Full Guide on the new Sony firmware: Cool features, Tests, Warnings(!) and What’s still missing!

So folks, I collected your feedback from this site, from my youtube channel and from our Facebook page and collected them here. I do own the A7rV so I cannot test today’s firmware update myself. If I made a mistake or forgot something please let me know in the comment systems.

Download links:

• Alpha 1 (Ver. 2.00), Alpha 7S III (Ver. 3.00), Alpha 7 IV (Ver. 3.00),

One Warning:

• You will have to completely re-setup your A1 from scratch after the 2.0 update. You cannot save your settings (Thanks Eric Durnall)

Here is a list of positives that are not mentioned in the official press release:

• AF assist, which wasn’t stated in the list of updates or in any news article that I read. This is a massive help to control video AF as you can override its tracking at any point by manually focusing on where you want it to be. First seen in the a7 IV, it’s such a relief that they’ve added it. (Source: Philip Bloom)
• The new video mode display which again wasn’t stated anywhere. Not only that, but we have the updated version introduced with the ZV-E1 where you can change ISO/ aperture/ shutter speed/ WB via touch, and there are additional options when you swipe left / right. This is a huge thing, too and I don’t understand why they are not touting it. If you start recording video in the stills mode, you still get the old display. (Source: Philip Bloom)
• Future firmware updates can be done via SD card, which is great as these updates were slow and painful, especially as I had to do two for each as they weren’t on the previous FW. (Source: Philip Bloom)

Here is a list of things still missing:

• The one thing I still cannot fathom is their refusal to give them Animal Eye AF for video when they updated the a7c and ZV-10 over two years ago to provide them with this via firmware. On top of that, you can STILL select Animal Eye AF in the video menu; it just doesn’t recognise any animals. I’ve asked them if they could explain why, but I doubt they will. At this point, I’ve given up hope we will ever see it. (Source: Philip Bloom)
• Focus breathing finally, although not in 8K on the alpha 1, probably because there’s no clear image zoom ability in 8K. (Source: Philip Bloom)
• The dedicated log mode with user LUTs would have been nice. (Source: Philip Bloom)
• The updates for stills for alpha 1 are minimal and have upset those users. One key missing thing is focus bracketing. (Source: Philip Bloom)
• I would love to have seen variable shutter on the a7s III added as this is so important for matching dodgy lighting environments or screens. (Source: Philip Bloom)
• Pavol Varga: The battery percentage indicator disappeared for third-party batteries (Please do verify if that is really happening!)
• No pre-capture on the A1 that would be easy for them to add in firmware
• No anamorphic desqueeze on the A7sIII

Youtuber videos:

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