Sony have released new firmware for the a7S mark II, a7R Mark II, a7, a9, a6500 and a6300. The firmware goes further in addressing the overheating issues a lot of video shooters were facing when shooting in UHD. The new firmware adds a Auto Pwr OFF Temp function which apparently doesn’t actually turn the camera off, but rather when you engage Auto Power OFF it means the camera will stay ON.
As usual Sony does a very bad job of actually explaining what their firmware does, and instead prefer to just list bullet points which in a lot of cases mean nothing to the end user.
Sony released a version 3.0 firmware update for the a7S mark II and a7R Mark II back in December 2015 that was designed to solve a lot of the over heating issues users were experiencing. Clearly though this is still some what of an issue for Sony to go to the lengths of implementing an Auto Power Off function.
While the new firmware allows you to override the auto power off function, what damage could you potentially be doing to your camera? If the heat issue wasn’t a problem then there would not of been any need for Sony to include a temperature warning and a auto power off function in the first place.
For users of the a6500, Sony claims that the latest firmware has now been optimised to improve image stabilisation performance when using the camera in movie mode.
a7S Mark II
This utility updates the camera firmware to version 3.00 and provides the following benefits:
- Adds the Auto Pwr OFF Temp function
- Improves operability of the camera:
- Improves operability when the AF area is set to flexible spot
- Adds Live View Display into custom button assignment
- Adds the Set File Name function
- Supports visible light LED with external flash for AF (HVL-F45RM External Flash)
- Improves release time lag when wireless flash is used
- Improves image quality when Long Exposure NR setting is ON
- Improves overall stability of the camera
a7R Mark II
This utility updates the camera firmware to version 4.00 and provides the following benefits:
- Adds the Auto Pwr OFF Temp function
- Improves operability of the camera:
- Improves operability when the AF area is set to flexible spot
- Adds Live View Display into custom button assignment
- Adds the Set File Name function
- Supports visible light LED with external flash for AF (HVL-F45RM External Flash)
- Improves release time lag when wireless flash is used
- Optimizes exposure algorithm during focusing when Live View Display is set for Setting Effect OFF
- Improves image quality when Long Exposure NR setting is OFF
- Improves overall stability of the camera
a6500
This utility updates the camera firmware to version 1.03 and provides the following benefits:
Improvements over version 1.02:
- Adds support for the SEL100400GM lens
- Optimizes image stabilization performance in movie mode
Benefits provided by previous updates and included in version 1.03:
- Improves operability of the left side of the PMCA (PlayMemories Camera Apps) keyboard during touch panel operation
- Improves overall stability of the camera
- Improves a condition where the camera will not power-on after making certain setting changes
a6300
This utility updates the camera firmware to version 2.00 and provides the following benefits:
Improvements over version 1.10:
- Adds the Auto Pwr OFF Temp function
- Adds support for the SEL100400GM lens
- Modifies the aspect of the guide frame display in the LCD (2.35:1 mode)
- Improves overall stability of the camera
Benefits provided by previous updates and included in version 2.00:
- Improves overall stability and operability of the camera
- Improves stability in picture shooting mode by optimizing temperature control (effects vary according to temperature)
To download the latest firmware you can go here.
