How To Update Sony Camera Firmware

Firmware 5 is out and here’s how to update Sony camera firmware:

Plug in camera, turn on.
Make the USB sure it’s on Mass Storage. After that, remove the memory card, because the firmware treats the camera like a hard drive.
Run the Update Setting Tool – Mac will tell you it’s from a developer, blah blah, say okay.
That’ll run and similarly give you no feedback it’s done anything.
Go into the resources folder, and run the System Software Updater in there. It’ll ask to verify the version and then let you start.
Go to a nice coffee place down the street. Have coffee, come back.
In other words, relax, is a long update process.

Find the firmware on Sony’s support page and here are direct links

Mac
Windows

Here’s what you need to know about Sony a9 Firmware 5.

Sony a9 Firmware Version 5.0 Released

Sony a9 Gains Powerful New Autofocus Capabilities and More Through Software Version 5.0 Update

Sony’s industry-leading a9 camera received a significant software update today that brings AI-driven autofocus capabilities. The update improves image quality. It introduces a range of customer-requested workflow improvements too.

Autofocus Advances

Firmware version 5.0 adds Sony’s newly-developed, AI-driven Real-time Tracking mode. The advance is more precise and robust subject tracking. Real-time Tracking uses Sony’s latest AF algorithm. It detects and and follow subjects with unprecedented accuracy. It does so with Artificial Intelligence-based object recognition.

Real-time Tracking AF works in conjunction with Real-time Eye AF, also added with firmware version 5.0. The latest iteration of Eye AF uses AI-based object recognition. This results in an unprecedented level of speed and performance for locking on and holding focus on a subject’s eyes. Additionally, with Real-time Eye AF, users can activate eye detection via a shutter release half-press. Focus tracking accuracy works even if a subject’s eyes are temporarily obscured during shooting.

Also added with firmware 5.0 is Fast Hybrid AF for video. That provides smoother, more accurate focus during video shooting. Like stills, the focus stays locked even if/when objects move in front of the subject.

Image Quality

Firmware version 5.0 offers notably improved image processing. The camera now more accurately reproduces smoother, more natural tonal gradations. Auto white balance result are improved as well.

Improved Usability And Workflow

The Sony a9 now has several customer-requested features:

New My Dial menu
Revised Custom Key menu
Improved touchpad capability,
Enhanced dual-card functionality
Enhanced tagging

Imaging Edge

In addition, Sony announced the release of Imaging Edge mobile applications. Updates to the ‘Remote,’ ‘Viewer’ and ‘Edit’ desktop applications are included.

Sony released a new mobile application for pros. The ‘Transfer & Tagging add-on’ supports instant delivery workflow. Users transfer content to their phones or tablets with the camera’s FTP functionality. It enables voice input for text captioning as well.

In conclusion, Firmware 5 is a big milestone for Sony.

I’m updating now.

More about Firmware 5

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My daily shooter is Sony A1 with a vertical grip and various Sony lenses attached like the FE 20mm F1.8. Find more gear recommendations in our shop. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.