Sony Support

DSLR-A700 Firmware update (Macintosh)

    About this download

    About this download

    Thank you for your continued interest in Sony products

    Sony is always concerned about quality and customer satisfaction and therefore is offering a firmware update for DSLR-A700. Please refer to the "Download and Installation" section of this document on how to download and install the firmware update.

    Important:

    If the firmware update cannot be performed, please contact Sony. After the camera has been updated, please format the recording medium or delete the update file (DSCA700.app) from the recording medium.

    Improvements and solved issues
    • The choice to select auto exposure bracketing (single & continuous) with 3 shots in 2 EV steps has been added.
    • The choice to turn [Off] the High ISO NR feature has been added.
    • Improvement of the image quality in high ISO setting.
    • Improvement of the auto white balance and D-Range Optimizer performance.
    • Improvement of reliability for communication between camera body and vertical grip.
    Applicable models
    • DSLR-A700/A700P/A700K/A700Z/A700H
    Applicable firmware versions
    • Ver.1, Ver.2, Ver.3
    How to determine the firmware version
    1. Slide the POWER switch to the ON position.
    2. Press the MENU button.
    3. Press the DISP button while the menu is displayed.
    4. The firmware version is shown in a window on the LCD monitor.
    5. Press the centre of the multi-selector to exit.

    Note: if the firmware version is already "Ver.4", then the firmware update is not required.

    Computer and hardware requirements
    1. You need a computer that meets the following requirements:
      • One of the following Operating Systems:

        1. Windows® Vista Home Basic / Home Premium / Ultimate / Business / Enterprise (*)
        2. Windows® XP Home Edition/Professional (*)
        3. Windows® 2000 Professional
        4. Mac OS X (v10.1.3 - v10.5)

          (*) 64 bit and Starter editions are not supported.


          Note: when using Windows 98/98 Second Edition / Millennium Edition , USB connection between the camera and computer is not possible. Therefore, your computer should have a card slot, or a card reader which is suitable for your recording medium.
      • A USB port.
      • A card slot compatible with the recording medium that will be used.
      • At least 5MB free hard disk space or more.
      • At least 32MB RAM memory or more.

    2. Power source

      When performing the firmware update, please make sure that the NP-FM500H battery pack is fully charged or that you use an AC adapter/charger AC-VQ900AM.
    3. Recording medium

      One of the following recording media is needed:
      • A Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick PRO Duo/Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo/Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo* with a capacity of 16MB or more
        * "Memory Stick Duo" will be the term used on this section.
      • A CF (CompactFlash) card with a capacity of 16MB or more
      • A Microdrive

        Note: the recording medium MUST first be formatted with the camera. Please backup your data before formatting, as all data will be erased (including protected images) during the formatting process and cannot be restored.
    4. USB cable

      Please use the original USB cable, supplied with the camera. Successful update is not guaranteed when using a USB cable other than the original one.

      Note: the USB cable is only required when using a computer without a compatible card slot for the recording medium.

    • Step 1 - Download the firmware update to your computer.
      • Make sure that no program other than your Internet browser is running.
      • You must accept the terms of the End User Licence Agreement at the bottom of the page. After reading this agreement, click "Accept". A window will then pop up.
      • Click the "Download it" link corresponding to your Operating System.
      • Save the file to the Desktop of your computer (recommended).
    • Step 2 - Extract the downloaded file.Double-click the downloaded file to extract it. Depending on your Operating System, the file may be automatically extracted after downloading.

      The following file is created: DSCA700.app [file size: 4,719,092 bytes]*

      (*)The file extension may not be visible depending on your Operating System settings.
    • Step 3 - Copy the update file to the recording medium (Memory Stick Duo/ CF card/ Microdrive).
      • Prepare the recording medium (Memory Stick Duo / CF card / Microdrive) to use for the update, then format it with the camera.
        Notes:

        • If it is not formatted, the firmware update may not start.
        • Please note that all data including even protected images will be erased by formatting and cannot be restored.



        How to format the recording medium:

        1. Slide the POWER switch to the ON position.
        2. Press the MENU button, and check the "Memory card" to the proper type you use for update (Memory Stick Duo / CF card / Microdrive) in the Setup menu-2.



        3. Select the "Format" in the Playback menu-1 with the Multi-selector then press the Center button of the Multi-selector.




        4. The confirmation window appears. Select [OK] with multi-selector, then press the Center button of the Multi-selector.
        5. After the format is completed, press the MENU button to turn off the menu.
      • If your computer has a card slot compatible with Memory Stick Duo or CF card or Microdrive:

        • Insert the recording medium formatted with the camera in the card slot of your computer.
        • Copy the update files (DSCA700.app) to the root directory of the recording medium.Note: the recording medium MUST first be formatted with the camera. Please backup your data before formatting, as all data will be erased (including protected images) during the formatting process and cannot be restored.
        • If your computer does not have a card slot compatible with Memory Stick Duo or CF card or Microdrive:

          • Insert a formatted recording medium into the camera (make sure the recording media is formatted with the camera, not with the computer).
          • Insert a fully charged battery (NP-FM500H) into the camera or connect the AC adaptor to the camera.
          • Slide the POWER switch to the On position.
          • Press the MENU button to display the Recording menu.
          • Select the page 2 of the setup menu with the multi-selector, and check that "USB connection" is set as "Mass Storage".
          • If not, please change it to "Mass Storage" as follows:
            • Select "USB connection" with the multi-selector.
            • Press the centre of the multi-selector.
            • Select "Mass Storage" with the multi-selector, then press the centre of the multi-selector.
          • Press the MENU button to turn off the menu.
          • Connect the camera and the computer with the USB cable that was supplied with your camera.
          • Copy the update file "DSCA700.app" to the root folder of the recording medium inserted in the camera.
          • When the file is copied, disconnect the USB cable.
    • Step 4 - Update the camera firmware.Important: when performing the firmware update, please use a fully charged battery pack NP-FM500H or the AC-VQ900AM AC adapter/charger (sold separately).
      Do not remove the battery or the AC adapter during the firmware update process, otherwise the camera may be permanently damaged.
      1. Slide the POWER switch to the ON position and select the type of Memory Card that will be used for the update (Memory Stick Duo / CF card / Microdrive) then slide the POWER switch to the OFF position.
      2. Now insert the recording medium containing the update file in the camera. Press and hold the MENU button while sliding the POWER switch to the ON position.
      3. The confirmation window appears.
        If the confirmation window does not appear on the LCD monitor:

        • If the recording medium is not formatted, the firmware update may not start.
        • Please make sure that the update file (DSCA700.APP) is in the root folder of the recording medium.
      4. Use the multi-selector to highlight "OK", and then press the centre of the multi-selector to confirm. If you select "No", the operation will be cancelled.
      5. The updating process starts.
      6. When the update procedure is completed, a message appears, stating that the update is completed and that the camera will automatically restart after approx. 10 sec.
      7. Slide the POWER switch to the OFF position after the camera has restarted, and remove the recording medium.
    • Step 5 - Check the firmware version.
      • Slide the POWER switch to the On position.
      • Press the MENU button. The MENU is now displayed on the LCD screen.
      • Press the DISP (Display) button.
      • A window will show the firmware version on the LCD screen. Check that the version displayed is "Ver.4".
      • Press the centre of the multi-selector to close the version number display.Important: If the firmware update cannot be performed, please contact Sony. After the camera has been updated, please format the recording medium or delete the update file (DSCA700.app) from the recording medium.