Sony releases firmware v1.04 for SLT-A77 and SLT-A65

Yeah, the Sony SLT has phase-detect autofocus is supposed to be good and fast even in video capture mode. But.... and this is a huge BUT indeed.... when you use the Sony Alpha 77 (or Alpha 65) in video mode and with an AF lens, the camera rearranges itself to run in full auto mode only like any $80 point-and-shoot, i.e. you cannot control ANYTHING on the camera while shooting video. If you want manual iris and manual shutter speed controls on the Sony, you have to disengage the autofocus and set focus manually.

Hopefully in the spirit of Christmas, Sony can also swap-out the a65/a77 monster-pixel CMOS sensor and replace it with something a bit more usable. Something way less noisy at higher ISOs, I mean.

Come on, a Major Media Company with Mega Resources and the manufacturer of the very chips used by their competition with obviously bright designers, engineers, and programers and they fall flat in low light sensitivity. Obviously they unlike Fuji and other Manufacturers haven't been reading DPReview. Maybe someone should enlighten them. Maybe they really aren't interested garnering as much Market Share as we think. And as such I will not likely be buying an a65 as planed regardless, but will likely go a580 if a Sony at all at this point.

Thank You, BMWX5, cplunk etal~
Yes, I realize there is the flash option. However when shooting macro in my favorite nursery either early morning or late evening I prefer existing light which is usually defuse and spotty through surrounding foliage. And my light source is always moving so my response needs to be fast and flash for me is not an option as it will washout the back ground I prize as much as the flowers. Of late having acquired a decent tripod I've taken to never leaving home without my pack with includes my D'oh! tripod. So yes, I could very well compensate with exposure length and offset low light inequity. In situations other than my penchant for. That said it still is incredulous that cameras designed to compete against Nikon, Canon, and whoever else would still have less than stellar spec's. While the camera's themselves may indeed be great in a number of area's if I were Sony~ I'd be frankly~embarrassed!

Sony said to wait for the US - Canadian version. which is on their site now. 30-11-11.I was told not to use the Asian version.

It is NOT the same chip as the D7000/K-5. That chip is 16 MP while the A77/A65 is 24 MP. The 16 MP chip is known for extended hi-ISO performance while the 24 MP chip is pretty much normal in ISO, meaning higher is noisier.

Yeah, I've noticed how firmware updates can improve picture quality, as in, noise reduction. I noticed it especially on my D80 with the last update that was issued for it. First time I looked at a higher ISO file from my D80 after the firmware update, I thought I forgot to turn up the ISO... My paranoid theory is, they already have the technology to offer noiseless images at any ISO, they're just parceling it out in small doses from model to model release to keep selling camera bodies...yeah, I know, nonsense...

HX100V needs a firmware update desperately. Many users are stuck with an LCD that displays blown out saturation(especially reds) and contrast. In video mode the display is fine so it's not a hardware(LCD) problem. Mostly those bought in Canada, India and UK seem to have this problem while others don't..

So far Sony has refused to acknowledge this problem even though many people have informed them of this specific issue.

The instructions for upgrading are quite..overwhelming. Looks like at least 50 steps explaining how to do something fairly simple.

"Improve picture quality"? Specifically what? Some may assume it pertains to high ISO JPEG results, but does Sony actually say this? Can owners say whether the downloads include a TXT file that elaborates?