Sony A7s V1.2 firmware released today

S

SuperSet

Well-known member
Not much improvement, except if you're working with Sony lenses.

What Does This Do?
This utility updates the ILCE-7S camera firmware to version 1.20 and provides the following benefits:Improvements over version 1.10:
  • Improves camera function and provides picture improvement for the new lenses (SEL35F14Z, SEL24240, SEL28F20, SEL90M28G)
Benefits provided by previous updates and included in version 1.20:
  • Improves the power-on time after downloading the Smart Remote Control application of the PlayMemories Camera Apps™.

http://esupport.sony.com/US/p/swu-download.pl?mdl=ILCE7S&upd_id=10321&os_group_id=23
 
Is it just me, or do they ignore every possible suggestion anyone has ever offered, and 'fix' the most useless crap for no reason? lol I'll skip this one!
 
I've noticed that about nearly all camera firmware updates - it's always some sort of correction in the Thai menu for a typo or something.
 
Sony very rarely seem to be adding much new functionality to cameras in the A7s price range. The RX10 XAVC update seems like an exception.

But since this update is said to improve the image with the new FE lenses, wonder if updates to the FS700/FS7 are also needed? Will they be more or less useless like the 18-105 until support is added?
 
Well I have the Sony 24-240mm lens coming tomorrow so this firmware is great timing for me, as I presume it adds in camera corrections for the A7s + SEL24240 combo. I installed it without issue, thanks for the heads up.
 
I have a feeling Sony would rather us buy the a7s mkII than invest in any meaningful improvement on the current model.
 
Fahnon said:
I have a feeling Sony would rather us buy the a7s mkII than invest in any meaningful improvement on the current model.
Click to expand...
I have a feeling you might be right (though based on their 2015 'roadmap', i wouldn't be surprised if there is no mk2 for a while)

SuperSet said:
Looks like I'll save up for the FS7 then.
Click to expand...
if the above is true and they release a mk2 with no significant updates to the a7s... i'll probably pass on getting a sony all-together for my next camera, and invest in a company that is invested in maximizing each productions potential (samsung is trying hard with the nx1, the gh4 has gotten decent updates as well, heck even canon gives new features occasionally).
 
caseywilsondp said:
I have a feeling you might be right (though based on their 2015 'roadmap', i wouldn't be surprised if there is no mk2 for a while)


if the above is true and they release a mk2 with no significant updates to the a7s... i'll probably pass on getting a sony all-together for my next camera, and invest in a company that is invested in maximizing each productions potential (samsung is trying hard with the nx1, the gh4 has gotten decent updates as well, heck even canon gives new features occasionally).
Click to expand...

For reals! Samsung is pushing out updates like crazy. And if Panasonic does release VLog, even more competition.
The only other camera I'm considering would be the rumored Canon C300 MKII so we'll see what happens in the next few weeks.
 
Wow. significant fast startup now :)
cold boot is faster and quick on off is now just 1-2 seconds!
 
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Buy a camera for what it is today, not for what you think it could be tomorrow with updates.

You'll sleep happier, and you'll be out more shooting.
 
Demistate,

I believe we already talked about this on this forum. Although I mostly agree with your assumption, I kept thinking about this and I ended up thinking that is also in the rights of the customers asking for firwmare updates that can fill some holes or bring a couple of new features.

Yes, when customers buy a new camera they know (or at least they're supposed to know) what they're buying and they have to base their work on that choice in the first place. That being said, this is a fast market, competition is hard for everyone, freelancers, companies and camera manufacturers.

When customers of other brands can get updates that can make their jobs easier, and considered that releasing firmware to fix issues and/or improve your product experience it is something that companies do (unless they state the opposite, but then it has to be a clear statement from the company itself), I see no problem requesting firmware that do a tad more than just updating lenses interoperability or making the boot a little faster.

I bought the A6000, I knew what I was buying and I'm happy with it. Are there things I wish Sony would update with a firmware? Sure, there are. Are these things that will drastically change my work? Probably. Can I keep working with the camera I bought 4 months ago? Yes, although it's important from me, as a customer point of view, to understand what's Sony policy about new firmware, because I can't buy a new camera every 6 months, although this market moves fast regardless. Therefore, it's better to get a grasp of their policy because I might find some other camera brand that might keep up with the demands in a way that's easier for a customer to handle, i.e. just getting a firmware that will let you to extend the use of the product longer, or will allow you to expand the potential avoiding to invest more money.

Just my 2 c.
Sorry if there's any mistype or something is not clear, quite in a rush right now...
 
I think a large part of the problem with this is Sony has, like some other electronic goods manufacturers, gone down the path of releasing cameras with decidedly and admittedly incomplete functionality and then advertising a firmware roadmap or intention to improve the product and then it has much of its other products which come out with pretty well formed firmware in a relatively mature product line, so the consumer/customer developing a conflicted sense of expectation with their camera of the moment.

The a7 series cameras have relatively mature firmware. The menu structure, as absolutely horrid and insane as it is, was forged before the a7S. The a7S inherited this. Much of the camera simply works. We haven't been bestowed with some of the artistic gifts of the FS series like both the magenta cast and the slomo effects built into the UI of the menu system.

If you look at Sony's history and many of you have been a part of it, they are VERY seldom moved by customer cries for new features in existing products. If you have owned a couple of Sony cameras over the past decade you ought to know this.

My suggestion is this, make your plea on SONY's own forum as that is where it WILL be read. But once you have done that place your energy on getting on with your business.

I agree with Demistate. And yes, purchase your gear for what it has and how it will improve your bottom line for what it does NOW, not what it could do. Not only will you sleep better and have less anxiety during the day but you will send a message to the camera folks (and accessory people... think recorders) that you aren't buying this idea of financing their R&D process.
 
Demistate, Andrew... I totally get where you're coming from, and Andrew you stated it pretty well particularly in your first paragraph.
The problem I see is that we've talked not just about new features we'd like, but sometimes just fixes for things that really should be a pretty easy fix.
I'd love to see new features, but I don't expect them, and I shoot with my a7s rig knowing that it's what I personally have for the next year and a half or so for smaller projects.
It is a little disheartening to see Samsung and Panasonic releasing new firmware with new features, seemingly coming from user requests, and to have Sony pretty much not care about the a7 line. You've been to their forums right? Nothing happens, they're pretty crappy when it comes to customer relations particularly on forums.
So I'm not going to give Sony a pass as they've made it abundantly clear now that they (maybe understandably) care more about the fs7 and up line of cinema cameras, and virtually not at all about the a7s as a video camera (though it was marketed pretty much solely as a movie camera). To be fair, its clear that Canon also cares more about their Cxxx cameras for video more than the DSLRs even if the DSLRs might have more capabilities than canon is letting on... but even canon has released firmware updates that fix known issues and add features. They also don't abandon their customers every year by releasing a new version of a 'flagship' model.
That all being said, you're right that we need to know the camera we are buying is exactly that camera, and should not expect anything more... but with other companies treating customers a little better, Sony also shouldn't expect a ton of brand loyalty.
 
I have been to their forums. I have posted there on the F3 forum to no avail on similar matters: unfufilled firmware promises and misleading their clientele on feature updates.

I watched how Sony tried to engage their clientele with the F5 and F55 cameras as they were being updated. They did a fine job for the most part with those cameras as they advertised and promised a feature laden and date driven firmware schedule but eventually their energy petered out. The FS7 came out but without a fully stated firmware release schedule but implicit promises of features to be added in the near future. The a7S has had no firmware schedule promised or hinted at to my knowledge. It seems similar to the way the XDCAM series cameras were rolled out and managed through their lifecycle: firmware updates would just appear and they would be minor updates and largely focused on servicing their newest accessory offerrings like memory cards in the case of the XDCAM series and the e-mount and a-mount lenses in the case of the a7 series cameras.

Of course, Sony should fix issues with the a7S. I think the most effective way of doing that, at this point, would be to approach the appropriate product manager at NAB with a concise list of what needs to be addressed on the camera and pick one, just one thing that you think would give the camera a real kick in the marketplace as it faces increasing competition. Make sure it is something that is technically possible to implement. 10bit encoding in camera would NOT be one of them. Many of us have been down this road with the F3. The chips inside are either designed for 8 bit recording or 10 bit recording/encoding.
 
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