Sony just made the a7siii better with firmware version 5.0!
We are talking big improvements to vertical filmmaking, autofocus, and more! Lets go through all of them!
But before we jump in, quick plug. If you want to fully optimize your Sony camera for fast filmmaking, I have a settings preset file that gives you the absolute best filmmaking setup for the a7S III. I have tested it and confirmed it works perfectly with firmware version 5.0. You can download it for free and install it directly on your camera.
Alright, let’s dive into the firmware updates.
Vertical Menu Display
The first thing you’ll notice after updating to firmware 5.0 is the new vertical display. As soon as you rotate the camera vertically, the menus and settings automatically rotate with it.
This is fantastic news if you’re filming vertical video. No more awkwardly tilting your head sideways just to check your settings. Everything stays oriented correctly, and it honestly works really well.
Sony, you know what else would work really well?!
Open gate.
Sadly, that’s still not here. I doubt we’ll see it until an a7S IV or maybe an FX3 Mark II. I’ve already made videos talking about when those cameras might be released, if you want to go down that rabbit hole.
New Autofocus Options: Spot XL and Custom AF Boxes
The next two updates live in roughly the same menu, so we’ll bundle them together.
First, Sony added a new spot focus size option called Spot XL. If you use spot focus but have always been annoyed by how small the focus box could get, congratulations. You now have an extra large option.
But maybe you’re thinking, that’s cool, but what if I need something even bigger? Or smaller? Or some weird custom shape that I want to keep in focus?
That’s where the second autofocus update comes in, and honestly, this one is even better.
Sony added three custom autofocus boxes that you can create yourself. You can make them as large or as small as you want and place them anywhere on the screen.
I really love this feature. I’ll be honest, I don’t use spot focus very often, but the ability to fully customize it actually makes me want to use it more.
And if you’re a spot focus lover, I know you’re out there, you weirdo, you’re going to love this update.
New Accessibility Feature: Enlarged Menus
Sony also added a new accessibility feature, and I’m always a big fan of companies doing this.
There is now an option to enlarge the screen display on the a7S III, which makes menu text larger and easier to read. It’s a simple feature, but it can make a big difference for a lot of people.
Big thumbs up to Sony for including this!
Individual Memory Card Recording Time Display
Next up is a smaller update, but arguably one of the most requested ones. And it’s kind of weird.
Sony added back a feature that existed in earlier firmware, disappeared in versions 3.0 and 4.0, and has now returned in 5.0.
If you’re recording video using dual memory cards, the camera will now show you the remaining recording time for each card individually.
In firmware versions 3.0 and 4.0, it only showed a combined remaining time for both cards. Now you can see exactly how much space is left on each card, which is way more useful.
So… thanks, Sony?
I’m not sure if we should be thanking them for adding something back that was already there, but hey, at least it’s back now. It’s kind of like if Apple removed the headphone jack and then later said just kidding, you can have it again. That would be wild, right? Right…
USB Streaming and Webcam Support
We’re not done yet! The a7S III now supports USB streaming, meaning you can use it as a webcam.
All you have to do is go into the setup menu, enable USB streaming, connect the camera to your computer, and it should just work.
If it doesn’t work for you, it’s probably because you secretly like Nikon, and Sony somehow knows that you’ve been adapting E-mount lenses to other cameras. They’re very disappointed in you.
Digital Signature for Video Authentication
This next update is going to be incredibly exciting for roughly seven people, but it’s actually pretty interesting.
Sony added a digital signature feature for video. No, you’re not signing your camera like Peter McKinnon signing someone’s gear at NAB. True story, I watched that happen in 2019. Wild moment.
This digital signature is used to verify that a video was actually recorded with your camera and not generated or altered by AI. Considering how realistic AI video is getting, this is a genuinely useful feature.
Being able to prove that a moment really happened and was captured with a real camera is going to matter more and more moving forward, and I’m glad Sony is thinking ahead here.
Bug Fixes and Stability Improvements
Yes, there are bug fixes, baby!
Sony fixed an audio recording bug where the camera could tell you it was not recording audio even though it actually was. That could definitely lead to some awkward clips, so I’m very glad that one got fixed.
Sony also mentioned general operational stability improvements. That usually means they fixed a few bugs behind the scenes. We may never know exactly what changed, but more stability is always welcome.
Should You Update to Firmware 5.0?
I’ve had a lot of people ask two main questions.
First: will updating delete all of your custom settings?
The good news is no, as long as you’re updating from firmware version 3.0 or newer. Since Sony moved to updating via memory card, your settings will stay intact.
Second: should you even update at all?
If you’re nervous, it’s totally fine to wait a month and see if any bugs pop up. Personally, I haven’t experienced any issues with firmware 5.0 so far, but it also hasn’t been out that long.
Look at the features Sony added and decide for yourself if any of them matter to your workflow. If not, you can stay on your current firmware and be completely fine. You don’t have to update just because a new version exists.
That said, if you want a guaranteed, bug-free way to dramatically improve your footage quality and the speed at which you can film, you should absolutely check out my free a7S III settings preset.
You can download it, install it on your camera, and immediately have everything optimized for fast filmmaking.
Feeling brave? You can download the latest a7S III firmware here. Good luck, and reach out if you need help with anything filmmaking!