User manual SONY ALPHA DSLR-A350

[. . . ] 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-A300/A350 Printed on 70% or more recycled paper using VOC (Volatile Organic Compound)-free vegetable oil based ink. © 2008 Sony Corporation 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. For Customers in the U. S. A. This symbol is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated "dangerous voltage" within the product's enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons. This symbol is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the appliance. 2 IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS For your protection, please read these safety instructions completely before operating the appliance, and keep this manual for future reference. [. . . ] 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. Using the shooting function 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. 83 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. To check the exposure of the image Hold down the AEL button and place the spot metering circle on the spot where the lighting is contrasted from the subject. The metering indicator displays the degree of exposure difference, zero being the locked exposure. Shifting to the + side makes the image brighter, and shifting to the ­ side makes the image darker. When the image is too bright or too dark to get the proper exposure, b or B appears or flashes at the end of the indicator. Spot metering circle 84 Using brightness compensation for the entire image (Exposure compensation) Except for recording mode M, the exposure is automatically acquired. (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 Using the shooting function 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. 85 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 98). 86 To shoot while checking the screen using the histogram A histogram is the luminance distribution that shows how many pixels of a particular brightness exist in the picture. Number of pixels Dark Light 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. · The histogram differs between shooting and playback in the following situations: ­ When firing the flash. ­ When the subject has low intensity, such as night scenery. 87 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. MENU button t desired setting 1 t [Flash compens. ] t Select the · Toward +: Makes the flash level higher. Toward ­: Makes the flash level lower. Notes · If you have adjusted the flash level, appears on the LCD monitor/in the viewfinder when the built-in flash is pulled up. · The positive effect may not be visible due to the limited amount of flash light, if the subject is at or around the maximum range for the flash. 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. [. . . ] · In a location subject to rocking vibration · Near strong magnetic place · In sandy or dusty places Be careful not to let sand or dust get into the camera. This may cause the camera to malfunction, and in some cases this malfunction cannot be repaired. or hot places that exceed this range is not recommended. On moisture condensation If the camera is brought directly from a cold to a warm location, moisture may condense inside or outside the camera. How to prevent moisture condensation When bringing the camera from a cold place to a warm place, seal the camera in a plastic bag and allow it to adapt to conditions at the new location over about an hour. If moisture condensation occurs Turn off the camera and wait about an hour for the moisture to evaporate. [. . . ]