The Sony NEX-7 has been out for almost a year now (though realistically was delayed for a few months due to the Thailand floods), and many customers–including me–were hoping for an early firmware update to improve basic functionality, and give the camera features that should coincide with its “flagship” designation. Well, after such a long wait, the Sony Germany website has just released an update which gives five new features (this is copied from their website, note that unless you are one of my Germany readers, wait until the update becomes available for your country’s Sony website to avoid compatibility issues) to the NEX-7:
- 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”
So what this means is:
- No more accidental time-wasting movies due to the awkward placement of the movie button
- True flexible exposure bracketing is now available for proper HDR photography (more than three frames would have been welcome, though)
- Responsiveness is improved
- Lenses such as the upcoming 10-18mm f/4 OSS, 16mm f/2.8, and 24mm f/1.8 should perform better, at least in JPEG
I don’t really know about the last point, but I’m sure it helps out with overall operation. I’m very glad Sony has finally listened to some of the biggest complaints with this otherwise amazing camera (movie button, crippled +/- .07 bracketing). Though there are still features which I feel should be “standard” on a camera of this class, such as the option to set an Auto ISO range, the ability to manually enter EXIF data for non-electronic lenses, or even a basic intervalometer function (the Nikon d300 has all of these, and more), Sony is at the very least headed in the right direction. Until now I had honestly lost all hope for an update. As a result, I was losing hope in Sony as a camera company, because I was feeling they weren’t supporting their high-end products like a good camera company should. Well, the support is finally here (though a little late), and I can’t wait until it becomes available on the Sony US website! Sony has–for now–gotten my loyalty back. 🙂
Matthew Durr Photography 
Man, how can they improve the bracketing system and not allow the use of the remote for bracketing??????? I don’t get it…am I missing something?
Hey there Mitch, that’s actually a really, really good point. When I said Sony was heading in the right direction, I guess I was right. There’s still a lot more that could easily be addressed in firmware.
Yes you were right; just seems like a major over sight. I love this camera, don’t get me wrong.
I’m sure you know how much I love it as well. Really, any support at all is welcome, but little irks like this inability to use remote for bracketing are just strange.
Wait a minute..”little irks like the inability to use remote for bracketing is strange”. How the heck would you take a landscape shot without remote/timer for multiple shot exposures??? Strange it is not. It is a major oversight that is somewhat embarrassing. Now I am not on Sony’s payroll so I believe I can say what I, and many other people think. I gave up my 5D for this and I find it really irksome that I can’t use a bracketing feature which was brought out a decade ago. Not trying to be annoying here, just don’t get how it it strange??
I guess “strange” was the wrong word to use. It really is an oversight on Sony’s part to not include that with this update if they were going to improve something with the bracketing. You’re not alone in this boat, I went from a d300 to this, so I know EXACTLY the frustration you’re feeling with features like this missing.
And no, I’m not getting paid by Sony or any other company for my opinions on here. Surprised that came across to you Mitch. 🙂