The Sony a7 and a7R

The Sony a7 and a7R

by Brian Matsumoto Ph. D, Carol F. Roullard
Released June 2014
Publisher(s): Rocky Nook
ISBN: 9781492014812

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Book description

Use this guide to master the Sony a7 and a7R, the first full frame, autofocus system cameras.

At half the weight of a full frame DSLR, they are easy to carry for photographers on the go. The less-expensive a7 has a 24-megapixel sensor for shooting rapidly changing scenes; the a7R has a 36-megapixel sensor designed for ultimate image sharpness. Both use advanced image-processing algorithms and can use any manufacturer's lens when matched with the appropriate adapter.

The electronic viewfinder gives the photographer an accurate preview of the image, ensuring the capture of technically excellent photographs by preventing mistakes in color temperature, depth of field, and exposure. All features of the a7 and a7R are covered, including automatic stitching to create panoramas, and multi-shot noise reduction that allows the use of extremely high ISOs.

This book guides the photographer in using both the camera's automated features and manual controls to take photographs that are a unique reflection of his or her creative personality.

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Table of contents

  1. Cover Page
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright Page
  4. Dedication Page
  5. Acknowledgements
  6. Preface
  7. Table of Contents
  8. Camera Body Reference
  9. Chapter 1: Getting Started
    1. Introduction
    2. Using This Book
    3. The Camera
    4. Description of the Camera and Its Features
    5. Dual Viewing System
    6. Diopter Adjustment Dial
    7. Setting Up Your New Sony a7/a7R
      1. Battery
      2. Memory Card
    8. Assembling the Camera
      1. Protecting the Lens
      2. Protecting the LCD Screen
    9. Turning On the Camera
      1. Setting the Camera Date, Time, and Area
      2. Introducing Menu Navigation
      3. Menu Navigation Commands
    10. Error Messages
    11. Getting out of Trouble by Reinitializing Commands to Their Default Values
    12. Introduction to Buttons, Dials, and Controls
      1. Fn Button
      2. DISP and Quick Navi Screen
      3. Control Wheel (ISO)
      4. Left Button (Drive Mode)
      5. Right Button (WB)
      6. The Dials (Front, Rear, and Exposure Compensation)
    13. Cleaning the Sensor
    14. Recommendations
  10. Chapter 2: Basics of Digital Photography
    1. Introduction
    2. Basic Photography Concepts
      1. What Are Sensors and Images?
      2. Basic Photographic Terms
      3. White Balance and the Appearance of Colors
    3. ISO
    4. Drive Mode Button
      1. Single and Continuous Shooting
      2. Delayed Firing of the Camera
    5. Bracket Firing
    6. File Formats
      1. File Formats for Still Photography
    7. Reducing Noise in JPEG Files
    8. Image Size and Digital Zoom
    9. File Formats for Movies
    10. Shutter Button
    11. Advanced Focusing Features: Face Detection and Object Tracking
    12. Recommendations
  11. Chapter 3: Managing Your Images
    1. Introduction
    2. The LCD Screen
    3. The Viewfinder
    4. LCD Screen versus Viewfinder
    5. Data Display Formats
      1. Previewing Data Display Formats
      2. Activating Data Display Formats
      3. Framing for a Movie Recording
      4. Playing Back Saved Still Picture Data Display Formats
      5. Reviewing Movie Data Initial Display Formats
    6. Preview Image Overlays for Composition
    7. Review Recorded Images
      1. Displaying Recorded Images
      2. Auto Review or No Auto Review
      3. Reviewing Files with the Playback Button
      4. Playing Back Still Pictures
      5. Playing Back Panoramic Pictures
      6. Playing Back MP4 or AVCHD Movies
      7. Reviewing Several Pictures and Movies
      8. Reviewing Still Pictures with the Slide Show Command
      9. Zooming In on Recorded Still Images
    8. Evaluating Exposure with Histograms
      1. Histograms in Preview Mode
      2. Histograms in Playback Mode
    9. Protecting Saved Pictures and Movies
    10. Deleting Saved Pictures and Movies
    11. Recommendations
  12. Chapter 4: Automatic Settings
    1. Introduction
    2. Shooting Modes
      1. Intelligent and Superior Auto Modes
      2. Superior Auto Mode Added Features
      3. Intelligent/Superior Auto Mode Summary
      4. SCN Predefined Scene Modes
    3. Functions Available for Automatic Modes
      1. Drive Mode Command
      2. Flash Mode Command
      3. Face Detection and Registration Functionality
      4. Registering Faces
      5. Assigning Priorities to Registered Faces
      6. Deleting Registered Faces
      7. Activating Face Detection
      8. Using Face Detection and Registration
      9. Smile Shutter Functionality
    4. Tracking Objects with Lock-on AF Command
    5. Recommendations
  13. Chapter 5: Taking Control of the Camera
    1. Introduction
    2. Three Semiautomatic Modes: Shutter Priority (S), Aperture Priority (A), and Program Auto (P)
      1. Program Auto (P)
      2. Aperture Priority (A)
      3. Two Types of Depth-of-Field Preview
      4. Shutter Priority (S)
    3. Exposure Compensation: Fine-Tuning Automatic Exposure
    4. Autofocus
      1. Autofocus Area: Identifying Where to Focus
      2. Choosing a Focus Area
      3. Focus Mode
      4. Autofocus in Dim Light
    5. ISO
      1. Multi Frame Noise Reduction
      2. Unexpected Changes In ISO
    6. White Balance
    7. Working Outside the Camera
      1. Introduction
      2. Downloading Pictures and Movies to Your Computer
      3. Sony a7/a7R Software
      4. Image Data Converter
      5. PlayMemories Home
      6. Playing Pictures and Movies on Your TV Screen
      7. Printing Your Pictures
    8. Recommendations
  14. Chapter 6: Manual Control
    1. Introduction
    2. Manual Exposure Mode Controls
      1. Extremely Long Exposure “B” Shutter Speed
      2. The Appearance of Numbers
      3. Noise Reduction with Long Exposure
      4. Noise Reduction at High ISO
      5. Metering Modes
    3. Manual Focusing: Overriding Automatic Focusing
      1. MF Assist
      2. Peaking and Focusing
      3. Aperture and Zoom Lenses With Manual Focusing
      4. Manual Adjustments of Color Temperature
      5. Custom White Balance
    4. Fine-Tuning WB: Fine Adjustment of Amber-Blue and Green-Magenta
    5. Lens Compensation
    6. DRO/Auto HDR Function
      1. DRO Function
      2. HDR Function
      3. Using DRO and Auto HDR
    7. Bracketing and Dynamic Range
      1. Bracket WB and DRO
    8. Recommendations
  15. Chapter 7: Additional Features
    1. Introduction
    2. Customizing Buttons
    3. Fn (Function) Button
      1. Setting the Fn Button
    4. Customization of Other Buttons and the Control Wheel
      1. Standard Command:
      2. In-Camera Guide Command:
      3. Deactivate Monitor Command:
      4. Aperture Preview Command:
      5. Shot. Result Preview Command:
      6. Download Appli. Command:
    5. Customizing Front and Rear Dials
    6. Customizing Summary
    7. Sweep Panorama Mode
      1. Sweep Panorama Mode Commands
      2. Shooting a Panoramic Picture
      3. Panorama Results
      4. Panning Problems
      5. Memory Recall Shooting Modes
    8. Automatic Object Framing
    9. Utilizing Predefined Color Schemes
    10. Creative Style Function
      1. Picture Effect Function
    11. Creative Styles and Picture Effects Differences
    12. Recommendations
  16. Chapter 8: Working With the Camera’s Wireless Functions
    1. Introduction
      1. Using the Camera Wirelessly
      2. Downloading Apps
      3. Working with Tablets and Smartphones
      4. Smart Remote Control
    2. Additional PlayMemories Camera Apps
    3. Time-lapse
      1. Lens Compensation App
    4. Recommendations
  17. Chapter 9: Accessory Lenses
    1. Introduction
      1. Using E-mount Lenses for the APS-C Sensor
      2. Commands for Using Lenses Designed for APS-C Sensors
    2. Adapters for Sony’s SLT and SLR Camera Lens
    3. Legacy and Used Lenses
      1. Manual Focusing Legacy lenses
      2. Exposure Adjustment on Legacy Lenses
      3. Adapters for Legacy Lenses
      4. A Checklist for Using Legacy Lenses
    4. Telescopes
    5. Microscopes
    6. Macro Photography
    7. Remote Release
    8. Tripod
    9. Vibration and the a7R
    10. Recommendations
  18. Chapter 10: Flash Photography
    1. Introduction
    2. Principles of Electronic Flash
      1. Estimating Exposure Using GN
    3. Flash Artifact: Red Eye
      1. Alternate Ways of Reducing Red Eye
    4. Flash Command
    5. Using Flash in Intelligent Auto and Superior Auto
      1. What You Can Do With Flash in Intelligent Auto and Superior Auto
      2. What You Can’t Do With Flash in Intelligent Auto and Superior Auto
    6. Flash Options in P, A, S, or M Modes
      1. Rear Sync., Slow Sync., and Wireless
      2. Setting up Sony Wireless Flash
      3. Controlling Lens Aperture While Working with Flash
      4. Viewfinder Brightness: A Note for Studio Photographers
      5. Sony Accessory Flash Units
      6. Focal Length and Variations in Flash Head Focal Length
      7. Bounce or Indirect Lighting: Flash Accessories
    7. Recommendations
  19. Chapter 11: Making Movies
    1. Introduction
    2. Frame Rate versus Shutter Speed
    3. Choosing a File Format
      1. AVCHD
      2. MP4
    4. Record Settings AVCHD (PS, FX, FH)
      1. MP4 Record Setting Command
      2. Interlaced Scanning (i)
      3. Progressive Scanning (p)
      4. Bit Rate and Frame Rate
      5. Putting It All Together
    5. Additional Movie Controls
    6. Framing and Starting the Movie
    7. P, A, S, or M for Controlling Your Recording
    8. Zebra
    9. Adding Creative Style, Picture Effect, or DRO
    10. Recommendations
  20. Appendix A: Menu Commands
    1. Sony a7/a7R Menu Commands
  21. Appendix B: Error Messages/Warning Messages and Resolutions

Product information

  • Title: The Sony a7 and a7R
  • Author(s): Brian Matsumoto Ph. D, Carol F. Roullard
  • Release date: June 2014
  • Publisher(s): Rocky Nook
  • ISBN: 9781492014812