4-420-756-11(1) Interchangeable Lens Preparing the camera Digital Camera Shooting and viewing images Shooting images to suit your subject α Handbook Using the shooting A-mount functions Using the playback functions Functions list Viewing images on a computer Others Advanced operations Index ©2012 Sony Corporation SLT-A57 Table of Contents Basic operations ................................................................. 9 This section provides basic information on operating the camera. The contents of the “Basic operations” section are the same as those in the Instruction Manual supplied. Notes on using your camera ............................................ 10 Preparing the camera Checking the supplied items ............................................ 12 Identifying parts ............................................................... 13 Charging the battery pack ................................................ 19 Inserting the battery pack/memory card (sold separately) ..................................................................................... 21 Attaching a lens ............................................................... 24 Turning the camera on and setting the clock ................... 27 Before shooting ............................................................... 29 Adjusting the viewfinder to the visual acuity (diopter adjustment)......................................................... 29 Holding the camera properly ...................................... 29 Shooting and viewing images Shooting still images ....................................................... 31 Recording movies ............................................................ 33 Playing back images ........................................................ 34 Deleting images (Delete) ................................................. 35 Shooting images to suit your subject Adjusting the angle of the LCD screen ........................... 36 Shooting with the various shooting modes ...................... 37 Superior Auto .................................................. 38 Scene Selection .................................................. 39 Sweep Panorama/ 3D Sweep Panorama ....... 40 Continuous Advance Priority AE Mode ............ 41 Using the shooting functions Using the flash ................................................................. 42 Adjusting the brightness of the image ............................. 44 2 Selecting the drive mode .................................... 46 Switching the recording information display (DISP) ...... 47 Setting image size ............................................................ 48 Image Size .................................................................. 48 Panorama: Size ........................................................... 48 Using the playback functions Enlarging images ............................................................. 50 Switching to the display of the image list ....................... 51 Viewing images on a TV screen ...................................... 52 Functions list Functions that can be operated with the buttons/switch ..................................................................................... 53 Selecting a function with the Fn (Function) button ......... 54 Functions that can be selected with the Fn (Function) button ..................................................................................... 55 The functions selected with the MENU button ............... 57 Using the guide function of the camera ........................... 64 In-Camera Guide ........................................................ 64 Shooting Tip ............................................................... 64 Viewing images on a computer Using with your computer ............................................... 66 Using the software ........................................................... 68 Selecting the method for creating a disc of movies ......... 71 Others List of icons on the screen ............................................... 74 Functions available for each shooting mode ................... 77 Flash modes available ..................................................... 78 Advanced operations ...............................................................79 This section provides further information on the camera. Preparation Setting up the camera ...................................................... 80 Removing the eyecup ................................................. 80 The screen displayed for shooting mode ......................... 81 Selecting the screen mode .......................................... 81 3 Histogram ................................................................... 82 The digital level gauge ............................................... 83 Monitoring the subject through the lens without effects displayed ........................................................... 83 List of icons for viewfinder mode .............................. 84 Shooting a clear image without camera shake ................ 86 Camera shake warning indicator ................................ 86 Using the SteadyShot function ................................... 86 Using a tripod ............................................................. 87 Shooting Selecting the shooting mode ............................................ 88 Intelligent Auto/ Flash Off .............................. 88 Superior Auto .................................................... 88 Scene Selection .................................................. 89 Sweep Panorama/ 3D Sweep Panorama ....... 91 Cont. Priority AE Mode ..................................... 93 Program Auto ......................................................... 94 Aperture Priority ................................................... 95 Shutter Priority ....................................................... 97 Manual Exposure ................................................... 99 BULB ................................................................... 100 Movie recording setup ................................................... 103 Recording movies easily .......................................... 103 Digital Zoom ............................................................ 104 Recording movies with the shutter speed and aperture adjusted ........................................................... 105 File Format ............................................................... 105 Record Setting .......................................................... 106 Audio Recording ...................................................... 107 Adjusting the focus ........................................................ 109 Autofocus ................................................................. 109 Focus-lock ................................................................ 111 Autofocus Mode ....................................................... 112 AF area ..................................................................... 113 The AF illuminator ................................................... 113 Object Tracking ........................................................ 114 Manual focus ............................................................ 116 Peaking ..................................................................... 117 4 Focus Magnifier ....................................................... 117 Detecting faces .............................................................. 119 Face Detection .......................................................... 119 Face Registration ...................................................... 120 Auto Port. Framing ................................................... 121 Smile Shutter ............................................................ 122 Adjusting the brightness of the image ........................... 124 AE Lock ................................................................... 124 Metering Mode ......................................................... 125 Flash Comp. ............................................................. 125 Flash control ............................................................. 126 The flash ........................................................................ 128 Wireless flash ........................................................... 128 Setting ISO .................................................................... 130 Multi frame noise reduction ..................................... 130 Compensating for the brightness and contrast automatically (D-Range) ................................................................. 131 D-RangeOptimizer ................................................... 131 Auto HDR ................................................................ 132 Setting the image processing ......................................... 134 Picture Effect ............................................................ 134 Creative Style ........................................................... 135 Adjusting the color tones (White balance) .................... 137 The fine adjustment screen for color ........................ 138 Color Temp./Color Filter ......................................... 139 Custom white balance .............................................. 139 Magnifies images with higher scale than the optical zoom (ZOOM) ................................................................... 141 Selecting the drive mode .................................. 144 Shooting single shot ................................................