Problems with A1 since installing v2.01 firmware

[Danwimble]

Major issues for me since updating to v201.

Cameras are using battery about 30% faster.   I’ve had to buy a further 4 batteries to get through a wedding.

Cameras won’t turn on when inserting a battery. I have to remove battery, turn camera on and reinsert battery to get it to turn on.

Freezing, had one camera completely lock up on me.

Cameras don’t turn themselves back on after initialising.

prior to updating none of these issues were present.

Seen others having the same battery drain and boot problems.

fingers crossed Sony has some advice for me, I really don’t know who to turn to with these issues and have a busy wedding season ahead of me. 

[GordonT]

I don't have all those issues with my A1 but do notice it will occasionally not auto focus, doesn't appear to try.

Usually fixed by removing the battery and switching back on, sometimes takes a few attempts.

Didn't do this before v2 firmware.

Mainly using A1 with 200-600mm lens, which has latest firmware.

[GordonT]

I have also found occasionally that A1 won't switch on. I haven't identified the sequence that gets it to this, last time it was after downloading some images with Creators App and then switching off. Fixed by removing and reinserted the battery.

Just tried it again. Connected to tablet and Creators App. Downloaded an image. Stopped App, although it continues to run in the background.

Switch off the camera. It now won't switch on again. Remove and reinsert the A1 battery, now will switch on. Not repeatable every time.

Is there some kind of timeout stopping the camera switching back on ?

[SatoruGojo]

Hey @Danwimble, did you try different chargers for the battery issue? Are all the cameras you have the same model?

@GordonT, try to initialize it and see if that makes a difference.

[GordonT]

After the intialise for the 21MB issue l tried the creator app download and its just the same. I download an image and then l can't switch the camera on, without removing and reinserting the battery. I also noted after one download after a while the A1 and its battery were warm even though it was switched off. I guess the wifi/ Bluetooth ( l am not sure which it uses) is not switching off even though the camera is off. Similar issue on the A6700.

[Danwimble]

@SatoruGojo Yes, doesn't matter which charger.  I have a combination of Sony chargers and third party, as well as a mix of batteries and it happens on them all.  And both cameras are Alpha 1's. 

This wasnt an issue prior to the update.  It's directly linked to v2.01.   Facebook forums are full of people with the same issues. Really hope Sony sorts this. I'm a working professional like many are and this isn't good. 

[danardi78]

Hi @GordonT 

   I ask you "sorry" in advance, but I have to say: have you tried to reset and initialize the camera?

[GordonT]

Yes , l have

( see my other thread about issues with setting memories https://community.sony.co.uk/t5/alpha-nex-interchangeable-lens-cameras/a1-camera-set-memory-issue/td... )

[danardi78]

Ok, I escale to support team 

[Bobidog]

I have exactly the same problem but its more like 50% faster drain. My friend with an A1 has it too. The other friend with an A1 doesnt although FW 2.00 bricked his camera but the other two were OK. (This was an issue with the 200-600 which Sony admitted to and fixed in fw 2.02.  We were all using a 200-600 lens so only one camera was affected. So we had 1 out of 3 A1s with the 200-600 issue which Sony fixed. We also have 2 out of the same 3 cameras with the battery drain issue which Sony are unable to fix so they will deny the issue even exists.

I have more than 10 emails from Sony that deny any existence of a batttery drain issue in more than 10 different ways. Sorry if you are unlucky enough to have the battery drain issue you seem to be stuck with it. Best workaround we found is to use a power save / sleep mode delay time of 10 seconds. (We were using 1 minute before the issue)

I'm selling up because the A1 has potentially become risk liability. Based upon the fw 2.x mess so far, you just dont know which of any future fw2.x updates are going to hit your camera that give it issues or render it useless.