User manual SONY ALPHA DSLR-A450

[. . . ] Preparing the camera Before your operation Shooting images Using the shooting function Using the viewing function Changing your setup Viewing images on a computer Printing images Additional information on this product and answers to frequently asked questions can be found at our Customer Support Website. Digital Single Lens Reflex Camera Instruction Manual DSLR-A450 Printed using VOC (Volatile Organic Compound)-free vegetable oil based ink. Owner's Record The model and serial numbers are located on the bottom. Refer to these numbers whenever you call upon your Sony dealer regarding this product. __________________________ WARNING To reduce fire or shock hazard, do not expose the unit to rain or moisture. IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS. DANGER - TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, CAREFULLY FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS. If the shape of the plug does not fit the power outlet, use an attachment plug adaptor of the proper configuration for the power outlet. Caution Battery pack If the battery pack is mishandled, the battery pack can burst, cause a fire or even chemical burns. [. . . ] If the built-in flash is used while the wireless flash mode is still active, inaccurate flash exposures will result. · Change the channel of the external flash when another photographer is using a wireless flash nearby and his/her built-in flash light causes your external flash to fire. To change the channel of the external flash, refer to the operating instructions supplied with it. Setup of the AEL button When using a wireless flash, it is recommended that you set [AEL button] to [AEL hold] in the Custom menu (page 125). 85 Adjusting the brightness of the image (Exposure, Flash compensation, Metering) Shooting with fixed brightness (AE Lock) When shooting into the sun or by a window, the exposure may not be appropriate for the subject because of the big difference in lighting between the subject and the background. In such cases, use the light meter where the subject is bright enough and lock the exposure before shooting. To reduce the brightness of the subject, point the camera forwards a spot that is brighter than the subject and use the light meter to lock the exposure of the entire image. To make the subject brighter, point the camera forwards a spot that is darker than the subject and use the light meter to lock the exposure of the entire image. This section describes how to shoot a brighter image of the subject using the (Spot). The spot where you lock the exposure. 1 Fn button t (Metering mode) t (Spot) 2 Adjust the focus on the portion you want to lock the exposure. The exposure is set when the focus is achieved. 86 3 Press the AEL button to lock the exposure. (AE lock mark) appears. AEL button 4 While pressing the AEL button, focus on the subject, and shoot the subject. · If you continue to shoot with the same exposure value, press and hold the AEL button after the shooting. The setting is canceled when the button is released. Using the shooting function Using brightness compensation for the entire image (Exposure compensation) Except for exposure mode M, the exposure is automatically selected (Automatic exposure). Based on the exposure acquired by the automatic exposure, you can perform exposure compensation by shifting the exposure to either the + side or the ­ side, depending on your preference. The entire image becomes darker when you shift it to the ­ side. Adjust in the ­ direction Base exposure Adjust in the + direction 87 1 Press the button to display the exposure compensation screen. button 2 Adjust the exposure with the control dial. Toward + (over): Brightens an image. Toward ­ (under): Darkens an image. Standard exposure 3 Adjust the focus and shoot the subject. Shooting techniques · Adjust the compensation level by checking the recorded image. · Using bracket shooting, you can shoot multiple images with the exposure shifted to the plus or minus sides (page 103). Note · This item cannot be set when the exposure mode dial is set to AUTO, M, or Scene Selection. Adjusting the amount of flash light (Flash compensation) When shooting with the flash, you can adjust the amount of flash light alone, without changing the exposure compensation. You can only change the exposure of a main subject which is within the flash range. Fn button t (Flash compens. ) t Select the desired setting Toward +: Makes the flash level higher. Toward ­: Makes the flash level lower. Notes · This item cannot be set when the exposure mode is set to AUTO or Scene Selection. 88 · If you have adjusted the flash level, appears in the viewfinder when the built-in flash is pulled up. · The higher flash effect may not be visible due to the limited amount of flash light, if the subject is outside the maximum range of the flash. If the subject is very close, the lower flash effect may not be visible. Exposure compensation and flash compensation Exposure compensation changes the shutter speed, aperture, and ISO sensitivity (when [AUTO] is selected) to perform the compensation. However, flash compensation only changes the amount of flash light. Selecting the flash control mode to set the amount of flash light (Flash control) MENU button t setting ADI flash 1 t [Flash control] t Select the desired This method controls the lighting of the flash, factoring in the focus distance information and light metering data from the pre-flash. This method enables an accurate flash compensation with virtually no effect from the reflection off the subject. This method controls the amount of flash light depending on the data only from pre-flash light metering. This method is susceptible to the reflection off the subject. Using the shooting function Pre-flash TTL ADI: Advanced Distance Integration TTL: Through the lens · When [ADI flash] is selected, using a lens that is provided with a distance encoder feature can perform more accurate flash compensation by using more accurate distance information. Notes · When the distance between the subject and the external flash (sold separately) cannot be determined (wireless flash shooting using an external flash (sold separately), shooting with an off-camera flash using a cable, shooting with a macro twin flash, etc. ), the camera automatically selects Pre-flash TTL mode. · Select [Pre-flash TTL] in the following cases, as the camera cannot perform flash compensations with ADI flash. ­ A diffuser is used for flash shooting. 89 ­ A filter with an exposure factor, such as an ND filter, is used. [. . . ] Note that if you attempt to shoot with moisture remaining inside the lens, you will be unable to record clear images. On storing Be sure to attach the lens cap or body cap when not using the camera. When attaching the body cap, remove all the dust from the cap before placing it on the camera. When you purchase the DT 18 ­ 55 mm F3. 5 ­ 5. 6 SAM Lens Kit, purchase the Rear Lens Cap ALCR55 also. Others On the internal rechargeable battery This camera has an internal rechargeable battery for maintaining the date and time and other settings regardless of whether the power is on or off. 163 This rechargeable battery is continually charged as long as you are using the camera. However, if you use the camera for only short periods, it discharges gradually, and if you do not use the camera at all for about 3 months it becomes completely discharged. [. . . ]