A1 firmware 4.00
p.4 #1A1 firmware 4.00
arbitrage wrote:
I'm fairly certain that Sony could add precapture to the A1 if they wanted to. I don't see it having any reliance on the AI chip and otherwise the A1II and A1 hardware is pretty similar.
I'm also fairly certain that they have made the decision not to add it. Maybe just to prop up sales of the A1II. Because if A1 had pre-capture and this latest FW 4.0 update I wouldn't even buy an A1II over it. Most others I know would say the same.
That's unfortunate indeed.
I'm fairly certain that Sony could add precapture to the A1 if they wanted to. I don't see it having any reliance on the AI chip and otherwise the A1II and A1 hardware is pretty similar.
I'm also fairly certain that they have made the decision not to add it. Maybe just to prop up sales of the A1II. Because if A1 had pre-capture and this latest FW 4.0 update I wouldn't even buy an A1II over it. Most others I know would say the same.
That's unfortunate indeed.
Dec 25, 2025 at 10:34 PM
p.4 #2A1 firmware 4.00
thousandths wrote:
After a week or so on the new software, I'm getting a troubling amount of freezing on my 3 year old A1 body. Not constantly, but I think I've had 4 instances where it would not wake up or was on a black screen.
My old A1 froze once on the new firmware, with a brief exploding colors moment in the EVF before it went dark.
I'll have to see if it happens again...
After a week or so on the new software, I'm getting a troubling amount of freezing on my 3 year old A1 body. Not constantly, but I think I've had 4 instances where it would not wake up or was on a black screen.
My old A1 froze once on the new firmware, with a brief exploding colors moment in the EVF before it went dark.
I'll have to see if it happens again...
Dec 26, 2025 at 12:58 PM
p.4 #3A1 firmware 4.00
I had an instance with the v4.00 firmware where I was shooting with strobes at 1/400s with mechanical shutter but the pictures came out black all of a sudden in the middle of the shoot…almost like the strobe synch or shutter was no longer functioning even though the strobes were firing. Tried turning the A1 off then on again but problem remained. I switched to my 2nd A1 (also on v4.00) to continue the shoot without problems. The next day I tried the 1st A1 again and it displayed no problems with strobe shooting so not sure what happened.
Dec 29, 2025 at 06:30 AM
p.4 #4A1 firmware 4.00
I had quite a difficult time getting one of my A1 bodies to update from v. 3.0 to v. 4.0. Putting the firmware file on a card did not work at all. I tried that at least five times using two different cards. The update failed and that was indicated by the sequence of flashing red indicator light on the back of the camera (5 slower flashed followed by 6 faster flashes).
After that, I tried using the Creators' App and had loads of problems there as well. It ended up taking at least seven attempts. It consistently failed when trying to transfer the firmware to the camera. What finally worked was to uninstall the Creators' App and reinstall it, then try again. Hopefully, that took care of any issue and updating my other two bodies won't be such a PITA. Anyway - just a bit of info for anyone else who may also have difficulties with the camera being updated.
After that, I tried using the Creators' App and had loads of problems there as well. It ended up taking at least seven attempts. It consistently failed when trying to transfer the firmware to the camera. What finally worked was to uninstall the Creators' App and reinstall it, then try again. Hopefully, that took care of any issue and updating my other two bodies won't be such a PITA. Anyway - just a bit of info for anyone else who may also have difficulties with the camera being updated.
Feb 12, 2026 at 01:50 PM
p.4 #5A1 firmware 4.00
I spoke too soon, after a couple months of sitting unused, my A1 has once again started taking 5 minutes to power up after I change batteries. Incredibly frustrating.
Feb 15, 2026 at 05:37 AM
p.4 #6A1 firmware 4.00
benjimouse wrote:
I spoke too soon, after a couple months of sitting unused, my A1 has once again started taking 5 minutes to power up after I change batteries. Incredibly frustrating.
minutes or seconds?
I spoke too soon, after a couple months of sitting unused, my A1 has once again started taking 5 minutes to power up after I change batteries. Incredibly frustrating.
minutes or seconds?
Feb 15, 2026 at 09:32 AM
p.4 #7A1 firmware 4.00
Minutes. Put a new battery in, switch it on nothing happens. Leave it on, sometime later (always seems like 5 minutes to me) it will suddenly start working,
It first began doing this after I upgraded to 3.xx. I initially thought 4.00 solved the issue.
It first began doing this after I upgraded to 3.xx. I initially thought 4.00 solved the issue.
Feb 15, 2026 at 12:24 PM
p.4 #8A1 firmware 4.00
benjimouse wrote:
Minutes. Put a new battery in, switch it on nothing happens. Leave it on, sometime later (always seems like 5 minutes to me) it will suddenly start working,
It first began doing this after I upgraded to 3.xx. I initially thought 4.00 solved the issue.
TBH, it sounds more like sth is wrong with your camera...
Can you get it checked by Sony service?
Minutes. Put a new battery in, switch it on nothing happens. Leave it on, sometime later (always seems like 5 minutes to me) it will suddenly start working,
It first began doing this after I upgraded to 3.xx. I initially thought 4.00 solved the issue.
TBH, it sounds more like sth is wrong with your camera...
Can you get it checked by Sony service?
Feb 15, 2026 at 12:58 PM
p.4 #9A1 firmware 4.00
Yeah, might investigate doing that. For the record, I use a mix of sony and third party batteries, but it does happen with the sony batteries. It starting coincided with me upgrading from 1.x, and it definitely didn't do it the first few times I swapped batteries after upgrading to 4.00. It totally feels like a software timeout has to occur when initially communicating to the battery, but of course that just a feeling.
I'm pretty sure sony will say it's "because you're using third party batteries."
I'm pretty sure sony will say it's "because you're using third party batteries."
Feb 15, 2026 at 02:20 PM
p.4 #10A1 firmware 4.00
Maybe back up your settings and totally reset the camera. Mine is working great since the update.
Are you using decent memory cards? Tried switching them?
Are you using decent memory cards? Tried switching them?
Feb 15, 2026 at 02:30 PM
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p.4 #11A1 firmware 4.00
Think you might be onto something with the memory cards. I have a sony 80 gig tough, and third party 260 gig cfe in it. Take the cards out, cycle thru the batteries, it starts quickly with all of them, and then does the same, quick start, after re-inserting the 2 cards. Seems it's some interaction with changing batteries, with the cards in it. I wonder if it sitting unused, without battery for a couple months has somehow caused this.
I will try hard reset next, thanks.
I will try hard reset next, thanks.
Feb 15, 2026 at 03:13 PM
p.4 #12A1 firmware 4.00
Ah good. How do you format them, etc.?
These Sony cameras seem to have to load stuff off the cards before they get functional (unlike my Canons).
I would do a proper deep format of the cards, maybe do an integrity / disk utility check to see what’s going on there.
These Sony cameras seem to have to load stuff off the cards before they get functional (unlike my Canons).
I would do a proper deep format of the cards, maybe do an integrity / disk utility check to see what’s going on there.
Feb 15, 2026 at 03:19 PM
p.4 #13A1 firmware 4.00
benjimouse wrote:
Think you might be onto something with the memory cards. I have a sony 80 gig tough, and third party 260 gig cfe in it. Take the cards out, cycle thru the batteries, it starts quickly with all of them, and then does the same, quick start, after re-inserting the 2 cards. Seems it's some interaction with changing batteries, with the cards in it. I wonder if it sitting unused, without battery for a couple months has somehow caused this.
I will try hard reset next, thanks.
Good idea
I would also try, if possible not to use the 3rd party batteries and CFe card. Also, and if I remember correctly, I think you mentioned some time ago when you were reporting strange issues with one of the previous firmware updates, this camera was a grey market purchase? Not that gray market is always bad. But if you consistently experience issues others do not...
Think you might be onto something with the memory cards. I have a sony 80 gig tough, and third party 260 gig cfe in it. Take the cards out, cycle thru the batteries, it starts quickly with all of them, and then does the same, quick start, after re-inserting the 2 cards. Seems it's some interaction with changing batteries, with the cards in it. I wonder if it sitting unused, without battery for a couple months has somehow caused this.
I will try hard reset next, thanks.
Good idea
I would also try, if possible not to use the 3rd party batteries and CFe card. Also, and if I remember correctly, I think you mentioned some time ago when you were reporting strange issues with one of the previous firmware updates, this camera was a grey market purchase? Not that gray market is always bad. But if you consistently experience issues others do not...
Feb 15, 2026 at 04:11 PM
p.4 #14A1 firmware 4.00
No, not grey market, bought new locally... Will try to isolate whether the third party items I have is causing the issue.
I imagine most ppl using high end cams/lens are in a position to buy on brand consumables, for me the A1+600 was a huge stretch, so cutting costs elsewhere.
I imagine most ppl using high end cams/lens are in a position to buy on brand consumables, for me the A1+600 was a huge stretch, so cutting costs elsewhere.
Feb 15, 2026 at 04:21 PM
p.4 #15A1 firmware 4.00
benjimouse wrote:
No, not grey market, bought new locally... Will try to isolate whether the third party items I have is causing the issue.
I imagine most ppl using high end cams/lens are in a position to buy on brand consumables, for me the A1+600 was a huge stretch, so cutting costs elsewhere.
Understood. A1+600 is indeed a significant expense for most I think. Hopefully the recommendations offered so far to include a camera reset, will rectify the issues for you. FWIW, I have had some luck resetting some of my cameras in the past when faced with mysterious glitches particularly after applying a firmware update. Fingers-crossed.
No, not grey market, bought new locally... Will try to isolate whether the third party items I have is causing the issue.
I imagine most ppl using high end cams/lens are in a position to buy on brand consumables, for me the A1+600 was a huge stretch, so cutting costs elsewhere.
Understood. A1+600 is indeed a significant expense for most I think. Hopefully the recommendations offered so far to include a camera reset, will rectify the issues for you. FWIW, I have had some luck resetting some of my cameras in the past when faced with mysterious glitches particularly after applying a firmware update. Fingers-crossed.
Feb 15, 2026 at 07:42 PM
p.4 #16A1 firmware 4.00
benjimouse wrote:
No, not grey market, bought new locally... Will try to isolate whether the third party items I have is causing the issue.
I imagine most ppl using high end cams/lens are in a position to buy on brand consumables, for me the A1+600 was a huge stretch, so cutting costs elsewhere.
I think, at least with FM members, Sony brand cards are not the most common choice.
This is more so for A1 / A1II users.
For the A1 early adopters, Angelbird 1TB CFE were very popular.
After that, a lot more choices became available.
Simple test: remove cards and power on. Repeat.
If you experience the problem with no cards, it's not the cards!
No, not grey market, bought new locally... Will try to isolate whether the third party items I have is causing the issue.
I imagine most ppl using high end cams/lens are in a position to buy on brand consumables, for me the A1+600 was a huge stretch, so cutting costs elsewhere.
I think, at least with FM members, Sony brand cards are not the most common choice.
This is more so for A1 / A1II users.
For the A1 early adopters, Angelbird 1TB CFE were very popular.
After that, a lot more choices became available.
Simple test: remove cards and power on. Repeat.
If you experience the problem with no cards, it's not the cards!
Feb 16, 2026 at 05:13 AM
p.4 #17A1 firmware 4.00
NEED HELP PLEASE
Sony A1 version 3.01 firmware currently
On Mac OS Tahoe 26.3.1
Downloaded the 4.0 firmware
Formatted XD card in the body. I have put the firmware I believe in the Root part of the card?? Is that where it says PRIVATE? I have also put it where it says DATABASE, M4ROOT, SONY
Card installed in body, go to Version, click UPDATE and says no file found, I'm lost on this one!
What did I miss, having a few dumb and frustrating moments
Karl
Sony A1 version 3.01 firmware currently
On Mac OS Tahoe 26.3.1
Downloaded the 4.0 firmware
Formatted XD card in the body. I have put the firmware I believe in the Root part of the card?? Is that where it says PRIVATE? I have also put it where it says DATABASE, M4ROOT, SONY
Card installed in body, go to Version, click UPDATE and says no file found, I'm lost on this one!
What did I miss, having a few dumb and frustrating moments
Karl
Mar 17, 2026 at 06:35 PM
p.4 #18A1 firmware 4.00
The root part should be just in the main folder of the card, don't put it in any sub-folders of the card.
I would re-format the SD card and try again.
I would re-format the SD card and try again.
Mar 17, 2026 at 08:08 PM
p.4 #20A1 firmware 4.00
Thanks for the input but nothing will work to update from XD card in slot 1?
Hmmm?
Karl
Hmmm?
Karl
Mar 18, 2026 at 02:38 PM