Sony A7 IV Firmware update 4.0 for A7iv

[evacguy]

Has anyone updated to V4.0? I believe this time it actually has some useful new features - I believe it has support for focus bracketting. I haven't used this before, but it may be useful to update. I'm currently on V1.11 so I'm not sure if I need to do an earlier update to jump to V4.0.
Any comments, opinions or suggestions?

 

[Tim Mayo]

It does seem like a decent update for a change. I’ll probably wait a few days before updating mine though, just incase there are any issues like with the recent A7RV firmware.

If you are on v1.11 you should just be able to install v4.00. It’s v1.01 or earlier when you need to go to v1.05 first before v4.00.

 

[AlphaWorld]

It does seem like a decent update for a change. I’ll probably wait a few days before updating mine though, just incase there are any issues like with the recent A7RV firmware.

If you are on v1.11 you should just be able to install v4.00. It’s v1.01 or earlier when you need to go to v1.05 first before v4.00.

Note that Sony re-released the recent updates (FX3 and A7RV) without change. I’ve read some speculation that the reported problems were not real - perhaps malicious false reports of problems?

No harm in waiting a week, though :-D

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

V4.0? I read it here first! Thanks for the update.

I'll leave it more than a week. A month would be safer, whether there are really good features or not. I hardly dare hope for focus-stacking, but hey, it is not going to change the pics I take tomorrow.

I'll run over to the Sony support page to see what's there.

 

[jmb5121]

The 4.0 update went smoothly for me, and the focus stacking is worthwhile. I was able to take the attached image via a 10 image stack, handheld. Lens was the 70-200 Gii macro.

 

[Hank]

The 4.0 update went smoothly for me, and the focus stacking is worthwhile. I was able to take the attached image via a 10 image stack, handheld. Lens was the 70-200 Gii macro.

Very nice. Focus stacking was something I was really jealous of other cameras so am very happy to have this included in this update. I have seen that Samyang lens users have complained that they lose autofocus after installing this update so another update might be coming again soon.

I'm pumped about the focus stacking though.

 

[Jeff A]

I did the Firmware updates to my A7IV and my A7RV. No apparent issues so far but have not been doing any shooting.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Samyang lens users have complained that they lose autofocus after installing this update so another update might be coming again soon.

I think it is up to Samyang to bring their lens firmware into line, as it was, and they did, when the a6700 came out.

It's a pain though. My Samyang 135 is just about my main lens at the moment. I cannot do without it. So any playing with focus stacking (which I'm glad to see, although I doubt that I'll be a serious user of it) will have to wait.

And then the Samyang update will mean getting their lens station. Or visiting a service centre.

Never mind: I can be patient with this. I'm not a firmware early adopter and planned to wait a month anyway.

 

[bobr666]

I did the update to V4 and does seem to be causing some inconsistencies on a Samyang lens. However, I was hoping to be able to use the Monitor and Ctrl app which looks great. However, I can't seem to get the camera to connect via Wi-fi. Bluetooth seems to connect fine, but then the app tries to connect to the camera using Wifi direct, which fails, although the camera and app are on the same network. Anybody got any advice for connecting?

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

does seem to be causing some inconsistencies on a Samyang lens

Would you mind telling me what lens and what problem? And if you have have any no-problem Samyangs?

I can't seem to get the camera to connect via Wi-fi. Bluetooth seems to connect fine, but then the app tries to connect to the camera using Wifi direct, which fails,

As I understand it (or not)... "Wifi-Direct" means having your phone talk to the camera direct, not via you LAN/router. The camera acts as a server and the phone connects to it. "Connect via access point" means both devices are on the same (wifi) LAN.

There is no proper explanation of "Sony Networking" for either the novice or the people with some knowledge. I am supposed to be techie (although I left it all behind 20 years ago and haven't kept up) and I find Sony networking exasperating. At least since Cr'app: Imaging edge was a lot more likely to just work.

I think that Monitor and Control is pretty much all video, nothing for stills. But if I ever get to that stage (V4 loaded, Samyang lenses working, no other problems) then I'll certainly take a look.

BTW... Are you aware of Monitor+ ? It is a third-party app. I think it has a lot more toys for film makers than Cr'app does. It is not free though. (There is a free but limited version so you can give it a try for free)

 

[bobr666]

Thanks, I'll experiment more with the lens to more accurately define it.
> I am supposed to be techie (although I left it all behind 20 years ago and haven't kept up) and I find Sony networking exasperating.
Me too, I have run fairly sophisticated networks, but Sony baffles me.

I will take a look at Monitor+ Not free is not really an issue considering the money spent on the camera, DXO etc

 

[bobr666]

Would you mind telling me what lens and what problem? And if you have have any no-problem Samyangs?



As I understand it (or not)... "Wifi-Direct" means having your phone talk to the camera direct, not via you LAN/router. The camera acts as a server and the phone connects to it. "Connect via access point" means both devices are on the same (wifi) LAN.

There is no proper explanation of "Sony Networking" for either the novice or the people with some knowledge. I am supposed to be techie (although I left it all behind 20 years ago and haven't kept up) and I find Sony networking exasperating. At least since Cr'app: Imaging edge was a lot more likely to just work.

I think that Monitor and Control is pretty much all video, nothing for stills. But if I ever get to that stage (V4 loaded, Samyang lenses working, no other problems) then I'll certainly take a look.

BTW... Are you aware of Monitor+ ? It is a third-party app. I think it has a lot more toys for film makers than Cr'app does. It is not free though. (There is a free but limited version so you can give it a try for free)

It's an 18mm F2.8 prime. It seems to rapidly switch the autofocus (but not every time. I was using the A7 IV in auto mode and, strangely, it set itself to ISO12800 for a number of shots that were significantly over-exposed, although after powering off and on, it settled down. I also tried a Samyang 12mm APS-C that I use for vlogging on a ZV-E10. That seemed fine.

 

[bobr666]

It's an 18mm F2.8 prime. It seems to rapidly switch the autofocus (but not every time. I was using the A7 IV in auto mode and, strangely, it set itself to ISO12800 for a number of shots that were significantly over-exposed, although after powering off and on, it settled down. I also tried a Samyang 12mm APS-C that I use for vlogging on a ZV-E10. That seemed fine.

So an update to this. I hadn't realised I could get a lens station for the Samyang, so I got one. Once I updated the 18mm to the latest version (8) from 2023, I could no longer see a problem (and this f/w version explicitly fixed Sony issues). All in all, I'm happy the lens is working as desired (although I rarely seem to use it now I have the ZV-E10).

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

I could get a lens station for the Samyang

Yes! And I guess it is not that expensive in the wider picture of what we spend on this hobby. Somehow, though, I have not so far felt like buying it*.

I have a Godox service station in town. They supplied the new, metal foot for one of my flashes and fitted it, while I waited, at very reasonable cost. I have a suspicion that they are Samyang-approved too. If they do, then for my two Samyang lenses, only one of which I use all the time, it would be cheaper than buying the lens station.

The fact that your update worked is encouraging. It suggests that it is an already-solved problem.

*Oh wait, I forgot. My main reason for not buying stuff like that: I have only Linux, not Windows or Mac. I wouldn't be able to make it work at home.

 

[bobr666]

> not that expensive in the wider picture of what we spend on this hobby.

Exactly, especially as I found one on eBay!

 

[Katbel]

The 4.0 update went smoothly for me, and the focus stacking is worthwhile. I was able to take the attached image via a 10 image stack, handheld. Lens was the 70-200 Gii macro.

Great photo!
Is there a new menu/ setting dedicated expressly to focus stacking?
P.s Found it! Thanks anyway

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Is there any more news about v4.0 and Samyang lenses, especially the 135/1.8?