A100 firmware improvement?

[edrice]

I did the v1.04 firmware update to the A100 after reading David's firmware update page and I was interested in the comment on noise, so I did a quick rudimentary test taking a couple of before and after shots - two at 800 and two at 1600.

I realize now that I probably could have picked a a better subject and I also absent-mindedly didn't use uniform focal lengths. The two befores were at 52mm on the 16-80 and the two afters, one at 60mm and the other at 67mm. The aperture was f4.5 for all and the two 800s were 1/20th second and the two 1600s were 1/40th - so at least that.

I'm not that great and picking these things out when A/Bing something unless there's a substantial difference, but I think I do see a little improvement in the afters, but I'm not entirely sure.

Let me know what you think. These are full size files, straight out of the camera and are only renamed.

Ed

http://www.shadowset.com/firmware/800_before.JPG

http://www.shadowset.com/firmware/800_after.JPG

http://www.shadowset.com/firmware/1600_before.JPG

http://www.shadowset.com/firmware/1600_after.JPG

[David Kilpatrick]

It certainly looks better. The only thing to watch out for is that the firmware upgrade can reset your default settings, so if you had high sharpness set before (etc) it may be altered for the afters. But it looks as if overall parameters are changed and the effect is an improvement.

David

[edrice]

It certainly looks better. The only thing to watch out for is that the firmware upgrade can reset your default settings, so if you had high sharpness set before (etc) it may be altered for the afters. But it looks as if overall parameters are changed and the effect is an improvement.

David

Good point. I just checked my settings and everything is as it was. The only setting in that category that is not at default is saturation, which is kicked up one notch, and it's still there. Even DRO is still set where it was.

Ed

[Dr. Harout]

I've tried in vain all the firmware updates. No luck. The firmware always remained the same. I was told, after failure to achieve the first update, that my camera couldn't probably accept it because it was purchased from Dubai, UAE (???).
OK, but the failures continued with other updates including this last one. So, I am remaining with firmware version 1.00
Is there any explanation for this. And do believe me, I've done everything "by the book".

[David Kilpatrick]

You need to know the Region your camera is set for. There are four regions - Japan, Asia, Europe, America and your camera MUST be one of these. No other code exists. When you interrogate the camera, it should show a regional symbol after the firmware - i.e. v1.00u, v1.00e

Which does it show?

David

[Dr. Harout]

It just says:

a100
Ver.1.00
OK

Believe me, nothing else. Odd isn't it?

[David Kilpatrick]

I can only suggest you contact your local distributor for more information. Sorry!

David

[Greg Beetham]

It just says:

a100
Ver.1.00
OK

Believe me, nothing else. Odd isn't it?

I upgraded my A100 some time ago (download from Sony Style Oz) and now it just shows Ver. 1.02 and no following symbol, (I'm reasonably confident that we would be in the Asia section, and still have English in the language selection list), it would be nice if Sony could be a tad more consistant, so one knew where one stood.
Greg
ps. I think that one was mostly a lens profile upgrade anyway.