FW 4 update and LCD screen on NEX5

[artington]

Just a couple of observations here. My computer failed to recognise the camera initially. This may have been because I was using a generic USB cable to mini-USB to make the connection. After digging around to find the cable which actually came with the camera everything went smoothly. Very curious - I assumed these cables were standard items.

The peak finder works very well indeed, both in normal view and magnified (MF assist) view for those like me who focus manually with legacy lenses. After some experimentation I have found that the Yellow colour option set at High works best for me. I would note here that there is some latitude of focus in the normal view so you do need to use MF assist for sharp focus.

As an aside, I checked my LCD brightness and found it was set to auto. Now I assume, wrongly it seems, that an Auto setting is an optimal setting. Well it may be for 20-30 year old eyes but not for mine. I have now changed it to maximum brightness using the Manual option and the difference when using the camera outside is huge and it's not too bright inside either. Indeed, along with the new peaking facility, this camera is now easily usable for me without an EVF. Which is wasn't before, although I managed.

[pakodominguez]

da Link:
http://www.sony.jp/ichigan/info2/20110620_02dl_win.html

[DrScottNicol]

UK Support site is now up - link here for nex 3 update

http://support.sony-europe.com/dime/dow ... IN&m=NEX-3

Scott

[David Kilpatrick]

Done A55 and Nex 5 on a Mac using whatever UWB cable was to hand - no problems.

David

[DrScottNicol]

yep - a55 and NEX updates seemed to go smoothly on windows too.

Initial tests (performed sitting in office pointing at my book case / desk rather than real world tests..)

Colour effects are OK but no apparent way to adjust the cut off point leads to some harsh edges...

Peaking tool on nex was a little disappointing as it never seemed to detect the object I was actually trying to focus on to give the 'peaking' info BUT real life tests in good light may improve that

Being able to change the function of the dro button on the a55 is quite useful

Scott

[pakodominguez]

Picture Effect is JPG only: really disappointing :-/

[Marcell Nikolausz]

"Picture Effect is JPG only: really disappointing :-/"

How can it be RAW??

[pakodominguez]

"Picture Effect is JPG only: really disappointing :-/"

How can it be RAW??

The Dimage 7/A series allow you to do RAW+JPG and set the camera on Solarization, so you have your fun pic AND the original -if a camera did that 8 years ago, why a camera can not do it today?

[Marcell Nikolausz]

You are right that a jpeg+raw option could have been included, but most of these picture effects can be easily replicated by photoshop. I think sony intended to give this option to the crowd want immediate results. And these people are hardly raw shooters.
But I agree that it should have been an option.

[DrScottNicol]

I retract my peaking comment above, in decent light it seems to work fairly well and is a really benefit for totally manual lenses
Scott

[Lonnie Utah]

I did the updates last night and was a piece of cake. I must say, the MF tweaks have made a nifty little camera a SUPERAWESOMEFANTASTIC one. There are many, many users out there using the camera this way, and I think Sony might have just turned a hit into a home run.

I saw it said on another forum that

It does make a very positive statement for Sony and how they feel about their customer base IMO. Offering free firmware update that enhance camera operations alone and are not for fixing manufacturer issues cost Sony some serious cash to provide. They could just offer another camera and only incorporate these changes in them which their customers would have to pay for to get. Instead, they reward us for being early buyers and sticking with their products. A very nice gesture and for me a great way to get something new to play with till they offer the new a-77/Nex-7 models.

I don't think I could have said it better myself, so I just quoted it. People can bellyache about sony all they want to, but I really get a good feeling from them.

[artington]

It does make a very positive statement for Sony and how they feel about their customer base IMO. Offering free firmware update that enhance camera operations alone and are not for fixing manufacturer issues cost Sony some serious cash to provide. They could just offer another camera and only incorporate these changes in them which their customers would have to pay for to get. Instead, they reward us for being early buyers and sticking with their products. A very nice gesture and for me a great way to get something new to play with till they offer the new a-77/Nex-7 models.

I don't think I could have said it better myself, so I just quoted it. People can bellyache about sony all they want to, but I really get a good feeling from them.

I'd go along with that. As a long time Minolta user I am so pleased that Sony took over the photographic side after their dalliance with Konica and that they tied up with Zeiss on lenses. The latest decision to open up the E-mount to third party lens developers is a great one too and I can hardly wait for Zeiss and Cosina to get stuck in. The NEX is a brilliant little camera and its flexibility is fantastic. As I note in another topic on this forum I am now using it - together with an old Minolta focusing-rail, slide-copier and Minolta 50/3.5 macro - to digitise my slides with excellent results.

[bossel]

The NEX is a brilliant little camera and its flexibility is fantastic. As I note in another topic on this forum I am now using it ...

Absolutely! Vive la révolution! Vive le NEX!