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Sony firmware upgrade price increase
I emailed Sony in Teaneck NJ asking about a firmware upgrade for the EX1. This is the response I got:
“Kindly use the attached form when sending your unit for upgrade. Firmware upgrade is $270 + tax. Should you have any further concerns, please feel free to call or send us an email.”
Bob
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8 Replies
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Are they really turning that into a revenue source or does it honestly cost them that much? Seems a bit much when just about any other camera you buy today comes with free user installable firmware updates…
Noah
Unlock the secrets of 24p, HD and Final Cut Studio with Call Box Training. Featuring the Panasonic GH2 and Canon 7D.
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Last year, when 1.2 came out for the EX1, I was quoted $135 which seems like the price for one hour labor. Now it seems like they’re charging for two hours labor. This increase certainly seems like bad policy to me since I doubt the time it takes to install and QC increased.
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Is that something you have to do more than once?
Noah
Unlock the secrets of 24p, HD and Final Cut Studio with Call Box Training. Featuring the Panasonic GH2 and Canon 7D.
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Well, it’s a good idea to upgrade as improvements are made to the software. So, yes is the answer. Having said that, $270 is outrageous!
Bob
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That’s what I’m asking- do you have to spend $270 every time there’s a new update? Or do they do it just once? If it’s just once that seems like something Sony should cover…
Noah
Unlock the secrets of 24p, HD and Final Cut Studio with Call Box Training. Featuring the Panasonic GH2 and Canon 7D.
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AFAIK, you pay every time. BTW, Macie Video will do it for $165.00.
Bob
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If you take your camera in for warranty work or for a general tune up it’s $140.00 at Sony here in Vancouver and they’ll do the firmware upgrade while it’s there. No extra charge.
– Don
Don Greening
A Vancouver Video Production Company
Reeltime Videoworks
http://www.reeltimevideoworks.com -
Noah:
The cost is not for downloading and installing the upgrade yourself. It’s for shipping your camera to Sony and having their tech’s install it.
I paid $180 to have it done, because I didn’t have the time and wanted a Techie to do it as well as cover a camera crash if it happened.
Brent Dunn
Owner / Director / Editor
DunnRight Films
DunnRight Video.com
Video Marketing Toolbox.netSony EX-1,
Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 7D
Mac Pro Tower, Quad Core,
with Final Cut StudioHP i7 Quad laptop
Adobe CS-5 Production Suite
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