Tag: Sony A9

Sony A9 firmware update – enchanced continuous AF

Posted on by Dr Koh

Sony has released a firmware update for its professional camera, the Alpha A9.

Firmware version 2.00 provides the following benefits:

Continuous AF Enhancements:

  • Enhanced performance of continuous auto focus on moving subjects
  • Enhanced stability of the AF-C when zooming

Added Functions:

  • Adds the function to assign Protecting images to custom Key
  • Adds the function to transfer (FTP) protected files at once
    Note: Only for images protected using version 2.00 or higher.
  • Displays wired LAN MAC address
  • Inputs IPTC metadata to files
    Note: IPTC information must be created beforehand using the IPTC Metadata Preset software.
  • Inputs camera serial number to metadata

Other Improvements:

  • Improves operational stability
  • Improves accuracy of the overheating warning function

Download firmware at:

https://alphauniverse.com/stories/sony-announces-a9-firmware-update-2-00/

Sony a9 Firmware Update 1.10 – Improves image quality and overall stability

Posted on by Dr Koh

Sony has just announced a new firmware for its flagship A9 camera.

Benefits and improvements from the latest update

  • Supports “Eye AF” function for A-mount lenses via the LA-EA3 mount adapter *1
  • Fixes an issue where RAW files may disappear when SDXC or microSDXC memory cards are used in certain smartphones *2
  • Improves the image quality and overall stability of the camera

*1: This function is only for A-mount lenses which can adapt to 8 or 10 fps (maximum) tracking AF-C shooting. See here for details.

*2: Raw data recorded by the ILCE-9 with firmware Ver. 1.00 or 1.01 could disappear. Please backup your raw data files, even if you’re updating the system software to Ver. 1.10.

Canon’s EOS 5D Mk IV Won EISA Professional DSLR of the Year Award

Posted on by Dr Koh

Canon’s EOS 5D Mk IV has won the European Imaging and Sound Association’s (EISA) Professional DSLR of the Year award, making this the third year in a row that the brand has beaten Nikon to the top spot in the professional camera category. Neither company, though, managed to come out as well as Sony, which won a total of six titles for is compact system range.

One of Sony’s titles was the prestigious European Camera of the Year award—a prize the company hasn’t won in nine years—which went to the a9.

Sony’s other awards included Prosumer Compact Camera of the Year for the a6500, Compact Camera of the Year for the RX100 V, Superzoom Camera of the Year for the RX10 ll, Compact System Lens for its FE 100mm f/2.8 STF GM OSS and Professional Compact System Lens for the FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS.

Other notable lens awards went to Sigma for the 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art, and to Tamron’s 150-600 f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 and the 18-400mm F3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD. Panasonic’s Lumix DC-GH5 won Photo & Video Camera of the Year, while Prosumer DSLR of the Year went to Nikon’s D7500.

While this was the first year non-European countries were able to take part in the awards process, the Photography Expert Group remained entirely populated by magazine editors from Europe. For more information see the EISA website.
Photography awards in full:

EISA CONSUMER DSLR CAMERA 2017-2018
Canon EOS 77D

EISA PROSUMER DSLR CAMERA 2017-2018
Nikon D7500

EISA PROFESSIONAL DSLR CAMERA 2017-2018
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

EISA CONSUMER COMPACT SYSTEM CAMERA 2017-2018
Fujifilm X-T20

EISA PROSUMER COMPACT SYSTEM CAMERA 2017-2018
Sony 6500

EISA CAMERA 2017-2018
Sony 9

EISA COMPACT CAMERA 2017-2018
Sony RX100 V

EISA SUPERZOOM CAMERA 2017-2018
Sony RX10 III

EISA PHOTO & VIDEO CAMERA 2017-2018
Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5

EISA INSTANT CAMERA 2017-2018
Fujifilm Instax SQUARE SQ10

EISA DSLR LENS 2017-2018
SIGMA 135mm F1.8 DG HSM | Art

EISA DSLR ZOOM LENS 2017-2018
Tamron SP 150-600mm F5-6.3 Di VC USD G2

EISA PROFESSIONAL DSLR LENS 2017-2018
Canon EF 16-35mm F2.8L III USM

EISA COMPACT SYSTEM CAMERA LENS 2017-2018
Sony FE 100mm F2.8 STF GM OSS

EISA PROFESSIONAL COMPACT SYSTEM CAMERA LENS 2017-2018
Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS

EISA COMPACT SYSTEM CAMERA ZOOM LENS 2017-2018
Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-100mm F4.0 IS PRO

EISA PHOTO INNOVATION 2017-2018
Tamron 18-400mm F3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD

EISA PHOTO DISPLAY 2017-2018
EIZO ColorEdge CG2730

EISA SMARTPHONE CAMERA 2017-2018
Huawei P10

Comparing the Nikon D5 with Sony A9, in Real World?

Posted on by Dr Koh

A Youtube camera gear reviewer, Max Yuryev, and pro sports photographer Paul Nelson, team up to give Nikon D5 and Sony A9 an outdoor and indoor review.

They called this a REAL WORLD Comparison which I do not agree. No, I won’t call this a real world comparison, as obviously the subjects (runner, boxer, etc.) are all staged and instructed by the photographers to do what they want.

 

Both were impressed by the Sony A9, for its wider AF point coverage and faster frame per second shooting speed.

 

Both cameras are able to give fast and accurate focus on moving subject, with Sony A9 outperformed the Nikon even more.

My Opinion though…https://www.photomalaysia.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=196&action=edit

Comparing a Nikon D5 camera that is over 17 months old with a just announced (still under pre-order stage in Malaysia) Sony A9 camera isn’t fair at all. A faster processor, bigger buffer, and better sensor could have been developed and used in any 17 months newer camera.

 

One thing I do agree though in the review, that the focus points in Nikon DSLR is quite limited to the centre portion of the camera. At times I do want my subject to be slightly closer to the edge, but couldn’t as there is no focusing point there.

 

However, comparing 20fps in Sony A9 to 12fps in Nikon D5 for me is meaningless. Having more files in your memory cards mean you have to spent much more time having to go through each photo and more space to store those crappy photos. How about a 1000fps Sony RX100 V? That would be the king of all sports camera?!

 

Define real world. Eg. Olympic. Where’s Sony? The next Olympic? We will wait and see…

 

OK, it is still an interesting video to watch, and it just makes me wanted to get my hand on a Nikon D5 more now (am using Nikon D4 still). Yes, you can say that I am a biased Nikon user.

Sony A9 Firmware Update V1.01 – addressing overheating issue

Posted on by Dr Koh

Sony has just released a new firmware update v1.01 addressing the overheating issue of their latest professional A9 camera that goes upto 20fps shooting speed.

Photographer Danny Eusebio, known as that1cameraguy online, posted the 9.5-minute video above about a recent experience he had with the camera. After taking the a9 to a pool for a swim meet, Eusebio noticed that the overheating warning icon showed up on the screen after less than 20 minutes of use in 81°F.

Sony A9 is still in pre-order stage in Malaysia. Not hitting any physical stores yet. If you are getting one or already in the pre-order list, do have the new firmware ready in your computer and update the firmware when you have the camera in hand.

Download the firmware at:
https://esupport.sony.com/US/p/model-home.pl?mdl=ILCE9&template_id=1&region_id=1&tab=download#/downloadTab