Sony a1 Stability Firmware 1.32... Foundation for a Major Update?

In this video, I discuss Sony's latest firmware update for the a1 and whether we should expect more updates in the future.
-TDD

[TheDigitalDigest]

I understand the argument many are making perfectly well and sympathize as I have been in a similar situation countless times(including this one). One of the most important factors in choosing my FX3 was that I believed that Sony would eventually grant it more support than the a7siii since it was a new category and it is more expensive. Had the firmware update not come, I still would have been happy with my choice, but it seems my assessment was spot on. At the same time, this is how you make decisions as a consumer. If people truly think Sony has wronged them, the market will correct that through consumer choice. That is how capitalism works(unless you're apple).

[KAPOPRO]

the problem here is that cheaper Sony cameras are getting good firmware updates and not the flagship.

[JoseTheRover]

Hey man,
I think you’re missing the point with the firmware updates. The argument is that Sony is adding features to lower market cameras and not bringing those to the higher market ones. People aren’t saying “I’m upset, Sony isn’t giving my $3, 500 camera the same features as my $4, 999 camera”…‘they’re saying “I’m upset that a $2, 499 camera has features that my $3, 500 camera doesn’t. Also manufacturers add features to old hardware all the time… Look at Apple with iOS, iPadOS and macOS. You’re missing the point here.

[noenken]

At every other brand the flagship camera is the one that introduces the new features which then trickle down to cheaper models. At Sony new features come with any camera and the flagship is just one of them and gets exactly the same treatment. That is not how a premium tier product should be treated. I'm sorry but maybe the one out of touch isn't the ones complaining. What you say at 3:00 is borderline ignoring reality. Nikon is actively pumping new features into the Z9, Fuji has done the same for years with their X-T, X-H and X-Pro lines of cameras. Even the X100 variants end up with way more than what they started with. The Leica SL line of cameras has gotten pretty hefty updates in software and so on and on and on.

[JBGamingPC]

Your video makes no sense. If Sony wouldnt update any of their cameras, then it would be plausible. But the fact that Sony updates their lower end models with new features means your video is pointless. Such features should be added to the high end models, stop defending such anti-consumer practices.
Unsubbed

[keving]

I get everything you're saying, and I am all into my Sony lenses and cameras. But the marketplace dictates what is expected of a company. And Sony is not meeting the expectation, the same way that other companies are doing it. You seem to be dismissing what enthusiasts want, but they drive camera sales.

[ThatOneMohamed]

Im worried Canon and Nikon are catching up pretty quick! The Nikon Z6 II and the Canon R6 II are pretty compelling. Also R6 II has 4k 60 no crop which im honesty jealous about. I bought a Sony a7 IV last month and dont know if i regret it. I wish I could do slow mo 4k.

[PingwinKwadrokwant]

Wait, wait, wait, you released a video with a title "Sony a1 Stability Firmware 1.32... Foundation for a Major Update?" to tell me that you even did not try this firmware? The title does not match the content.

[ivorottleyphotography]

Like all things in life there is a balance to be had.... I am a 'fast action' wildlife photographer and have owned the A1 since release and love the camera. There was though a significant decline in af performance when i 'upgraded' the firmware from 1.30 to 1.31.... Many Sony wildlife shooters i know felt the same way. I'm sure we can all agree that a cameras performance should not get worse from the point of purchase. When things were more mechanical, we obviously bought things as they were and expected no change, but in this digital, computer driven age things can be upgraded and improved upon and this has become the norm. A retired aeronautical engineer friend of mine bought a 'Nero' electric car...every so many months he recieves an update which includes new features....he doesn't need them, but it enhances his ownership experience and makes him smile. Certain features on the sony such as a combined animal/bird af setting would help me in the real world get more images i am looking for especially in unexpected moments...I also owned the Canon R5 which did this brilliantly....but if its easy for sony to implement (its in some of their more recent releases) why not make it available... In the next couple of years i feel the mirrorless market will stabalise a great deal ( we are still at a transition point with mirrrorless) and we can understand and make better decisions at that point as to where each manufacturer sits....untill then i feel if possible, its best to sit tight and see how things develope.

[mertkaracayil]

From my understanding a1 owners are upset at Sony for releasing new cool features on lower cheaper cameras. they feel their A1 cameras are out of date when sony should of protected the A1 flagship camera to remain the best camera. People feel ripped off even though its a 2 year old camera. I personally don’t own a a1 this is all from what ive understood. I do see the next flagship not selling as much from what happened here.

[DAVISION-YT]

Then, why is the cheaper FX3 getting features the a1 doesn’t get and even the internal same a7S III doesn’t get… you see, it makes no sense defending Sony here…

[victorfeinstein]

I am using 3 system cameras, Fujifilm GFX 100s, OM Sytem OM-1 and Sony a1 and Sony a7rv.I am totally not agree with you that Sony not has to give firmwares to improve their cameras and support their clients.I am an IT professional and most of the tech companies giving certain software updates beside the new releases of new products.Fujifilm is the perfect company how they take care of their clients and nothing wrong to ask to get some improvements to our a1 via firmware updates.For example there is no problem to add in camera focus stacking to a1.If you are happy with your camera and do not want to get any firmware update it is your decision, I will not call you by names because of your decisions but most of the people who bought the a1 wants the huge firmware update and I am the one of them.I am pleased with my a1 but I will be very happy if we will get the firmware 2.0.

[NASA-Shill]

I still love my A1, it does all that I want it to do. The only feature I would love to see is 8k @ 60fps but it’s no big deal.

[Jonathantuba]

I bought the A1 as the best wildlife photography camera on the market and still 18 months after purchase I am fully satisfied (have thousands of great images from this camera) - it still does exactly as I purchased. Yes some cool new features have come out on newer cameras. I would not say no if added to the A1, but do not expect. And having tried some of these new cameras such as A7Rv, these new features can be over hyped and not really make much difference to the final result - taking photos. I am still more than happy with my A1 and in fact just this year bought a second body in preference to an A7Rv

[Soundwave]

Apple actually supports older models for at least 5-7 years and brings most software stuff to many previous models btw

[blaisesmith]

This is a ridiculous argument - imagine buying a Mac or PC or Sony laptop and there are no software updates? You are paying even more money for what is becoming increasingly a software machine - ZV-E1. So I Have a couple of 10 year old Macs still running beautifully. This means I will shortly be buying a new one because my faith in it my investment lasting a decade is proven. The business is already changing around sony and they will be left behind looking stubborn (like canon not supporting third party lenses - I won't touch them now.)

[josephwilliamson]

I own an A1, an absolute banger of a camera and when paired with the 200-600, it's a cheat code to photography. The only think I'd wish they would improve on it is the Bird Eye Autofocus. It's caught me off many times though it could just be my unit.

[joseluislopez]

The main problem is that we know Sony can do it. In the past Sony reborned the a9 i, at that time that was his flagship. I´m not asking for a better options, just what came barely months after the release and we all know that via sofware Sony can do it, focus breathing and focus staking. Right now my main camera for video is the a7r v because the focus breathing, to me is uncompatible in many scenerios the usage the a7s iii, is like the 8bit and 10bit, I emmigrated all my system to this 10bit cameras and I don't want to do it again just because Sony doesn't add that funtion. Sony sell me that camera without that feature, but now that all new cheaper camera have it (fx30, zv e1, a7 iv), it seems like a malfuntion of the camera, something to be solve.

If the camera overheat cause the body, I got it, but cause software, make no sense.
If the camera drain battery because the desing or components, I got it, but cause software, make no sense.
If the camera doesn't support a funtion cause it is a funtion of the next gama, even that I got it, but not the opposite.

I hope as a community, if sony release the a7s iv or the a1 ii, and that funtions are still not available on the a7s iii and a1, nobody buy this new ones until they update the previous generetion.

[brandyketchquist]

Most professionals forking out 3500-6500 on the A7S3 or A1 are doing that to have something that's “above” the lower tier camera bodies. This could be a feature, quality, status, etc. In 5 years cameras aren't THAT much different in quality. Often internals are similar or reused such as sensors for the A7RIV vs A7RV or A7S3 vs Fx3. I mean heck, A7III is still a great camera. A7RIII, etc.

So if quality isn't changing then that makes the upgrade to a new body highly based on the features. You cant price a camera at 6500, call it a flagship and then roll out an entry camera for a 1/3 of the price with most of the same features if quality, speed, reliability isn't far off. A7RIV Megapixel vs A1 or A7IV auto focus points vs A1... Obviously there are differences, but many similarities.

Sony conditioned many of us us to think this way. Sony built their mirrorless empire on features by giving more to the customer than other companies. I remember Canon users had Magic Lantern for simple things like focus peaking yet every entry level Sony Camera had the magic lantern features without “hacking” the firmware.

So let’s say you’re a working professional who “truly needed one of these features” as opposed to bitching about not having them and not actually using them (meaning, someone who is willing to PAY for them)… As of now, you are stuck with a 2 year old A1 with no equivalent or upgrade, 2 year old A7S3. You start realizing that there are more answers for less money. The 2000-2500 category has had frequent releases. Again, If quality didn't compare, no one would shop lower but we know this to not be true - Fx30 vs Fx3, etc. A1 vs A7IV, It would be a stretch to say the Sony ZV-E1 vs A7S3 but seeing that its the same sensor and more features...

So that's why IMO this creates the opposite effect of what you're claiming about “business” and taking the stance of “what’s in it for sony?”…

This leads to lack of brand loyalty. More frequent buying at lower amounts and taking money away from higher priced cameras. If you are making the higher paying customer (A1 / A7S3 owners) question their purchase knowing lower tiered cameras or even 3rd party camera companies have solutions, you’re effecting brand loyalty. The people paying more money for a camera aren't looking to replace the body in 1 year. They want something for 3+ years. However, when they see the new cameras rolling out that are cheaper with more features and similar quality, we cant be surprised when they feel like their loyalty may have been for nothing.

So why is this happening? Sony is focusing on new customers, entry level customers and short form content creators. We saw something similar with Apple when they removed ports on a professional level laptop. They focused on the casual laptop users, removed SD card slots, HDMI and neglected the professionals. People invested several thousand dollars on a laptop to connect a 13 dollar 3rd party dongle to run their hard drives, external components, etc. This was eventually resolved by Apple in the latest M1 MacBook pros who's marketing campaign was focused on the return of the ports.

As someone who bought the A7S3 that came out just before the Fx3 I wouldn’t switch months after buying what seemed to be a very similar camera for around the same price. At the time, It was almost like you had a choice, do you want a camera that has more mounting options vs the traditional Sony body with eye piece etc. Many of us who had the A7S3 didnt care about this release since we were quite comfortable with our previous purchase. Years later, they DID give a firmware update and added new features to the Fx3 and that's where part of this problem is created. That firmware update increased the value of the Fx3, devalued A7S3 and pissed off the A1 users since almost every camera tier below it had more of these marketable features. That's why people are upset. If they didn't upgrade features on a 2 year old camera then half of this argument could be put to rest. Prices have not changed but some got love and others didn't. No one is going to upgrade their 2 year old camera to a 2 year old camera, they're just going wait and get frustrated that they didn't get love.

Sony is neglecting their customers who invested in higher priced cameras and has shifted their focus to lower priced cameras for short form content creators. They are baiting new customers at lower prices and leaving some of us higher paying customers scratching our heads. Next time a flagship higher priced camera is announced many customers will think twice. Some of us will wait and purchase something lower priced, bitch some more or maybe even explore other companies.

[DennisJacobsenWildlife]

It a natural lifespan for digital products to get updated/upgraded so i dont buy the "you got what you bought" my DJI mini 3 pro, Samsung 65" TV, Macbook pro M1, iphone & even my car got a performance update ... but not the flagship A1! The camera is amazing and thats not what i have a problem with, the problem i customer care and keep us happy with the purchase of a camera in this prize range. Personal i expected some software related upgrades and maybe updated tracking features in video, bird eye AF is on my wishlist because its there in the movie menu but cant be activated. Maybe you are right a bigger updates is coming, but i have to see it to believe it 🙃