New Firmware: A1, A1 II, A9 III

[AlphaWorld]

That's interesting: the A1 gets focus bracketing - wasn't expecting that.

The A9 III gets 1/80000 for all apertures - wasn't expecting that, either!

And all three get C2PA support.

 

[Phil Vetra]

Well that is interesting! Just what I've been waiting for, I thought that new updates where finished for the A1. Now do I wait to see if there are any problems with the update.

 

[Tim Mayo]

Definitely nice to see focus bracketing added to the A1. I might wait a few days before updating though based on Sony's past history with firmware updates.

 

[Phil Vetra]

I was thinking that the way they screwed up the last one, that they would do better this time! I bit the bullet and all is well. Seems like there is a Pre Capture also.
Now all I have to do is learn how to use it!
Brain farts are starting to set in.

 

[Phil Vetra]

Oooops that was not Pre Capture.....shooot

 

[Slug]

Yes pity, I have pre-capture on my Olympus and it works great!

 

[AlphaWorld]

I am planning to give it a week before installing any of the updates. I am looking forward to the A9III update - being able to use 1/80000 with f/1.2 might be fun, and it’s nice that they got rid of the strange “use 1/80000 up to f/1.8, but limited to 1/16000 for larger apertures”.

Will probably install the A1 II update, even though I never intend to buy the C2PA option - never can tell what bug fixes are included.

I think all these updates are via memory card, although the A1 does require installing an early version (something like 1.32) first if you have really old firmware - I think that version might be the one that supports memory card firmware updates

 

[iamdlewis]

It had been a while since I did an update for my A1 (3 versions old) and with the weather going to be crap this weekend I thought I would give this a go and hope for the best. All is fine.
Did a few tests with the focus stacking which is something I want to learn and give a go with this year. Not sure this is the best method but for hand held with very local subjects the results are mixed though thinking good potential. All of these are 23 image stack using Helicon Focus 8.
This one clearly was at an angle that the software didn't like:

• ILCE-1
• FE 50mm F2.8 Macro
• 50.0 mm
• ƒ/2.8
• 1/320 sec
• ISO 32000

This one was better:

• ILCE-1
• FE 50mm F2.8 Macro
• 50.0 mm
• ƒ/2.8
• 1/320 sec
• ISO 32000

This one shows potential

• ILCE-1
• FE 50mm F2.8 Macro
• 50.0 mm
• ƒ/2.8
• 1/320 sec
• ISO 32000

 

[Phil Vetra]

It had been a while since I did an update for my A1 (3 versions old) and with the weather going to be crap this weekend I thought I would give this a go and hope for the best. All is fine.
Did a few tests with the focus stacking which is something I want to learn and give a go with this year. Not sure this is the best method but for hand held with very local subjects the results are mixed though thinking good potential. All of these are 23 image stack using Helicon Focus 8.
This one clearly was at an angle that the software didn't like:
View attachment 70939
This one was better:
View attachment 70940
This one shows potential
View attachment 70941

That's a good test. The stack starts at the front then goes to the back,

• ILCE-1
• FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II
• 70.0 mm
• ƒ/2.8
• 1/160 sec
• ISO 200

I went out and got this. Now I should use my phone to view select the first focus point so I don't have to get on my knees....getting up is starting to becoming a problem.

 

[Williams359]

I think my A1 is still on something like 1.3. I may update to this latest one but it sounds a pain having to update in order. Not sure its worth the hassle for what I shoot

 

[AlphaWorld]

I think my A1 is still on something like 1.3. I may update to this latest one but it sounds a pain having to update in order. Not sure its worth the hassle for what I shoot

It's not like you have to install all the updates. You have to install one which gets you the ability to install from card, then the final one.

There are a number of enhancements, plus it's a selling point if you choose to sell the camera.

 

[Williams359]

It's not like you have to install all the updates. You have to install one which gets you the ability to install from card, then the final one.

There are a number of enhancements, plus it's a selling point if you choose to sell the camera.

As I do not shoot video or macro I am not sure there is anything worth updating for. Any new buyer would have the option to update if they want to, not that i'm selling, I love the camera in every way apart from moire.

 

[iamdlewis]

A couple recent attempts at the focus stacking that turned out well

• ILCE-1
• FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS
• 90.0 mm
• ƒ/2.8
• 1/40 sec
• ISO 400

• ILCE-1
• FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS
• 90.0 mm
• ƒ/7.1
• 1/10 sec
• ISO 800