Sony Alpha 7S II User manual

Sony%α7S%II
Quick%Start%Guide%for
Video%Documentation

Contents
•Part%One:%Assembling%the%Camera%–page%3
•Part%Two:%Essential%Menu%Settings-page%15
•Part%Three:%Camera%Controls-page%37
•Part%Four:%External%Recorder%Settings-page%45
•Part%Five:%Backing%up%Video%Clips-page%52

Part%One:%Assembling%the%Camera
•The%α7S%(alpha%7%S)%was%chosen%as%a%versatile%documentation%camera%
that%could%take%stills%and%video%in%low%light.
•When%using%the%camera%for%video%documentation%you%need%to%
overcome%two%inherent%weaknesses:%the%poor%built-in%microphone%
and%the%short%video%recording%times%to%SD%cards.%The%approximate%
maximum%length%of%a%video%recorded%to%SD%card%is%29%minutes.
•To%address%those%issues,%the%kit%includes%a%Sony%external%microphone%
with%an%audio%input%adapter%and%an%external%video%recorder%(the%
Atomos “Ninja”)%The%camera%is%mounted%in%a%”cage”%that%provides%
mounting%points%for%these%devices.

Before%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% After

The%External%Microphone%should%be%plugged%into%Input%1%of%the%Audio%
Adapter.

Look%at%the%audio%input%controls%before%attaching%the%Audio%Adapter.

You%have%two%inputs%going%to%two%audio%channels%(stereo).
In%this%image%the%external%microphone%is%plugged%into%Input&1.
Input%1%is%going%to%Channel&1&only,%the%LEFT%side%of%the%
stereo%signal%and%the%input%attenuation%(ATN)%is%set%to%
MIC&+48V&to%supply%power%to%the%microphone.
The%Channel%2%input attenuation%is%set%to%LINE.
A%Line%level%input%could%be%from%a%wireless
microphone%(that%already%has%power)%or%the%output%
from%a%mixing%board.
If%you%only%used%the%external%microphone%on%the%camera
and%wanted%a%dual%mono%signal%on%both%Channel%1%and%2,%
(left%and%right)%then%the%Input%1%selector%would%be%
switched%up%to%CH1&CH2.
Audio%Input%Controls

Mount%the%audio%input%adapter%to%the%cold%shoe%on%the%handle.

The%hot%shoe%on%the%camera%is%for%the%input%from%the%audio%adapter.%
This%will%automatically%turn%off%the%camera’s%built-in%microphone.

Attach%the%little%arm%for%the%external%recorder.
I%recommend%the%following%location.

HDMI%to%Micro%HDMI%connection:
The%Recorder%Input%is%the%top%HDMI%port.
The%Micro%HDMI%connection%on%the%camera%can%be%secured%by%the%
pressure screw.

If%possible%use%the%external%AC%adapter%to%power%the%recorder.%

It’s%convenient%to%attach%AC%cables%to%the%tripod%legs%using%the%ties.%

The%α7S%also%has%an%AC%adapter.%

Part%Two:%Essential%Menu%Settings
•In%order%for%external%video%recording%to%work%the%following%three%
things%must%correspond:%the%video%recording%format%on%the%camera,%
the%HDMI%video%output%format%on%the%camera,%the%video%recording%
format%on%the%external%recorder.
•The%external%video%recorder%is%HD%or%SD%only.%It%is%not%a%4K%recorder.
•Please%set-up%the%camera%according%to%the%following%slides.

To%access%the%correct%menus%make%sure%the%camera%is%in%MOVIE%mode.%
(Press%the%button%in%the%center%of%the%dial%to%turn%it).

Setup%(toolbox)%Menu%Page%6%–
Setting%Reset
Reset%the%camera%to%erase%the%previous%user’s%settings.%
Choose%
Camera%Settings%Reset.

Camera%Menu%Page%2:%
File%Format
This%is%the%format%recorded%to%the%internal%SD%card%(that%you%are%probably%
not%using),%but%by%selecting%the%high%quality%
XAVC%S%HD
you%will%have%the%
access%to%the%correct%record%settings.

Camera%Menu%Page%2:%
Record%Setting
Choose%
24p%50M:%
the%most%common%frame%rate.
50M%is%the%data%rate:%50%Megabits.

Camera%Menu%Page%3:%
Focus%Mode
Pick%
Continuous%AF%
or%
Manual
as%you%wish.%
Manual%focus%is%useful%if%you%want%to%avoid%focus%shifts.