tadwil

Yes, I could se the point made by FunWithCameras and reiterated by yourself.

Personally speaking, I think Sony missed the boat on PAL/NTSC switch. How much could Sony save by intentionally not including a software switch that is readily available in the same model bodies in different regions? Hopefully, Sony has rectified this oversight and now includes the PAL/NTSC switch in all of the camera line-up (if your newer camera bodies are any indication) or it could be some regulations imposed by the 50hz regions on the 60hz regions to restrict market access.

Probably not. If you have not done so already, go to Sony Canada website and download the Sony A7II Help Guide along with the User Manual for the A7II. On page 191, there is an explanation as to why some Sony cameras is missing the NTSC/PAL selection in the menu. It seems it is by design rather than some cameras being grey market cameras that determines whether there is absence or presence of the NTSC/PAL selector in the set up menu. Unfortunately, yours and my Canadian market A7II's do not have the selector in the set up menu. @FunWithCameras Australia is a PAL region is it not? That being so, somewhere on the bottom of your camera there should be a "50i" mark, indicating that your camera(s) are capable of switching PAL/NTSC region as needed. I don't know if the newer A7xxx models are all capable of PAL/NTSC selection or not but, can you check on your older Alpha bodies if they have "50i" mark on the bottom of the camera? My A6000 also is missing the PAL/NTSC selector in the set up menu as well.

Each succeeding generation of A7 would bring more features, more improvements and higher prices. Check this link and decide for yourself (you can make comparisons with more recent bodies as well): https://cameradecision.com/compare/Sony-Alpha-A7-III-vs-Sony-Alpha-A7-II On the used market locally (Vancouver BC, Canada) A7II is selling for about $800, A7III for $1700 and A7IV at $2200 in Canadian funds and in good shape. Personally I can dream about acquiring an A7III but considering my current financial situation, my A7II will probably be my last A7xx camera.

I don't know how common the cheap adapters are built out of spec tolerances but I have yet to run across a cheap adapter that cannot be focused at infinity and most of my cheap adapters are generic eBay purchases. Aka, as cheap as possible.

Check on eBay, the place to buy generic camera accessories.

https://www.amazon.ca/Neewer-Camera-Repair-Adjustment-Construction/dp/B07NJS1RML/ref=sr_1_5?crid=12366D9ZK6F4M&keywords=filter+ring+repair&qid=1697411370&sprefix=filter+ring+repair%2Caps%2C190&sr=8-5 Maybe you can try this filter ring repair tool to straighten out the dent.

@XKAES, the OP has a Sony A7RIV - an e-mount body. @grenas, ask your nephew which mount the lens is. Depending on the lens mount, you can buy an appropriate adapter to fit your A7RIV.

Are you still having the same problem described in the first post? I have tried replicating your settings and take some videos, I am not seeing anything you are describing just now nor have the problem of aperture opening up by 2 stops or more. I think there was one instance where the monitor brightened up momentarily but it didn't get captured in the footage.

I tried as you have suggested and I can shoot in M mode but regardless of whether I shoot in M or Movie mode Dial settings, the aperture doesn't change for me. I don't know if you tried this: Go to menu, select the camera icon and on the 7th page, select "Movie" sub-menu and set it to Manual Exposure.

My A7II won't do video from any mode other than the Movie mode. At any other setting on the mode dial I get "Invalid in this mode. Available in Movie mode".

I don't recall having to register with Sony Canada to download any firmware, maybe you should try accessing Sony websites of other nations.

I don't know what you did to get your camera to become like that but I think your best course of action is to send every part of the camera in a well packed box and send it to a Sony authorized repair center in your locale and hope they can do something for you. Good luck!

Maybe a member who has an A7R can record the steps it takes from turning on the camera to accessing the menu item that can switch from the viewfinder to the screen and share it with you.

If you are not having any problems with the camera's functions as is, I wouldn't bother with the update. I did not bother to update my A7II to the latest firmware version because the camera functions well enough (mostly shooting with legacy MF lenses) and what should be a simple process of updating the firmware could very well become a kiss of death for my camera. It may be an ancient body to some but I don't foresee myself upgrading the camera anytime soon -- maybe never.