice in the industry these days. It’s actually rather sad. But we’ll all buy the 7T or 8 or whatever they call it, now won’t we?
I’d pay a hundred bucks to them right now if they’d give me time lapse and the ability to control my external flash while off the camera, like I used to be able to do with my a700. Remote release functionality through the USB port wouldn’t hurt, either. Pipe dreams, I suppose.