The Sony Alpha NEX-7: The Unofficial Quintessential Guide

by Carol F. Roullard, Brian Matsumoto Ph. D

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781457179167
Publisher:	Rocky Nook
Publication date:	11/21/2012
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	304
File size:	30 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Carol F. Roullard has been an avid photographer since her high school years, where she first experimented with black-and-white artistic composition. Since then, she has continued photographing, mainly nature and architecture. Carol has used a variety of cameras covering a wide range of makes and models, from simple point-and-shoot cameras to complex professional level cameras. Carol produces fine art photography and is utilizing her previous art business experience for her new online gallery.

As a former Project Management Quality and Compliance engineer, Carol spent a number of years developing procedural and quality control methodology for IT projects. In addition, she has developed and conducted training sessions covering best practices for procedural and quality control, breaking down complex subjects into easy-to-use approaches to learning.

Dr. Brian Matsumoto is a retired research scientist who has worked for 30 years recording experiments with a wide range of film and digital cameras. He now spends his time photographing with a variety of cameras and lenses. He enjoys exploring how a camera's potential can be expanded by pairing it with specialized optics such as microscopes and telescopes. He carries a camera on all of his hikes and enjoys photographing nature. In addition to the four books he has written for Rocky Nook, Dr. Matsumoto has published several articles and has had his photographs published in a number of periodicals. He is experienced in the technical aspects of photography and has taught courses on recording scientific experiments with digital cameras.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Getting Started 2

Introduction 3

Dual Viewing System 6

Diopter Adjustment Dial 7

Setting Up Your New Sony NEX-7 7

Battery 8

Memory Card 9

Assembling the Camera 11

Protecting the Lens 12

Protecting the LCD Screen 12

Using This Book 13

Turning On the Camera 14

Camera Navigation 14

Control Wheel, Buttons, and Dials 15

Menu Structure 16

Triple-Dial-Control 19

Setting the Camera Date, Time, and Area 20

Error Messages 21

Reinitializing Commands to Default Values 22

Cleaning the Sensor 22

Recommendations 23

Chapter 2 Photography Basics and the NEX-7 24

Introduction 25

Basic Photography Concepts 26

File Formats 28

Shutter Button 32

Focusing 33

White Balance and the Appearance of Colors 39

Drive Mode Function 40

Recording Movies 44

Chapter 3 Managing Your Images 46

Introduction 47

The LCD Screen 48

The Viewfinder 49

LCD Screen versus Viewfinder 50

Data Display Formats 51

Preview Images 56

Review Recorded Images 57

Evaluating Exposure with Histograms 65

Protecting Saved Pictures and Movies 67

Deleting Saved Pictures and Movies 68

Working Outside the Camera 69

Chapter 4 Automatic Settings 78

Introduction 79

Functions Available for Automatic Modes 79

Shooting Modes 93

Intelligent Auto Mode 94

SCN Predefined Scene Modes 96

Recommendations 98

Chapter 5 Taking Control of the Camera 100

Introduction 101

Triple-Dial-Control Operation 103

Exposure Compensation 117 Three Semiautomatic Modes: Shutter Priority (S), Aperture Priority (A), Program Auto (P) 104

Recommendations 120

Chapter 6 Manual Operation of the Camera 122

Introduction 123

Manual Exposure Mode Controls 124

Manual Focusing: Overriding Automatic Focusing 130

Manual Adjustments for Color Temperature 132

Lens Compensation 138

Bracketing and Dynamic Range 138

Recommendations 141

Chapter 7 Customizing the Camera 142

Introduction 143

Customizing Buttons 143

Navigation Button 145

Customization of Other Buttons 148

Customizing Buttons Summary 154

Utilizing Predefined Color Schemes 155

Help Guide Display 162

Recommendations 162

Chapter 8 Additional Features 164

Introduction 165

Locking the Dials and the Control Wheel 165

Panoramic Modes 166

Anti Motion Blur Mode 175

DRO/Auto HDR Function 176

Recommendations 182

Chapter 9 Using Accessories 184

Introduction 185

The Kit Lens 185

Sony E-mount and A-mount Lenses 188

Telescopes 194

Microscopes 197

Remote Release 200

Tripods 201

Recommendations 204

Chapter 10 Flash Photography 206

Introduction 207

Principles of Electronic Flash 208

Flash Artifact: Red Eye 210

Flash Command 211

Using Flash in Intelligent Auto 212

Flash Options in P, A, S, or M Modes 213

Recommendations 221

Chapter 11 Making Movies 222

Introduction 223

Frame Rate versus Shutter Speed 224

Choosing a Movie File Format 227

Record Settings (Quality) 228

Additional Movie Controls 233

Framing and Starting the Movie 234

P, A, S, or M for Controlling your Recording 234

Adding Creative Style, Picture Effect, or DRO 235

Recommendations 235

Appendix A Menu and Function Commands 236

Appendix B Common Error or Warning Messages and Resolutions 280

Index 288