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A1 Firmware 1.3: New Raw file formats (Patreon)

Published:
2022-06-16 06:55:25
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

This spreadsheet above shows information about the Uncompressed, Lossless Compression and Compressed file formats that predate the new firmware release (version 1.3). These are outlined in the top half of the spreadsheet.

With the 1.3 firmware update we now have three Lossless Compression file formats. These are Large (50 Megapixels), Medium (21 Megapixels) and Small (12.44 Megapixels). The specifications for each of these formats is listed in the bottom half of the spreadsheet. In many instances 50 megapixels is not needed if we don't intend to crop the image in post production editing or need to create a very large print.

Prior to the 1.3 firmware update the only way to lower the resolution of a Raw file was to shoot in APS-C mode (21 megapixels). This of course also applied a 1.5x crop factor to the image, thereby narrowing the angle of view of the lens being used.
Now we have the option of lowering the resolution while maintaining the full-frame angle of view of your lens.

One the benefits I thought we would also get from using either the medium or small Raw formats would be to increase the buffer capacity, or maximum number of frames, that could be captured before the camera slows down and we are no longer able to capture at 20 or 30 frames per second. After testing the Small and Medium Raw formats I don't seem to be able to achieve many more frames compared to shooting in the Large Lossless Compression file format (on average 96 for large and 102 for small). These are approximate numbers only as camera settings may change what you are able to achieve.
It appears the only way to substantially increase the maximum number of frames is to still shoot in the Compressed file format in full frame or APS-C mode. When shooting in the Hi drive mode there is almost a limitless buffer capacity so long as you are writing to a fast CF Express Type A card.

NOTE > When testing a buffer capacity with the fastest possible frame rate it is important to select a non-tracking AF area, set the Priority in AF-C to 'Release' and use a Sony lens equipped with the faster XD linear focus motors.

NOTE 2 > The file size in Megabytes varies depending on the type of image being captured. Images with more detail often lead to a Raw file that is larger in Megabytes (not Megapixels) than a scene where there are large ares of continuous tone.

CONCLUSION: The primary advantage of the new Medium and Raw file formats is to capture a higher quality Raw file compared to using the compressed file format in APS-C mode. I suspect a pro Sports shooter will probably stick to shooting Compressed Raw rather than using small or medium Raw. This is because  the Compressed Raw file format is enough quality for most Sports photographers (many still shoot in the JPEG file format). They will also possibly think the 1.5 x crop factor is an advantage when using  telephoto lenses.

Files

Previews only

Comments

Todd Cary

Mark, how many bits are in the new Sony A1 Medium (21 Megapixels) and Small (12.44 Megapixels)? Thanks, Todd

Mark Galer
>>85946299

Lossless Compression does not compromise on the bit depth so these new formats retain the original 14-bit format.

Thomas Maney

Thanks Mark - have you had time to see if the eye AF is improved? Thanks

John A Fleming

Mark, these S, M, and L compressions remind me of the Leica M11 same 3 megapixel sizes that with binning is like having 3 different sensors; 3 different size files, using the entire sensor (ie, not cropping). While no one has mentioned binning, is the the same thing? Others and I have the sense that the sensor in the Leica M11 is similar to the one in the Sony A7R IV - But that’s neither here nor there.

Mark Galer
>>85950510

The Eye AF was 99% reliable for my own Portrait workflows before the fix. In order to test the new accuracy you have to frame a head so tight that either the forehead or chin is out of the frame while using an aperture of f/1.8 or wider. You would have to be using the 50mm GM at f/1.2, 85mm at f/1.4 or 135mm at f/1.8 for this to become a serious issue prior to this update. The focus fix moves the focus a 1/4 inch further back than the eyelashes so that the iris rather than the eyelashes is the priority. Why it was never an issue for me is that I usually frame the entire head and then crop tighter in post if needed, and when I am really close to my subject I stop down to f/2.8. This ensures the eyebrow, eyelashes and iris are all sharp. I often shoot thousands of portraits each month, without issue, so I was a little surprised by the amount of concern I was seeing on social media forums focused on the A7IV. The Eye AF has, however, been the same for all Alpha camera since it was first introduced but suddenly it became this huge issue with the A7IV. Sony have now changed the algorithms for both the A7IV and A1 so the priority is now on the iris rather than the eyelashes. It will, however, have zero impact on my own workflows. Here is an album of images showing the Eye AF in action prior to the firmware update. Most of the images are captured with the aperture wide open. View on a large 4K screen so you can then decide how much of a problem the old Eye AF algorithms were for my own workflows. https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzBhMv

Mark Galer
>>85952679

It is most likely that it is this 'binning' process that is preventing the camera from being able to expand the buffer capacity when shooting in Small and Medium Raw file formats. Compare this to shooting in Compressed APS-C mode where the buffer suddenly expands dramatically.

Redgy Vergracht

I hope it improved the EYE af on birds in flight.

Mark Galer
>>85976548

It is not specifically listed as one of the improvements. The mention of Eye AF is in line with the adjustment made previously on the A7IV which sees the point of focus move back slightly from the eyelashes to the iris of the eye.

John A Fleming

I was not clear. Leica M11’s sensor offers 3 DNG/RAW resolutions: L (60mp ), M (36mp), and S (18mp): these are not crops, the entire sensor is used. Presumably the L will provide better low light photos, but this is untrue - the resolutions in low light for all three resolutions are identical. A problem with the binning? One plus is the buffer performance in the lower resolution improves because the file sizes are much smaller (not because the buffer increases in size. My question: Is this what Sony just did with the Al’s latest firmware upgrade - de facto, or otherwise? I’m not asking you to comment on a Leica camera, but am using it as a frame of reference to understand what Sony just did for its A1 camera. Put differently, what does it do for me and how do I use it?

Mark Galer
>>86014394

Just to clarify a few of the points I made here 1) Sony is also using the entire sensor to record the Medium and Small Raw files when using Lossless Compression. 2) When I refer to an 'expanded buffer' I am suggesting the maximum number of frames that can be held by the buffer is larger and not the actual capacity of the buffer as measured in Megabytes. If files are smaller and are being written faster to the card the camera will be able to shoot continuously for longer. I am not sure what you mean by 'resolution in low light'. Are you talking about high ISO performance in low light or dynamic range? Resolution is perhaps the wrong term as resolution is lower when the file size in megapixels decreases. I am also not sure what you mean by 'AI's latest firmware upgrade'. I take 'AI' to mean Artificial Intelligence which is sometimes used to describe Eye AF and Subject Detection. I am not sure what this has to do with the subject of Small and Medium Raw. The main reason Sony would have added Small and Medium Raw options is for users who want to decrease the resolution of the files they are capturing but retain the 14-bit lossless compression and the angle of view of the lens they are using. Previously the only way to reduce Megapixels was to shoot in APS-C mode using 12-bit Compression and with a 1.5x crop factor.

John A Fleming

I think you’ve answered my question, Mark. Thanks! I am referring to high ISO performance in low light. The smaller the file size the better the ISO performance (e.g., Sony 7S III) my follow-up question: Have you found this to be true with the Sony A1? The analogy I’m using for my original question is the new Leica M11. Sony’s A1 (the camera, not Artificial Intelligence) now has H, M, and L files using Lossless Compression. The Leica M11 allows a choice of Raw resolutions (also H, M, L). And my original question: Is this tantamount to the same thing? A different approach but the same outcome? If it is, it’s a huge upgrade for Sony A1 (camera) users. If I don’t always need L-sized files, or if I want to increase my Hi-ISO/low light performance, I can select Lossless M or L. Now, the Leica M11 does not show improved Hi-ISO performance at the smaller RAW/resolution selections, suggesting a need to fine tune the binning process - hence my new question: Have you noticed improved ISO performance at the lower Lossless selections? Sorry for the complicated question, but am keenly interested in your answers!

Mark Galer
>>86032537

Better high ISO performance can sometimes be achieved by making the sensor sites larger. With this style of downsampling I suspect there is little to gain here. I will of course test this over the coming weeks but it is still too early for me to pass judgement until I have done some considerable testing. There will also be the issue of dynamic range. This has been bench-tested to be lower when a full frame camera is shooting in APS-C mode, so I would be interested to work out whether this would also be the case when using the Small and Medium Raw file formats. My next day out with the A1 will be in 5 days time so I should be in a position to make a comment within a week or so. Sony's approach will be very similar to that of Leica, Canon and Nikon and so if we haven't seen any improvements in high ISO performance with these cameras then I would expect to see the same thing with the Sony files.

Bob Free

I shot part of an event with M RAW. When I went to cull them with my usual workflow using Fast Raw viewer, it complained about an unsupported format. Tried the irfanview viewer which works on all my other A1 files and it had a similar complaint and wouldn't load them. I had updated LR, Camera RAW and Bridge and none of them have any issues, presumably because they all use the same engine. When I wrote to FRV tech support I got the following response which rather intrigued me and I'd like your take on it. Dear Sir: Those are YCbCr formats, not raw. They result from in-camera processing of raw data to some JPEG-like coding. We will add support for those formats eventually, but no time frame promises: it's unpredictable how much time it will take to decode a new coding and go through testing cycle before releasing support for it. Filmstrip and Grid display full size embedded JPEG images. On a side note, I wouldn't use those formats without extensive testing, and with all previous small/medium "raw" formats offered by Canon, Kodak, Nikon, and Phase One I found the results unsatisfactory and never used such formats for production shots.

Mark Galer
>>86421023

Hi Bob An interesting and opinionated response. New Raw formats can be problematic when some software editing companies take a very long time to offer support. This is one of the reasons I still haven't rolled out Lossless Compression in the CAMSET files I share with Patrons (sticking to the older Uncompressed and Compressed Raw formats). I can't assume everyone is using Capture One or Adobe software (you are correct in stating that Adobe Camera Raw, Bridge and Lightroom uses the same Raw engine). 18 months later I am only now considering changing my Portrait Memory to use Lossless Raw instead of Compressed Raw. The response didn't elaborate on 'unsatisfactory' which is unfortunate and I don't strictly agree with his first sentence "Those are YCbCr formats, not raw. They result from in-camera processing of raw data to some JPEG-like coding." Information pitched in this way will 'bamboozle' people rather than educate them. JPEGs are 8 bit files that use lossy compression and Sony's Lossless Compression Raw format results in 14-bit files which uses lossless compression. To even compare these two types of files in the same sentence is surprising to say the least.

Ashraf

hi Mark could you please update the CAMSET for A1 foe the new firmware 1.3 thanks

Simon Pini

Hi Mark, since updating to fw 1.3 'Display as Group' setting does not seem to work , is this something you've seen, or have I broken it somewhere else? Cheers

Mark Galer
>>87242869

Display as Group still works as normal with firmware version 1.3. It only works, however, if you are using Date view instead of Folder view. Press the Playback button and then press the AEL button and then navigating left to the vertical bar on the left side. When you have highlighted the folder or calendar icon press the centre button to access your options. You can now switch between date view and folder view. alternatively go tar Playback > Playback Target > View Mode to switch between Date and Folder view. You can also refer to the Playback section in the eBook (hyperlink on the Contents page).