Sony ILCE-7M4 (Alpha 7 IV) FTP setup

FTP · FTPESAccessory-assisted camera client2021

ILCE-7M4 (Alpha 7 IV) can initiate FTP, FTPES transfer of still images, original movies, proxy movies over Wi-Fi infrastructure/hotspot; USB-to-Ethernet; USB tethering. The documented route accepts a user-configured server; it is suitable for a destination-neutral ingest gateway after protocol, firmware, and payload testing.

Menu path: Configure the network route > MENU → Network → FTP Transfer > FTP Transfer Func. → Server Setting → Server 1 > Destination Settings / User Info / Directory Settings > FTP Function → On; Transfer or Auto Transfer. Protocols: FTP · FTPES. Sends: still images · original movies · proxy movies.

Documented from the manufacturer manual. Sources reviewed September 14, 2026.

TransportWi-Fi infrastructure/hotspot + USB-to-Ethernet + USB tethering

Payloadstill images · original movies · proxy movies

Triggersone-image, batch, and automatic/background transfer

Before you touch the menu

What to gather

01Use a network route supported by this body: Wi-Fi infrastructure/hotspot; USB-to-Ethernet; USB tethering.
02Have the required hardware ready: none for Wi-Fi; commercial USB-to-LAN adapter for Ethernet; USB cable and phone for USB tethering.
03Prepare a reachable FTP, FTPES server account, destination directory, and test file permissions before entering the field.
04Firmware qualification: Sony's current matrix requires system software 2.00 or later for some setup conveniences.
05For FTPES/secure FTP, obtain the issuing CA root certificate in the format accepted by the camera and verify the server certificate chain.

Connection fields

Display Name

A short human-readable label such as Camera to Anywhere Event A.

Lets the operator identify the correct saved destination under pressure.

Host Name

The public DNS name or reachable IP address supplied for the ingest endpoint; do not include a web URL path.

The camera opens its FTP-family connection to this host.

Secure Protocol

Select one of the modes the body documents: FTP, FTPES.

This determines whether credentials and media use plain FTP, TLS, or SSH protection.

Port

The endpoint port supplied with the ingest credentials; use the server value rather than assuming a default.

Camera and server must agree on the listening service.

User / Password

A camera-specific, least-privilege ingest credential.

Separating credentials per camera supports revocation and attribution.

Specify Directory

The remote inbox path assigned to this camera or event.

Keeps simultaneous bodies and clients isolated at ingest.

Passive Mode

Use the mode required by the server/firewall; passive is normally the workable choice behind venue NAT.

FTP data connections fail when the server and NAT/firewall expectations do not match.

Root Certificate / certificate-error policy

Import the trusted CA root and leave certificate validation enabled for production.

FTPES verifies that the camera reached the intended server.

The menu, step by step

Configure the network route

Join the venue access point/hotspot or configure the wired/tethered route documented for this body (Wi-Fi infrastructure/hotspot; USB-to-Ethernet; USB tethering).

Sony Alpha 7 IV FTP Help Guide showing the Network, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Connect menu path and access-point instructions — MANUFACTURER MANUAL EXCERPT · 1/1
For a hotspot or venue access point, Sony directs Alpha 7 IV operators to MENU > Network > Wi-Fi > Wi-Fi Connect > On, then WPS Push or Access Point Set when needed.
Sony ILCE-7M4 FTP Help Guide · PDF p. 6 ↗Narrow instructional excerpt from an official Sony help guide; copyright remains with Sony. The guide provides exact menu paths rather than camera-screen captures. Do not publish without a documented rights decision.

MENU → Network → FTP Transfer

Open FTP Transfer Func. Menu grouping can differ slightly with camera generation and firmware.

FTP Transfer Func. → Server Setting → Server 1

Choose an unused server slot; supported guides expose multiple reusable server registrations.

Destination Settings / User Info / Directory Settings

Enter the endpoint, security mode, credentials, and remote directory, then save the server registration.

Sony Alpha 7 IV FTP Help Guide listing Host Name, Secure Protocol, Port, directory, hierarchy, and same-file-name settings — MANUFACTURER MANUAL EXCERPT · 1/2
Destination Settings contains the Camera to Anywhere host, secure-protocol choice, port, and remote directory. Keep the generated connection card open while entering these values.
Sony ILCE-7M4 FTP Help Guide · PDF p. 10 ↗Narrow instructional excerpt from an official Sony help guide; copyright remains with Sony. The guide provides exact setting labels rather than camera-screen captures. Do not publish without a documented rights decision.

Sony Alpha 7 IV FTP Help Guide listing User and Password settings, server selection, secure protocol guidance, and passive-mode requirement — MANUFACTURER MANUAL EXCERPT · 2/2
Enter the camera-specific User and Password, select the saved server, and leave certificate validation intact. Sony also documents that this body does not support active-mode FTP.
Sony ILCE-7M4 FTP Help Guide · PDF p. 11 ↗Narrow instructional excerpt from an official Sony help guide; copyright remains with Sony. The guide provides exact setting labels rather than camera-screen captures. Do not publish without a documented rights decision.

FTP Function → On; Transfer or Auto Transfer

Enable FTP and start the documented mode: one-image, batch, and automatic/background transfer.

Sony Alpha 7 IV FTP Help Guide showing Auto FTP Transfer and Auto FTP Target menu paths for still images and movies — MANUFACTURER MANUAL EXCERPT · 1/1
After FTP Function is On, enable Auto FTP Transfer and choose the Auto FTP Target. Available still-image and movie filters depend on installed firmware.
Sony ILCE-7M4 FTP Help Guide · PDF p. 19 ↗Narrow instructional excerpt from an official Sony help guide; copyright remains with Sony. The guide provides exact menu paths rather than camera-screen captures. Do not publish without a documented rights decision.

What moves, and what does not

Transfer modes

Manual transfer is supported: one-image, batch, and automatic/background transfer.
Automatic/background transfer is documented for this firmware-qualified path; test whether it runs during the chosen shooting and playback state.
Use a small one-image transfer first, then a batch or automatic rule only after the endpoint reports a complete file.

Media behavior

Documented payload classes: still images, original movies, proxy movies.
When the menu offers original/proxy or file-type selection, explicitly choose the desired payload rather than relying on the prior job setting.
A movie transfer can be much larger than a still-image transfer; verify media and battery headroom before enabling an automatic rule.

Limits and warnings

Network routes are limited to: Wi-Fi infrastructure/hotspot; USB-to-Ethernet; USB tethering.
Plain FTP does not encrypt credentials or media; expose it only through a controlled gateway and prefer FTPES or SFTP when the body supports them.
Sony's current matrix requires system software 2.00 or later for some setup conveniences

Prove it on your body

Run this checklist on the exact body, firmware, network, and media format you will use on assignment.

Sony's current matrix requires system software 2.00 or later for some setup conveniences Physical Camera to Anywhere interoperability is not yet lab-verified.

01Send one small still or proxy to the assigned inbox.
02Confirm the server records the expected camera credential and target directory.
03Compare the received file size with the camera/media listing and open the file.
04Power-cycle or reconnect the camera, then confirm the saved server slot still targets the intended endpoint.
05If automatic transfer is enabled, make one new recording and verify it arrives without a manual selection.

If it will not send

01The server slot will not connect.

Confirm network link, DNS, endpoint reachability, protocol/port pairing, and that the account is allowed from the camera network.

02FTPES fails before login.

Verify camera date/time, CA root import, certificate hostname, TLS compatibility, and certificate-error setting.

03Login succeeds but files do not arrive.

Check the remote directory spelling, user write permission, filename collision policy, media selection, and free space.

04Automatic transfer does not start.

Confirm FTP Function is On, the intended server is selected, the auto/background mode is enabled, and the current recording mode permits transfer.

Sources

The local archive keeps this research reproducible if an official link changes. It is not redistributed through this site.

01
Official model or firmware evidence
FTP Transfer Function; Registering an FTP Server
Open manufacturer source ↗
02
Official manufacturer PDF
FTP Transfer Function; Registering an FTP Server
Open manufacturer source ↗

archived-official-pdf · retrieved 2026-08-26T04:40:28Z · 31 pages

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