Sony Warns of File Loss Bug on a7R III and a7 III

Sony Warns of File Loss Bug on a7R III and a7 III

Sony has just released a notice that under certain circumstances, the a7R III and a7 III can stop functioning or corrupt the image database. An update is coming, but not yet available.

It seems the largest issues are related to reusing an SD card and even more critically, using the auto review functionality on the a7R III. Sony says the card should still preserve most of the data, as the corruption seems limited to the image database, although the data being written at the time of the interruption may be unrecoverable.

If the images are no longer displayed, they provide the following steps for recovery: Select MENU → (Setup) → [Recover Image DB] → desired memory card slot → [Enter]. Then, take a picture, back up your data on a PC or other device, and format the memory card on your camera.

For the a7R III, there is no solution offered for the auto review bug. The only option is to disable auto review, as the alternative of random lockups can cause data loss. Sony mentions that a software update will be available in mid-December and should definitely be something that Sony shooters are on the lookout for if traveling or using their camera over the holiday season. Before that update is available, Sony suggests formatting the memory cards in both slots before each shoot. Keep in mind that formatting the card will permanently delete all the files on the card. Additionally, a7R III users will need to turn off the auto review function.

For users of any camera, good memory card “hygiene” is important: some rules of thumb include not deleting images from a card from the computer, formatting the card outside the camera, or using the card in multiple cameras without formats in between.

Alex Coleman's picture

Alex Coleman is a travel and landscape photographer. He teaches workshops in the American Southwest, with an emphasis on blending the artistic and technical sides of photography.

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46 Comments

If only it had two card slots... Oh wait...

I still shoot on Jurassic era cameras (a couple 5D mkii's and 7D's). 11 years ago, I learned to always format the card when it goes into the body and to never delete files in camera. I haven't experienced any file corruption since 2007.

I don't think Sony has a Delete All function so I reformat every time I copy the photos to my PC.

lol its ok PROs that actually take a lot of IMPORTANT photos do experience failures because we use our cameras daily not for weekend trips at the lake..good try though.

Ummm... I think you've made a fundamental error in your assessment of me. I make my living with my cameras full time, every day - and I've been doing so for years.

You don’t actually lose the images, just the review functionality.
If someone is using two cards, the second card will have the review function available in camera.

No file loss, just chimping loss.

"... the data being written at the time of the interruption may be unrecoverable." You might lose one image (or a series of you're firing on burst mode).

Key word is "may" and having experienced this on my A7ii before, I can tell you that the images you took prior to the interruption are completely safe. The glory of all of this and what is being left out is that when your preview function does not work, the cameras will not allow you to continue shooting unless it begins to write to an alternate card (like on the A7Riii which I have not experienced this problem with).

That's experience vs just reading an article and not understanding what is happening.

Glad I saw this. Was worried until I realized I had a Canon.

Glad you’re enjoying that mirrorless life and some awesome new tech...oh wait you shoot canon my bad.

Yeah sounds like a blast. Pics getting deleted. If only I had one to make me a better photographer and all my images masterpieces. No wait. That has nothing to do with awesome new tech.

Have you recovered since you noticed the Canon?

No need to recover, still going strong without having to stop for limitations. Gh5 working as well. Loving the way neither overheat and I get all of the data I record. Good times.

I haven't had any issues on my A7III thankfully.

Yeah me neither and I updated when it first came out in October. I haven't shot more than about 1000 shots on a memory card without offloading and reformatting though, maybe that makes a difference.

It's just a wild guess for me but I'm thinking it may be more for bodies that ship with the new firmware. My friend got one a week ago with the new firmware and had the issue but everyone I know with older bodies that did the update had no issues.

But canon has a crop in 4K and no IBiS... too bad they develop all their cameras to work like tanks

Fortunately, this issue was created by firmware, and will be solved by firmware. Unfortunately, Canon's issues were created by laziness, and won't be solved for another 10 years on the EOS R3.

It happened to me a couple of times, but fortunately what was gone from one card was still on the other.

Haven't had to deal with this on my A7RIII (I'm guessing because I keep auto-review disabled as I find it annoying), but it's certainly a concerning issue for many people and I do hope that the fix comes out quickly.

Been using my two A7RIIIs for over a year now without this issue happening at all thankfully. Didn't even know it was an issue. I use the auto review every time I shoot as well.

I never use the auto review but have seen this happen on my old A7ii but never on my A7Riii.

Oh well though, it’s just chimping functionality in camera that is affected, not actual file loss so it’s not that big of a deal.

I got similar issues with my A7III when using the USB cable to download photos and disconnecting without unmount it. Twice already.

I had something like this happen on my X-Pro2 once. Wiped out both cards.

Sounds a bit yuk, plus basic stuff from the begin of digital, don't delete files via computer, always reformat in camera.

Got this issue a month ago when i was heavily shot using my a7riii.. My SD (slot 1) was corrupted and auto review was not displayed as usual for the entire images. Make me frustated coz i was shooting sunset moment in Moraine Lake :).. Tried to use another new formatted SD, and it worked. And fortunately, only 3 last images were "corrupted", most of images in "corrupted" SD could be recovered in my mac (lost 3 "longexposure images" during golden moment in Lake Moraine make me unhappy). At that time, I wondered that the issue was coming from the SD (Sandisk extreme pro) until i read this article. I tried to format the SD thru mac, and put it in camera, and it worked :). I hope sony can review the bug and release the updated software soon. Thanks ^_^

Good shot it was initially caused by trying to work around some of SanDisk's temperamental cards. No reason the SD card part of the firmware would be touched otherwise. Also, Sony said they'd have a firmware fix in the middle of this month.

Kudos to fstoppers for posting this, and correctly listing it can be mitigated by turning off image review and following proper card etiquette. I have not heard of any firsthand file loss on the a7(r) iii from the 10 or 15 friends that have one.

The one detail that was left out was before firmware 2.00 this didnt occur so those that havent updated need not worry.

For all the canon shooters and their smug responses if you think dynamic range is the only reason a serious photographer would benefit from sony tech you havent used one for more than 15 minutes. You'd gain much better AF, ability to track eyes without moving a joystick, playback through the VF, ability to simulate DOF, WB, exposure before you take the shot, you could lighten raw file shadows 3 or 4 stops without the horrible false color noise, you could shoot completely silently, and all of your lenses could be shot at 2-5 stops of shutter speed slower handheld because of IBIS.

Sony makes a terrific camera, no doubt, but until they make one that actually feels good in hand, I'll stick with my dinosaur. Thankfully, Canon and Nikon chose to keep their in hand feel with their new mirror less offerings instead of trying to emulate that little Sony body. Subjective for sure, but a deal breaker for me.

Meanwhile, people are complaining about the ergonomics of the R and Z. Grips too short, poor button placement, etc.

Can't make everyone happy.

Well well, I bough two brand new A7III in june and started shooting weddings with them straight away. From the begining one camera would go blind for 10s about 10 times during the day, I would have to turn it OFF/ON to reset until it happen again, but no loss until the 5th wedding I shot witt it. Knowing one had issues I was using it with the wider lense I use less, the other one being my primary camera with a 35mm. I never delete images or format cards on the wedding day, and as I was uploading the images on my PC coming back from the wedding, I figured out that 5mn, then 15mn, the 1h30 of images were missing! I was not able to recover any of the images lost as it apparently did not record them while I was shooting (I clearly remember shooting scenes that the camera did not record). I have lost the entirety of the cocktal, my couple is really sad and mad at me. I offered them compensations but they will never have the images my A7III did not record... With every new camera you take a risk, remembering the issues on my D750 that have been handled by nikon quite professionnaly, this is another story with Sony France: My dealer sent back the camera to their technical services, which made a report saying they had change the motherboard and that it was now working just fine. There were no calling me for apologizes and offer me anything for a compensation. As the report said nothing on the issue topic. I sent them messages to tell them that there was no way I could trust this camera anymore unless if they would prove me they had find the issue and fixed it, but they kept telling me "wa changed the motherboard it's fine now" and refusing my demand of sending me over a new camera, because it's not in their "terms of service". Anyway after months of battling with them, I finally went to my dealer and picked up the camera, without knowing if they truly found the issue and fixed it... It is a shame from Sony to deal with its professionnal clients this way, not caring at all. Because of that, I tell all my friends photographers who wanted to switch to Sony to wait or buy a Nikon... I am pissed at Sony for their poor handling of the case and lack of communication and consideration.

This is where Sony has a long way to go to catch Canon. Canon's customer service, especially their pro services, is the model anyone wishing to court professionals should follow. It is certainly one of the reasons that Canon dominates the pro shooter ranks.

Shoots weddings with a camera known to have issues. Blames Sony for loss of irreplaceable photos, instead of taking responsibility for their own actions. Sounds about right for this day and age.

Actually happened to me over this past weekend, couldn't figure it out for the life of me. Thought it was a new card I was trying out. Must have been the latest update they released, as I never had issues before that.

This is why I never update my camera unless I actually need to.

Had this happen twice on my A7III since May, I'm only an "enthusiast" but these both happened to be paid gigs, fortunately the second card slot saved me. I was convinced it was something I'd done, card compatibility or doing too much culling in camera etc that was causing the file corruption - though as far as I could tell I'd done nothing differently to when I shot Nikon, where I never had a single issue (or a 2nd card slot). Frustrating what should be one of the most basic / reliable camera functions is giving Sony issues, but at least they've actually acknowledged it is a problem and have an update coming. Hurry up please Sony.

"fortunately the second card slot saved me"

And there you have it! ;)

Ha I know, the irony! I'm really looking forward to my fun choices on my next camera; pay pro money for a one card slot body with a robust menu that rarely, if ever fails, but completely screws you when it does.... Or.... pay pro money for a 2 slot Sony, with all the hardware back up you need, but software that deletes all your images under the pressure of a light breeze. HMMMMM

I have had both these cameras since they were available. I have had none of the problems listed in this article. I have not done any of the Firmware updates released by Sony.
I consider F Stoppers the worst photography publication available. So many times they publish articles that are false.
Recently a woman journalist who writes for Fstoppers said you can not shoot a wedding with a mirror less camera. She highly recommended Cannon, spelled with two N's.
If I see these reports from reliable publications, I will be careful. I shoot Weddings, Portraits, Sports, and etc.

That’s cool that you haven’t had a problem, but one data point doesn’t prove anything. Also, we’re reporting information from the manufacturer themselves. Also, we never said that regarding “Cannon.” We reported that a bridal magazine said that because of how ridiculous it was. I know because I’m the one who wrote it. Also, it was two years ago, not recently. Also, the writer wasn’t female, because it was me. You’re like 0 for 5. Poor attempt at trolling.

I was having this problem when I deleted files on the computer. I was putting the sd card in my card reader, copying and importing into LR, then later deleting the files from the sd card using file manager in windows and I would get this problem.

The database in camera probably has the files listed as being there, but they are not, because they have been deleted.

Now I only delete files in camera, or format in camera. Had no problem since

Edit- firmware version 1.01

The issue is in 2.00, but is most likely caused by not reformatting in-camera after the card has been accessed by a computer.

So is it safer to get a camera with 2 card slots but the camera is known to delete everything, or a camera with 1 card slot in a camera that doesn't unilaterally delete images?