(SR5) Exclusive on SonyAlphaRumors: the Sony A850/900 firmware upgrade press release and powerpoint presentation!!!
SonyAlphaRumors is pelased to inform you that Sony will release a new Sony A850/A900 firmware on December 2th. According to our sources Sonys goal is to contribute current users to stay in the Sony system, by showing Sony is supporting and caring them and to push the Christmas year-end sales. That’s why they are offering the $100.00 Instant Savings on the A850 (Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto) and the $200 Instant Savings on the A900 (Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto). An anonymous source sent us the full press release + powerpoint presentation (Click here to see the presentation at docshare.com). Here is the official press release with the new firmware enhancements:
“Press Release (2nd December 2010)
Sony announces free DSLR-A900/A850 firmware upgrade
Creative shooting enhancements for full-frame α cameras
A free firmware upgrade refines shooting responses and creative options with the α900 and α850 35mm full-frame DSLR cameras by Sony.
All new and existing customers are advised to install the upgrade that’s available for download from the ‘Support’ area of the Sony web site.
Autofocus is quicker and more responsive than ever, thanks to improved AF motor control and smarter distance detection of out-of-focus objects.
Creative options are extended by a broadened range of exposure value (EV) compensation settings, now increased from ±3EV to ±5EV. Selected compensation value is displayed in the navigation display on the main LCD screen of both cameras. This boosted EV compensation range gives extra
headroom when composing extremely high- or low-key images.
Exposure bracketing range has also been increased from a maximum of 4.0EV (three shots at -2EV, 0EV, +2EV) to a maximum of 6.0EV (-3EV, 0EV, +3EV). This wider range gives added flexibility when capturing multiple frames at different exposure values – for example when acquiring images for the creation of powerful post-shooting HDR effects.
As a further refinement, a new menu option allows shutter release to be enabled, even when the camera body doesn’t detect an attached lens. It’s useful for specialist applications such as astrophotography when the camera is attached to a telescope.
The latest firmware upgrade by Sony for registered α900 and α850 DSLR customers is available free of charge from http://support.sony-europe.com/dime/DSLR/dslr.aspx.
- Ends -”
Thanks to all our sources!
P.S.: Click here to see all Sony camera and lens Instante Rebates!
Paul Hedderly
3 years ago |And some fixes, upgrades for the SLTs too please
Edgars
3 years ago |Before improved AF of tele-lens performance was mentioned. Of course any lens benefit from enlarged defocus detection obviously it is mostly for macro lens. I’m doing a lot of macro and usually MF, because of annoying hunting of 100mm macro lens.
acerlim
3 years ago |let’s urge sony to provide firmware for SLT .
i need more manual function in movie mode
Colamango
3 years ago |better go ur VG 20
RB
3 years ago |Come on. You just bought a brand new camera, haven’t read the manual yet — and you cry already for a new firmware version?
Francisco
3 years ago |I agree!!! FIRMWARE UPDATE FOR SLT ASAP!!
emopunk
3 years ago |It’s nice to read “to respond to feedback from customers..”.. Doesn’t this statement sound really great to all of you?
Arthur
3 years ago |Took them 2 years to respond.
qbic
3 years ago |4x FASTER !!!! (lol)
Nothing about IQ change.
RB
3 years ago |Why should there be a change in IQ? In my eyes (and in those who have a direct comparison to the Canikon top models) it is next to perfect.
And I don’t understand which problems some folks have with High-ISO noise. Personally, I have a hard time to see any noise at ISO 3200… Much less than my 2 MP Nikon had at ISO 80.
Emopunk
3 years ago |@ Arthur: maybe something changed in better in their DSLR division, in this meanwhile..
Jeff
3 years ago |Much ado about nothing. Lousy ISO performance wasn’t fixed because they obviously can’t fix it.
Another nail in Sony’s DSLR coffin.
panfruit
3 years ago |You knew about the lousy ISO performance when you bought it. You’re pissy because 2 years later that doesn’t automagically change?
RB
3 years ago |Fix it yourself: Shoot RAW and develop your pictures in C1. Since then, I don’t have any noise issue.
dk
3 years ago |I guess shooting RAW, investing in a good RAW converter and learning PP are too much to take for some people.
rob
3 years ago |Which brings up another question – who would buy a lower performing low iso camera like a 5d Mk II? That should be a nail in Canon’s coffin.
AVESTA
3 years ago |I don’t understand how this is an upgrade when my A900 already does this?
RB
3 years ago |Perhaps you double check what your camera currently does and which extras the new firmware adds? Or just look at the full presentation, where they explain the benefits in more detail; in the style before/after…?
AVESTA
3 years ago |The Release w/o lens function just doesn’t make sense though… mine already does this.
Does yours not allow you to do that?
Froo
3 years ago |It only does this in M mode in current FW.
Andrew
3 years ago |Can someone please clarify the benefit of adding the “Release w/o lens” function? My a850 can already release the shutter with no lens when in manual(M) mode. I was hoping that this part of the firmware upgrade was going to perhaps allow the use of manual lenses in aperture priority mode. Anyone have any insight here?
RB
3 years ago |I assume that this is what they mean…
hiepphotog
3 years ago |This is exactly what it means. It allows you to use non-chip lens in aperture priority mode. M mode is quite cumbersome and only good for flash usage.
Eric N.
3 years ago |Come on people, Sony FINALLY is supporting the a900/a850 and most of the posts I see are what it isn’t supporting or how their brand new a33/55 isn’t getting support. I’ve waited a year and 900 users up to two years. I for one LOVE my a850 and am totally happy with it. To me this is just icing on a already awesome cake!
What IQ do they need to do? You want better high ISO? Then shoot in Raw and edit in PP, or buy something that else that does. To me the a900/850 are the last of a very speical breed of straight forward DSLR. No big frills, bells, whistles, video, etc…
Ok rant over.
qbic
3 years ago |I dont care about high iso. I know that already A900 is better @ low iso than my crappy 5Dmark2, but I also don’t like blotchy shadows from sony.
AVESTA
3 years ago |hah… I always love it when people realize how much better the A900 is than the 5D… seriously, screw the video.
qbic
3 years ago |I always know that A900 is better @ low iso, its why I bought it in the first place (no vertical banding). But good can be always better (look @ D3x).
TypeZeiss
3 years ago |Try processing the image in capture one. Just download the demo of the software and try it. I think you will be very happy with the results.
tfd
3 years ago |Right on, Eric N. This site is generally very positive in tone, while it also allows Sony users to give constructive feedback to Sony. I’d bet that’s why someone from Sony “leaked” this info to this site. I read an article today about “trolls” – maybe too strong a term for some of the whining and carping I see occasionally here and much more often on other sites. We have a very good camera that is now getting a little better, and Sony clearly has a strategy to do bigger and better things. But Rome wasn’t built in a day. I prefer to stay positive and keep telling Sony what I want to see from them, while complimenting what they do right.
rob
3 years ago |You can get the feeling that many of the whiners and carpers are Canikon trolls.
Emopunk
3 years ago |@Andrea: you may want to see that here in Italy there’s quite a deal on Amazon; they’re selling A850 for 1.665,72 € including shipping! It looks rather attractive!!
David
3 years ago |I’m hoping there is some improvement in ISO personally. Better AF is a plus, although I didn’t know that was a problem in the first place, that’s even better!!! But better high ISO is a must.
Joel2
3 years ago |ISO is a function of the sensor, not the software. Software cannot work with data that has not been captured in the first place.
dk
3 years ago |Not really. Try ACR 5 vs ACR 6.
Edgars
3 years ago |My experience about low light shooting is that usually blur of image is more caused by AF errors, camera shake and subject moving. High ISO noise and low resolution is last reason for blur images. In Bayer sensor cameras resolution of images also varies with the color of the light e.g. in tungsten light resolution is lower than in daylight. Therefore improvement in low light AF speed and accuracy (if it is substantial as Sony claims) is much more important than noise performance.
Zhi Shan
3 years ago |improve in AF at tele end?? can anybody with 300mm f2.8 confirm with us?
Steve
3 years ago |Edgars | My experience about low light shooting is that usually blur of image is more caused by AF errors
Edgars has identified the real problem most of us have in low light; camera shake, vibrations and a moving subject.
In low light, if we are lucky to have a fast lens it’s open to f2.8 or f1.4 and even with the best Zeiss glass that’s not the sharpest setting. Then still trying to get even more light we are almost always at 1/60 or slower shutter. And to top it off, how often in low light settings like street photography or other natural setting can we use a good solid tripod?
So, when you open your raw image using Adobe Camera Raw 6.3 (beta) like I’m using often it’s not only noise, but an overall softness and yes blur that gets even softer as you adjust the slider to reduce the noise.
And yes I agree that my Sony a850 with firmware 1.0 is a better, sharper camera than my Canon 5 mkII
And my Ziess 24-70 and 85mm is sweet, and better than both Canon and Nikon’s glass.
rob
3 years ago |If I was photographing more events, I’d be quite tempted to carry a “back-up” A55 or DSLR 580 as they’re relatively cheap, and can perform some low light feats that are marvelous! Their overvall image quality is definitely among the best too.
rob
3 years ago |overall
Zhi Shan
3 years ago |okay its 2pm, 2/12/2010 Malaysia time. still no news of the release. =D
rob
3 years ago |11:11 PST Dec 1 in BC, Canada