Sony Sony A7/A7r firmware update wish list.

1. LCD SCREEN - Right off the bat, the LCD screen needs to function independently from the VF. It's very annoying to be forced to always have the screen on except when you put your eye to the VF. Battery life isn't that great, having an always-on screen is making it worse.

The alternative is to switch off the screen completely which means I have to go through the VF for every menu change, or setting change, or the occasional chimping. It's just not acceptable.

The final alternative is to switch off the VF and do everything including all photography through the screen only, not unacceptable either.


2. FOCUS PEAKING - Focus peaking is unuseable especially when shooting wide open at f/1.4 (much less at f/1.1). I understand that there won't be too many things in focus at those apertures but I know it can be far more useable and accurate than this. Focus peaking isn't even working very well when focusing wide open at objects that are a reasonable distance away where the field of focus is deeper.

The only other accurate way to focus is focus magnification which is really bothersome and too time consuming when shooting on the fly.

Also, focus peaking is generally non-existent in low light conditions anyway but I harbour some hope that this can only improve as technology gets better.


3. SILENT SHUTTER - My Canon 7D DSLR has a silent shutter function which works beautifully and is quieter than my M8.2. That's saying a lot. Give us the silent shutter.


4. LENS COMP - I'm probably asking for too much.


Further additions:


5. UNABLE TO MAGNIFY
- Fix it dammit, the internet tells me Sony hasn't done a thing to fix this for a while now.


6. ACCESS TO THE CAMERA WHILE CHARGING
- If I'm utilising the video function, I'd want to be able to plug it into the wall socket if I'm indoors for long recording sessions, for example when recording an interview. That way, I will still have a fresh battery ready for use when filming out in the field.
 
We'll see Sony will do any firmware updates, which they haven't done much since the original nex-5. Hopefully they do.

I agree with you on focus peaking. It needs levels that you can adjust, not low, high, etc.

Shutter speed needs a min...

Silent shutter will be in next generation(s) maybe. Only Panasonic has e-shutter and that is limited w/ read speeds also. FF sensor might be more challenging to do that...

Lens comp exist as an app:
https://www.playmemoriescameraapps.com/portal/usbdetail.php?eid=IS9104-NPIA09014_00-000008
 
They're not firmware. They're add on features. But still a rip off if you ask me.

As for firmware:

1. A rewrite or the playback behaviour. I'd like to see the zoom in/out behaviuor moved to the rear wheel and the dial for swit hing between images.

2. 1 push focus magnification option.

3. Option to add lens exif data for adapted lenses (like Fuji do). It would even be easy enough to allow one of the dials to manually input aperture in manual mode with adapted lenses.

4. Option to have one of the dials be set for FEC in P,A and S modes. Now both dials do the same thing which is a waste.

I have no issues with focus peaking that some practice won't improve. My hit rate is quite high although not as fast as my Leicas.

Gordon
 
That doesn't make sense to me, these add on features should be part and parcel of the camera to begin with especially when they've advertised this full frame mirrorless camera as being compatible with all kinds of lenses. They're giving away free adapters after all! It should be a basic essential feature.

I agree with one push focus magnification although I find it to be a much slower way to take photos anyway. I'm not even comparing it to DSLRs with fast AF, I'm talking about full manual everything on a Leica being faster than taking photos on the A7.

I'm finding it very hard with focus peaking especially when combined with low light and shooting wide open with ultra fast lenses. I've come really close to putting my A7 up on eBay. It's not really set up for accurate manual focusing because of a weak focus peaking function. At present I'm finding that I have to rely on focus magnification to get accurate focus which makes the photographic process a little clunky.

But what you said about your hit rate and your Leicas - I am the same, I can take on the most difficult subjects in the worst lighting conditions with the Leica and still nail focus without a problem. I am trying to use the A7 in the same way and am having some trouble capturing the moments.
 
I just remembered something else - make the camera available for use when it's charging.

If I'm utilising the video function, I'd want to be able to plug it into the wall socket if I'm indoors for long recording sessions, for example when recording an interview. That way, I will still have a fresh battery ready for use when filming out in the field.
 
I would love to see a simple, minimum shutter speed setting for Auto ISO.

We'll see Sony will do any firmware updates, which they haven't done much since the original nex-5. Hopefully they do.

I wonder if the that firmware updates will happen more frequently on the FF line, more along the lines of what they do for Alpha support?
 
I typed out a response on my mobile earlier and then lost it when I tried to post.

I was saying that I can't see why Sony should treat their product lines any different simply because of FF. They've sold a ton of NEXs, they should be adequate support for those too.

It's bad enough that they're making their customers pay for features which should already be part of the purchase price, it was also disappointing to hear that the well known and well spread 'unable to magnify' bug has not been fixed for a while.
 
re focus magnification
My one wish is for Sony to implement some sort of picture-in-picture magnifier - that is, a small rectangle in the centre of the image (say the size of an RF patch :)) which shows 10x magnification. If they did this all of my dreams would come true, all my other issues I can deal with - this would be a game changer for adapted lenses. Here's hoping that Sony will start to follow Fuji's approach to firmware and give customers what they want - it's either that or the NEX-hack project I guess.
 
Welcome. I was thinking the same thing until I use the gx7 evf w/ picture in picture, which was too small and my eyes was getting tired after a while. Again gx7 evf is smaller. With newer evf tech it might get better. Next A camera will use 4million dots per SAR.

re focus magnification
My one wish is for Sony to implement some sort of picture-in-picture magnifier - that is, a small rectangle in the centre of the image (say the size of an RF patch :)) which shows 10x magnification. If they did this all of my dreams would come true, all my other issues I can deal with - this would be a game changer for adapted lenses. Here's hoping that Sony will start to follow Fuji's approach to firmware and give customers what they want - it's either that or the NEX-hack project I guess.
 
I'll go one more (and thanks for the welcome) :drinks:
I'd like to see a wider aspect ratio available - something in the x-pan territory (65:24 ~ 2.7:1)
After initially not liking the 'what you see is what you get' nature of the EVF vs an optical VF I'm becoming very fond of shooting the VC 21/4 in 16:9 in a kind of fake x-pan mode - I understand that this doesn't affect the RAW but I just like visualising something through the EVF.

This would clearly be easy for Sony to implement - however, as this is my first Sony I'm not familiar with their attitude towards community requests - do we have any hope of any of our wishes, or at least the simple ones, being added via firmware or perhaps an app?
 
Sony and frankly all the other camera manufactures rarely if ever bother with firmware updates. Sad really and a missed opportunity to cement brand loyalty and trust beyond your lens collection.
 
1. Focus Magnifier / Zoom in one button press like NEX. An additional menu option would be to have the option to change the behavior of the one click, where one click can equal any of these 3 user pref. Maximum magnification first, Minimum magnification first or the current style framing mode.

2. Startup times need improved to feel like a pro tool. Currently the camera is inconsistent here. Agreed that major work is needed on power management, start-up/wake-from-sleep times, and lag when changing settings.

3. Buggy system. For example, when ISO is mapped to default wheel location, sometimes it simply does not work when wheel is turned. This is not acceptable, as I’ve had to map a backup button for ISO for when this bug happens. It happens often.

4. Fix the auto sensor so that it doesn't mistake the shirt/belly as an eyeball and switch to the viewfinder...even though one is shooting with the screen. An option to adjust the sensitivity of the back screen in proximity to the body/eye before switching would be nice.

5. Option to completely turn off LCD (not just turn display black
INCLUDING the backlight.)

6. Manual lens data entry, room for at least 10 lenses.
 
Hey wait a minute... they make people buy firmware updates now??

Yes you can say so, cause the 'Lens Comp' you asked for at the beginning now its an add on that you buy for $12 bucks. So yeah they are going to start selling updates for the camera. Even if you want the multiexposure feature another $5 bucks. Im not liking that at all, but i feel that a future 'app store' for cameras is in the future. will see how it goes.
 
Back
Top