The Sony Alpha NEX-7

Book description

The Sony Alpha NEX-7: The Unofficial Quintessential Guide provides a wealth of experience-based information and insights for owners of this exciting new camera. Authors Carol F. Roullard and Brian Matsumoto team up to help the new user navigate past the confusion factor that often comes with complex and powerful camera equipment.

This book explores the features and capabilities of the camera in a way that far surpasses the user's manual. It guides you through the camera features with step-by-step setting adjustments and detailed how, when, and why explanations for each option. Every button, dial, switch, and menu configuration setting is explored in a friendly manner, with suggestions and tips for setup according to various shooting styles. The informative text is illustrated with screenshots and example images throughout, making it easy to follow along.

The authors cover everything from the basic features of the camera to numerous advanced photographic applications. The first section of the book teaches the new user to start taking pictures immediately by using the camera's Intelligent Automatic mode. The second section covers how to begin taking more control by switching to the semi-automatic modes. Finally, you'll learn to take full manual control of the camera, allowing you to break some "rules" and capture images that are a unique reflection of your creative personality.

Carol and Brian go beyond just the camera itself and share how third-party software and optional accessories can improve on the camera's standard commands. You'll even learn how the electronic viewfinder, the fixed mirror, and Sony's novel shutter design improve the camera's utility for critical scientific photography (i.e., photomicrography and photography through the telescope).

The Sony Alpha NEX-7: The Unofficial Quintessential Guide will allow you to really take control of your camera, to push the envelope, and to have fun.

Table of contents

  1. Cover page
  2. About the Authors
  3. Title Page
  4. Copyright Page
  5. Dedication
  6. Acknowledgements
  7. Preface
  8. Table of Contents
  9. Camera Body Reference
  10. Chapter 1: Getting Started
    1. Introduction
    2. Dual Viewing System
    3. Diopter Adjustment Dial
    4. Setting Up Your New Sony NEX-7
    5. Battery
    6. Memory Card
    7. Assembling the Camera
    8. Protecting the Lens
    9. Protecting the LCD Screen
    10. Using This Book
    11. Turning On the Camera
    12. Camera Navigation
    13. Control Wheel, Buttons, and Dials
    14. Menu Structure
      1. Menu Command Nomenclature
    15. Triple-Dial-Control
    16. Setting the Camera Date, Time, and Area
    17. Error Messages
    18. Reinitializing Commands to Default Values
    19. Cleaning the Sensor
    20. Recommendations
  11. Chapter 2: Photography Basics and the NEX-7
    1. Introduction
    2. Basic Photography Concepts
    3. File Formats
    4. Shutter Button
    5. Focusing
      1. Advanced Focusing Features: Face Detection and Object Tracking
      2. Exposure (Shutter Speed, Aperture, ISO)
    6. White Balance and the Appearance of Colors
    7. Drive Mode Function
      1. Single Shooting
      2. Continuous Shooting
      3. Delayed and Remote Firing of the Camera
      4. Bracket Cont.
    8. Recording Movies
      1. How to Take Movies
      2. Movies and Your NEX-7
  12. 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. Reviewing Still Picture Data Display Formats
      3. Reviewing Movie Data Display Formats
    6. Preview Images
      1. Compositional Controls
    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 Multiple 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. Working Outside the Camera
      1. Overview
      2. Downloading Pictures and Movies to Your Computer
      3. Sony NEX-7 Software
      4. Image Data Converter
      5. Picture Motion Browser (PMB)
      6. Playing Pictures and Movies on Your TV Screen
      7. Printing Your Pictures
    12. Recommendations
  13. Chapter 4: Automatic Settings
    1. Introduction
    2. Functions Available for Automatic Modes
      1. Drive Mode Command
      2. Flash Mode Command
      3. Object Tracking Command
      4. Face Detection and Registration Functionality
      5. Activating Face Detection
      6. Registering Faces
      7. Assigning Priorities to Registered Faces
      8. Deleting Registered Faces
      9. Using Face Detection and Registration
      10. Smile Shutter Functionality
    3. Shooting Modes
    4. Intelligent Auto Mode
    5. SCN Predefined Scene Modes
    6. Recommendations
  14. Chapter 5: Taking Control of the Camera
    1. Introduction
    2. Triple-Dial-Control Operation
    3. Exposure Compensation
      1. Fine-Tuning Automatic Exposure
      2. Focus Mode: Identifying Where to Focus
      3. Isolating the Focus Point
      4. Choosing an Autofocus Area
      5. Autofocus Mode
      6. Autofocus in Dim Light
      7. Manual Focus: Overriding Automatic Focusing
      8. ISO
      9. White Balance
    4. Three Semiautomatic Modes: Shutter Priority (S), Aperture Priority (A), and Program Auto (P)
      1. Shutter Priority (S)
      2. Aperture Priority (A)
      3. Program Auto (P)
    5. Recommendations
  15. Chapter 6: Manual Operation of the Camera
    1. Introduction
    2. Manual Exposure Mode Controls
      1. Extremely Long Exposure “B” Shutter Speed
      2. Noise Reduction with Long Exposure
      3. Noise Reduction at High ISO
      4. Metering Modes
    3. Manual Focusing: Overriding Automatic Focusing
      1. MF Assist
      2. Peaking Function
    4. Manual Adjustments for Color Temperature
      1. Custom White Balance
      2. Fine-Tuning WB: Fine Adjustment of Blue-Amber and Green-Magenta
    5. Lens Compensation
    6. Bracketing and Dynamic Range
    7. Recommendations
  16. Chapter 7: Customizing the Camera
    1. Introduction
    2. Customizing Buttons
    3. Navigation Button
      1. Navigation Button Start Position
      2. Setting the Navigation Button
      3. Displaying Customized Button Settings
    4. Customization of Other Buttons
      1. AF/MF Button Command
      2. Right Key Setting Command
      3. Soft Key B Setting Command
      4. Soft Key C Setting Command
      5. Custom 1 through Custom 5 Commands
      6. Custom Key Setting Command Summary
    5. Customizing Buttons Summary
    6. Utilizing Predefined Color Schemes
      1. Creative Style Function
      2. Picture Effect Function
      3. Creative Styles and Picture Effects Differences
      4. Creative Styles and Picture Effects Recommendation
    7. Help Guide Display
    8. Recommendations
  17. Chapter 8: Additional Features
    1. Introduction
    2. Locking the Dials and the Control Wheel
    3. Panoramic Modes
      1. Sweep Panorama Mode Commands
      2. 3D Sweep Panorama Mode Commands
      3. Shooting a Panoramic Picture
      4. Panorama Results
      5. Panning Problems
    4. Anti Motion Blur Mode
    5. DRO/Auto HDR Function
      1. DRO Function
      2. Auto HDR Function
      3. Using DRO and Auto HDR
    6. Recommendations
  18. Chapter 9: Using Accessories
    1. Introduction
    2. The Kit Lens
    3. Sony E-mount and A-mount Lenses
      1. Legacy and Used Lenses
    4. Telescopes
    5. Microscopes
    6. Remote Release
    7. Tripods
    8. Recommendations
  19. Chapter 10: Flash Photography
    1. Introduction
    2. Principles of Electronic Flash
    3. Flash Artifact: Red Eye
      1. Alternate Ways of Reducing Red Eye
    4. Flash Command
    5. Using Flash in Intelligent Auto
      1. What You Can Do with Flash in Intelligent Auto
      2. What You Can’t Do with Flash in Intelligent Auto
    6. Flash Options in P, A, S, or M Modes
      1. Controlling Lens Aperture While Working with Flash
      2. M Mode and Viewfinder Brightness: A Note for Studio Photographers
      3. Sony Accessory Flash Units
      4. Bounce or Indirect Lighting: Flash Accessories
      5. Sony Wireless Flash
      6. Slow Sync. Flash
    7. Recommendations
  20. Chapter 11: Making Movies
    1. Introduction
    2. Frame Rate versus Shutter Speed
    3. Choosing a Movie File Format
      1. AVCHD
      2. MP4
    4. Record Settings (Quality)
      1. Interlaced Scanning
      2. Progressive Scanning
      3. Bit Rate and Frame Rate
      4. AVCHD Record Setting Command
      5. MP4 Record Setting Command
    5. Additional Movie Controls
    6. Framing and Starting the Movie
    7. P, A, S, or M for Controlling your Recording
    8. Adding Creative Style, Picture Effect, or DRO
    9. Recommendations
  21. Appendix A: Menu and Function Commands
    1. Sony NEX-7 Menu Commands
  22. Appendix B: Common Error or Warning Messages and Resolutions
  23. Index

Product information

  • Title: The Sony Alpha NEX-7
  • Author(s): Carol F. Roullard, Brian Matsumoto Ph. D
  • Release date: November 2012
  • Publisher(s): Rocky Nook
  • ISBN: 9781457179167