User manual SONY ALPHA DSLR-A500

[. . . ] 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-A500/A550 Printed on 70% or more recycled paper 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. [. . . ] · AF illuminator does not operate when [Smile Shutter] is set to [On]. To deactivate the AF illuminator MENU button t 1 t [AF illuminator] t [Off] To use the red-eye reduction The red-eye reduction reduces the red-eye phenomenon by providing preflash (low-flash light) a few times before shooting when using the flash. MENU button t 1 t [Red eye reduc. ] t [On] 90 Performing wireless flash shooting With a flash that has a wireless shooting function (sold separately), you can shoot with the flash without a cord, even when the flash is not attached to the camera. By changing the position of the flash, you can shoot an image with a three dimensional feel by highlighting the contrast of light and shadow on the subject. For the actual steps of shooting, refer to the operating instructions of the flash. 1 Attach the wireless flash to the accessory shoe and turn both the camera and the flash on. 2 Fn button t (Flash mode) t (Wireless) Using the shooting function 3 Remove the wireless flash from the accessory shoe and pop up the built-in flash. · If you perform a test fire of the flash, press the AEL button. Notes · The camera cannot carry out the wireless lighting ratio control. · Turn off the wireless flash mode after wireless flash shooting. 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 133). 91 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. 92 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 93 1 Press the button. button · The exposure compensation screen is displayed in the viewfinder mode. 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 110). Note · This item cannot be set when the exposure mode is set to AUTO or Scene Selection. To shoot while checking the screen using the histogram The histogram displays the luminance distribution that shows how many pixels of a particular brightness exist in the picture. To display the histogram, press the DISP button (pages 40 and 115). Number of pixels Dark Light 94 The exposure compensation will change the histogram accordingly. Shooting with the exposure compensation on the positive side brightens the whole picture, making the entire histogram shift to the bright side (right side). If the exposure compensation is applied on the negative side, the histogram will shift to the other side. Adjust the exposure if necessary and shoot again. Using the shooting function Notes · The histogram displayed in Live View mode does not indicate the final recorded image. It indicates the condition of the image just monitored on the LCD monitor. [. . . ] 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. 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. 172 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. [. . . ]