After many attempts at solving this problem, it seems to be the firmware update that caused it.
To isolate I've used different cards and processed the images through different means (computers, readers etc) the issue occurs randomly but regularly and only with my a7RV, not with the same cards in any other Sony (or Nikon) cameras.
Sony (Australia) want me to have the camera repaired at a shop, they won't give me the ability to load old firmware. I won't be able to do this until the new year.
At this stage I'm more likely to purchase another camera, then repair this one and sell it as I'm uncomfortable using it for critical work (such as weddings) for obvious reasons.
This is the only time a Sony camera has been unreliable for me and I've owned almost every iteration of Sony Alpha since the original A7 capturing millions of exposures.
BobSac wrote:
After many attempts at solving this problem, it seems to be the firmware update that caused it.
To isolate I've used different cards and processed the images through different means (computers, readers etc) the issue occurs randomly but regularly and only with my a7RV, not with the same cards in any other Sony (or Nikon) cameras.
Sony (Australia) want me to have the camera repaired at a shop, they won't give me the ability to load old firmware. I won't be able to do this until the new year.
At this stage I'm more likely to purchase another camera, then repair this one and sell it as I'm uncomfortable using it for critical work (such as weddings) for obvious reasons.
This is the only time a Sony camera has been unreliable for me and I've owned almost every iteration of Sony Alpha since the original A7 capturing millions of exposures....Show more →
To quote old Chester Riley, "Well this is a revolting development!" Very sorry to hear this!
So far this is the only case I've heard of, but I don't frequent a lot of other Sony specific forums either except DPR. I also hate to sound selfish, but I hope it is limited to a certain serial number range or some other rare delineating factors and not the entire series. Especially since I've already updated mine... If you do get it repaired or learn anything else, please let us know.
BobSac wrote:
When I plug the camera into the Mac (and select mass storage on the camera) all I get is a single folder called PM HOME that has a subfolfer in it called LICENCE that contains Aa bunch of .txt files.
Menu -> Setup -> USB -> USB LUN Setting : Multi
This causes it to show you Slot 1, Slot 2, and PMHOME as three separate removable drives.
"Single" shows you some combined view as a single removable drive but I believe only gives access to images on one of the installed card slots.
If one setting doesn't work for you, try the other.
BTW "PM HOME" is a simulated "drive" containing a bunch of documentation they are apparently required to provide for legal reasons. It is a legacy of early sony bodies that also used that simulated drive to supply driver software and config items for windows I think.
BobSac wrote:
After many attempts at solving this problem, it seems to be the firmware update that caused it.
To isolate I've used different cards and processed the images through different means (computers, readers etc) the issue occurs randomly but regularly and only with my a7RV, not with the same cards in any other Sony (or Nikon) cameras.
Sony (Australia) want me to have the camera repaired at a shop, they won't give me the ability to load old firmware. I won't be able to do this until the new year.
At this stage I'm more likely to purchase another camera, then repair this one and sell it as I'm uncomfortable using it for critical work (such as weddings) for obvious reasons.
This is the only time a Sony camera has been unreliable for me and I've owned almost every iteration of Sony Alpha since the original A7 capturing millions of exposures....Show more →
Damn, sorry this happened to you and thanks for troubleshooting and sharing. I know Sony should have already documented this, but make sure, or at least try to, get this as an officially reported bug. Most companies have a specific avenue for bug reports, hopefully Sony does and it’s not hard to find.
qqphot wrote:
Menu -> Setup -> USB -> USB LUN Setting : Multi
This causes it to show you Slot 1, Slot 2, and PMHOME as three separate removable drives.
"Single" shows you some combined view as a single removable drive but I believe only gives access to images on one of the installed card slots.
If one setting doesn't work for you, try the other.
BTW "PM HOME" is a simulated "drive" containing a bunch of documentation they are apparently required to provide for legal reasons. It is a legacy of early sony bodies that also used that simulated drive to supply driver software and config items for windows I think. ...Show more →
Appreciate your time and effort, thanks very muchly. Unfortunately it doesn't work. I tried restarting the computer (MacBook Pro 16 M1) and no go. No other programs running.
I do this because Android File Transfer doesn't like programs such as Adobe Bridge to be running simultaneously.
The camera (again, A7RV) works flawlessly with Sony Remote which I use almost daily tethered to the camera for product photography. No issues there.
I hoped the firmware update might solve this issue where the computer doesn't recognise the image data but no go. No version of MacOS or firmware has solved this -and it's the same for multiple Sony cameras, A1, A92, A7R4, A7R5, A7S2. Perhaps it's my Mac because I know others who have a Sony camera don't have this issue.
I use a MacBook Pro M3 and have not had any problems with reading files from the card. I never plug my camera in directly for fear something will go wrong.
Since there is NO other report of corrupted files with the new firmware, it is safe to assume that BobSac's issue is specific to his individual circumstances, not caused by bugs in the firmware.
hasenbein wrote:
Since there is NO other report of corrupted files with the new firmware, it is safe to assume that BobSac's issue is specific to his individual circumstances, not caused by bugs in the firmware.
It can be the same case as the firmware update causing some A1 bodies to lose wifi/bt.
It worked before, it doesn't after - so the firmware is to blame. Even if the root cause is some internal component Sony decided to source from a different batch...
j4nu wrote:
It can be the same case as the firmware update causing some A1 bodies to lose wifi/bt.
It worked before, it doesn't after - so the firmware is to blame. Even if the root cause is some internal component Sony decided to source from a different batch...
I cannot see how it could be anything else as the only change that took the camera from absolutely reliable to this was the firmware update. Same camera, same cards, same computer, same lenses, same workflow etc.
I updated via my mobile device so perhaps that caused the issue? The update seemed smooth and normal.
BobSac wrote:
After many attempts at solving this problem, it seems to be the firmware update that caused it.
To isolate I've used different cards and processed the images through different means (computers, readers etc) the issue occurs randomly but regularly and only with my a7RV, not with the same cards in any other Sony (or Nikon) cameras.
Sony (Australia) want me to have the camera repaired at a shop, they won't give me the ability to load old firmware. I won't be able to do this until the new year.
At this stage I'm more likely to purchase another camera, then repair this one and sell it as I'm uncomfortable using it for critical work (such as weddings) for obvious reasons.
This is the only time a Sony camera has been unreliable for me and I've owned almost every iteration of Sony Alpha since the original A7 capturing millions of exposures....Show more →
Can't you just return it to the store and get a refund ?
duncangr wrote:
Can't you just return it to the store and get a refund ?
I purchased it years ago when it was just released, assuming it's out of warranty now (which Sony AU confirmed). Australian consumer law isn't as robust as US consumer law, which I think is actually often unfair for businesses in the US (again, a topic for another thread).
BobSac wrote:
After many attempts at solving this problem, it seems to be the firmware update that caused it.
To isolate I've used different cards and processed the images through different means (computers, readers etc) the issue occurs randomly but regularly and only with my a7RV, not with the same cards in any other Sony (or Nikon) cameras.
Sony (Australia) want me to have the camera repaired at a shop, they won't give me the ability to load old firmware. I won't be able to do this until the new year.
At this stage I'm more likely to purchase another camera, then repair this one and sell it as I'm uncomfortable using it for critical work (such as weddings) for obvious reasons.
This is the only time a Sony camera has been unreliable for me and I've owned almost every iteration of Sony Alpha since the original A7 capturing millions of exposures....Show more →
Can you perform full formatting in the camera instead of quick formatting? I don't think it will make any difference, but it would be worth a try:
Select [Enter]. (Quick formatting)
If you press the (Delete) button, a message to perform full formatting will be displayed. You can launch full formatting by selecting [Enter].
Stefan Official wrote:
Can you perform full formatting in the camera instead of quick formatting? I don't think it will make any difference, but it would be worth a try:
Select [Enter]. (Quick formatting)
If you press the (Delete) button, a message to perform full formatting will be displayed. You can launch full formatting by selecting [Enter].
Hey that's a good idea and worth doing, as soon as I get back to the camera I'll do just that.
I'm out at a Christmas Eve dinner and being scolded for not capturing it 😂
Merry Christmas everyone, have a safe and happy night.
Just shot 500+ images (Christmas morning) with all sorts of settings (mechanical shutter, silent shutter, flash, burst etc.) and zero corrupted files after the full format card function was used.
I'll keep you posted but so far I expected at least 2 corrupted files. This is fantastic news so far.
Thousands more exposures and still not a single corrupted file.
Tested three cards, tethered/untethered, single exposure, burst, PSMS mode, silent and mechanical shutter, all types of humid and studio environments.
Not sure what it was, but I will swear the firmware update brought it on.
Not sure what fixes it but again I will swear the full format did so.
I feel semi confident in the camera again to be reliable. I'll keep it until the 7R6.
What’s nice and unexpected is: While with firmware 3 I always had this dreaded message because of my 3rd party batteries (Smallrig with USB-C, the bright blue ones), this message doesn't come up anymore! Very welcome!
My A7rV froze a few times with the old firmware. Occasionally it took a very long to power up. The problems are gone and everything has worked perfectly since the update.
BTW The discussion about difficulties in update process scared me a little. I have had some bad memories about updating older cameras. Nice to see that Sony has done its homework - this update was as easy and fluent as it can be.
