Firmware update announced for A850/A900

[Lonnie Utah]

There is some risk involved in using firmware which is non-specific for your camera’s region, but owners are not reporting any problems. Be aware that once you have installed the firmware, from whatever region, it is not possible to revert or to re-install your own region’s firmware. However, it seems likely that there is no difference between regional versions other than Japanese.

So if I bought my A900 in New Zealand while on Holiday should I download the Aus version?

[Simmondsphotography]

Having up-dated my A900 firmware courtesy of Sony-Asia (!) to v-2.0, I am really impressed with the AF speed with my longer lenses. Both my 70-400G and 200-500 Tamron are lightening quick now and I thought that the AF was pretty fast before! Neither is the focus accuracy compromised which was my biggest fear.

Well done and thank you Sony!

[David Kilpatrick]

I don't think there is any difference between the firmware versions, but I waited for the European download to be active before doing mine. An Australian sourced A900 would probably be safest updated using the Aus link - an NZ purchase would I guess be Aus supplied?

David

[vibranze]

Anyone have the link to the US download site?

Thx in advance.

Here is the direct download link.

http://ids.update.sony.net/DSLR/UUnXMtU ... 850v20.exe

http://ids.update.sony.net/DSLR/UUnXMtU ... 900v20.exe

Enjoy.

[David Kilpatrick]

Those are PC-only download links, it's better to post the same links that we have on the website page - these links are for either Mac or PC, and when clicked, do not go straight to a download they go to instructions for doing the firmware upgrade.

The latest firmware upgrade by Sony for registered α900 and α850 DSLR customers is available free of charge from the Sony EUROPE site for European owners:
http://support.sony-europe.com/dime/dow ... =DSLR-A900

Asia support server direct links:
Alpha 900 http://www.sony-asia.com/support/downlo ... modelfirst
Alpha 850 http://www.sony-asia.com/support/downlo ... modelfirst

Australian support server direct links:
http://www.sony.com.au/support/productc ... slr+camera
and see the ‘Latest Downloads’ tab

The US download was not available six hours after the announcement, but should be found through this page: http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-li ... electOS=50

[vibranze]

Thanks David for the pointers and sorry for the confusion, just want to try to help here

[David Kilpatrick]

No problem, welcome aboard, but do check the website as well as the forum - obviously it doesn't get updated by the minute and the forum is very useful for rapid exchange of info.

Fortunately Sony's A900-750 firmware updater is SO much friendlier than Canon's method or Sony's NEX updater which involves actually running programs on the PC (and not always even available on Mac) with the camera connected. This one actually contains exactly the same file whether PC or Mac, I have no idea why they use an .exe for PC as a single regular ZIP file is all that's needed for both platforms.

David

[Mark K]

Congrats to everyone except me. Just jammed a newly bought Trascend 32Gb compact flash trying to do the upgrade, switching to and fro between my a850 and computer. The card error message is rather irritating....since this is the only 32Gb card I ever have
Back to the firmware. I am less disappointed about the ISO noise performance since Lightroom 3 actually brings my a850 to a new life.

[David Kilpatrick]

Mark, check the pins in your camera drive slot with care. It is very rare for a CF card to be damaged, and very common for the pins in either your card reader (most likely, they are generally very poor) or your camera to be damaged. Examine with a torch and a magnifier if you have to.

I've never heard of a CF card damaged by insertion processes but often seen damaged pins in the slots of devices.

David

[Winston]

Additionally, never carry a CF card unprotected or else bits of foreign matter will find their way into the pin holes. This will damage pins if insertion is forced.

Never force an insertion into any device. If resistance is met, investigate the reason.

[redsim74]

An Australian sourced A900 would probably be safest updated using the Aus link - an NZ purchase would I guess be Aus supplied?
David

Sony Aus and NZ seem to be run quite separately, eg we can get the A580 in NZ where it's not available in Aus. No reason the firmware would be different though.

[Old Hydro]

On the US site, I do not find a file for A850 -- just A900. Does anyone know if there is going to be an upgrade for the US sold A850?

[Greg Beetham]

Ver 2.0 firmware for the A850 seems to be available for the US ok now.http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-li ... electOS=28
Greg

[Dusty]

Never force an insertion into any device. If resistance is met, investigate the reason.

We are Borg. All resistance is futile!

Dusty

[Greg Beetham]

Ha ha, hey Dusty did you see the episode of House where he said "These are not the droids you are searching for" that was a good one.
Greg