Sony Alpha DSLR A100: A Better Manual

Sony Alpha DSLR A100: A Better Manual

by Ken Milburn
Released May 2007
Publisher(s): O'Reilly Media, Inc.
ISBN: 9780596529253

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Book description

This unique manual is better than the manual that comes with your camera in several important ways:

  • It's organized according to efficient workflow, so you can get the most out of your Sony A100 quickly and with the least amount of bother. You can find what you're looking for interactively: by using the interactive Table of Contents, choosing one of the questions in the Quick Answers section, or by following any of the convenient links we've placed throughout the document.

  • It's not a book (unless you want it to be). It's a PDF that you can read on your computer or on a PDA that fits into your camera bag. It is laid out on an 8.5 x 11-inch "page" so if you want to print, you won't have to waste paper or spend time configuring your printer.

  • Because it's a PDF, you can find subjects you're looking for by searching electronically. Typing Cmd/Ctrl-F brings up the familiar search dialog. So all you have to do to jump straight to all the references to a particular part or feature is to enter its name. (No reliance on a mindreading indexer.)

  • The PDF is photographically illustrated so you can see exactly which combination of buttons, knobs, wheels, and menu choices will help you make the magic you are hoping for.

  • In addition to teaching technically correct procedures, this document offers valuable hints for taking photographs in some of the toughest situations.

Table of contents

  1. Sony Alpha DSLR A100 A Better Manual
    1. Quick Answers
    2. Section 1: Introduction
    3. Section 2: Putting It Together: Assembly and Charging
      1. Installing the A100 Battery
        1. Getting a Spare Battery
        2. Charging the Battery
        3. Installing the Battery
        4. Checking the Battery Power
      2. Attaching the Shoulder Strap
      3. Using Lenses with Your A100
        1. Caring for Lenses
        2. Choosing the Appropriate Lens for the "Job"
        3. Mounting the Lens
        4. Removing a Lens
      4. Memory Cards
        1. Inserting a Card
        2. Choosing a Memory Card
          1. Using Compact Flash (CF):
          2. Using Memory Stick Duo
        3. Removing a Memory Card
    4. Section 3: Getting Familiar with the A100's Exterior
      1. The Front of the A100
        1. Self-Timer Lamp
        2. Built-in Flash
        3. Lens Release Button
        4. Lens Mount and Contacts
        5. Mirror
        6. Depth of Field Preview Button
      2. The Top of the A100
        1. Drive Button
        2. Shoulder Strap Hook
        3. Function Dial and Button
        4. Mode Dial
        5. Accessory Shoe
        6. Shutter button
        7. Control Dial
      3. The Sides of the A100
        1. Hook for strap
        2. Focus mode switch
        3. DC-In Terminal
        4. USB/Video Jack
        5. CF Card Cover
        6. CF Card Insertion Slot
        7. CF Card Eject Lever
      4. The Back of the A100
        1. Power Switch
        2. Menu Button
        3. Display Button
        4. Delete Button
        5. Playback Button
        6. Diopter Adjustment Dial
        7. Viewfinder
        8. Eyepiece Sensor
        9. LCD Monitor
        10. +/− (Exposure Compensation) Button
        11. Auto Exposure Lock (AEL) Button
        12. Access Lamp
        13. Controller
        14. Center/AF Button
        15. Super Steady Shot Anti-Shake Switch
        16. Remote Control Jack
      5. The Bottom of the A100
        1. Tripod Receptacle
        2. Battery Insertion Slot and Cover
        3. Lock Lever
    5. Section 4: Setting Up the Camera
      1. Turning On the Camera
      2. Basic Monitor Settings
        1. Set Monitor Brightness
        2. Set the LCD Monitor to Turn Off when You're Focusing
      3. Turn Eye-Start Focusing On or Off
      4. Focus the Viewfinder for Your Eyes
        1. Adding diopter optics
      5. Setting Up Efficient Power Use
        1. Set the LCD Monitor's Backlight Time
        2. Set the Time for Power Save
      6. Setting Date and Time
      7. Choosing Image Size and Quality
        1. Setting Image Size
        2. Choosing Image Quality
      8. Setting the Defaults
        1. Eye-Start Auto Focus
        2. Menu language
        3. Set Date and Time
        4. File number memory
        5. Folder Naming System
        6. LCD backlight timing
        7. Auto Power save
        8. Menu Selection memory off/on
        9. Reset Default
    6. Section 5: Basic Shooting Techniques
      1. Setting Focus
        1. Choosing the Auto Focus Mode
        2. Choosing the Active Focus Area
          1. Using Wide Auto Focus
          2. Using Spot Auto Focus
          3. Choosing the Focus Area Selection Grid
        3. Solving Focus Problems
      2. Setting Exposure
        1. Choosing a Metering Mode
          1. When a subject will consistently "fool" the meter
        2. Choosing the Shooting Mode
        3. Choosing a Scene Mode
        4. Correcting Exposure Manually with EV Compensation
      3. Setting Shutter Speed and Aperture Manually
        1. Changing shutter speed
        2. Changing aperture
      4. Holding the Camera
        1. Bracing for Steadiness
      5. Taking a Test Shot
      6. Correcting for Blocked Highlights or Shadows
      7. Choosing a Drive Mode
      8. Choosing the Color Mode
          1. Color Mode Sub-settings
    7. Section 6: Instant Feedback in Playback Mode
      1. Reviewing Your Shots
        1. Changing the Playback Display
          1. Reading the Info Screen
          2. Single image screen with recording data
          3. Index Thumbnails
        2. Rotating Pictures
          1. Rotating the Images Automatically
        3. Reading the Histogram
      2. Deleting Unwanted Images
        1. Locking an image to prevent accidental deletion
      3. Playing back on a TV Set
        1. NTSC or PAL?
        2. Connecting to the TV
        3. Playing Back the Images
          1. Viewing in Playback mode
          2. Viewing in Slide show mode
    8. Section 7: Advanced Shooting
      1. Using the Viewfinder
      2. Setting White Balance
        1. Why Bother with While Balance?
        2. JPEG vs. RAW
        3. Choosing Your White Balance Setting
          1. Using Auto White Balance
          2. Using Preset White Balance
          3. Using Custom White Balance
        4. Using a Specific Color Temperature
      3. Setting ISO
        1. ISO vs. "grain" (aka Noise)
        2. Noise Reduction and ISO
      4. Using a Remote for Long Exposures
      5. Exposure Bracketing
        1. Bracketing Order
        2. Using the EV Scale when Bracket shooting
        3. White Balance Bracketing
      6. Understanding the Shooting Display and Camera Settings
        1. Other Screen Features
    9. Section 8: All About Flash
      1. Using the Built-in Flash
        1. Using Automatic Flash
        2. Setting Fill Flash
          1. Setting Bright Fill Flash
          2. Setting for Indoor Flash Fill
          3. Rear Flash Sync
        3. Red-eye Reduction
      2. Using a Wireless Remote
      3. Hooking up Third-party External Flashes
        1. Studio Flash
    10. Section 9: Your A100 and Your Computer
      1. Downloading the Image Card to Your Computer
      2. Formatting the Image Card
      3. Printing Directly from the Camera
        1. Batch printing images
      4. Using the Sony A100 with Software
        1. Installing the A100 Application Software
      5. About Sony Alpha DSLR-A100: A Better Manual
        1. About the Team
        2. About the Author
        3. About the Better Manual Series from O'Reilly
    11. About the Author

Product information

  • Title: Sony Alpha DSLR A100: A Better Manual
  • Author(s): Ken Milburn
  • Release date: May 2007
  • Publisher(s): O'Reilly Media, Inc.
  • ISBN: 9780596529253