Sony has finally managed to fix the issue on the Sony A1 2.0 firmware! And there is also the new A9III major firmware update:

• Sony A1 firmware update 2.01 (download it here).
• Sony A9III firmware update 2.00 (download it here).

Benefits and Improvements

• Shooting & playback functions:
  • Allows you to turn the camera on/off remotely from a computer using a wired connection to the internet (LAN)
    Note: Remote Camera Tool Ver. 4.1.00 is required to activate this function.
  • Adds a function that automatically creates still images with Shot Marks from movie frames after recordings
    Note: You can add a Shot Mark while shooting or playing a movie and use it as a mark for selecting, transferring, or editing the movie.
  • Allows the use of shutter speeds up to a maximum of 1/80000 seconds in all drive modes and the NR Shooting setting (long-exposure noise reduction) when the aperture value is F1.8 or higher
  • Adds support for the Relay Playback function
  • Adds the Sync Release function that releases the shutters of multiple sub-cameras in conjunction with the main camera’s shutter timing
    Note: Remote Camera Tool Ver. 4.1.00 is required to activate this function.
  • Adds a function that displays the focus frame on the Remote Camera Tool app screen when the monitor and viewfinder are turned off
    Note: Remote Camera Tool Ver. 4.1.00 is required to activate this function.
  • The maximum number of images that can be recorded in one folder has been increased to 9,999
  • Enables display of the Wi-Fi signal strength
  • Adds support for C2PA format (The license availability date is undecided)
    (C2PA = Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity)
  • Adds support for Custom Grid Line
    Note: Custom Grid Line is available as a paid license. Availability depends on the country and region.
• FTP transfer & network functions:
  • Allows you to upload camera images directly to the Creators’ Cloud app
    Note: Creators’ App Ver. 2.3.1 or later is necessary. Settings must be made in the Creators’ App in advance. For more information, please visit the Creators’ App support website. Service may not be available in some countries or regions. Please refer to this support page.
  • You can now automatically schedule FTP transfer of protected movies and still images
  • Movies/still images transferred via FTP transfer can now be automatically protected
  • Adds a function to prioritize specific images via FTP transfer
  • Adds support for SFTP
    (SFTP = Secure File Transfer Protocol)
• Others:
  • Fixes an issue where the camera would occasionally become unstable during continuous shooting
  • Fixes an issue where the color of a JPEG image may change when cropped in the camera
  • Fixes an issue where images may not be transferred properly during FTP transfer
  • Fixes an issue where the folder name setting for still images may switch from the set value to the default value (MSDCF) when the battery is removed
  • Fixes an issue where the camera may not be able to connect to the network
  • Fixes an issue where the timecode wasn’t always retained after a power restart
  • Improves the functionality and operational stability of the camera

Finally available! Here is the official press text just issued by Sony:

Now Available: Sony Electronics’ Custom Grid Line License
Gives Alpha Users Creative Consistency

SAN DIEGO – Apr. 18, 2024 – Sony Electronics is addressing one of the most common challenges for professional content creators – maintaining consistency and quality when capturing multiple images – with its new Custom Grid Line license. It is now available in the United States and Canada for Alpha 1, Alpha 7S III, Alpha 7 IV, Alpha 9 III, and other mirrorless camera bodies.

The license upgrade, built for volume photography and video production professionals, lets creators import up to four customized original grid lines. These can be displayed on the camera’s electronic viewfinder (EVF) and rear LCD monitor, or on an external monitor using an HDMI® output, to ensure consistent results during long shooting sessions.

Custom grid lines alleviate the burden of volume photographers working at schools, photo studios, theme parks, cruise ships or malls who often need to take similar shots repeatedly, sometimes thousands in one day. The ability to clearly see pre-set customized grid lines, especially when working quickly or in challenging lighting conditions, provides unprecedented peace of mind knowing that each shot will be framed perfectly.

Additionally, sports photographers can apply one set of gridlines for full team photos and another for individual player shots, enabling uniformity. They can also create gridlines customized for specific sports to follow the action and player movements more precisely. ​

Additionally, videographers can benefit from Sony’s Custom Grid Line license. ​ It lets creatives capture videos looking at the aspect ratio they need, allowing users to frame content that can easily be repurposed for social media or other specific uses.

The combination of Custom Grid Lines with Alpha camera features, such as Face AF and Eye AF, make it easy to line up standard family and couple photos, as well as capture dynamic activity shots.

Users can create the grid lines as PNG files – which can also contain characters, logos, and other graphic elements – and replace them as needed. They can also choose grid line colors, for example, to avoid blending with subjects’ clothing color or backgrounds.

Information about the license and how to purchase it can be found on Sony’s camera upgrade website: https://pro.sony/digital-imaging/ or at https://youtu.be/gH3X_vn2DNw. It is available for $149 USD/$202 CAD, per permanent camera license, through Sony’s Upgrade and License Management Suite at https://ulms.sony.net. Learn how to set up the license at https://youtu.be/J4pkJ8pjRsk.

While currently supported cameras include the A1, A7S III, A7 IV, and A9 III, the Custom Grid Line license will be available for other Alpha camera bodies with future compatible models announced through the web site: https://pro.sony/digital-imaging/.

Sony at NAB Show 2024 | Sony’s Custom Grid Line License

If you need an anthi-theft backpack check out the new Korin HubPack 33 on Kickstarter (Click here). It’s made by a Californian company and they are quite well know with many Germany IF Award, Red Dot Award, and more than 40 international design awards.

Indeed right from the start they alreayd collected 100k!

Sony’s Compact BRC-AM7 4K60 PTZ Camera with AI Auto-Framing (Explora).
SmallRig Drops Tripod, V-Mount Battery, and Tool Kit Collaborations (Explora).
Blackmagic Design Releases New Products for NAB 2024 (Explora).
Aputure Announces INFINIMAT Mat Lighting and Sidus Link Pro (Explora).
Core SWX Announces Powerbase Edge Snap Battery (Explora).
Cine-Style Live Production Capture with ARRI’s ALEXA 35 Live Multicam System (Explora).
Venus Optics Announces New Laowa Ranger S35 Cine Zooms (Explora).
Look Ma, Hands: The Insta360 X4 is an 8K Camera with Gesture Control (Explora).
ProGrade Digital Announces CFexpress 4.0 Type B and Type A Iridium Memory Cards and USB 4.0 Card Readers (Explora).
FREEFLY Announces Ember S2.5K with Incredibly High Frame Rates (Explora).
RØDE Announces New Products for Creators (Explora).
Sennheiser Announces MKH 8030 Mic and Headset Updates (Explora).
Sony Introduces Compact Ultra-Wide FE 16-25mm f/2.8 G Lens (Explora).

For the very first time the new Laowa 10mm f/2.8 Autofocus Full Frame E-mount lens is in Stock via Amazon US&EU (Click here). This is one of the few lenses I am actually considering to buy. Not only because of the very good performance…but because it’s a lens with a unique creative look. Something that has no match yet.

Canon did a Canon thing and managed to disappoint even when sharing what should be good news! Why do I think that?

Today Sigma and Tamron announced the launch of their first RF autofocus lenses, but they are all APS-C. There is a strong suspicion that Canon has allowed competition only in the APS-C segment, focusing on the profitable and much more attractive Full Frame lens line.

This means that large lenses such as the Sigma 50mm f/1.2 FE or the Tamron 35-150mm f/2.0-2.8 FE will NOT be available to Canon R. This gives a competitive advantage to Sony, Nikon and the L-mount system.