Sony NEX-7 &alpha User manual

Professional quality in your pocket
Interchangeable-lens
Digital Camera

2 3
Actual size
Imagine the infinite potential
Envision all the power and flexibility of an interchangeable-lens camera in your pocket. Breathtaking image quality and
lightning-swift response previously reserved for high-end photography. Feature-rich flexibility and advanced movie-making
capabilities. Plus meticulous craftsmanship that inspires a sense of pride. Imagine the new one-of-a-kind A NEX-7 from Sony.
Now nothing can stop you from realizing your vision.
• 24.3 megapixel image resolution
• World's fastest8release time lag
• World’s first9XGA OLED Tru-Finder™viewfinder
• Intuitive TRINAVI operation
• AVCHD™ Ver. 2.0 (Progressive) Full HD 60p movies

Sonnar T* E 24mm F1.8 ZA (SEL24F18Z), 1/80 sec., F2.5, ISO 200, Auto white balance

70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM (SAL70300G), Mount Adaptor LA-EA2, 1/160 sec., F5.6, ISO 200, Auto white balance

E 50mm F1.8 OSS (SEL50F18), 1/250 sec., F5.6, ISO 200, Auto white balance

Dramatically improved BIONZ®image processing engine
Blazing fast BIONZ®processor has been
optimized to bring out the full potential
of the new Exmor APS HD CMOS image
sensor. Utilizing powerful algorithms, it
transforms RAW data from the sensor
into beautiful images with extremely
accurate color and rich tonal gradations
throughout the entire dynamic range.
Even during ultra-high-speed continuous
shooting or Full HD movie shooting, it
effortlessly handles the vast information
generated by the 24.3 megapixel
CMOS sensor as well as other processor
intensive tasks such as advanced digital
compositing. Moreover, RAW image noise
reduction complements dual noise
reduction in the sensor to deliver images
of superb quality with extremely low noise.
New 24.3 megapixel Exmor™ APS HD CMOS sensor
Enjoy breathtaking image quality in
almost any lighting, thanks to Sony’s
new proprietary Exmor APS HD CMOS
sensor with astounding 24.3 megapixel
resolution. The sensor’s extra-large
surface area raises sensitivity in low-light
conditions and strengthens background
defocusing effects so you can add
depth and drama to virtually any scene.
Furthermore, dual noise reduction
significantly reduces noise during analog
and digital signal conversion to ensure
smooth, crystal-clear reproduction
even in low-light conditions. Discover
the dramatic difference that rich detail,
accurate color and smooth tonal
gradations can make.
Indulge in sophisticated imaging technology
High sensitivity and broad ISO range
Virtually any lighting conditions can be
mastered with NEX-7 thanks to extremely
high ISO sensitivity and wide-ranging
settings from 100 to 16000 — a range
of 7 1/3 EV steps. Even when shooting
in dimly lit conditions without a flash or
tripod, extremely low-noise, high-quality
image capturing and processing ensure
outstanding results.You can capture the
mood of a candlelit wedding ceremony
with a high sensitivity setting.
Use a low sensitivity setting and slow
shutter speed to photograph the flow
of a river. Or clearly shoot athletes
competing indoors with a high sensitivity
setting and high shutter speed. In regular
shooting conditions, the Auto ISO mode
can automatically choose the optimal
ISO setting between ISO 100 and 1600
or between any range you choose to
customize for creative results.
ISO 16000ISO 6400ISO 1600
E 50mm F1.8 OSS (SEL50F18), 1/5 sec., F8, ISO 3200, Auto white balance
Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor
23.5 x 15.6 mm
MICRO Four Thirds™ sensor
13.2 x 8.8 mm sensor
1/2.4 sensor
(common in compact digital cameras)
The APS-C size sensor is more than 13x larger than
1/2.4-size sensors, 3.1x larger than 13.2 x 8.8 mm sensors,
and 1.6x larger than MICRO Four Thirds™ sensors,
resulting in much higher image quality and sensitivity.
10 11

Fast and precise autofocusing
Intelligent contrast-detection autofocusing
delivers precision focusing when shooting
virtually any type of subject in photos and
movies. Simply point and shoot for fast,
accurate results. You can also use DMF
(Direct Manual Focus)for more creative
control or instantly switch from DMF to MF
(Manual Focus), or between AF and MF, by
pressing the AF/MF button.
The AF system places 25 AF points over
a wide area of the frame, making it easy
to change the composition and track
moving subjects while maintaining focus.
Two autofocus modes (Single-shot AF
and Continuous AF)along with three
Autofocus Area settings (25-point Multi,
user-selectable Flexible Spot and Center)
utilize an advanced new AF algorithm for
outstanding performance and speed.
10 fps continuous shooting speed
Capture the decisive moment during fast-
breaking action by shooting continuously
at up to 10 frames per second. Powerful
BIONZ®processing combines with rapid
data readout to easily process the 24.3
megapixels of data from the Exmor™
sensor at accelerated speed.
New Tracking Focus function
Now it’s easy to keep moving subjects in
sharp focus. Once you select a subject
as your main target, new Tracking
Focus stays locked on that subject and
maintains focus even as the subject
moves.This hassle-free mode assures that
unpredictable subjects stay in focus even
while you are zooming or adjusting the
composition. It lets you concentrate on the
scene without worrying about the focus.
Intelligent Face Registration
Catch familiar faces at their best with
the new Face Registration function. This
intelligent technology based on Sony’s
renowned Face Detection lets you easily
register up to eight faces in memory.
Whenever you shoot, the camera instantly
recognizes and focuses on these faces
while also adjusting exposure, flash
output and more to capture them at their
beautiful best. Smile Shutter™ technology
can also be used concurrently for the
ultimate in automatic shooting ease.
Screen shown when registering faces
Capture every decisive moment
with confidence
E 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OSS (SEL1855), 1/1000 sec., F6.3, ISO 400, Auto white balance
Lightning fast response
Don’t let special moments slip away in
the blink of an eye. The world’s fastest
release time lag8 — an astounding 0.02
sec. — virtually eliminates any delay
when pressing the shutter button. So you’ll
never miss another photo opportunity.This
amazing performance was accomplished
by adopting an electronic front curtain
shutter. Overall camera response was
further enhanced by improving AF
performance (via accelerated image
sensor readout)and increasing image
processing capabilities. Now it’s easier
than ever to capture high-quality shots in
dynamic, rapidly changing situations.
12 13

Express your movie-making aspirations
Extra-large image sensor
Whenever you capture movies, the extra-
large dimensions of the Exmor™ APS HD
CMOS sensor empower you to express
your full creativity.The large size enables
beautiful background defocusing effects
for a cinematic sense of depth and
drama. It also contributes to extremely
high recording sensitivity for effective
shooting in very dim lighting.The large
sensor additionally lets you take full
advantage of P/A/S/M modes to
manually adjust exposure.
AVCHD™ Ver. 2.0 (Progressive)
Full HD 60p movies
Now you can capture HD movies at a
much higher frame rate for the ultimate
in smooth movie playback.Thanks to
the accelerated performance of the
large Exmor™ sensor and BIONZ®image
processing engine, as well as Sony’s
adoption of the new AVCHD Ver. 2.0
(Progressive) format, you can shoot Full HD
movies at 60 fps12. Moreover, image quality
is outstanding even at this accelerated
speed: the beautiful 1920 x 1080 pixel
movie footage is the same resolution as
HDTV broadcasts. 24p film-like expression
Cinematic films are traditionally
captured at 24 fps, creating a subtle
but unmistakable look that movie lovers
everywhere associate with the cinema.
Simply by capturing your movies at the
same frame rate, in the progressive 24p
format, you can recreate this look and
endow your movies with an added sense
of quality and drama.
Full manual movie shooting
NEX-7 expands your control over camera
settings so you can carefully craft each
scene for maximum impact. Using manual
focus and P/A/S/M modes (Program
Auto, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority and
Manual Exposure), you can flexibly adjust
background blur and manually control
exposure. On-screen prompts provide
assistance to make full manual operation
quick, easy and comfortable.
Clear audio recording quality
A built-in stereo microphone ensures
outstanding audio quality.Advanced
circuitry improves recording quality and
reduces noise to make a big difference
when shooting in quiet settings. Optional
Stereo Microphone ECM-ALST1 can be
attached to the camera’s Auto-lock
Accessory Shoe to provide directional
audio coverage from 90° to 120°.
Optional clip-on LCD monitor
For extra shooting and playback comfort,
as well as the most accurate manual
focusing possible, simply add the Clip-on
LCD Monitor CLM-V55.11 It boasts a 5.0"
WVGA LCD screen with a wide viewing
angle, pixel magnification and sunshade.
Heightened creative potential
Sony makes it easy to exaggerate the
mood or completely transform the look
of your movies by applying Creative Style
and Picture Effect10 modes, which are
digitally applied to your images in real-
time as you shoot. For example, the
Toy Camera mode creates a rough,
amateurish look, while Posterization
reduces the number of colors to make
a vivid, high-contrast statement.
One-touch movie access
With one press of the MOVIE button, NEX-7
is ready to roll.The camera immediately
enters movie recording mode regardless of
whether you were shooting photographs
continuously, in single-frame mode or
not at all. It’s the quick and easy way to
capture every movie-making opportunity.
Clip-on LCD Monitor
CLM-V55
Stereo Microphone
ECM-ALST1
14 15

Control dial L
Control dial R
Navigation button
Control wheel
Dial your way to fine-tuned perfection
TRINAVI — Navigation made simple
Sony proudly introduces TRINAVI, an
innovative new approach to camera
operation that enables faster and more
intuitive fine-tuning of camera settings.
Through the use of a navigation button
and three easily accessible dials, it virtually
eliminates the need to hunt through menu
hierarchies to find desired settings.You
simply press the navigation button located
next to the shutter button to select a major
settings category (Exposure Settings, Focus
Settings, White Balance Settings, D-Range
Settings, Creative Style Settings, etc.).Then
use the three dials on the top and back
of the camera to quickly and easily adjust
parameters as desired. Only parameters
related to your chosen category are
displayed to ensure simple operation. With
TRINAVI, operation is always satisfying. You
spend less time searching for settings and
more time expressing your creative vision.
Customizable navigation button
NEX-7 makes it easy to customize what
categories are selectable with the
navigation button. By default, Exposure
Settings, Focus Settings, White Balance
Settings, D-Range Settings and Creative
Style Settings are selectable. But Picture
Effect Settings and Custom Settings —
which lets you assign parameters to
the three dials from a list of alternatives
including ISO and Metering Mode — can
be chosen to replace other categories
(except Exposure Settings). Moreover, the
categories can be customized to appear
in any order you like.
1
2
3
4
Focus Settings
White Balance Settings
D-Range Settings
Creative Style Settings
Exposure Settings
Picture Effect Settings
Custom Settings
Navigation button
Navigation button
Navigation button
Navigation button
The order of categories can be customized.
Focus
Settings
White Balance
Settings
D-Range
Settings
Creative Style
Settings
Picture Effect
Settings
Custom
Settings
P mode Program Shift
Exposure
compensation
ISO
A mode Aperture
S mode Shutter speed
M mode Shutter speed Aperture
AF mode AF area mode Focusing area
(horizontal)
Focusing area
(vertical)
MF mode Enlarging area
(vertical)
Enlarging area
(horizontal)
Enlarging area
(vertical)
Modes
(AWB, Daylight, Shade,
Cloudy, Incandescent,
Fluor.: Warm White,
Fluor.: Cool White,
Fluor.: Day White,
Fluor.: Daylight, Flash,
C.Temp./Filter, Custom)
Amber-blue
color tone
Green-magenta
color tone
Modes Option
adjustment No item assigned
DRO level/
HDR level
(incl. Auto)
Exposure
compensation
OFF
DRO
HDR
Image style
Adjustment
(contrast, saturation,
sharpness)
Contrast
Saturation
Sharpness
Control dial LControl dial RControl wheel
Exposure
Settings
Note: Pressing the center of the control wheel or bottom soft key
changes the magnification.
Custom Settings lets you assign any of the following parameters to the
control dials and control wheel: Exposure Comp., Autofocus Mode, ISO,
Metering Mode, White Balance, DRO/Auto HDR, Creative Style, Picture
Effect, Quality, Not Set.
16 17

View every detail with astonishing clarity
Level HistogramDisplay Basic Info
Remarkably clear XGA OLED Tru-Finder™ EVF — A world first9
Every detail of your scene is displayed
with incredible contrast, clarity and color
accuracy on the amazing new XGA OLED
Tru-Finder display. Since you can see
exactly what will appear in your photo,
including defocusing effects that faithfully
reflect your aperture settings, you can
fine-tune every aspect of the foreground
and background to achieve the results you
desire. Moreover, viewing is supremely easy
in any type of lighting — an advantage
over LCD monitors that are difficult to view
in bright sunlight and optical viewfinders
that are difficult to view in the dark.
This viewing ease makes it simpler to
concentrate on the scene, adjust settings
and shoot without removing your eye from
the finder.
The backlight-free design of OLED
technology delivers incredible contrast
(10 times greater than high performance
LCD electronic viewfinders)and
dramatically broadens the dynamic
range.Accelerated OLED response also
virtually eliminates both motion blur and
residual images when tracking moving
objects or displaying recorded movies.
Slim unit dimensions gave Sony extra
freedom to achieve advances like a
wide 33.1° viewing angle, high 23.3mm
eye-point and 100% frame coverage. A
high-precision 2,359K dot resolution allows
fine-adjustment of focus via MF Assist.
Variable information display
The OLED viewfinder clearly displays
detailed shooting information at high XGA
resolution for quick and easy reading.
You can display the data in your choice
of three display modes (Display Basic
Info, Level or Histogram)by pressing DISP.
The level gauge indicates whether the
camera is level in the horizontal and front-
back directions.The histogram displays
the luminance distribution of pixels in the
image, which can be adjusted through
exposure compensation.
8 LCD display modes
When viewing the LCD, you can display
shooting information in your choice of
8 convenient display modes (Graphic
Display, Display All Info., Big Font Size
Disp., No Disp. Info., Live View Priority, Level,
Histogram, or For Viewfinder).The selection
process is simplified by narrowing down
the choices to your favorite modes with
the DISP Button (Monitor)menu.Thereafter,
selecting a mode is as simple as
pressing DISP.
Three handy grid displays
Whenever you desire assistance aligning
the horizon or achieving a balanced
composition, you can overlay one of
three types of grids in the viewfinder.
These include a 3x3 grid that follows the
rule of thirds, a 4x4 grid that includes two
45-degree lines passing through the center,
and a 6x4 grid that simplifies the alignment
of multiple visual elements.
Narrow down the number of selectable modes
Graphic Display Display All Info.
Live View Priority Level
Big Font Size Disp. No Disp. Info.
Histogram For Viewfinder
Tiltable Xtra Fine LCD™ monitor
with TruBlack™ technology
The big, bright LCD monitor is perfect for
shooting both movies and still images.
Featuring a crisp 921K dot resolution
and wide 16:9 aspect ratio, this 3.0" LCD
monitor incorporates Sony’s original
TruBlack technology to suppress light
reflections and deliver more vibrant colors,
deeper blacks and excellent contrast.
Monitor brightness can be adjusted
manually or automatically, and Sunny
Weather mode boosts brightness when
viewing under exceptionally bright light.
The monitor also angles approx. 90° up
and 45° down, allowing you to shoot from
unusual perspectives.
Anti-reflective film
Reinforced glass
Resin filling
Generic LCD monitor
with troublesome reflections
TruBlack display eliminates reflections
LCD
Clear protective cover
Tiltable display
Hold the camera high to shoot from above. Or place it
low to the ground for a startling view of life looking up.
18 19