Sony Releases Free Firmware Version 5.0 for Sony A9 Camera with Improved Autofocus Update

The Sony A9 was one of our favorite cameras of the past few years and now it just got better thanks to a free new firmware update from Sony. Sony A9 Firmware Version 5.0 "brings AI-driven autofocus capabilities to its award-winning autofocus (AF) system, improves image quality, and introduces a range of customer-requested workflow improvements," Sony said this morning.

Here is a rundown of what Sony A9 Firmware Version 5.0 adds to this professional full frame mirrorless camera, according to Sony's press announcement. At the bottom of this story you will find links to download the free firmware for your camera.

Autofocus Advances
Firmware version 5.0 for the Sony A9 adds Sony’s newly-developed, AI-driven Real-time Tracking mode for "precise and robust subject tracking." Real-time Tracking uses Sony’s latest AF algorithm—which includes Artificial Intelligence-based object recognition—to detect and follow subjects with better accuracy. 

Real-time Tracking AF works in conjunction with Real-time Eye AF, also added with Firmware version 5.0. The latest iteration of Sony’s Eye AF technology, Real-time Eye AF also uses AI-based object recognition, resulting in better speed and performance for locking on and holding focus on a subject’s eyes. Additionally, with Real-time Eye AF, users can now activate eye detection via a half-press of the shutter release, and achieve focus tracking accuracy even if a subject’s eyes are temporarily obscured during shooting. 

Also added with firmware 5.0 is Fast Hybrid AF for video, which now provides "smoother, more accurate focus during video shooting, even if/when objects move in front of the subject."

Image Quality
Firmware version 5.0 offers notably improved image processing, which maximizes the capabilities of the full-frame sensor. The camera now "more accurately reproduces subtle changes in light for smoother, more natural tonal gradations and improved auto white balance results."

Improved Usability and Workflow
With Firmware version 5.0, the Sony A9 adds several new features:

• New My Dial menu

• Revised Custom Key menu

• Improved touchpad capability,

• Enhanced dual-card functionality

• Enhanced tagging

Imaging Edge 
Sony is also announcing the release of Imaging Edge mobile applications, plus updates to the ‘Remote,’ ‘Viewer’ and ‘Edit’ desktop applications that brings exciting new features to all Sony imaging customers.

For professional photographers, Sony is also releasing a new mobile application "Transfer & Tagging add-on" that supports instant delivery workflow by allowing users to transfer content to their mobile devices via the camera’s FTP background transfer functionality. It also enables voice input for text captioning to streamline overall workflow between photographers and other team members.

More details at the Sony A9 firmware page.

Direct Downloads
Here is a download for the Sony A9 Firmware 5.0 update for Windows users. Here is a download for the Sony A9 Firmware 5.0 update for Mac users.

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