Sony DSLR-A100 User manual

DSLR-A100 2-681-186-12 (1)
Printed in Malaysia © 2006 Sony Corporation
2-681-186-12 (1)
Printed on 100% recycled paper using VOC
(Volatile Organic Compound)-free vegetableoil based ink.
Additional information on this product and
answers to frequently asked questions can be
found at our Customer Support Website.
100
DSLR-A100
Digital Single Lens Reflex Camera
Read This First
Operating Instructions
Before operating the unit, please read this manual and “User’s Guide/Troubleshooting”
(separate volume) thoroughly, and retain them for future reference.

2
Checking the accessories supplied
The number in parentheses indicates the number of pieces.
Note
• Use only an NP-FM55H battery pack. Note that the NP-FM50 and NP-FM30 cannot be used.
• BC-VM10 Battery charger (1) • Video cable (1)
• Power cord (mains lead) (1) • Shoulder strap with eyepiece cover and
Remote Commander clip (1)
• Rechargeable battery pack NP-FM55H (1)
• Memory Stick Duo Adaptor for CompactFlash
slot AD-MSCF1 (1)
• USB cable (1)
• Body cap (1) (Attached on the camera)
• Accessory shoe cap (1) (Attached on the
camera)
•CD-ROM(α100 Application Software) (1)
• Operating instructions: “Read This First” (this
manual) (1)
• Operating instructions: “User’s Guide/
Troubleshooting” (1)

3
Composition of the operating instructions
This manual
Explains the set-up and basic operations for shooting/playback with your camera.
Prepare the camera and shoot images easily.
Checking the accessories supplied ............................................................................ 2
1 Prepare the battery pack ......................................................................................... 4
2 Attaching a lens ...................................................................................................... 6
3 Turn the camera on/set the clock............................................................................ 8
4 Insert a recording medium (not supplied)............................................................. 10
5 Shoot images easily (Auto adjustment mode) ...................................................... 12
The Number of images that can be recorded................................................. 13
Holding the camera........................................................................................ 13
Super SteadyShot function ............................................................................ 14
Focus.............................................................................................................. 15
Using the flash ............................................................................................... 16
Adjusting the diopter ..................................................................................... 17
6 View/delete images............................................................................................... 18
“User’s Guide/Troubleshooting” (separate volume)
Get more friendly with your camera
•Shoot with your favorite settings tUsing the shooting functions
•Playback with your favorite settings tUsing the viewing functions
Connect your camera to a PC or a printer
•Enjoy various shooting/playback functions using the menu tUsing the menu
•Copy your images to a computer and enjoy editing them in various ways
tUsing your computer
•Print images by connecting your camera directly to a printer
(PictBridge compliant printers only) tPrinting images

4
Prepare the battery pack
• Connect the battery charger to an easily accessible wall outlet (wall socket) close by.
• Even if the CHARGE lamp is not lit, the battery charger is not disconnected from the AC power source
(mains) as long as it is connected to the wall outlet (wall socket). If some trouble occurs while using the
battery charger, immediately shut off the power by disconnecting the plug from the wall outlet (wall
socket).
• When charging is finished, disconnect the power cord (mains lead) from the wall outlet (wall socket), and
remove the battery pack from the battery charger.
• The time required to fully charge the battery pack (supplied) (Full Charge) from when it is completely
discharged at a temperature of 25°C (77°F) is approximately 235 min., and the Normal Charge time is
approximately 175 min. Charging may take longer under certain circumstances or conditions.
Battery charger
2Connect the power
cord (mains lead).
3To wall outlet
(wall socket)
Power cord (mains lead)
1Insert the battery pack.
Push the battery pack until it clicks.
CHARGE lamp
Light on: Charging
Light off: Completed (Normal Charge)
If you continue charging the battery pack for about one more hour
until it is fully charged (Full Charge), the charge will last slightly
longer.
4Insert the charged battery pack.
While sliding the battery
cover open lever, open
the battery cover.
Firmly insert the battery pack all
the way while pressing the lock
lever with the tip of the battery.
Close the cover.
Lock lever

5
Note on the battery pack
Use only an NP-FM55H battery pack. Note that the NP-FM50 and NP-FM30 cannot be used.
Using the AC Adaptor/charger
You can connect the camera to a wall outlet (wall socket) using the AC-VQ900AM
AC Adaptor/charger (not supplied). t“User’s Guide/Troubleshooting” (page 144)
To check the remaining battery level
Set the POWER switch to ON and check the level on the LCD monitor.
To remove the battery pack
Slide the lock lever in the direction of the arrow. Be careful not to drop the battery pack.
Before removing the battery pack, check that the power is turned off.
To use your camera abroad — Power sources
You can use your camera and the battery charger and the AC-VQ900AM AC Adaptor/charger
(not supplied) in any country or region where the power supply is within 100 V to 240 V AC,
50/60 Hz. Use a commercially available AC plug adaptor [a], if necessary, depending on the
design of the wall outlet (wall socket) [b].
Battery
remaining
indicator (white) (white) (white) (red)
Battery
exhausted.
Battery
remaining
guidelines
Sufficient
power
remaining
Battery half
full
Battery low,
recording/
playback will
stop soon.
Change the
battery pack
with fully
charged one,
or charge the
battery pack.
The shutter
will not be
released.
•Do not use an electronic transformer (travel
converter), as this may cause a malfunction.
Lock lever

6
Attaching a lens
1Remove the body cap from the camera and the rear cap
from the lens.
• Do not leave the interior of the camera exposed to dust or water droplet, and do not touch or
damage the interior.
2Attach the lens.
• When attaching a lens, do not press the lens release button.
• Do not use force when attaching a lens.
• When shooting without the flash, using a lens hood is recommended to prevent unnecessary
light from affecting your images. For details on attaching the lens hood, refer to the operating
instructions supplied with the lens.
Body cap Rear cap
Mount the lens by aligning the orange
index marks on the lens and camera.
Turn the lens clockwise until it
clicks into the locked position.
Orange index marks

7
To remove the lens
Press the lens release button all the way in and turn the lens counterclockwise until it stops.
• Replace the cap on the lens and attach the body cap (or another lens) to the camera after removing the lens.
Keep dust from getting inside the camera when changing lenses!
If dust or debris gets inside the camera and lands on the surface of the CCD (the part that
acts as the film), it may appear on the image, depending on the shooting environment.
The camera is equipped with an anti-dust function to prevent dust from landing on the
CCD. However, take note of the following reminders when attaching/removing a lens.
• Avoid changing lenses in a dusty location.
• When storing the camera, always attach a lens or the body cap.
• When attaching the body cap, remove all the dust from the cap before placing it on the camera.
If dust or debris gets inside the camera, select [Clean CCD] in the Setup menu, and use
a commercially available blower brush to clean the CCD. t“User’s Guide/
Troubleshooting” (page 103)
Lens release button

8
Turn the camera on/set the clock
1Set the POWER
switch to ON by
sliding it in the
direction of the
arrow.
2Set the clock with the controller.
1Select [Yes], then press the center of the controller.
• If you set the clock later, select [No] with B, then press the
center of the controller.
2Select each item with b/Band set the numeric value
with v/V.
3Repeat step 2 to set other items.
• [YYYY/MM/DD] represents the order of year, month, and
day. You can change this order with v/V.
4Press the center of the controller.
• To cancel, press MENU.

9
To change the date and time
Select [Date/Time set] in the Setup menu and perform the procedure in step 2-2 to -4.
t“User’s Guide/Troubleshooting” (page 99)
When turning on the power
• Unless you set the clock, “Set date and time?” appears each time the camera is turned on.
To turn off the power
Set the POWER switch to OFF sliding in the arrow direction. Attach the lens cap. After you
remove the lens, store the camera with the body cap attached.
Power Save (The camera nearly shuts down if it is not operated)
If you do not operate the camera for about five seconds, the recording mode display on the
LCD monitor disappears. Also, if you do not operate the camera for about three minutes, the
camera turns to power saving mode and nearly shuts down (Power Save). To cancel the power
save, operate the camera, for example, by pressing the shutter button halfway down.
• You can change the time that must elapse to activate the function (the default settings are [5 sec.]/[3
min.]). t“User’s Guide/Troubleshooting” (page 102)
Changing the language setting
You can change the screen display to show messages in a specified language. To change the
language setting, follow the procedure below.
1Press MENU to display the menu.
2Select [ ] with the controller, then press the center of the controller.
3Select [ Language] with v/Von the contoroller, then press B.
4Select the desired language with v/Von the contoroller, then press the center of the
controller.

10
Insert a recording medium (not
supplied)
Available recording medium for the camera
You can use a “Memory Stick Duo”, CompactFlash card (CF card), or Microdrive as a
recording medium.
• Before using a recording medium, be sure to format it using this camera. Otherwise, satisfactory
performance may not be obtained. t“User’s Guide/Troubleshooting” (page 89)
• When using a “Memory Stick Duo”, use the Memory Stick Duo Adaptor for CompactFlash slot
(supplied).
• When using the “Memory Stick Duo” with the write-protection switch, set the switch to the recording
position.
• For more information about the “Memory Stick” t“User’s Guide/Troubleshooting” (page 139)
Insert a recording medium
• Be careful not to pinch your fingers when opening the cover.
• Straight insert a recording medium by pressing the center of the recording medium. Do not press the edges
of the recording medium.
• If a recording medium cannot be inserted all the way in, do not attempt to insert it. In such cases, check the
direction of the recording medium.
“Memory Stick Duo”
(using the Memory Stick Duo Adaptor for
CompactFlash slot)
CompactFlash/
Microdrive
Insert a recording medium all the way
in from the connector side as shown in
the illustration.
Terminal
side
Open the CF card cover. Close the cover.
Front side of
the label

11
Note on the Memory Stick Duo Adaptor for CompactFlash slot
To remove the recording medium
CompactFlash/Microdrive
We have checked the operations, however, we cannot guarantee proper operation of all CF
cards/Microdrives.
• The Microdrive is a compact and lightweight hard disk drive that complies with CompactFlash Type II
standards. For more information about the CF card/Microdrive t“User’s Guide/Troubleshooting”
(page 141)
1Open the CF card cover.
2Push the CF card eject lever so that the recording
medium is ejected.
• The recording medium may be hot just after it has been used. Be
careful when you handle it.
When the access lamp is lit
Never remove the recording medium, remove the battery
pack, or turn off the power. The data may be corrupted.
Check the shape of the corner
Memory Stick Duo Adaptor for CompactFlash slot
AD-MSCF1 (supplied)
Push
To remove the “Memory Stick Duo” from the adaptor, push it once.
Access lamp
CF card eject lever

12
Shoot images easily (Auto adjustment
mode)
The main functions of the camera are adjusted automatically in auto adjustment mode. Using
this mode, you can shoot easily, depending entirely on the camera. However, you can change
any of the settings except [Color/DEC]. t“User’s Guide/Troubleshooting” (page 49)
1Set the mode dial to AUTO.
4Shoot with the shutter button.
• The image is not displayed on the LCD monitor before the recording is completed. Use the
viewfinder for monitoring.
• After shooting, the recorded image is displayed for two seconds on the LCD monitor. You can
change the display time. t“User’s Guide/Troubleshooting” (page 84)
• While the image is being recorded, the access lamp lights. Do not remove the recording medium or
turn off the power while this lamp is lit.
Sensor used for focus adjustment
(Illuminated in red briefly to indicate the point of
focus.)
Focus indicator
(Indicates the status of the autofocus (page 15))
Press the shutter button
halfway down to focus.
Press the shutter button fully down to shoot.
The shutter sounds.
2Look into the viewfinder.
The subject inside comes into focus.
3When using a zoom lens, turn
the zoom ring, then decide on
your shot.

13
Once you insert a recording medium into the camera and set the
POWER switch to ON, the number of images that can be recorded
(should you continue to shoot using the current settings) is displayed on
the LCD monitor.
To identify items on the LCD monitor t“User’s Guide/
Troubleshooting” (page 22)
• The number of images that can be recorded on a recording medium differs depending on the capacity of
the recording medium, the image size setting, and the image quality setting. t“User’s Guide/
Troubleshooting” (page 27)
• If “--E-” flashes after shooting, the write-protect switch of the “Memory Stick Duo” is set to the LOCK
position. Set the switch to the recording position.
• If “0000” is flashing in red, the recording medium is full. Replace the recording medium with another one,
or delete images in the current recording medium (pages 10, 18).
• Since the data amount of each image is different, the remaining number of recordable images may not
change after shooting.
• Preparing a spare recording medium is recommended when you intend to shoot many images, such as
when you are on a trip.
Hold the camera steady to avoid blurring of images due to hand movement. Turning on the
Super SteadyShot function is also recommended (page 14).
• Grip the camera firmly with your right hand, keep your elbows at your side, and support the lens with the
palm of your left hand.
• Step out with one foot to stabilize your upper body. Leaning against a wall or putting your elbow on a
table will also provide support.
• When shooting in dark light without the flash, shooting in macro, or using a telephoto lens, camera shake
that cannot be compensated for by the camera tends to occur. In such cases, turn off the Super SteadyShot
function and use something to stabilize the camera, such as a tripod.
The Number of images that can be recorded
Holding the camera

14
1Make sure that the (Super SteadyShot) switch is set to ON to activate the function.
2Press the shutter button halfway down, and then press it fully down.
Super SteadyShot scale
This scale is displayed whenever the Super SteadyShot function is activated. A higher scale
indicates more pronounced camera-shake (on a scale of five).
When the Super SteadyShot function is deactivated, the scale will not be displayed.
(Camera-shake warning) indicator
This indicator flashes regardless of the status of the Super SteadyShot function. It indicates the
likelihood of camera-shake calculated from the shutter speed and focal length. If the indicator
flashes, reduce the camera-shake by setting the (Super SteadyShot) switch to ON or
using the built-in flash or a tripod.
• The Super SteadyShot function may not work optimally when the power has just been turned on, when the
subject has just entered the frame, or when the shutter button has been pressed all the way down without
stopping halfway. Wait for the Super SteadyShot scale to go down, and then press the shutter button down
slowly.
• When the subject is within a very close range, such as in macro, the Super SteadyShot function may not be
able to cancel out the effect of camera-shake. In such cases, deactivate the Super SteadyShot function and
mount the camera on a tripod.
• This Super SteadyShot function can reduce the effect of camera-shake by the equivalent of approximately
2 to 3.5 increments of shutter speed. The Super SteadyShot function is less effective with moving subjects
or with shutter speeds of 1/4 second or longer, which are typically used in night-time shooting. In such
cases, deactivate the Super SteadyShot function and mount the camera on a tripod.
• When using a tripod, deactivate the Super SteadyShot function as it will not be fully effective.
Super SteadyShot function
(Super
SteadyShot)
switch
(Camera-shake
warning) indicator
Super SteadyShot
scale

15
Within the wide focus frames, there are nine sensors (local focus frames) to lock the focus on
the subject.
Press the shutter button halfway down, and the sensor in the focused area illuminated briefly
in red to indicate where the focus is.
Focus indicator
Looking into the viewfinder or pressing the shutter button halfway down triggers the
autofocus system. The focus indicator in the viewfinder indicates the status of the autofocus
system.
• The focus may not be confirmed by just looking into the viewfinder when the camera is mounted on a
tripod or a monopod, or is placed on a table, etc. Pressing the shutter button halfway down sets the focus.
Focus
Focus indicator Status
zlit Focus locked. Ready to shoot.
lit Focus is confirmed. Focal point moves following a moving subject. Ready to shoot.
lit Still focusing. You cannot release the shutter.
zflashing Cannot focus. The shutter is locked.
• If the subject is closer than the minimum shooting distance of the attached lens, the
focus cannot be confirmed. Make sure you put enough distance between the subject
and the camera.
• You can manually release the shutter even when the indicator is flashing.
t“User’s Guide/Troubleshooting” (page 93)
Wide focus frames
Local focus frames
Focus indicator

16
• If you want to make sure the flash fires without fail, set the flash mode to (Fill-flash) using the function
dial and Fn button. t“User’s Guide/Troubleshooting” (page 54)
Flash indicators in the viewfinder
flashing: The flash is being charged. When the indicator flashes, you cannot release the
shutter.
lit: The flash has been charged and is ready to fire.
The flash range
The flash range depends on the aperture value and ISO sensitivity
setting. The following chart shows the approximate flash range
when the ISO sensitivity is set to [AUTO].
ISO sensitivity t“User’s Guide/Troubleshooting” (page 44)
Notes on using the built-in flash
When shooting with the built-in flash, the lens may block the flash light and a shadow may
appear on the lower part of the image. Be careful about the following:
• Shoot the subject at a distance of 1 m or longer.
• Remove the lens hood.
• The built-in flash is designed to be used with lenses with focal lengths of 18 mm or longer.
Using the flash
Pull the built-in flash up with your finger. The
camera triggers the flash if the amount of light
is insufficient.
Push the flash down with your finger when not
using it.
Aperture Flash range
F2.8 1.4 - 8.6 m (55 1/8 - 338 5/8 inches)
F4 1.0 - 6.0 m (39 3/8 - 236 1/4 inches)
F5.6 1.0 - 4.3 m (39 3/8 - 169 3/8 inches)
Fn button
Function dial
Aperture

17
AF illuminator
When you press the shutter button halfway down with the built-in flash pulled up in dark
surroundings, the flash may be triggered. This is an AF illuminator allowing the camera to
focus more easily on a subject.
• The range of the AF illuminator is approximately 1 to 5 m (39 3/8 to 196 7/8 inches).
• AF illuminator does not operate when [AF mode] is set to (Continuous AF) or the subject is moving.
(The (focus) indicator lights)
• The AF illuminator may not operate with focal lengths of 300 mm or longer.
• When an external flash is attached, the AF illuminator of the external flash is used.
• The AF illuminator does not operate when [AF illuminator] in the Custom menu is set to [Off].
t“User’s Guide/Troubleshooting” (page 95)
Adjust the diopter-adjustment dial to your eyesight until the indicators appear clearly in the
viewfinder.
• Turn the dial toward + when you are far-sighted, toward – when you are near-sighted. The direction is
indicated on the dial if you remove the eyecup. t“User’s Guide/Troubleshooting” (page 41)
• Training the camera on the light allows you to adjust the diopter easily.
Adjusting the diopter
Eyecup Diopter-adjustment dial

18
View/delete images
To return to the recording mode
•Press (Playback) again.
•Press the shutter button halfway down.
To delete images
1Display the image you want to delete and press (Delete).
2Select [Yes] with b, then press the center of controller.
To cancel delete operation
Select [No], then press the center of the controller.
1Press (Playback). 2Select an image with b/Bon
the controller.
• You can easily view next/previous image by turning
the control dial.
(Delete) button
(Enlarge) button
(Display) button

19
You can view playback images on the index screen with the (Display) button or enlarge
the image with the (Enlarge) button. t“User’s Guide/Troubleshooting” (pages 72, 77)