I strongly recommend this Firmware update for Sony a7RII Users
Metabones firmware update 0.43 adds phase-detect autofocus (PDAF) support for Sony a7RII to its EF-mount Metabones Smart Adapter IV (Order here) and Speed Boosters through firmware update 0.43.
Free of any potential misalignment issues, on-sensor phase-detect autofocus is capable of attaining excellent accuracy. Overall, phase-detect autofocus offers a significant performance improvement over contrast-detect autofocus, and for shorter focal length lenses the autofocus speed approaches that found in digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras. Performance, features and limitations of our solution are comparable to other on-sensor PDAF systems involving adapted DSLR lenses on mirrorless cameras, such as A-mount lenses on Sony a7RII with LA-EA3 adapter.
Limitations include:
• During video recording there is only slow contrast-detect AF (Sony).
• Continuous AF may have unsatisfactory performance (phase-detect AF) or not supported (contrast-detect AF).
RELEVANT PRODUCTS
• Metabones Smart Adapter IV (EF-E Smart Adapter MARK IV (model MB_EF-E-BM4 / MB_EF-E-BT4)
• Metabones EF-E Speed Booster ULTRA 0.71x (model MB_SPEF-E-BM2 / MB_SPEF-E-BT2)
ABOUT THIS UPDATE:
Name: Firmware update V0.43 for EF-E Smart AdapterTM MARK IV and EF-E Speed BoosterTM ULTRA
Release date: 18 Sep 2015
Benefits and improvements:
• ILCE-7R2 (A7RII) support
• Autofocus improvements
• Fixed issue when Aperture Preview is assigned on A7 series to Focus Hold button (WO button of the adapter)
Get the latest Firmware update for Metabones EF-E Smart Adapter Mark IV: MAC | WIN
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:
MAC:
Apple Mac OS X 10.9 Mavericks or later
WIN:
Windows Vista SP2
Windows 7 SP1
Windows 8
Windows 8.1
Windows 10 (Firmware version 43)
DOWNLOAD NOTES:
• When performing the firmware update, please don’t disconnect the USB cable, otherwise, the adapter may become inoperable due to the sudden power shutdown
• Don’t connect the adapter to any camera and lens when performing the firmware update.
• Make sure that you are logged on as a user with administrative rights.
• Read the disclaimer and click to agree to the terms and conditions. Then, click on the Download button.
• The download of the [MAC: MetabonesApp.dmg] or [WIN: MetabonesApp.exe] file will start.
• Save the file to the desktop of your computer (recommended).
RUN THE SOFTWARE UPDATE
• Once the file has downloaded successfully, you’re ready to upgrade the Firmware update for the Smart Adapter MARK IV.
• Close all currently running programs on your computer.
• Double-click the [MAC: MetabonesApp.dmg] or [WIN: MetabonesApp.exe] download file to start the Metabones App.
• Connect your the Smart Adapter MARK IV to the computer by using the USB-MicroUSB cable that came with your Sony camera to USB port behind the adapter’s lens release lever.
• Then, follow the instructions in the Metabones App to update the firmware.
• Only connect the adapter – REMOVE the camera and lens
• Once adapter connected via USB, the app will tell you if an update is available.
• If an update is available, follow the prompts:
• Unplug USB – Press and Hold Button (center of photo above) – then reconnect USB to start the update.
• DO NOT disconnect until the Update is finished.
You’ll get a screen prompt telling you once Firmware has successfully updated and you’re done.
PLEASE NOTE: I strongly advise using the USB-MicroUSB cable supplied with your Sony camera as other cables may not transfer data properly.
FIRMWARE HISTORY:
Firmware update V0.41 for EF-E Smart Adapter MARK IV
Release date: 1 Jun 2015
Benefits and improvements:
• User may choose between lens OIS and IBIS using the lens’ IS switch (except for some Tamron lenses). If the lens’ IS switch is ON, lens OIS is used and IBIS is turned off automatically. If lens’ IS switch is OFF, IBIS is used instead. To turn off all IS, hold down the WO button on the adapter while switching the lens’ IS to the OFF position.
• IS is always turned on during magnified focus assist for ease of manual focusing
• Added autofocus support for some legacy lenses on A7 series
• Eliminates iris flicker when opening up the iris from a slower aperture to a faster aperture in Green mode on FS series, NEX-VG series and A7 series in movie mode.
• Eliminates iris tick noise while zooming a variable aperture zoom lens in Green mode
Firmware update V0.40 for EF-E Smart Adapter MARK IV
Release date: 3 Feb 2015
Benefits and improvements:
• series lenses. You may for example assign “Aperture Preview” to the the “Focus Hold” button on A7II and get the same DOF preview function as on a Canon DSLR. Image Stabilization ON/OFF status is displayed on A7II as the SteadyShot icon. “‹
• Adds support for Sony A7s silent shutter mode.
• Fixed Sony A7s intermittent startup issue.
• More detailed EXIF data.
• Reliability improvements with some Sigma and Tamron lenses.
• Fixed distance display (in Advanced mode) on VG, FS and A7 series.
• Fixed EF70-200/2.8L IS II USM’s IS on/off switch intermittently inoperative issue.
• Fixed issue of EF40/2.8 STM being wrongly identified as an OSS lens.
• Fixed NEX-5N becoming unresponsive issue when movie capture started
Firmware update V0.39 for EF-E Smart Adapter MARK IV
Release date: 29 Dec 2014
Benefits and improvements:
• “‹Improves Sony A7S compatibility
Firmware update V0.37 for EF-E Smart Adapter MARK IV
Release date: 20 Nov 2014
Benefits and improvements
• Improves stability with some lenses
Firmware update V0.36 for EF-E Smart Adapter MARK IV
Release date: 31 Oct 2014
Benefits and improvements
• Fixes Zeiss ZE lens stability issue with adapter firmware version 0.33 and version 0.34″‹
Firmware update V0.34 for EF-E Smart Adapter MARK IV
Release date: 8 Oct 2014
Benefits and improvements
• Bug Fix and Improve the performance.
• Fix Auto-Magnify/MF function on advance mode.
Firmware update V0.32 for EF-E Smart Adapter MARK IV
Release date: 14 Aug 2014
Benefits and improvements:
• Sony A7S compatibility
For more tips and tricks about getting the most out of your Sony a7 series camera, check out my new book ‘Sony a7-Series: From Snapshots to Great Shots’.
It’s your guide to all of the Sony a7-Series cameras including the new a7RII. While the camera manual explains what the camera can do, it doesn’t show how to use the camera to create great images! Starting with the Top Ten things users need to know about the cameras, author Brian Smith, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer and Sony Artisan of Imagery, carefully guides you through the operating features of Sony a7, a7R, a7S, a7II and a7RII and how to use them. Get practical advice from a pro on which settings to use when, great shooting tips, and assignments at end of chapter to practice what you’ve just learned.
Sony A7 Series: From Snapshots to Great Shots’ is available NOW from Amazon
6 thoughts on “Metabones Releases Smart Adapter IV Firmware Update 0.43”
Brian, I just shipped back a defective metabones adapter (it lost aperture for all of my lenses after one day of use). I opted to just get my money back rather than get a replacement. Reason being was that the Fotodiox adapter I was using was pretty much on par with the metabones/canon-lens/a7rii setup. It even out performed a little bit. I sent it back an hour before the new firmware was announced. My question is, does this new firmware update make the metabones adapter really shine with canon lenses? I felt a little cheated by the promises from Sony (canon lenses focusing just as fast as they were on canon bodies).
The reason I posted these tests were to more accurately test which lenses are fast and which are not.
I apologize, Brian. I was just asking if the new firmware update gave any increased speed for the Canon lenses compared to when you did the tests with the .41 firmware. I don’t mean to say, “go do a test.” I just mean, off hand, have you noticed any speed boosts with this firmware? My guess is that you probably keep to sony/zeiss lenses for the most part so I realize this is a long shot for you to even have an answer for. Thanks for the work you did with the tests.
Before update the firmware the adaptor sometimes it work and sometimes it don’t. So I updated to the newest firmware and hope it will fix the problem, now my lens doesn’t work with the adaptor any more. Have to send it back to fix it and cost another $70.00 for shipping on top of this $400.00 adaptor. I would recommend if you didn’t get it yet, don’t buy this adaptor. Is a waste of time and money.
Sorry to hear that George. Other readers are reporting improved performance eith the update. Is it possible the lens or adapter is not clicked fully into place?
The FW v0.43 makes a very big improvement in the AF performance with my 70-200mm f/2.8 IS II. With v0.41, AF performance was at best marginal, especially at long focal lengths where it hardly worked at all. Now I am getting fast focusing even at 200mm in lower light levels. No quite as good as the EOS5Diii, but close. I am also getting good performance with my 24-70mm f/2.8. None of my other Canon lenses AF at all (MF only).