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Sony starts to release faster firmware v1.05 for SLT-A77 and A65

Mar 29, 2012 at 18:55:58 GMT

UPDATE SLT SONY

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Sony Japan has released firmware v1.05 for the SLT-A77 and A65 high-end fixed-mirror DSLRs. The latest changes promise a series of improvements, including more responsive control dials, faster post-shot review images and shorter lag when turning the camera off. The A77's AF accuracy in bright light is also improved. The updates also include correction profiles for more lenses. The firmware has not yet been posted by Sony's European or North American websites but should be available soon.

Click here to find out more (links on page currently point to f/w 1.04)

Click here for the SLT-a65V model page, Drivers & Software tab:
From here, you must enter an Operating System and then select "Firmware"

Click here for the SLT-a77V model page, Drivers & Software tab:
From here, you must enter an Operating System and then select "Firmware"

Comments

Total comments: 42

agree strongly with TalkingTechy on the zoom in and out functionality. Amazed that this wasn't fixed in the latest firmware re-write. Even the early firmware on the A55/33 had this feature. Don't get why it was left out??

Anyone with any thoughts about the flash exposure issues being rectified in 1.05?

0 upvotes

Hey Douglas, unfortunately, the flash exposure issue was not addressed at all with this update. My shots with external Sony flashes are still seriously overexposed when my ISO range is set to the widest. I'm currently still sticking witih full manual control of both ISO and light output whenever I'm using either a single external flash or remote groups of flashes,

0 upvotes

Hi Maddrew

yes, I am still seeing that problem too. Using Sony's older 42 flash system, but if I crank down ISO to 100-200 it seems to get it right. Wierd. Surprised that this wasn't fixed.

Also surprised that they didn't do more with the default JPEG definitions. I have found however that if I set high ISO NR to max, and sharpening to max also, I get the best and cleanest high ISO shots. Someone at Sony is too enamored of the 'smooth' look it seems to me.

With all its high ISO troubles, this is still a remarkable camera. Only one stop noise wise behind the Nikon D3x, and about 2 stops behind the new Canon 5D MIII. Not bad for 1/3 the price of the new Canon and Nikon FF (1/8th the price of the older D3x).

0 upvotes

In a future update, when Previewing taken photos I would love the ability to simply hold the zoom in/out buttons to continue zooming into/out of the photo. A little annoying to have to repeatedly press the button to zoom in/out.

1 upvote

I've got an SLT-A65V and that's probably its only annoying characteristic.

0 upvotes

Love the 1.05 update on the A65! The most noticeable performance increase is when in Aperture Priority mode...changing F-stops with the control wheel is much more responsive. Also, Power on/off is near instant now.
I was actually really happy with the performance of 1.04, but now ecstatic over the speed of 1.05.

Comment edited 3 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

Definitely more responsive under 1.05 firmware, esp. the auto preview, which is now almost instantaneous. Shutdown is much faster, and now you can feel the anti-dust routines, which previously weren't being activated consistently, if at all, under 1.04. Not sure about the complaints posted here about control functions being slow, at least on the A65, where they already seemed pretty snappy. Will be curious if the other big firmware bugaboo, occasionally poor flash control, has been improved. Anyone have any insights on that one?

0 upvotes

While installing the update, the instruction says that I should remove the usb via taskbar but I did not see any usb device on the tray. Instead, I just updated it without removing USB and it went fine.

Is there something I missed?
Thank you.

Comment edited 10 seconds after posting

1 upvote

Firmware to remedy slow-responding control dials, picture review, and other functions?

Isn't this something all the Sony compact zoom models need too? Are the 2012 versions just as slow as the 2010 and 2011 ones? The lapse between shots is slow in auto mode, and to switch to a speciall mode takes so long that you are apt to lose a picture opportunity. To activate the video mode takes enough time to recite a tongue-twister three times. To turn it off takes nearly as long. To start the camera from a cold start (fresh battery, or card) takes so long that our subject will be long gone. The GPS can take ten minutes or longer to update a location. Better to leave it off.

So, folks, exactly how fast do these tasks take with the new firmware for the alphas?

0 upvotes

No complaints at all with my a55.

0 upvotes

How can you know when buying a new camera if it has the new software (before buying it ...) ?

0 upvotes

You cannot know, but it is simple to upgrade.

3 upvotes

While I cannot speak for the A77, over the course of getting three A700's over the span of its production, they all came with v2.0. I believe this was the production release version. Like Jimmy said, easy enough to upgrade.

0 upvotes

Just updated my a77 and everything operates faster. still. was happy with the speed before so its a bonus. Some adjustment to flash and also ISO at 3200 and 6400 in jpeg mode would be a nice round off. Also make some of the other buttons customisable like the ? button, which is more or less not being used for anything at the moment.

This is the best most fun camera I have ever owned, but a few refinements more and it will be just absolutely amazing.

Comment edited 1 minute after posting

2 upvotes

Made turning on and off the A65 much refined and faster, by a lot.

2 upvotes

Wow. A real firmware update. That's pretty novel for Sony. I hope they get around to a future one where they fix the badly broken video mode (manual audio levels control, focus zoom, etc.).

0 upvotes

Too bad they can't release a firmware update for noise levels at ISO's higher than 800.

2 upvotes

Spoken like a Nikon Troll. The noise levels on my A65 are fine up to iso3200.

12 upvotes

I have fantastic shots taken at ISO3200, let me know if you would care to see them.

5 upvotes

@ 36hike: Shoot everything at ISO/ASA 100 for best quality, and if you need more light on your subject, just rent/bowwow/steal some light fixtures and turn them on, Dude!

0 upvotes

I wonder when and if they fix the completely busted EV bracketing mode (just 2/3 EV maximum). I have a A55, I hoped they fixed it somewhere, I filed up various request and comments, but no. Three lines of firmware code and no way to do a nice bracketing on Alphas.

3 upvotes

^^ +1

I too have the A55 and its just flabbergasting that it does just +/- 0.7 EV. Even the most basic Canon DSLR can do at least +/- 2EV.

3 upvotes

Ain't life a regular bi*tch for some?

0 upvotes

@ Francis: Well, I say Life is what you make of it, so if life is a bi*tch for you, then you need to make some changes to fix that.

0 upvotes

ooooh... Oy vey!

0 upvotes

Definite improvement in responsiveness especially around the auto preview, would like to have seen tethered capturing added to the camera

1 upvote

Dunno if i can tell the difference on my A65, maybe i didn't use it enough. Alas, can't we have like, added features like tethering? would be cool. And maybe extra creative effects?

0 upvotes

Would you use it more if you had tethering?

Maybe it is more about a camera-related "pi$$ing contest" than about using it (like one guy in the city had a look at my camera and asked me "how many ISOs do you have?")

3 upvotes

"Alas, can't we have like, added features like tethering?"
Because firmware updates are not about that, it is about fixing so the camera so it does what it set out to do.
Expecting/demanding new functionality just show that you didn't investigate the spec before buying.
If you haven't bought it yet. -Great! then you know on beforehand that the camera is not for you.

0 upvotes

Eleson, that's a bit harsh. ;-) Truth is, tethering has been in all Minolta/Sony digital 7-class (or higher) SLR cameras and one has reason to suspect it could/would be added with a firmware update -- and that is how it was delivered to the Dynax 7D, which was also released without tethering support.

Comment edited 41 seconds after posting

1 upvote

Missed this one :)
Nice to c u Magnus!
Yes maybe a bit harsh, But demanding added functionality is a sure way to get disappointed. IMHO of course ;)

0 upvotes

~To bad they can't fix the low light sensitivity on par with their NEX-7 then I might be persuaded. That and ISO sensitivity especially for the A-65 limited to 1600. maybe they should sub that sort of work to Olympus given the new OM Digital

Comment edited 2 minutes after posting

1 upvote

You can "fix" it yourself in 30 seconds. Take out the mirror and be prepared to manual focus. ;)

1 upvote

How would you install a weaker AA filter in 30 seconds?

0 upvotes

If you reread his message, you'll notice he was talking about "low light sensitivity" , which has little to nothing to do with the AA filter. That would be talking about per pixel sharpness vs moire, which wasn't the discussion.

Comment edited 9 minutes after posting

1 upvote

what the hell is a "per pixel sharpness"? You can judge sharpness of a picture by evaluating a group of pixels, not just by a single pixel.

0 upvotes

You know what I meant. You just had to argue about the semantics. That's ok, we all have our flaws. ;)

1 upvote

They also improved initial turn-on time (though it varies) and definitely improved standby turn-on time, seems down to about 1.0 seconds (I timed it at 1.04 firmware at 2.0 seconds from standby to fully active).

0 upvotes

/sigh my A65 auto iso still has a upper limit of 1600 iso. Step your game up sony

0 upvotes

I've just updated my A77 to v 1.05 and yes, it is much improved! You can feel the fluidity and the fast response of the camera. Shutdown time is almost like the A700 and the focus accuracy is faultless. Thanks Sony for this much awaited firmware update!

5 upvotes

Owning a 77, we all are thrilled. Sony released a beta camera that has room for many more updates. As is, it is a very fun camera and can only get better.

0 upvotes

Yes it improved my a65 very nicely.

1 upvote

Total comments: 42


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