Expert: John Oliverio - 7/20/2009

Question
QUESTION: My girlfriend bought this camera in Japan and she speaks Japanese. Yeah for her!!  But I can't really use this camera aside from completely automatic settings. Some of the icon text is in English. Is there any way to reload English firmware or switch it to English somehow?

Thanks!!!!

ANSWER: Hi Todd,

Are you sure about the model number of your camera?  I can't find a western version of it anywhere.  If it is a model only available in Japan, you've got a problem. All Sony cameras can be set to English.  But the problem is that if you don't speak the language you can't tell which menu item you need to change.  In which case your only choices are either to get your girlfriend to change it or to call Sony and ask them to walk you through it.

If there is a western version of your camera, I will see if I have one of them in my shop and try to write you here with the steps you need to take.  But I can only do that if there is a western version.  Like I said, I've never heard of the Y900 and can find no reference to it on the net.  If you got the model number wrong, let me know and we will go from there.  If it is Japan only (which is possible) you are at the mercy of either your girlfriend or Sony.

John

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: OK typo....  DSC-T900 sorry!  :)  Yes it is a Japan version she bought in Japan. It does not have English as an option. It has Chinese and Korean. But it clearly is the same as the English version because there are several english stickers all over the box and even on the icons of some the menus like MENU, HOME DISP. I'm betting it's the exact same unit just flashed with Japanese firmware. Do you know of a way to flash it with English firmware?

Thanks for responding.

Answer
Uh oh.  Didn't know they did that.  The western versions have all the available languages on board.  Don't know why they don't include them in the Asian versions.  More Asians speak English than the other way around.  

Well, while it is possible to change the firmware on any camera, I don't know if Sony will offer it as a service for an off-shore camera. You see, Sony USA is a separate company and offer different services form the parent.  You'll have to contact Sony customer service and see if they offer the firmware for download or if you would have to send it in; if they offer it at all.  If they don't offer it, the reason will be that they consider the camera gray-market and most companies don't offer service on gray-market cameras.  They want to protect US retail sales.  

So, call Sony.  And good luck.

John