My A7IV is glitching badly on me. The nature of the glitch seems to change but the camera has approached unusability and times and exceeded it at times. Right now, I’m using my backup A6600..
The glitches started by ID’ing my Sony battery incorrectly as an aftermarket battery. Then the warning wouldn’t turn off and the camera was unusable. Right now, it starts taking pictures continuously on startup and won’t stop.
I talked to the shop where I bought it and they recommended a firmware update. I checked and found that since I downloaded 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0 have been issued. But then noticed that 6.0 was bricking cameras left and right and Sony had pulled it a couple of days after the intro. I figured that I could still update to 5.0 only to find that Sony has pulled ALL firmware updates until further notice which could be at least several weeks.
I wonder how long I can go without a main camera? And I especially wonder whether a firmware update will fix it. Logic tells me probably so.
I’ve noticed that the A7V has been issued at “only” $3,000 but I’ve also noticed that my photography level hasn’t increased apace with new and more sophisticated (and expensive) bodies. One big caveat to that, eye autofocus is now a MUST HAVE to me.
I’ve had Sony Alpha cameras since the A100 I bought 21-22 years ago and this is the 1st problem of any description from any of them. With my lenses, I’m irrevocably married to Sony now. If my IV model is screwed, it’s not a given that I’ll buy a V. A large percentage of my best shots were with the A850 but I couldn’t go back to that horrible high ISO performance and the autofocus performance would probably feel antediluvian.
I guess the best outcome would be that the firmware upgrade fixes things. One thing I’ve wondered is whether a really good camera store or even Sony themselves have a repair service. I’ve never tried to re-install the same firmware version in my camera but I remember times when computer software got messed up and reinstalling it helped. I wish I had relevant experience with Sony repairs to give meaningful advice. I wonder if anyone on Dyxum could advise you.
I would reinstall version 4 firmware but no firmware versions at all are available.
DPReview used to have forums for all the brands and even the individual cameras. If you posted your dilemma maybe someone on there might have relevant experience.