Sony doesn't want you changing lenses while the camera is on
p.1 #1Sony doesn't want you changing lenses while the camera is on
I'm doing buffer testing on the A9 III and switched the camera to OFF while I waiting for it to clear out the last burst to the media card. The camera presents the screen below.
Interesting they felt to need to explicitly warn about lens changes but not about losing images if you remove the card while they're still being written, other than the small reminder showing the remaining images to write.
Sony A9 III warning about lens changes before camera is completely off
Interesting they felt to need to explicitly warn about lens changes but not about losing images if you remove the card while they're still being written, other than the small reminder showing the remaining images to write.
Sony A9 III warning about lens changes before camera is completely off
Aug 27, 2026 at 08:28 AM
p.1 #2Sony doesn't want you changing lenses while the camera is on
Maybe they arw waiting for the protective cover to go in front of the sensor so that you don't attract dust to the sensor? My understanding is that a powered-on sensor may attract dust, but I don't know if that is just an old wive's tale
Aug 27, 2026 at 10:25 AM
RoamingScott
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p.1 #3Sony doesn't want you changing lenses while the camera is on
Newenglandrocks wrote:
Maybe they arw waiting for the protective cover to go in front of the sensor so that you don't attract dust to the sensor? My understanding is that a powered-on sensor may attract dust, but I don't know if that is just an old wive's tale
"the protective cover" is the shutter my man.
Maybe they arw waiting for the protective cover to go in front of the sensor so that you don't attract dust to the sensor? My understanding is that a powered-on sensor may attract dust, but I don't know if that is just an old wive's tale
"the protective cover" is the shutter my man.
Aug 27, 2026 at 12:33 PM
p.1 #4Sony doesn't want you changing lenses while the camera is on
RoamingScott wrote:
["the protective cover" is the shutter my man.
No mechanical shutter on the a9iii.
["the protective cover" is the shutter my man.
No mechanical shutter on the a9iii.
Aug 27, 2026 at 12:47 PM
RoamingScott
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p.1 #5Sony doesn't want you changing lenses while the camera is on
That's what I get for reading without seeing 
Aug 27, 2026 at 01:15 PM
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p.1 #6Sony doesn't want you changing lenses while the camera is on
Newenglandrocks wrote:
Maybe they arw waiting for the protective cover to go in front of the sensor so that you don't attract dust to the sensor? My understanding is that a powered-on sensor may attract dust, but I don't know if that is just an old wive's tale
Sony MILCs w/mechanical shutters would be in the same situation, since the shutter is kept open when removing the lens while powered on (and also when powered down btw). I assume this message would appear on those bodies as well.
Maybe they arw waiting for the protective cover to go in front of the sensor so that you don't attract dust to the sensor? My understanding is that a powered-on sensor may attract dust, but I don't know if that is just an old wive's tale
Sony MILCs w/mechanical shutters would be in the same situation, since the shutter is kept open when removing the lens while powered on (and also when powered down btw). I assume this message would appear on those bodies as well.
Aug 27, 2026 at 01:34 PM
p.1 #7Sony doesn't want you changing lenses while the camera is on
RoamingScott wrote:
"the protective cover" is the shutter my man.
OG was talking about the A9iii. I own one and it Thanks for explaining to me where the global shutter was. I have owned the A9iii for more than a year and have been killing myself trying to locate it.
Newenglandrocks wrote
Maybe they arw waiting for the protective cover to go in front of the sensor so that you don't attract dust to the sensor? My understanding is that a powered-on sensor may attract dust, but I don't know if that is just an old wive's taleOG was talking about the A9iii. I own one and it Thanks for explaining to me where the global shutter was. I have owned the A9iii for more than a year and have been killing myself trying to locate it.
Aug 28, 2026 at 03:29 AM
p.1 #8Sony doesn't want you changing lenses while the camera is on
Been swapping lenses and TCs with the camera ON for the past 8yrs with Sony and have yet to have a camera self destruct. YMMV.
Aug 28, 2026 at 06:05 AM
p.1 #9Sony doesn't want you changing lenses while the camera is on
IIIRC, most (all?) manufacturers recommend turning the camera off when changing lenses. That used to be because there were concerns that a charged sensor would attract dust, but I suspect that other factors may be in play, too. (Is Sony’s IBIS immobilized when the power is off, for example?)
On the other hand, while it is my intention to always shut off the camera while swapping lenses (which hardly takes any extra effort or time) I regularly forget and I haven’t seen any obvious issues with cameras from several manufacturers.
On the other hand, while it is my intention to always shut off the camera while swapping lenses (which hardly takes any extra effort or time) I regularly forget and I haven’t seen any obvious issues with cameras from several manufacturers.
Aug 28, 2026 at 08:11 AM