Sony Firmware Update Launched for the Alpha 1, Alpha 1 II, and Alpha 9 III

Firmware Update

by Omri Keren LapidotJanuary 17^th, 2025

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Sony enhances their flagship line with a new firmware update, including various upgrades, fixes, and alignments. In a nutshell, the a9 III and a1 will align with most new features already embedded in the new a1 II, with some exclusions stemming from unbridgeable hardware gaps between the three models. With no fundamental upgrades, this firmware update should polish and streamline some operability issues, but I wouldn’t expect a revolution.

Firmware updates have been an integral part of our industry’s landscape in recent years. Each manufacturer offers a slightly different approach to this maintenance practice, but everyone does it. While some firmware updates prove revolutionary, some are more modest – fixing issues, embedding features, etc. Both are important as both affect our interaction with our creative tools.

With this firmware update, Sony improves still shooting, video, and operability functions, as well as added compatibility for Sony’s evolving Camera Authenticity Solution. Let’s start with the video updates:

Video firmware updates

Sony’s firmware update will improve the video image quality of both the a1 II and a9 III when using user LUTs. Unfortunately, the original a1 won’t receive this feature but will gain the ability to automatically create still images with Shot Marks from movie frames after recording. Both updates may not seem like much, but will incrementally improve our work given the use of these features.

Operability and workflow firmware updates

Here, we’ll see some advanced (and rather niche) features of the new flagship (the a1 II) trickle down to its stablemates. Both the a1 and a9 III will now be able to schedule FTP transfers while writing data to the camera’s storage media, as well as improved operability with shooting during image transfer to the Creators’ App. The a1 will also gain the ability to use the Custom Key setting on the AEL button and Delete button during playback.

Authentication firmware updates

Sony takes image authentication seriously and implements authentication solutions in many of their cameras. The new firmware update allows using Sony’s upcoming Image Validation Site and the Digital Signature Upgrade License, designed for select news organizations and their staff photographers. While this may not affect most of us, I find it very reassuring. It’s another important step Sony is taking regarding the implementation of C2PA (Coalition for Content Provenance) standards, which may well establish our future trust in mediated information as discussed here:

Price and availability

Sony’s firmware updates are now available for download, free of charge. a1 firmware version 3.00, a9 III Firmware version 3.00 and a1 II Firmware version 2.00 can be downloaded here

Will these modest updates be of value to you? What other features would you like to get via future firmware updates? Let us know in the comments.