Sony Announces α9 Camera Upgrade Through Major Firmware Updates (and new A7III and A7rIII updates too)

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Press text via Alphauniverse:

Sony Announces α9 Camera Upgrade Through Major Firmware Updates

New Firmware Releases will Deliver Enhanced Autofocus Performance and New Functionality for Sony’s Acclaimed Full-frame Camera

SAN DIEGO — Jan. 15, 2019 — Sony Electronics Inc. today announced a major upgrade to its α9 mirrorless camera that will be available via a firmware update.

Sony’s revolutionary α9 camera will receive several major enhancements to its award-winning autofocus (AF) performance and image quality, as well as receive a variety of new features that are designed to improve the overall workflow for professional photographers. In addition, new firmware updates for α7R III and α7 III will be available that update these cameras with the latest enhancements including Real-time Eye AF performance and add interval recording capacities.

“These new firmware upgrades demonstrate the strong commitment that Sony has to our customers,” said Neal Manowitz, vice president of Imaging Solutions at Sony Electronics. “Their voice is critical to everything we do, and being able to provide our customers with new capabilities is a source of great pride for Sony.”

Firmware Ver. 5.0 and Ver. 6.0 for α9

The upcoming firmware version 5.0 for α9 adds Sony’s newly developed Real-time Tracking mode for object tracking. This mode utilizes Sony’s latest algorithm—including Artificial Intelligence-based object recognition—and processes color, subject distance (depth), pattern (brightness) as well as spatial (distance) information to ensure that all subjects can be captured with extreme accuracy and precision. When photographing or videographing humans or animals, face and eye position information is recognized by AI and the subject’s eye (1) is monitored in real time with extremely high tracking precision. In addition, “Tracking On” helps initiate real-time tracking at any time by simply pressing a custom-assigned button and “Touch Tracking,” which quickly activates through the touch screen (ii).

With this new firmware version 5.0, Sony’s acclaimed α9 camera will receive advanced “Real-time Eye AF,” the latest version of Sony’s acclaimed Eye AF technology. This exciting new capability employs AI-based object recognition to detect and process eye location data in real time, resulting in improved accuracy, speed and tracking performance of Eye AF. In all autofocus modes, the camera can automatically detect the eyes of the subject and activate Eye AF with a half press of the shutter button, and the camera will seamlessly track the eyes at all times when in AF-C mode. The new firmware will also enable photographers to select the preferred eye (left or right) of their subject as the focus point.

Other focusing capabilities that will be available with the new firmware include Touch Pad, Touch Tracking, an extended phase-detection AF aperture range that has been increased from F11 to F16, and Fast Hybrid AF for movie shooting that provides smooth, automated focusing for movies.

Image quality will also be enhanced with the new α9 firmware version 5.0, specifically in the areas of color reproduction. The camera will more accurately account for subtle changes in light for smoother, more natural tonal gradations in elements like the sky. There is a new auto white balance algorithm that gets added as well, which produces more consistently balanced images while burst shooting. Other new functions for efficient controls and data management include My Dial and Dual Slot media menu improvement, rating and protect functions.

In addition to the several new capabilities, the firmware also adds compatibility with Sony’s new Imaging Edge Mobile(3) application – the successor to the PlayMemories Mobile™ (3) application. The new Imaging Edge Mobile application features a ‘Transfer & Tagging add-on’ (4) function to assist professional workflow. This allows photographers to transfer images from their camera to their smartphone during capture using the FTP transfer functionality (5), and adds support for including IPTC metadata on transferred images.

Version 6.0 firmware for the α9 camera will add Eye AF for animal eyes (i), an exciting new feature for wildlife photographers that will enable interval shooting functionality for creating time-lapse movies.

The new system firmware update version 5.0 is scheduled for launch in March 2019, and version 6.0 is scheduled for Summer 2019.

Firmware Ver. 3.0 for α7R III and α7 III

Sony’s popular α7R III and α7 III full-frame cameras will both receive enhanced Real-time Eye AF performance with the upcoming firmware version 3.0. This will be available in AF-C mode with a simple half-press of the shutter button. Real-Time Eye AF for animals (i) will also be available.

The cameras will also receive interval recording functionality that will allow for simple creation of time-lapse movies (vii). The new feature can be set for anywhere between 1 and 60 seconds, with a total number of shots from 1 to 9999. AE tracking sensitivity can also be adjusted to “High”, “Mid” or “Low” during interval recording, allowing for reduced changes in exposure over the shooting interval.

The new system firmware update version 3.0 is scheduled in April 2019.

A variety of exclusive stories and exciting new content related to all of Sony’s exciting announcements can be found at www.alphauniverse.com, a site built to educate and inspire all fans and customers of the Sony α brand. The new content will also be posted directly at the Sony Photo Gallery and the Sony Camera Channel on YouTube.

About Sony Electronics Inc.

Sony Electronics is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America and an affiliate of Sony Corporation (Japan), one of the most comprehensive entertainment companies in the world, with a portfolio that encompasses electronics, music, motion pictures, mobile, gaming and financial services. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Sony Electronics is a leader in electronics for the consumer and professional markets. Operations include research and development, engineering, sales, marketing, distribution and customer service. Sony Electronics creates products that innovate and inspire generations, such as the award-winning Alpha Interchangeable Lens Cameras and revolutionary high-resolution audio products. Sony is also a leading manufacturer of end-to-end solutions from 4K professional broadcast and A/V equipment to industry leading 4K Ultra HD TVs. Visit www.sony.com/news for more information.

1 – Accurate focus may not be achieved with certain subjects in certain situations

2 – Function must be set via the menu beforehand

3 – successor application of PlayMemories Mobile. Existing PlayMemories Mobile users can use this by updating PlayMemories Mobile

4 – Add-on mobile application for ‘Imaging Edge Mobile’. Available countries: US/Canada/UK/France/Germany/Hong Kong/China/Australia/Japan. User registration is required to use this application.

Compatible with ILCE-9 with firmware update Ver.5.0 or later, ILCE-7RM3, ILCE-7M3

5 – Compatible with ILCE-9 with firmware update Ver.5.0 or later

6 – IPTC metadata for digital image metadata is a standard created by the IPTC (International Press Telecommunications Council)

7 – The latest version of “Imaging Edge” ‘Viewer’ and PlayMemories Home desktop applications is required

 

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Watch the video live stream of the Sony A6400 announcement at 10:00 AM PST

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UPDATE: Watch the live stream video on this SAR page (click here). Starts at 10am January 15 San Diego time. Ends at 11am.

Below you can find the hours in other time zones:

So far we only heard about this new A6400 camera which will be an entry-medium level APS-C model with 4k30p, new sensor, selfie screen. I don’t know if Sony will also announce something else like for example a new APS-C lens.

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Just to be clear, the A6400 is not the A6500 successor!
The name alone suggest that this is not Sony’s new high end camera. The one thing that gives me high hope is to know they announce the A6400 today and not at WPPI where they usually announce the most important gear (like the A7III last year). My guess is that it means something even bigger will be announced in one month exactly right before the WPPI show (let’s hope it’s the A7000).

So please calm down everyone saying the A6400 is what the A7000 was supposed to be. It’s 100% not, this is an affordable vlogger camera. A high End APS-C will definitely follow…the question is only how long we have to wait for this…and the A7sIII !!!

Reminder: Sony directly told in a Dpreview interview that “APS-C cameras for professional use must exist.” Just to make it clear to all readers that High End APS-C models are confirmed by Sony and not only a “rumor” ;)

 

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Relax: The A6400 is not the A6500 successor and not the new High End APS-C camera which Sony confirmed is on the roadmap too!

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A7000 rendering

UPDATE: The A6400 has been announced! You can read all about it on that special SonyAlphaRumors page.

I read that some people where concerned that the A6400 is going to be new High End APS-C camera and that we might not see an A7000 afterall.

Just to be clear, the A6400 is not the A6500 successor!
The name alone suggest that this is not Sony’s new high end camera. The one thing that gives me high hope is to know they announce the A6400 today and not at WPPI where they usually announce the most important gear (like the A7III last year). My guess is that it means something even bigger will be announced in one month exactly right before the WPPI show (let’s hope it’s the A7000).

So please calm down everyone saying the A6400 is what the A7000 was supposed to be. It’s 100% not, this is an affordable vlogger camera. A high End APS-C will definitely follow…the question is only how long we have to wait for this…and the A7sIII !!!

Reminder: Sony directly told in a Dpreview interview that “APS-C cameras for professional use must exist.” Just to make it clear to all readers that High End APS-C models are confirmed by Sony and not only a “rumor” ;)

 

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Totally unconfirmed rumor: f/2.8 APS-C zoom might be announced too..

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UPDATE: Watch the live stream video on this SAR page (click here). Starts at 10am January 15 San Diego time. Ends at 11am.

While I got two sources confirming there is a new APS-C camera coming (likely the rumored A6400) I still got no confirmation about new lenses. I am sharing something I just got but have no confirmation fromm usual sources. So please thake that with a grain of salt:

On todays or next event we should finally see the 16-55 f/2.8 (or something with similar range)

Reminder: I will embedd the video livestream on SonyAlphaRumors at 10am PST time (19:00 Berlin time).

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(SR5) Sony will announce a new “Sony A6400”: It has a classic A6xxx series design with selfie screen!

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Image on top shows the current Sony A5100

UPDATE: The A6400 has been announced! You can read all about it on that special SonyAlphaRumors page.

Two sources now confirmed something that really sounds odd but I am sure it’s true: Sony’s new camera will be named “Sony A6400“. This is what one of my sources told me:

4K Video and target for bloggers. It’s like a big jump from A5100. The model name doesn’t make sense but it will be called A6400.

Many thanks to the one new source that has proven to share correct rumors! Can you please let us know about the new features? I know I am asking a lot :)

SAR note: I updated my previous rumors and this post with the following new and corrected specs. The rumor also has been upgraded to SR5 which means I am now 90% sure most of this is correct:

Sony A6400 recap (ILCE6400):
– Sony A6400 will be announced on Jan 15 between 4-5pm London time.
– It’s going to become the new mid-level camera replacing both the A5100 and entry level A6xxx cameras
– It has a classic A6xxx design but it has the A5100 selfie screen (SAR note: That’s why for a short moment I thought this was an A5xxx camera…but it’s not).
– new APS-C sensor
– Made for vloggers
– 4K30p (it has NOT 4k60p)
– No Z-battery and no dual SD card slot
– But has some new “exciting” features

It also appears that this is considered to be a “first small announcement” with a “second bigger announcement” following likely in February. Sources said Sony wants to add 4K60p on their next higher end camera that will be announced soon (my guess is that it’s coming at WPPI in February)

About the new name:
I know it’s a weird choice to name the A5100 and A6000 successor “Sony A6400”. And even more confusing to name a camera between the currently existing A6300 and A6500. This is going to confuse quite some potential buyers. My guess is that the A6xxx series is now going to officially become the new entry-level E-mount series while the A7xxx series will be what the A6xxx was (the high end APS-C series).

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For potential SOURCES:
If you know “something” and want to share it anonymously please use the anonymous contact form on the top right of the sidebar. Please use a nickname so that I can recognize you in future messages. You can also contact me directly at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com. Use remailer.paranoici.org to send me an anonymous message if you prefer to do so.

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