5 replies to this topic

[CXIA]

I found this on the sony firmware page:

Benefits provided by previous updates and included in version 3.10:
•Improves 4K movie recording time when using the vertical grip (VG-C2EM) or when the APS-C/Super35mm mode is activated
•Improves picture quality
•Adds the selectable feature for uncompressed 14-Bit RAW image capture
•Adds support to output video via HDMI during use of the Remote Camera Control software (still mode only)
•Reduces the chance of the camera changing to front focus when shooting certain scenes

Note: This symptom rarely occurs
•Decreases chroma noise when Long Exposure NR (Noise Reduction) is set to Off

•Note: The noise does not occur when Long Exposure NR is set to On

•Improves continuous shooting at Hi speed so that it can be used just as long when using the flash as without the flash

 

Does this mean that the algorithm is fixed?

 

 

[sharkmelley]

Version 3.10 of the firmware is available for many Sony models.  Looking at the descriptions for each model it appears that the chroma noise problem is only fixed for the Sony A7RII.  So I guess the chroma noise problem was only an issue for this particular model of camera.

 

Note that the Long Exposure noise reduction is different to the so-called star-eater issue.  For clarity, the so-called star eater problem happens only in bulb mode - short exposure bulb mode pictures and long exposure bulb mode pictures are equally affected.

 

Amongst other fixes, version 3.10 also allows uncompressed 14 bit raw images.  But it seems this is only available for the Mark II versions.

 

So for my own camera, the Sony A7S, there is nothing of interest for astrophotography in version 3.10.  Unless they have introduced an extra undocumented fix.

 

Mark

Edited by sharkmelley, 26 March 2016 - 06:33 PM.

[entilza]

Mark are you going to test the new firmware regardless?

[sharkmelley]

Mark are you going to test the new firmware regardless?

 

I've now tested version 3.10 on the Sony A7S.  The bulb mode star eater issue still exists.

 

Mark

[ccs_hello]

Camera mfgs are slow in doing small incremental improvements.  This is how they sell models after models.

And only on new models.  Very little chance retroactively fixing the old ones (so no sales on newer models.) Fan will pay for that.

 

It took a long time for Nikon to fix such "issues", after several generations of models later.

SONY is no dummy as well.

 

Remember camera mfgs care about camera sales, not image sensors.  

More touches (or beautifying) on the final output images help them getting better scores on camera review sites.

 

My 0.02

[whwang]

 

Mark are you going to test the new firmware regardless?

 

I've now tested version 3.10 on the Sony A7S.  The bulb mode star eater issue still exists.

 

Mark

 

 

Thanks for confirming this.  Just by the wording, it doesn't appear to me that it fixes the star-eater problem.  And even if Sony fixes it in some firmware update, I don't believe Sony will admit there was a problem and states it clearly in the firmware update.  Sony will just silently change it.  So we just have to test every firmware update, if we believe Sony is going to fix it ever.