topic Nex-5 Wishlist for the next firmware update! in Alpha & NEX interchangeable lens cameras

Nex-5 Wishlist for the next firmware update!

jonasembring — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 10:10:39 GMT

Hello Sony!!

Im actually addressing this directly to Sony as a wishlist for the next Nex-5 firmware update from v3 to v4. People can join this tread writing your special wishes for the next update. I guess there is no guarantee that Sony will listen. But I will try to get my voice heard.

Im working as a professional film director and still photographer. Im using my Nex-5 camera as a very good complement to my Nikon and professional film cameras Im working with. I am very satisfied with the Nex-5 camera and is actually planning on using it on a short professional documentary Im making. I only missing some small details in the new firmware update v3.

My wish list for firmware update v4:

- The possibillity to program button B or C for choosing AF, DMF or MF

- The possibillity to program button B or C for a PUSH AUTO button for the MF mode, as on several Sony videocameras. This would help A LOT in the workflow with both still photography and filming. In the film mode another solution may be really nice. That you could use the second step on the main trigger as a PUSH AUTO button in MF mode.

- The possibility to change where you set the focus (Center, multi etc) in the film mode.

- The possibility to over or under expose more that 2 steps on the expo compensating button. At least 3 steps or more.

- In the ISO AUTO mode, I would like to see on the display what ISO the camera are using. Or be able to program what ISO range the camera should work with.

My wish list for the camera in general.

- A solution for a long lasting battery. Maybe an external battery that you connect the same way as you connect the power cable.

Hope to get my wishes heard. Best regards / Jonas Embring, Sweden

Message was edited by: StartTheCar

Nex-5 Wishlist for the next firmware update!

robox3000 — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 12:54:53 GMT

My #1 request is also a Hotshoe Adapter. With the bigger lenses it's a necessity.

my #2 is also more bracketing range options - rather than just .3 or .7 as well as 5-shot and 7-shot bracketing options.

Nex-5 Wishlist for the next firmware update!

GreggLonewolf — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 10:55:37 GMT

I'm also looking to use the NEX as a compliment to the 'professional' camera equipment I use.

I work on commercials and features and the new chip (23.4x15.6mm) is very close to the size of 35mm motion picture film (24x18mm) - closer than a Canon 7D, in fact.

In addition, the ability to use interchangeable lenses (with an appropriate adaptor) means we can use the NEX camera as a video viewfinder with PL mount film lenses such as Cooke S4s and the RED camera lenses.

(You also don't need to remove the mirror shutter, as you do with the 7D, so if Sony play their cards right they could trump the Canon camp on video functionality hands down).

My only gripe is that Sony promised the following with version 3 of the firmware:

Maintaining the aperture setting in the movie recording mode
HD video can now be shot while maintaining a constant aperture setting.

I've tried this, but as I pan around light and dark areas of a room the camera still seems to automatically adjust the aperture, shutter, or something so that the image gets brighter and darker.

Call me old fashioned, but I'd love to manually control the aperture and shutter, ESPECIALLY WHEN SONY SAY THAT'S WHAT THEY HAVE DONE WITH THE LATEST FIRMWARE.

So, my first wish for the next version of the firmware is to do what they promised in the last one and sort out full manual aperture control whilst shooting video.

NEXT I'd like the ability to shoot 1920x1080 in Progressive or Interlace format.

I've heard that the AVCHD video format is actually recorded in progressive format and then bundled into an interlace wrapper when the video is saved.

Give us the option to shoot progressive or interlace and I'll be a happy man.

Also, the option to shoot 1280x720, or 720x576 (both interlace or progressive) would round out the NEX as an exceptional video camera so, come on Sony, give us what we want, rather than some strange pseudo-camera.

Here's hoping the guys at Sony actually look at these comments and listen to what we'd like on future firmware updates.

Message was edited by: greggsmith

Nex-5 Wishlist for the next firmware update!

StartTheCar — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 13:29:32 GMT

Thanks for the feedback folks.

Just so you are all aware, threads and comments like this one are noticed, and your feedback is always passed onto the NEX and Alpha product team; so keep them coming.

While I am not in a position to guarantee fixes, solutions or new firmware, I can assure that your wish lists and general feedback will be read by my colleagues in the product team.

I know they really do appreciate you taking the time to bring these points to our attention.

Best regards

Lee

Nex-5 Wishlist for the next firmware update!

georg_finch — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 16:29:27 GMT

please add tethering. In all sorts of fields this would be amazing. I work in animation and the NEX would make the perfect stop motion camera as at the moment one of the major problems is DSLRs wearing out because of the mirror movement. So tethering with live feed to the computer would be great

Nex-5 Wishlist for the next firmware update!

GreggLonewolf — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 08:50:47 GMT

Tethering would be brilliant.

At the moment the USB socket only seems to support one-way communication, and even then doesn't support PICTBridge (why not, Sony ?)

Tethering would also make the NEX series great for astrophotography.

Seeing as the NEX is significantly lighter than any DSLR on the market it would be a breeze to attach to many telescopes, assuming you can find the right mount adapter.

On that side, does anybody know where to find a suitable mount, or do Sony have any plans to release one ?

For the time being you could try the Sony RMT-DSLR remote controller for capturing images (albeit not to a computer)

It's about £ 20 and can be forund here :

http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?rlz=1C1CHIK_en-GBGB412GB412&q=RMT-DSLR1&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=14150820606588329609&ei=9nRjTZPYMJKp8APTnunxCA&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CC4Q8wIwAg#

Alternatively, there's a cheaper photo-only shutter release which you can pick up for around £ 5, here :

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wireless-Infrared-Control-Milnolta-IRMT-DSLR1/dp/B002VM49KC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1289847855&sr=8-1

Neither of these allow you to remote start video shooting and I would welcome the opportunity to do that.

It's a shame that the video functions don't seem to be fully supported at the moment and would really like to see full manual control over shutter, aperture, etc. whilst shooting video, along with the ability to remote stop start the video shooting functions.

If we lived in an ideal world I would really like to see a remote control that allows all of the above plus the ability to program timed intervals and various timer settings, as you can on Canon cameras.

Fingers crossed the powers that be read this and - hopefully - respond to our requests.

Gregg.

Nex-5 Wishlist for the next firmware update!

DavidKurkov — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 10:04:31 GMT

Hey Sony,

Just one change from V3 to V4.

Please add in the ability to manually control shutter speed in Video recording. At least to be able to pre-set it. It'd have been great to be able to control it during filming. Hope V4 has this!

Thanks and btw great camera!

-David A. Kurkov

PS I'm from USA. Please make V4 work here too!

Nex-5 Wishlist for the next firmware update!

GreggLonewolf — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 13:53:14 GMT

UPDATE :

Having spoken to Sony Support apparently "maintaining the aperture setting in the movie recording mode" only works in Aperture Priority mode.

THAT'S WHAT APERTURE PRIORITY MODE MEANS, SURELY !

It's like saying the next version of firmware will allow "maintaining the shutter speed setting in movie recording mode" (but it only works in Shutter Priority mode).

THEY SEEM TO BE MAKING A SONG AND DANCE ABOUT NOTHING.

Maybe we should be more specific in our requests and ask for the ability to "maintain the EXPOSURE in movie recording mode by being able to manually control the shutter speed AND aperture AND ISO Rating AND Exposure Compensation".

While we're on the subject, why can't we adjust the aperture whilst in Movie recording mode ?

Sure, you've got Exposure compensation (which gives you two stops up or down) but why not just let us manually control the camera settings whilst using movie recording mode ?

In the old days you'd have the focus, zoom AND aperture (iris) controls on the lens itself.

Modern cameras tend to favour controlling the aperture through the camera itself - which is a shame as you're limited to adjusting by a 1/3rd of a stop at a time (as opposed to a 1/4 or more if adjusting by hand).

That said, I've put Cooke S4 lenses on the NEX-5 (using an adaptor) and even with the aperture being manually set on the lens, the exposure is still automatically adjusted by the camera as I pan across light and dark areas.

I'm pretty sure this is not due to a technical limitation of the NEX series, but is something the camera is designed to do.

Excuse the cynicism but I'm inclined to believe that Sony are deliberately holding these features back for the more expensive products in their range.

If not then please address these issues in the next firmware update :

FULL MANUAL EXPOSURE CONTROL WHILST IN MOVIE RECORDING MODE

(i.e.: being able to manually control Shutter Speed AND Aperture in Movie Recording Mode,using the Manual Program setting).

THE ABILITY TO ADJUST THE EXPOSURE AND / OR SHUTTER SPEED AND / OR ISO-RATING WHILST IN MOVIE RECORDING MODE

PICTBRIDGE SUPPORT FOR PRINTING, ETC.

TETHERING AND / OR A WIRELESS REMOTE CONTROLLER THAT ALLOWS REMOTE STOP / START OF THE MOVIE RECORDING MODE AND ADJUSTMENT OF EXPOSURE / SHUTTER SPEED / ISO WHILST IN MOVIE RECORDING MODE.

Here's hoping !

Message was edited by: greggsmith

Nex-5 Wishlist for the next firmware update!

softboxing — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 18:00:43 GMT

I LOVE my NEX-5, but Please, Please.... give us the ability to bracket shots to at least 2EV stops.... 0.3 and 0.7 just isn't enough.

Thanks,

Simon.

Nex-5 (NEX-3) Wishlist for the next firmware update!

robot__ — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 16:04:10 GMT

req:

fix AF-C bugs (no refocusing/adjusting exposure in slower continuous mode) http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1042&thread=37377157
add option to change max ISO in AutoISO modes (its only 1600 ATM)
read this (also some hardware req for new models): http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1042&thread=37223126&page=1

Are there really any chances for new f/w for NEX-3,5?

3 options for histogram
- ON
- OFF
- only during adjustments

(currently it disappears when changing EV or ISO :smileyhappy:... )

Message was edited by: robot__

Nex-5 Wishlist for the next firmware update!

Loque_k — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 16:03:38 GMT

I like these suggestions from previous posts and would defintely enjoy using them:

- The possibility to change where you set the focus (Center, multi etc) in the film mode.

- In the ISO AUTO mode, I would like to see on the display what ISO the camera are using. Or be able to program what ISO range the camera should work with.

- Maintaining the aperture setting in the movie recording mode.

I would personally like more options for panoramic mode, altho I can understand the problem implementing these in a way thats easy to use for a non technical user, I would really like to increase the opportunities for taking panoramics in low light (as it just fails during the picture if attempted, and is also too dark anyway).

thanks for listening, and for an excellent product, loving this so much! I am making professionals cry with the pictures I just seem to accidently take (need to work on my framing and timing lots :smileywink:)

Nex-5 Wishlist for the next firmware update!

ikjadoon — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 03:05:42 GMT

I would like AE/AF lock support, pretty please!

Thank you,

~Ibrahim~

Nex-5 Wishlist for the next firmware update!

GreggLonewolf — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 10:37:00 GMT

Something else I've noticed is that when in 'live preview' (i.e the mode the camera is in before taking a photo or starting to record a movie) the size of the frame is different from that which will be shot when you start recording a movie.

Try this yourself - set up a shot, with a TV, or window etc, framed at the edges of the frame.

If you take a photo you'll get the whole image, but if you start recording a video the image will zoom in slightly, suggesting the movie mode does not use all of the sensor.

This seems to be unaffected by Image Size, Aspect Ratio or Quality (showing the same apparent zoom effect whether shooting L 12m, M 6.3m, or S 2.9m either at 16:9 or 3:2 aspect ratio in Fine or Standard mode, RAW or JPEG).

If this is the case, would this be something we could adjust in a future firmware update.

As I have said previously, the NEX sensor is almost the same size as 35mm motion picture film,so I have been using it as a video viewfinder on commercials and dramas very successfully.

Unfortunately, if we want to rehearse a move the change between the preview mode and the actual recorded movie mode means we don't get a full size image recorded - frustrating or what ?

If we can get this sorted in a firmware update that would be brilliant.

Finally, what are the chances of setting a user-adjustable Grid Line marker ?

The Grid Line (set for 'rule of thirds') is a great little feature and if we could adjust this (e.g. setting it up so we could see 16:9 full frame, 14:9 TV commercial safe and 4:3 web and non-HDTV safe) then that would be brilliant.

I know it's a reach, but if you don't ask you don't get.

Hopefully, this has already occurred to the bods at Sony and if enough people ask for the features they will include them in the next updates (if possible).

I'm loving this camera and can really see the potential it has.

Hopefully this won't be held back by poor implementation of the firmware.

As always, fingers crossed.

Gregg.

Nex-5 Wishlist for the next firmware update!

mkracik007 — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 08:28:31 GMT

#1 Sony Remote shutter release should work independently of selected Drive Mode, or at least work in Bracketing mode.

I bought the Sony Remote to use it as a shutter release to minimize blur caused by releasing the shutter by hand. But I found out that it does not work with Drive modes like Bracketing and Continuous, because you have to select Remote Cdr. as the drive mode.

#2 Displaying of current focal length.

Sony's aluminum lenses (I have 16mm and 18-55mm) look cool but they do not show focal distance on their focusing rings (focusing is probably only electronic, though the rings seem to have endstops). I have problems with focus when shooting landscapes. I set the camera to MF, on the camera's display in bright light everything looks sharp but later in the computer I find that the photo is blurred. I'd like to set focus to infinity or use hyperfocal focusing, but I don't know how to do it with Sony's lenses without focal length display.

Nex-5 Wishlist for the next firmware update!

StartTheCar — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 10:09:06 GMT

I am a big fan of this thread. I have stickied it and hope you will all continue providing your feedback which we will carry on passing onto the NEX product team.

Best regards

Lee

Nex-5 Wishlist for the next firmware update!

GreggLonewolf — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 10:34:14 GMT

Hi Lee

Nice to see the people who matter are listening.

Did you get any feedback from the meeting you had where you put the idea forward for some of the suggestions made here ?

As always, fingers crossed.

Gregg.

Nex-5 Wishlist for the next firmware update!

parxem — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 08:41:42 GMT

Hi Sony!

I love my nex 5, but i would be very glad, when the new firmware include some of this video features:

- Eu version can only shoot video with 25/50i. Would be great the optional 30/60i to.

- AVCHD 720p record

- 720p with 60fps (like sportscam) (Also 1280x720 in 24-, 25-, 30- and 60fps):)

- Some software image stabilization (video) for not oss optics.

There is any chance, that one day will be a newer official firmware for the Nex5?

Best regards!

Attila N.

Nex-5 Wishlist for the next firmware update!

svaens — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 23:27:26 GMT

Some of the points have been mentioned by other people on other forums.

And I have written then at dpreview as well.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1042&thread=37223126

Which i'm sure everyone knows about. I hope Sony reads that forum. If not, hopefully they read one on their own website.

These are features that I feel, as a developer myself, that would be simple, low cost (timewise) features to add to the existing menu system/structure. And yet, they should provide great benefit to its users.

1) allow the option (menu configuration) for greater resolution of panorama end result (currently, panorama is scaled down)

2) Intelligent auto has the 'background defocus' button. Why not add that to the 'Custom' list when in Program auto? Say for example, while i've configured the camera soft-key C to set HDR/White balance/ISO, the camera automatically adds the 'background defocus' configuration to the end of this list.
3) greater range for bracketing (similar as is possible in Auto HDR mode)
4) able to use self-timer with Auto HDR and bracketing
5) able to use the remote with Auto HDR and bracketing

6) A real movie mode from the menu/Shoot mode. This would allow the opportunity to enable parameter configuration, as well as providing the means to setup the start of video via remote control or timer (something that is currently not possible)

7) manual focus locking: when you lock the focus by pressing the shoot button half way, you notice all the other buttons lose their function. This is a great opportunity to provide a new function in this different context. What should be available at this point (when you've either focused manually in DMF or MF mode or even AF mode) and you are still in that focus lock with the button half way down, the Soft-key C (the button in the middle of the wheel) should then mean "lock focus". When you click on soft-key C button then, it locks the focus, and you can let go of the 'shoot button' and relax, with the focus fixed, and you can play with the other parameters. (I imagine, re-clicking on the 'shoot' button half-way would remove the focus lock)

Nex-5 Wishlist for the next firmware update!

bartvani — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 18:56:18 GMT

Hello!

I agree with you seventh wish! I would like to add that it also should have the ability to auto focus, using Nex+LA-EA1+Tamron lens. I tried it in shop, only Sony lenses do AF! The rest will NOT!

Nex-5 Wishlist for the next firmware update!

GreggLonewolf — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 20:12:30 GMT

According to sonyalphanex.blogspot.com the manual for the next firmware version is now available here :

http://www.filedropper.com/sonyalphanex-blogspot-com-firmware04-manual

If it's true then despite all the requests on this forum and elsewhere for really useful functionality, Sony have decided to add the following features :

Picture Effects
- Toy Camera - Creates the look of a Toy Camera photo with shaded corners and pronounced colors.
- Posterization (Color) - Creates a high contrast, abstract look by heavily emphasizing primary colors.
- Posterization (B&W) - Creates a high contrast, abstract look in black and white.
- Pop Color - Creates a vivid look by emphasizing color tones.
- Retro Photo - Creates the look of an aged photo with sepia color tones and faded contrast.
- Partial Color (Red, Green, Blue, or Yellow) - Creates an image which retains the color selected, but converts others to black and white.
- High Key - Creates an image with the indicated atmosphere: bright, transparent, ethereal, tender, soft.
- High Contrast Monochrome - Creates an image with high contrast in black and white.
Manual Focus Aid
- Peaking Level (High, Medium, Low, Off) - Enhances the outline of in-focus ranges with a specific color in manual focus. This function allows you to confirm the focus easily.
- Peaking Color (White, Red, or Yellow) - Sets the color used for the peaking function in manual focus.

Are they having a laugh ?

The NEX had the opportunity to be a REALLY good camera and could be better than the Canon and Nikons of the world, but they insist on only releasing features that you would expect to find on a compact camera rather than a fully fledged DSLR.

If they keep aiming at the amateurs, then that's who's going to buy their cameras.

Seriously, Sony, try listening to your customers for a change and give us some useful functions rather than some stupid picture effects that no professional photographer would ever think of using.