Sony has released firmware version 2.00 for the a7 V, unlocking 96 kHz / 32-bit float audio when paired with the XLR-A4 adapter and adding Preset Focus support for lenses without power zoom. The update also expands FTP and Camera Authenticity workflows, but ends the ability to update lens firmware through the camera using a memory card.
The a7 V (see our launch coverage and our lab test results) was already shaping up as one of Sony’s most balanced hybrids of this generation, thanks to its new partially-stacked 33MP sensor, BIONZ XR2 processor, and substantially improved thermal performance. Firmware 2.00 doesn’t reshape what the camera is, but it does fill in several workflow corners that working hybrid shooters had been asking about, particularly around audio, tethered transfer, and content authenticity.
High-resolution audio arrives, with a caveat
The headline addition is 96 kHz, 32-bit float audio recording, available only when the XLR-A4 adapter (sold separately) is mounted on the Multi Interface Shoe. The body itself does not gain internal 32-bit float capture; the feature is gated behind the same accessory that powers 32-bit float on the recently announced Sony Alpha 7R VI. For sound mixers and solo operators dealing with unpredictable dialogue or live performance levels, the wider headroom path through the camera is meaningful, but the practical implication is clear: the XLR-A4 effectively becomes mandatory if you want this workflow. (Be prepared to say goodbye to $778.)
The firmware also fixes an issue where recording could fail when shooting video with the ECM-M1 shotgun microphone (sold separately) attached to the camera. If you have been wrestling with that combination, version 2.00 should resolve it.
Sony has extended Preset Focus to lenses that do not have power zoom, with the caveat that some non-power-zoom zoom lenses remain unsupported (Sony maintains a compatibility list on its lens body support page). This brings the feature closer to a universally useful focus-recall tool for narrative and event shooters who rely on repeatable focus marks rather than constantly chasing them in the moment.
Focal lengths now display down to one decimal place, a small but useful refinement for anyone matching shots between cameras or working with detailed metadata in post. On the file-management side, you can simultaneously delete and rate images across both card slots, and folder names and file names can now be shown during playback, two long-requested quality-of-life additions for high-volume shooters.
FTP, SFTP, and Camera Authenticity workflow additions
Network-tethered shooters gain a noticeably more complete pro toolkit. The new firmware lets you cancel the scheduled transfer of selected images mid-FTP, and the Transfer & Tagging settings add options to automatically schedule FTP transfer of protected stills from FTP Import, schedule FTP transfer of protected stills and videos from FTP Upload Preset, automatically protect images transferred via FTP, and configure an SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) server. The latest version of Transfer & Tagging is required, and Sony notes the feature may not be available in every country or region.
The Write Digital Signature function for movies is now supported as part of Sony’s Camera Authenticity Solution. For most users, this remains theoretical for the time being, as paid licensing for parties other than certain media outlets has not yet been timed. The firmware also enables Scan and Tag, Photo Cropping, and Volume Photography Commands under the Volume Photography License. That license is scheduled to become available from late May 2026 and requires a separate paid activation, with regional availability varying.
Lens firmware updates via memory card are gone
One workflow change deserves to be flagged clearly: this firmware ends support for updating lens firmware through the camera menu using a memory card. From version 2.00 onward, lens firmware updates have to be performed using Sony’s Windows or macOS update tool. For shooters used to dropping a firmware file on a card in the field and pointing the camera at it, this adds a computer to the loop. Camera body firmware itself can still be installed via memory card or through the Creators App, so the change is specific to lens updates only.
Operational stability is generally improved, which is the usual catch-all for under-the-hood fixes that Sony does not detail individually.
Firmware version 2.00 for the Sony a7 V is now available as a free download from Sony’s support pages and can be installed either via a memory card or through the Creators App on iOS or Android.
Now that 32-bit float audio becomes available, do you see yourself investing in the XLR-A4 adapter? Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments below!