Sony NEX-7 &alpha User manual

4-297-558-11(1)
GB© 2011 Sony Corporation
NEX-7
Interchangeable
Lens Digital Camera
αHandbook
Table of contents
Sample photo
Menu
Index

2GB
Table of
contents Sample photo Menu Index
Notes on using the camera
How to use this handbook
Click on a button at upper right on the cover and each page to jump to the corresponding
page.
This is convenient when searching for a function you want to use.
Search for information by
function.
Search for information by
sample photos.
Search for information in
a listing of menu items.
Search for information by
keyword.
Marks and notations used in this handbook
In this handbook, the sequence of
operations is shown by arrows (t).
Operate the camera in the order
indicated.
The default setting is indicated by .
Indicates cautions and limitations
relevant to the correct operation of the
camera.
zIndicates information that is useful to
know.
The photographs used as examples of
pictures in this manual are reproduced
images, and are not actual images shot
using this camera.

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Table of
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Table of contents
Notes on using the camera
How to use this handbook ·····································2
Sample photo ························································6
Identifying parts ···················································12
List of icons on the screen···································15
Basic operations
Operating the camera··········································18
Menu ···································································21
Shooting images··················································26
Playing back images ···········································28
Deleting images···················································30
Using functions with the control wheel
DISP (Display Contents) ·····································48
(Exposure Comp.) ··········································51
(Drive Mode)··············································52
(Image Index) ·················································59
Using the Triple-dial-control function
Triple-dial-control·················································31
Exposure Settings ···············································33
Focus Settings·····················································34
White Balance Settings ·······································36
D-Range Settings ················································38
Creative Style Settings ········································40
Picture Effect Settings ·········································42
Custom Settings ··················································45
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Using the AF/MF button/AEL button
AEL (AE lock) ······················································46
AF/MF (AF/MF control)········································47
Using functions in the menu
Shoot Mode ·························································21
Camera································································22
Image Size ··························································22
Brightness/Color ··················································23
Playback······························································23
Setup ···································································24
Connecting with other equipment
Viewing images on a TV····································174
Using with your computer··································177
Using the software·············································179
Connecting the camera to the computer ···········182
Creating a movie disc········································184
Printing still images ···········································188
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting·················································189
Warning messages············································195
Others
Using the camera abroad ··································198
Memory card ·····················································199
“InfoLITHIUM” battery pack ·······························201
Battery charger··················································203
Mount Adaptor···················································204
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AVCHD format···················································206
Cleaning ····························································207
Index
Index··································································208

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Sample photo
“This is the scene I want to capture in a photo, but how can I do?”
You may find the answer by going through the sample photos listed here. Click the
desired sample photo.
Shooting people (page 7)
Shooting macro photos (page 8)
Shooting landscapes (page 9)
Shooting sunset/night scenes (page 10)
Shooting fast moving subjects (page 11)
If you click on a photo, the screen will jump to the page describing the function
recommended for shooting that kind of photo.
Refer to those descriptions in addition to the shooting tips displayed on the screen of the
camera.
See the pages in parentheses for details of operation.
Click!
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Shooting people
A person stands out, while backgrounds
blurred away (62) The same scene with different brightness
(57)
A happy smile (84) In candle light (64)
A person in front of night view (62) A moving person (96)
A group photo (55, 56) A person lit from behind (74)
With soft skin tones (86)
62
57
84 64
62 96
55 74
86
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Shooting macro photos
Defocusing the background (62) Adjusting the color to indoor light (97)
Flowers (62) Lowering the amount of flash light (101)
Focusing manually (76) In better brightness (51)
Preventing camera shake for indoor shots
(96)
Making food look appealing (51)
62 97
62 101
76 51
96 51
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Shooting landscapes
The sky in vivid colors (51) Running water (71)
Vivid green colors (106) Colored leaves (106)
Panoramic photos (65)
Scenery with a wide range of brightness
(102)
Light outdoors shot from a dark interior
(102)
Keeping your shot level (125)
51 71
106 106
65
102 102
125
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Shooting sunset/night scenes
Holding the camera by hand (62) Shooting the red of the sunset beautifully
(62)
Fireworks (70) Trail of light (74)
The same scene in different brightness (57) Preventing camera shake (55)
62 62
70 74
57
55
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Shooting fast moving subjects
Following a moving subject (79) Expressing vigorous action (71)
With the subject approaching the camera
(76)
Capturing the best moment (54)
79 71
76 54

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Identifying parts
See the pages in parentheses for details of
operation.
AFlash
BAF illuminator/Self-timer lamp/Smile
Shutter lamp
CShutter button (26)
DNavigation button (20)
EON/OFF (Power) switch
FRemote sensor (58)
GLens release button
HAuto-lock Accessory Shoe
IImage sensor position mark (76)
JMicrophone*
KLens
LMount
MImage sensor **
NLens contacts **
O(Playback) button (28)
P(flash pop-up) button (74)
QDiopter-adjustment dial
RControl dial L (20)
SControl dial R (20)
TMOVIE button (26)
UAF/MF button/AEL button (46, 47)
VAF/MF/AEL switch lever (46, 47)
WControl wheel (18)
XSoft key C (19)
YSoft key B (19)
ZSoft key A (19)
*Do not cover this part during movie recording.
** Do not touch this part directly.
When the lens is removed
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AEyepiece sensor
BViewfinder
CEyepiece cup
• The eyepiece cup is not attached when you
purchase the camera.
DHDMI terminal (174)
E(USB) terminal (182)
FMIC (microphone) jack
• When an external microphone is connected,
the internal microphone is turned off
automatically. When the external
microphone is a plug-in-power type, the
power of the microphone is supplied by the
camera.
GLight sensor
HLCD monitor
• The tilting LCD monitor of the camera
allows flexible shooting positions.
IBattery/memory card cover
JHook for shoulder strap
KTripod receptacle
• Use a tripod with a screw length of less than
5.5 mm (7/32 inch). You will be unable to
firmly secure the camera to tripods having
screws longer than 5.5 mm (7/32 inch), and
may damage the camera.
LSpeaker
MAccess lamp
NBattery compartment
OMemory card insertion slot
PConnection plate cover
• Use this when using an AC-PW20 AC
Adaptor (sold separately). Insert the
connection plate into the battery
compartment, then pass the cord through the
connection plate cover as shown below.
• Make sure that the cord is not pinched when
you close the cover.
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E18 – 55 mm F3.5-5.6 OSS (supplied with NEX-7K)
AHood index
BFocusing ring
CZoom ring
DFocal-length scale
EFocal-length index
FLens contacts*
GMounting index
* Do not touch this part directly.
Lens

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List of icons on the screen
Icons are displayed on the screen to indicate the camera status.
You can change the screen display using DISP (Display Contents) on the control wheel
(page 48).
Shooting standby
Movie recording
Playback
A
Display Indication
P A S M
Shoot Mode
Scene Selection
Scene Recognition
Aspect ratio of still
images
24M 20M 12M
10M 6M 5.1M
Image size of still
images
RAW RAW+J
FINE STD
Image quality of still
images
100 Number of recordable
still images
60i/50i
60i/50i
60p/50p
24p/25p
24p/25p
Recording mode of
movies
Memory card/Upload
123Min Recordable time of
movies
100% Remaining battery
Flash charge in progress
AF illuminator
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B
CD
Live view
Does not record sound
during movie recording
SteadyShot/SteadyShot
warning
Control dials L/R
Overheating warning
Database file full/
Database file error
Dial/wheel lock
View mode
101-0012 Playback folder – File
number
Protect
Print order
Display Indication
Soft keys (MENU/
Shooting mode/Delete/
Enlarge)
Display Indication
Flash Mode/Red Eye
Reduction
Drive Mode
Focus mode
±0.0 Flash compensation
Metering Mode
Focus area mode
Object Tracking
Face Detection
Display Indication
Soft Skin Effect
AWB
7500K A7 G7
White Balance
DRO/Auto HDR
Creative Style
Picture Effect
Smile detection
sensitivity indicator
Display Indication
zFocus status
1/125 Shutter speed
F3.5 Aperture value
±0.0 Metered manual
±0.0 Exposure compensation
ISO400 ISO sensitivity
AE lock
Shutter speed indicator
Aperture indicator
REC 0:12 Recording time of the
movie (m:s)
Display Indication
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2011-1-1 9:30AM Recorded date/time of
the image
12/12 Image number/Number
of images in the view
mode
Appears when HDR did
not work on the image.
Appears when Picture
Effect did not work on
the image.
Histogram
Display Indication

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Basic operations
Operating the camera
When shooting, DISP (Display Contents), (Exposure Comp.), and (Drive
Mode) functions are assigned to the control wheel. When playing back, DISP (Display
Contents) and (Image Index) functions are assigned to the control wheel.
You can assign the functions to the right key on the control wheel (page 145).
The control wheel, soft keys, control dials, etc. allow
you to use various functions of the camera.
Control wheel
Soft keys Control wheel
Control dials
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When you turn or press the top/bottom/right/left parts of the control wheel following the
on-screen display, you can select setting items. Your selection is determined when you
press the center of the control wheel.
The soft keys have different roles, depending on the context.
The assigned role (function) of each soft key is shown on the screen.
To use the function shown at the upper right corner of the screen, press soft key A. To
use the function shown at the lower right corner of the screen, press soft key B. To use
the function shown at the center, press the center of the control wheel (soft key C).
You can assign the functions to the soft keys B and C (page 145).
In this handbook, the soft keys are indicated by the icon or the function shown on the
screen.
Soft keys
The arrow means you can turn the
control wheel.
When options are displayed on the
screen, you can browse through them
by turning or pressing the top/bottom/
right/left parts of the control wheel.
Press the center to make your choice.
In this case, soft key A works as
the MENU (Menu) button, and
soft key B as the (Object
tracking cancellation) button.
Soft key C works as the MODE
(Shoot Mode) button.
A
B
C
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Using the control dials L/R and control wheel, you can adjust or set related items such as
focusing, exposure compensation, and other shooting adjustments, simultaneously, on a
single screen (Triple-dial-control).
In the [Program Auto] mode, for example, you can set program shift with the control dial
L, exposure compensation with the control dial R, and ISO with the control wheel. See
pages 31 to 45 for more details.
Pressing the Navigation button toggles the functions as follows. See page 31 for more
details.
• You cannot use the Triple-dial-control with [Intelligent Auto] and [Scene Selection].
• Functions cannot be assigned to the control dials L and R or the control wheel in certain modes.
Control dials
Notes
Navigation button
Items to be set by turning the control wheel
Items to be set by turning the control dial R
Items to be set by turning the control dial L
Exposure Settings
Focus Settings
White Balance Settings
D-Range Settings
Creative Style Settings
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