Sony NEX Firmware: How to Check for Useful Updates

If you buy through an affiliate link in this article, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

The quick answer

Check your Sony NEX firmware version before assuming your camera has every available feature. On my NEX-5R, I found Menu → Setup → Version and compared the camera version with Sony's support page. Some updates for older NEX models added useful focusing tools or compatibility, but the changes depend on the exact model and the version already installed.

Start by finding your exact camera model, then read Sony's update notes and computer requirements. If your camera is already on the listed version, you don't need to reinstall it.

Watch my Sony NEX firmware walkthrough on YouTube

How to check your Sony NEX firmware version

1. Turn the camera on and note the exact model name on the body. Names such as NEX-3 and NEX-3N refer to different cameras.
2. On my NEX-5R, I press Menu, choose Setup, scroll to Version and select it.
3. Write down the camera body version. The screen can also show a separate lens or adapter version; don't confuse the two.
4. Find the matching model on Sony Support, open its Downloads section and compare Sony's listed version and release notes with yours. Follow the instructions for your model if its menu differs.

In the video, my NEX-5R displayed version 1.03 after I updated it. Your camera may already be current, especially if you bought it used.

What a firmware update might change

Firmware is the software inside the camera. Sony's release notes explain which changes are included in a particular update and which earlier changes it incorporates. Here are the examples I discuss in the video, with the models kept separate:

• Original NEX-3: Sony's version 05 update includes earlier additions such as manual-focus peaking level and color, useful when focusing adapted or manual lenses. The NEX-3 update page lists the applicable camera and changes. This is not the NEX-3N download.
• NEX-5R: Sony's version 1.03 notes list Fast Hybrid AF support for specified E-mount lenses and include earlier changes. Check Sony's lens list and restrictions for your exact lens; an update is not a promise of fast autofocus with every combination.
• NEX-VG10: Sony's version 03 notes list manual-focus peaking and LA-EA2 adapter compatibility. The supported A-mount lens and adapter functions have additional conditions.

I updated my NEX-5R before filming, while my NEX-VG10 was still on its first version at the time. A viewer had mentioned improved NEX-5N video quality, but I sold that camera before updating it, so I cannot claim a before-and-after test for it. Firmware benefits are model-specific, and an update won't automatically improve image quality on every camera.

Before installing a Sony NEX firmware update

1. Match the model and installed version. Read the applicable-model section and any prerequisites on Sony's page. Never use a similarly named camera's updater.
2. Check the computer requirements. Some older Sony updaters list older Windows or macOS versions. If your system is not supported or the instructions are unclear, contact Sony before proceeding.
3. Prepare power and the connection. Follow the model-specific instructions for a fully charged compatible battery or approved power supply and the specified USB cable. Don't interrupt power or disconnect the camera during the update.
4. Follow Sony's sequence exactly. Read the complete download page first, including any card-removal or connection steps. After the updater finishes, check the body version again.

For example, Sony says the NEX-VG10 version 03 update cannot be reversed and warns that an interruption can leave the camera unable to operate properly. The process and requirements can differ by model, so use your own camera's instructions rather than treating the video as a universal installer walkthrough.

Frequently asked questions

Do all Sony NEX cameras get focus peaking from an update?

No single update applies to every NEX model. Sony lists peaking among the included changes for the original NEX-3 version 05 and NEX-VG10 version 03; check the notes for your own camera.

What if my NEX camera is already updated?

Compare its body version with the applicable Sony download page. If it already has the listed version, Sony says the update is not needed for the examples above.

Can I use the NEX-3 update on a NEX-3N?

No. They are different models. Select the exact model on Sony Support and use only an update that explicitly lists it as applicable.

Will a firmware update make autofocus work with every lens?

No. Support depends on the camera, lens, adapter and firmware combination. Sony's NEX-5R release notes list specific lenses and conditions, so check those details before relying on a feature.

My recommendation

Take a minute to check the version, especially on a used NEX camera. If an applicable update offers a feature you need, read Sony's complete instructions and make sure you have a supported computer and dependable power before starting.

Keep reading

• Sony NEX-7 Review: A 24MP Travel Camera Still Worth Buying Used?
• 5 Awesome Cameras for Photo and Video Under $100

Watch more camera guides on FoxTailWhipz on YouTube.