Sony Beefs Up AF and More in V5.00 Firmware for the A7s III

V5.00 firmware for the Sony A7s III adds a whole range of new features including AF improvements, accommodations for vertical shooting, USB streaming, and more.

Before we get to the new features, there are perhaps more warning flags than usual supplied by Sony for the new v5.00 firmware for the A7s III. You can have a look here, but essentially users on any older versions than Ver 3.00 or later must follow an upgrade path from Ver. 2.15 to Ver. 3.01 first before proceeding to the latest Ver. 5.00. 

It also advises that even if you previously saved your settings using features such as Save/Load Settings, these settings will not be carried over to cameras with Ver. 5.00 or later. Sony recommends writing down your settings in advance before proceeding.

So, presuming you've done all that, what do you get for your trouble? 

Alongside the increasingly standard ability to switch seamlessly between horizontal and vertical shooting, the chief new features relate to autofocus. Spot: XL has been added, along with the ability to define three custom areas in both the focus and tracking menus and save them as presets. 

Accessibility features get a boost with the option to enlarge the menu screen display, while the camera can also be used as a streaming device over USB-C. The Write Digital Signature function for movies has been implemented as part of Sony’s Camera Authenticity Solution, while the Volume Photography License gains support for Scan and Tag, Photo Cropping, and Volume Photography Commands.

Here's the complete list...

V5.00 Firmware for the A7s III — Benefits and Improvements

• Adapts the display layout of shooting information for both horizontal and vertical viewing
• Adds Spot: XL under Spot in the Focus Area menu
• Adds Custom 1, Custom 2, and Custom 3 under Custom in the Focus Area menu
• Adds Tracking: Spot XL, Tracking: Custom 1, Tracking: Custom 2, and Tracking: Custom 3 under Tracking in the Focus Area menu
• Adds the option to enlarge the menu screen display
• Allows the remaining capacity of both storage devices to be displayed during movie recording when using Simult. or Auto Switch Media (Relay Recording)
• Adds support for USB streaming
  • When connecting to a device with a USB Type-C® port, please use a commercially available USB cable or a conversion adapter.
• Supports the Write Digital Signature function for movies as part of Sony’s Camera Authenticity Solution
  • The timing for the provision of licenses (paid) to customers other than certain media outlets is yet to be determined.
  • Services may not be available in some countries or regions. For more information, please visit the Authenticity Catalog Page.
• Supports Scan and Tag, Photo Cropping, and Volume Photography Commands under the Volume Photography License
  • Installation of a paid license is required for use.
  • Services may not be available in some countries or regions.
• Fixes an issue where audio may still be recorded even when Audio Recording is set to Off
• Improves the operational stability of the camera