FINALLY! NEX 7 firmware update!

[firefox23508]

http://www.sony.co.uk/support/en/product/NEX-7/updates

UK for now, hopefully soon for US, fixes:

Addition of capability to enable or disable the MOVIE button
Addition of exposure settings of bracket shooting (three frames /1.0EV,2.0EV, 3.0EV)
Improvement of response for showing auto review image.
Improvement of image quality when using a wide angle lens
Improvement of indication when setting “Flexible Spot”.

[Dynszis]

I think this firmware update entails a lost opportunity, plus a problem:

The lost opportunity is to let the user customize the movie button, rather than merely disable it. I for one would have found it very desirable to activate the focus assistance with it, because the latter's native button (lower right to the rear LCD) is not very ergonomic when you hold the camera to your eye.

The problem is with the bracketing. It was useless before, and is useless now, to me at least. This is because for sharp pictures with long exposure times, you want to use the self timer or a remote control, so as to avoid motion blur from pressing the shutter button.

But you must press the shutter button when bracketing. You cannot combine the NEX-7's bracketing with self timer or remote, because these are mutually exclusive options. So, for all practical purposes, you can't use bracketing with long exposure times.

I am sort of disappointed, or disheartened about this, because I doubt that the above points will ever be addressed, after Sony published "the" firmware update for the NEX-7.

[Wayne Fox]

But you must press the shutter button when bracketing. You cannot combine the NEX-7's bracketing with self timer or remote, because these are mutually exclusive options. So, for all practical purposes, you can't use bracketing with long exposure times.

lots of work arounds. http://www.luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?topic=66077.0

The sony remote commander is only $30, as compared to over $40 for a canon cable release.

You can also make your own for a few bucks and use an iPhone (maybe also an android) to trigger the camera.

[rainer_v]

for me the most important question:
can the camera use now bracketing if IR triggered or not?
wayne you say yes it can?
i want to use it on a drone for aerial shooting. its useless without bracketing and the cam has to be triggered over IR,- which never was a  problem but to use it at the same time with bracketing AND ir trigger was impossible before, because this are singular options which cant be combined. means as soon you use the IR trigger the camera wont do bracketing. did this change?

[Dynszis]

can the camera use now bracketing if IR triggered or not?
wayne you say yes it can?

I don't think Wayne understands the problem.

bracketing AND ir trigger was impossible before, because this are singular options which cant be combined. means as soon you use the IR trigger the camera wont do bracketing. did this change?

No, it did not change.

[firefox23508]

I wonder if Mr. Reichmann is still using the NEX-7 or if he has started using another camera more and also what he might think of this firmware upgrade.  I know he liked the Olympus OM-D as an alternative.  I purchased the OM-D but the user interface was too infuriating for me.  The 7's, on the other hand, strangely seems quite intuitive to me and I am very happy with it.  As prices start to fall a bit I can't wait to pick up another second-hand body and have it converted for IR ... plus the introduction of the new 35mm lens, I will be happy as a pig in mud!

[Lisa Nikodym]

I wonder if Mr. Reichmann is still using the NEX-7 or if he has started using another camera more and also what he might think of this firmware upgrade.  I know he liked the Olympus OM-D as an alternative.  I purchased the OM-D but the user interface was too infuriating for me.  The 7's, on the other hand, strangely seems quite intuitive to me and I am very happy with it.  As prices start to fall a bit I can't wait to pick up another second-hand body and have it converted for IR ... plus the introduction of the new 35mm lens, I will be happy as a pig in mud!

I, too, find the NEX-7 to be quite intuitive to use (I tried the Panasonic GH-2 awhile back, and found it quite bad in that regard).

You might like to hear that I got a second NEX-7 converted to IR by lifepixel, and it works really great.  It focusses far more accurately in IR than my previous IR camera (a Nikon DSLR) - as good as the regular unconverted NEX-7 (because of how the focussing is implemented in the NEX, the usual difference in focussing between visual wavelengths and IR isn't an issue here).  I use it with the Sony 18-55 & 18-200 lenses, and haven't had any issues with hot spots, or any other problems whatsoever.

Lisa