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Exploring the CHAPTER11 Sony Alpha ✦✦✦✦ DSLR-A100 In This Chapter Up front

On top

f you’ve gone through the Quick Tour and gained some On the back Ibasic familiarity with the layout and controls of the Sony Alpha A100, you’ve probably gone out and taken some initial Viewfinder display pictures with your . Even a few hours’ work with this advanced tool has probably whetted your appetite to learn LCD display more about the A100’s features and how to use them. Viewing and playing Even if you’re an old hand with digital single lens reflex back images (dSLR) or have previously used cam- eras with similar layouts, I think you’ll find the roadmap fea- Activating the onboard tures of this chapter especially useful for locating the key flash controls amidst the bewildering array of dials and buttons that cover just about every surface of the A100. Metering modes

Of course, many new A100 owners are not old hands when it Semiautomatic and comes to dSLR . Learning to use the A100 as your manual first dSLR poses a bit of a challenge. For Alpha owners in this modes category, I provide a bit more detail on controls and features Programmed exposure in this chapter and those that follow. It’s likely that you find modes the information in this book more accessible and easier to understand thanCOPYRIGHTED the descriptions in the manual MATERIAL furnished ISO sensitivity with your camera. However, this book isn’t intended to com- pletely replace the manual — you still need it to look up sel- Setting white balance dom-used settings and options — but it should help you use your camera effectively more quickly. ✦✦✦✦ 06_126561 ch01.qxp 1/19/07 9:52 PM Page 14

14 Part I ✦ Using the Sony Alpha DSLR-A100

Although you may have reviewed your three-quarters-view looks at each half of the A100’s buttons and wheels in the manual, front of the camera, which I’ve -coded this chapter’s illustrations are designed to green (the left side of the camera when help you sort through the A100’s features looking at it head-on) and red (the right and controls quickly, especially when you’re side of the camera when seen from this out in the field taking photos. It concen- angle). trates on the buttons, dials, and other con- trols that you can access directly, without This chapter does not cover the A100’s menu and set-up visiting menus. options. To learn more about the menu and set-up options, see Chapter 2.

Up Front You activate many of the controls on the A100 with your left hand. However, there The front panel of the Sony Alpha A100 is are a few controls within the reach of your shown in figure 1.1. You can’t see all the right hand’s digits, as shown in figure 1.2. buttons and controls from a straight-on These controls and features include the perspective, so I’ll show you separate, following:

1.1 The business end of the Sony Alpha A100. 06_126561 ch01.qxp 1/19/07 9:52 PM Page 15

Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 15

Control dial Self-timer lamp

Hand grip Depth-of-field preview 1.2 The Sony Alpha A100’s left-front side, viewed from the subject’s position.

✦ Hand grip. The grip is the housing ✦ Control dial. This is the dial used for the A100’s battery, and also to dial in settings such as serves as a comfortable handhold speed (by default) in manual or for your fingers. You can hold the program shift modes. You can grip for both horizontal and vertical redefine its behavior in the Custom photos. 1 menu so that it changes the instead in both modes. ✦ Depth-of-field preview. This is the lower button (see figure 1.2) ✦ Self-timer lamp. This front- next to the lens mount. Press and mounted source of illumination hold the depth-of-field preview serves as the count-down indicator button. The lens stops down to the for the self-timer. taking aperture, the view through The other side of the A100 has a few more the finder might dim a little (or a controls, as shown in figure 1.3. These lot), and you can see just how include the following: much of the image is in focus. 06_126561 ch01.qxp 1/19/07 9:52 PM Page 16

16 Part I ✦ Using the Sony Alpha DSLR-A100

Lens mount aligning indicator Neckstrap lug

Lens release

Autofocus/manual focus button

DC-IN terminal cover 1.3 The Sony Alpha A100’s right-front side, viewed from the subject’s position.

✦ Neck strap lug. You can loop the ✦ DC-IN terminal cover. On the side neck strap of the A100 through this of the camera, you can see a rub- piece to more conveniently trans- ber cover that protects the A100’s port your camera. external adapter port. Flip open this cover and connect the external ✦ Lens release. Press and hold this power source when you need extra button to unlock the lens so you juice for long exposures or taking can rotate the lens to remove it photos over an extended period of from the camera. time (say, in the studio). ✦ Focus mode selector. You can flip the autofocus mode lever on the camera body to set the focus mode to either Autofocus (AF) or Manual focus (MF). 06_126561 ch01.qxp 1/19/07 9:52 PM Page 17

Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 17 On Top A bird’s-eye view provides the best perspec- tive of some of the controls on the lens. You can see the basic controls found on many zoom lenses in figure 1.6.

Not all these controls are found on all lenses, however, and some of them might DC-IN port be in different positions on different lenses (particularly those not produced by Sony). The key components are 1.4 DC power from the adapter connects here. ✦ . This is a removable cir- cular device that bayonets onto the The internal electronic flash unit (figure 1.5) front of the lens and protects it in two ways: it shields the lens from must be elevated manually as required by extraneous light outside the picture the lighting conditions but fires only when area that can cause flare that dam- required. If you want to ensure that the flash ages your image (producing is used, set the Function dial to , and reduced contrast or unwanted light choose the option, as I describe in artifacts), and it serves as protec- Chapter 5. The elevation of the flash helps tion for the glass if you should reduce the possibility of red-eye effects. happen to bump the against something. ✦ Focus ring. This is the ring you turn when you manually focus the lens when the camera is set to MF (Manual) focus. ✦ Zoom ring. This is the ring you turn to change the zoom setting. With many lenses, turning this ring to the right increases the , but you might find that the opposite is true with some lenses, especially those from third parties (which can be very frustrating!). 1.5 The built-in flash is elevated high above the lens, which helps reduce the possibility of red-effects. 06_126561 ch01.qxp 1/19/07 9:52 PM Page 18

18 Part I ✦ Using the Sony Alpha DSLR-A100

Lens mount aligning indicator Electrical contacts Lens hood Focus ring

Lens bayonet mount Focal length indicator

Zoom ring 1.6 The top and rear views of the 18–70mm kit lens.

✦ Focal length indicator. These ✦ Electrical contacts. These connec- markings on the lens show the cur- tors convey focus and exposure rent focal length selected. information between the camera and lens. ✦ Lens bayonet mount. This is the mounting flange that mates with a The top surface of the A100 has its own set matching flange on the camera of controls, as shown in figure 1.7. They when attaching a lens. include: ✦ Lens mount aligning indicator. Line up the red dot on the lens with the matching red indicator on the camera body’s bayonet mount when attaching a lens. 06_126561 ch01.qxp 1/19/07 9:52 PM Page 19

Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 19

✦ Function dial. This dial is your dial include Meter, Flash, and Focus access to a variety of functions not options, ISO/zone settings; White related to choosing a shooting Balance; D-R (Dynamic Range) mode. You access any of the func- optimizing (to improve tonal val- tions by turning the Function dial ues); and DEC (Digital Effects to the desired position and press- Control for color, saturation, and ing the Function button in the cen- contrast adjustments). ter of the dial. This activates a selection menu on the LCD screen Learn about each of the for choosing that function’s Function dial’s settings in Chapter 2. options. Functions available on this

Shutter button

Mode dial Control dial

Function dial Accessory shoe cover Drive button

Function button 1.7 Key components on the top panel of the A100. 06_126561 ch01.qxp 1/19/07 9:52 PM Page 20

20 Part I ✦ Using the Sony Alpha DSLR-A100

✦ Accessory shoe cover. After ✦ Drive button. Press this button to removing this cover, you can produce the Drive mode menu on mount a Sony external electronic the LCD, where you can choose flash on the slide-in shoe. The self-timer, single shot, continuous shoe includes multiple electrical shooting, and several different contacts to trigger the flash and to single/continuous shot allow the camera and flash to mode options. communicate exposure and other information. You can also attach Learn about each of the self- other flash units made by other timer, continuous advance, and bracketing drive functions in vendors, but not all functions may Chapter 2. operate. ✦ . Turn this dial to set the A100 to Manual, Shutter-Priority, Aperture-Priority, or Program semi- On the Back automatic exposure modes, or to one of the fully automated modes The back panel of the Sony Alpha A100 is such as Auto, Portrait, Landscape, studded with more than 15 controls, many Macro, Sports Action, Sunset, or of which serve more than one function. Night View/Night Portrait. Where other cameras force you to access a menu to make many basic settings, you just ✦ Control dial. This is the dial you press the appropriate button on the A100, use to change settings such as shut- turn the command dial or use the multi- ter speed (by default) in manual or selector, and make the adjustment you program shift modes. You can rede- want. I’ve divided this crowded back panel fine its behavior in the Custom 1 into three color-coded sections. menu so that it changes the aper- ture instead in both modes. ✦ Shutter button. Partially depress Top this button to lock in exposure and focus; press it all the way to take The top quarter of the back panel includes a the picture. Tapping the shutter few frequently-accessed controls. release when the camera has ✦ turned off the auto exposure and Power switch. Turns the camera autofocus mechanisms reactivates on and off. both. When a review image is dis- ✦ Viewfinder eyepiece. The rubber played on the back-panel color eyecup shields the viewfinder from LCD, tapping this button removes extraneous light, much like a lens the image from the display and hood — a necessary component reactivates the auto exposure and because light entering the autofocus mechanisms. viewfinder can affect the exposure meter. The eyecup is removable. 06_126561 ch01.qxp 1/19/07 9:52 PM Page 21

Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 21

1.8 Key components on the back panel of the A100.

Diopter correction

Viewfinder eyepiece Autoexposure lock

Power switch Eyepiece sensors Reduce image Enlarge image 1.9 Key components on the top of the back panel of the A100. 06_126561 ch01.qxp 1/19/07 9:52 PM Page 22

22 Part I ✦ Using the Sony Alpha DSLR-A100

✦ Eyepiece sensors. These sensors button’s functions appears later in this detect whether or not the photogra- chapter. The buttons include: pher is looking through the viewfinder. In Custom menu 2 (see ✦ Menu. Use this button to access Chapter 2), you can set the A100 so the A100’s multilevel menu sys- that the LCD turns off automatically tem. You can find two pages each when you look into the viewfinder of Recording, Playback, and (the default), or so the monitor Custom menu items, plus three stays on. In addition, in Setup menu pages of Setup menu options. 3, you can change the length of Note that Sony has configured the time the LCD remains on (whether menus in both vertical and hori- or not you’re looking through the zontal formats, and when you viewfinder), with settings of 5, 10, the camera from one orientation to 30, or 60 seconds. Activate the LCD another the menus adjust to a new again by tapping the shutter release layout. I use the landscape orienta- button or performing another oper- tion exclusively when showing ation that requires the LCD. menu entries in this book. ✦ Diopter correction. Rotate this I explain all the Custom menu knob to adjust the diopter correc- items and Setup menu options tion for your eyesight. in Chapter 2. ✦ Exposure compensation/Reduce ✦ Display. This button changes the image. While shooting, you can amount of status information hold down this button and spin shown on the screen in Recording the Control dial to the left to mode, and the image display in reduce exposure, or to the right to Playback mode. Unlike some other increase exposure. dSLRs you might be familiar with, ✦ Autoexposure lock/Enlarge the A100 lacks a monochrome sta- image (AEL). While shooting, tus display that shows the current pressing this button locks the shooting settings. Instead, this infor- exposure at the current setting. mation, including shooting mode, During playback, this button zooms shutter speed, and aperture, appear in on the image on the LCD. on the LCD display. The Display but- ton changes from a detailed display, such as the one in figure 1.11, to an Lower left enlarged display of the same basic information with larger letters. Both This is the A100’s hot corner, because it has views rotate when you hold the a collection of some of the function buttons camera in vertical orientation. In you may use most frequently. They each Playback mode, the Display button can have multiple functions, so you need shifts between a single screen to keep your camera’s current mode image with recording data, a single (playback/shooting, and so on) in mind screen image without recording when you attempt to access a specific fea- data, and an index screen showing ture. A more complete description of each several thumbnails. 06_126561 ch01.qxp 1/19/07 9:52 PM Page 23

Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 23

Display Menu LCD

Trash Playback 1.10 Key components on the back left panel of the A100.

✦ Trash. In Playback mode, press this button to delete the displayed image. A dialog box reading “Delete this image? Yes No” appears. Select Yes with the Controller keys and press the cen- ter key to delete the image. ✦ Playback button. Use this button to enter the picture review (Playback) mode. Press again or press the shutter button halfway to return to shooting mode. 1.11 The LCD menu displayed in detailed, ✦ LCD. The color LCD displays your horizontal mode. images for review and provides access to the menu system. 06_126561 ch01.qxp 1/19/07 9:52 PM Page 24

24 Part I ✦ Using the Sony Alpha DSLR-A100

keys. The up/down keys have sec- Lower right ondary functions, too. Pressing the You’ll find a second cluster of controls and up key produces the information components in the lower-right corner of the display with a histogram for the back panel: current image; the down key rotates the current image. ✦ Controller. You use this cursor-pad type controller to navigate menus You can read about histograms as well as scroll through photos in Chapter 3. you’re reviewing using the left/right

Controller Histogram AF spot button Access lamp

Rotate Remote control jack Super SteadyShot 1.12 Key components on the lower-right corner of the back panel of the A100. 06_126561 ch01.qxp 1/19/07 9:52 PM Page 25

Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 25

✦ AF spot button/center button. Video/USB jack This key embedded in the center of the Controller pad changes the autofocus area to the center spot in the viewfinder when you press it; it also serves as an “enter” or “set” key when you navigate menu options.

Chapter 2 contains coverage of choosing focus area modes.

✦ Access lamp. This lamp blinks while an image writes to the Compact Flash or Memory Stick Duo cards, when the camera is first started, goes to sleep, or is turned off. ✦ Super SteadyShot. Slide this switch up or down to activate or deactivate the A100’s anti-shake feature. ✦ Remote control jack. Hidden under a rubber cover, this port can be connected to a remote control triggering device, such as the Sony RM-S1AM Remote Commander. 1.13 The video/USB jack enables you to connect your A100 to your video monitor or computer. One additional port tucked out of sight is the Video/USB jack, located beneath the Compact Flash/Memory Stick Duo Adapter door. Using one of the cables supplied with Viewfinder Display your Sony Alpha, you can use this port to The A100 provides a lot of status informa- connect to the video port on your television tion in the viewfinder, as you can see from or composite monitor. Another cable plugs figure 1.14, although not all of it is visible at into the same port and connects to a USB one time. Here’s the skinny: port on your computer; you use it to trans- fer photos directly from your camera to your ✦ Wide focus frames. This is the computer. boundary within which the nine focus frames used for autofocus (shown in blue and black in figure 1.14) reside. 06_126561 ch01.qxp 1/19/07 9:52 PM Page 26

26 Part I ✦ Using the Sony Alpha DSLR-A100

Wireless flash in use Narrow focus frames

Wide focus frames

Spot metering area

Spot focus frame

Aperture Frames remaining

Super SteadyShot scale

Shutter speed Exposure scale Camera shake warning

Focus indicator

Auto exposure lock

High-speed sync

Flash charge indicator

Flash compensation 1.14 The viewfinder includes these readouts and indicators (with color added for clarity).

✦ Narrow focus frames. These are ✦ Spot focus frame. This is the the eight focus frames used when focus frame used exclusively when Wide AF area autofocus is selected, you’ve selected Spot AF area focus as I explain in Chapter 2. The focus mode, or when you’re using Wide frame selected by the camera is AF area or Focus Area Selection illuminated in red when you press modes and you press the the shutter button halfway. In this AF/center button of the Controller. mode you can switch to the center ✦ Spot metering area. This marks Spot focus frame by pressing the the area used for spot metering. AF/center button of the controller. 06_126561 ch01.qxp 1/19/07 9:52 PM Page 27

Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 27

is locked out. A flashing green dot Chapter 2 explains more about indicates that the A100 is unable spot metering. to achieve focus (you might be too close to your subject). ✦ Flash compensation. This shows the amount of added/reduced ✦ Shutter speed. This displays the exposure for electronic flash shots currently set shutter speed. (see Chapter 5). ✦ Aperture. This displays the cur- ✦ Flash charge indicator. This rently set f-stop. blinks while the electronic flash is ✦ Continuous frames remaining. charging for use; it remains lit This indicates the number of con- when the flash is fully charged. tinuous frames that can be shot. As ✦ Wireless flash in use. This is dis- photos are moved into the buffer played when HVL-F56AM or HVL- and then out to the memory card, F36AM flash units are being used this number changes dynamically. off-camera in wireless mode. For example, a 9 may appear when you begin shooting, then decrease ✦ High-speed sync. This appears until it reaches 3, and then when HVL-F56AM or HVL-F36AM increase again as the camera off- flash units are being used at shut- loads shots to the memory card. ter speeds higher than 1/160th When you’re shooting JPEGs at any second. resolution, the A100 generally See Chapter 5 for more infor- “keeps ahead” of the available mation about using High-speed space in the buffer, so there is no sync to shoot at shutter speeds limit to the number of shots that shorter than 1/160 second. you can take continuously at 3 fps (frames per second) until the ✦ Auto exposure lock. This illumi- memory card fills. The camera can nates when you press the autoex- take about three images continu- posure lock button. ously using RAW+JPEG, or six ✦ Focus indicator. This indicator images using RAW alone. changes to show the focus status. ✦ Exposure scale. This readout When focus is locked, a green dot shows the calculated ideal expo- appears. When the green dot is sure (in the center of the scale) surrounded by round brackets (as with a marker showing the selected in figure 1.14), focus is confirmed exposure, if it’s plus or minus two but the focus will follow a moving f-stops from the recommended set- object. When the round brackets ting. When the camera is bracket- are illuminated, but the green dot ing, a set of three markers appears isn’t visible, the camera is still aut- showing the range covered by the ofocusing and the shutter release bracketed exposures. 06_126561 ch01.qxp 1/19/07 9:52 PM Page 28

28 Part I ✦ Using the Sony Alpha DSLR-A100

✦ Camera shake warning. This indi- Along the top edge, you can find: cator flashes whenever the camera detects a shutter speed setting ✦ Shooting mode. This indicates slow enough to cause blur if the whether the Program, Aperture camera is hand-held or Super Priority, Shutter Priority, or Manual SteadyShot is not activated. When exposure modes; Auto mode; or you see this warning, you should one of the Scene modes are in either turn on Super SteadyShot (if use. it’s not already activated) or use a ✦ Exposure scale. This readout . shows the calculated ideal expo- ✦ Super SteadyShot scale. One to sure (in the center of the scale) five bars appear showing the with a marker showing the degree of camera shake detected selected exposure, if it’s plus or by the Sony Alpha A100. minus two f-stops from the recom- mended setting. When the camera is bracketing, a set of three mark- ers appears showing the range LCD Display covered by the bracketed expo- sures. The LCD status display shows a broad range ✦ of current status information. This display is Shutter speed. This displays the a bit much to bite off in one chunk, as you currently set shutter speed. can see by the full display in figure 1.15. In ✦ Aperture. This displays the cur- practice, only a fraction of this information rently set f-stop. appears at any one time.

Exposure scale

Exposure compensation Saturation

Flash compensation Shutter speed Sharpness

Shooting mode Aperture

Flash mode ISO sensitivity

Contrast Image size Color mode Dynamic range optimizer Image quality

Autoexposure lock Number of images remaining Battery level

Metering mode Drive mode

White balance Release priority

AF area AF mode 1.15 LCD status display readouts and indicators. 06_126561 ch01.qxp 1/19/07 9:52 PM Page 29

Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 29

Along the left side, you’ll find: ✦ AF area. The Autofocus area indi- cates whether Wide AF area, Spot ✦ Flash mode. This shows whether AF area, or Focus area selection Auto, Fill Flash, Rear Sync, or (user-selectable focus area) is in Wireless flash mode is in use. (In use. Auto mode, Front Sync is used by ✦ AF mode. Autofocus mode shows default.) whether AF-S (Single-shot Autofocus), ✦ Exposure compensation. This AF-C (Continuous Autofocus), shows the amount of AF-A (Automatic Autofocus), or added/reduced exposure. DMF (Direct Manual Focus) have been set. ✦ Flash compensation. This shows the amount of added/reduced ✦ Release priority. In Custom menu exposure for electronic flash shots. 1, you can set whether the shutter is locked when focus is not con- For more on flash modes, see firmed (the default value, AF), or Chapter 5. specify that you can release the shutter even when focus is not set. ✦ This indicates which Color mode. In that case, the RP icon appears color mode is being used, from here. Standard, Vivid (extra saturation), B/W (), Adobe RGB ✦ Drive mode. This shows whether (red, green, blue), Portrait, single shot, continuous shooting, Landscape, Sunset, or Night View. self-timer, continuous exposure bracketing, single shot exposure ✦ This shows the amount Contrast. bracketing, or white balance brack- of contrast adjustment made, on a eting is selected. scale of plus or minus 2. ✦ Saturation. This shows the amount Along the bottom edge, you can find: of saturation adjustment made, on a scale of plus or minus 2. ✦ Battery level. This shows the amount of remaining battery ✦ This shows the amount Sharpness. power. of sharpness adjustment made, on a scale of plus or minus 2. ✦ White balance. This indicates whether auto white balance, a ✦ This Dynamic range optimizer. white balance preset, a precise appears if D-R Optimizer or D-R+ , a color correc- Optimizer tonal adjustments have tion filter adjustment, or a custom been activated. has been selected. ✦ This shows . ✦ Autoexposure lock. This appears whether multisegment (matrix), when you press the autoexposure center-weighted, or spot metering lock (AEL) button. is active. ✦ Number of images remaining. This shows the number of frames that can be taken using the avail- able memory card space. 06_126561 ch01.qxp 1/19/07 9:52 PM Page 30

30 Part I ✦ Using the Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 Along the right side: Viewing and Playing ✦ ISO sensitivity. This displays the current ISO setting, Auto setting, or Back Images Zone matching (Lo80 or Hi200). The A100’s Playback mode lets you review ✦ Image size. This indicates whether your images, delete the bad ones, and L (10 megapixels (MP), 3872 x decide on exposure or compositional 2592 ), M (5.6MP, 2896 x tweaks to improve your next shots. 1936 pixels), or S (2.5MP, 1920 x 1280 pixels) have been selected. Follow these steps to review your images: ✦ Image quality. This shows whether Fine or Std (standard) 1. Press the Display button. This JPEG (only), RAW, or RAW+ (RAW cycles among a display of the plus JPEG Fine) have been image with basic shooting informa- selected. tion (see figure 1.16), no informa- tion, or an index screen.

1.16 Review your photos using the color LCD. 06_126561 ch01.qxp 1/19/07 9:52 PM Page 31

Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 31

2. Press the left/right keys to Set the Function dial to Flash, press the scroll forward and backward Function button, and adjust to one of the among the images taken. In following flash modes. Index mode, use the left/right/up/down keys to find the ✦ Auto. This is the default mode and image you want. If your memory causes the flash to fire under low card contains several folders of light conditions, or when your sub- images, you can also navigate ject is backlit. This mode is not between the different folder available when you use A, S, or M names, using the Reduce key to shooting modes. highlight a folder name. ✦ Fill Flash. The electronic flash 3. When viewing a single image, always fires. press Enlarge to zoom in, or ✦ Rear-curtain sync. The flash is Reduce to zoom out. While delayed until just before the shut- zoomed, you can use the controller ter closes. This records the flash keys to scroll around within the image after any ghost images have image. faded. Ghost images result from a 4. To delete an image or folder, secondary exposure from ambient highlight the image or folder light when objects move during and press Delete. Choose Yes exposure so that the secondary when the dialog box appears, and images seem to trail the flash press the center button of the con- image. Unless you select this troller to confirm. mode, the A100 uses front curtain sync, in which the flash fires as 5. When viewing a single image, soon as the shutter opens. press the Up key to display the histogram, a thumbnail of the ✦ Wireless. Use this mode when image, and a summary of the you use an off-camera flash (either exposure information. the HVL-F56AM or HVL-F36AM) in wireless mode. Activating the Metering Modes Onboard Flash The A100 can use any one of three different The Sony Alpha A100 has a built-in flash exposure metering methods when it’s set to unit you can activate by flipping it up man- P, A, S, or M exposure modes (which I dis- ually with your finger. The camera uses the cuss later in the chapter). Select the meter- flash only when it detects low light levels ing mode by turning the Function dial to the suitable for flash photography and calcu- Metering icon, pressing the Function button, lates the proper exposure for you. and choosing from these three options in the dialog box that appears: Chapter 5 contains more infor- mation about using flash. 06_126561 ch01.qxp 1/19/07 9:52 PM Page 32

32 Part I ✦ Using the Sony Alpha DSLR-A100

✦ Multisegment (matrix). The cam- to set the shutter speed and aperture. You era examines 40 different zones in can also set these four exposure modes the frame and chooses the expo- using the Mode dial. Your choices include: sure based on that information. Figure 1.17 shows 39 of the zones ✦ Program. In this mode, the A100 highlighted in blue; the 40th zone automatically chooses an appropri- is the area surrounding the honey- ate shutter speed and f-stop to comb-shaped zones. provide the correct exposure. However, you can override these ✦ Center-weighted. The camera col- settings. You can change to an lects exposure information over the equivalent exposure using a differ- entire frame, but when it makes its ent shutter speed by spinning the calculations, it emphasizes a cen- Control dial; the A100 adjusts the tral area of the screen. aperture automatically using a fea- ✦ Spot. The exposure is calculated ture called Program Shift. You can entirely from the center spot area also change the behavior of the (highlighted in red in figure 1.17). camera in Custom menu 1 so that rotating the Control dial changes the aperture, with the A100 adjust- ing the shutter speed. You can also add or subtract exposure from the metered exposure by pressing the Exposure Compensation button and rotating the Control dial. ✦ Shutter Priority. In this exposure mode, you specify the shutter speed with the Control dial, and the A100 selects an appropriate f- stop. If a correct exposure cannot be achieved at the shutter speed you select, the aperture value in 1.17 Multisegment and spot-metering the viewfinder flashes. zones. ✦ . In this exposure mode, you specify the f-stop to be used with the Control dial, and the Semiautomatic and A100 selects the shutter speed for you. If this isn’t possible because Manual Exposure there is insufficient or too much light, the A100 flashes the shutter Modes speed value in the viewfinder. Change to a smaller aperture if The Sony Alpha A100 has three semiauto- there is too much light, or a larger matic exposure modes that enable you to one if there is too little light so the specify shutter speed, aperture, or combina- Aperture Priority function can tions of the two; and a Manual Exposure operate. mode that gives you the complete freedom 06_126561 ch01.qxp 1/19/07 9:52 PM Page 33

Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 33

✦ Manual. You can select both the in front of the Eiffel Tower. Don’t shutter speed and f-stop using the use this mode if you want every Control dial (for shutter speed) picture in a series to be exposed and Exposure Compensation but- exactly the same. If you change ton + Control dial (for aperture). shooting angles or reframe your You can watch the exposure scale image, the A100 might match your display in the viewfinder as a shot with a different image in its guideline; when correct exposure is database and produce a slightly dif- achieved, the indicator is centered ferent (but still “optimized”) look. in the scale. ✦ Portrait. In this mode, the A100 assumes you’re taking a portrait of a subject (or two) standing rela- tively close to the camera. So, it Programmed automatically focuses on the near- est subject and uses a wider lens Exposure Modes opening (which can help throw the The A100 has six automated Scene modes, background out of focus). Don’t plus full Auto, which make all the setting use this mode if your portrait sub- decisions for you. You can choose these ject is not the closest object to the modes from the Mode dial. They include: camera. ✦ Landscape. Scenic photos are usu- ✦ Auto. In this mode, the A100’s ally taken of distant objects, with brains take care of the settings, vivid and sharp detail highly based on what kind of shot you’ve desirable, so that’s what your A100 framed in the viewfinder. For exam- adjusts its settings to produce. ple, the camera knows how far However, you can assume that away the subject is (from the auto- electronic flash isn’t of much help matic focus mechanism); the color in shooting your vistas, so Sony of the light (which tells the camera recommends lowering the flash whether you’re indoors or out- unit when using this mode. doors); and from the multisegment ✦ Your A100 makes some metering exposure data and other Macro. adjustments suitable for close-up information, the camera can make photos when you choose this some pretty good guesses about mode. For example, the automatic the kind of subject matter (land- focusing mechanism concentrates scape, portrait, and so forth). After on the center of the frame comparing your shot to its picture (because that’s where most close- database, the A100 decides on the up subjects are located), and does- best settings to use when you press n’t seek sharp focus until you the shutter release. Auto is the partially depress the shutter mode to use when you want one of release button. those fumble-fingered neophytes in your tour group to take your picture 06_126561 ch01.qxp 1/19/07 9:52 PM Page 34

34 Part I ✦ Using the Sony Alpha DSLR-A100

✦ Sports Action. The A100 switches into a Continuous Autofocus mode Setting White (AF-C) that tries to track moving subjects to keep them in focus. Balance The A100 is switched into continu- To more closely match the A100’s color ren- ous shooting mode so you can dition to the color of the illumination used capture action sequences at up to to expose an image, you can set the white three frames per second. This Scene mode also uses higher shut- balance. Turn the Function dial to WB, and ter speeds. choose one of the following selections: Preset value (daylight, shade, cloudy, ✦ Sunset. In this mode, color, satura- tungsten, fluorescent, flash — each with tion, and exposure are optimized plus/minus three fine-tuning settings); to reproduce the reds of sunsets Color temperature (from 2500K to 9900K); and sunrises brilliantly. or Recall/set a custom white balance. ✦ Night Portrait/Night View In this mode, the A100 uses shutter speeds as long as two seconds to allow dark backgrounds and shad- ows to be properly exposed. You can use flash if you want to illumi- nate subjects in the foreground, but don’t use it for night scenes at a distance. For longer exposures, use either a tripod or make sure Super SteadyShot is turned on.

ISO Sensitivity 1.18 White balance options. The A100 can choose the sensitivity setting (ISO) for you automatically, or you can For more information on ISO and white balance, see Chapter 2. choose a setting manually. Just turn the Function dial to ISO, press the Function but- ton, and choose Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, or 1600 from the menu. If you want to use the Zone Matching feature, select Lo80 to keep dark scenes from becoming underex- posed, or Hi200 to keep extra bright scenes from becoming overexposed.