Sony A 100 Manual

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 Custom menu 1 ..................................................................................93Priority setup
FocusHoldButt.
AEL button
Ctrl dial set
Exp. comp. set
AF illuminator
 Custom menu 2 ..................................................................................96Shutter lock
Shutter lock
AF area setup
Monitor Disp.
Rec. display
Play. display
 Setup menu 1 .....................................................................................98LCDbrightness
Transfer mode
Video output
Audio signals
 Language
Date/Time set
 Setup menu 2 ...................................................................................100File # memory
Folder name
Select folder
 Setup menu 3 ...................................................................................102LCD backlight
Power save
MenuSec.Memory
Delete conf.
Clean CCD
Reset default
Enjoying your Windows computer .........................................................105
Copying images to your computer .........................................................107
Viewing image files stored on a computer with your camera ................113
Installing the software (supplied) ...........................................................114
Using the software (supplied) ................................................................115
Using your Macintosh computer ............................................................120
Using your computer 
						

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How to print images .............................................................................. 122
Printing images directly using a PictBridge compliant printer ............... 123
Troubleshooting..................................................................................... 127
Warning messages ............................................................................... 137
On the “Memory Stick” .......................................................................... 139
On the CF card/Microdrive .................................................................... 141
On the battery pack .............................................................................. 142
On the battery charger .......................................................................... 143
Optional accessories ............................................................................ 144
Precautions ........................................................................................... 147
Specifications ........................................................................................ 149
Reset default ......................................................................................... 151
Printing images
Troubleshooting
Others
Index 155 
						

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Basic techniques for better images
When you look into the viewfinder, or you press the shutter button halfway down, the camera 
adjusts the focus automatically (Auto Focus). Make it a habit to press the shutter button only 
halfway down to confirm that the subject is visually in focus.
If the image looks blurred even after focusing, it may be because of camera shake. 
t See 
“Hints for preventing blur” (as follows).
FocusFocusing on a subject successfully
Press the shutter 
button fully down 
straight away.Press the shutter 
button halfway 
down.AE/AF lock 
 , zThen press the 
shutter button 
fully down.
Focus Exposure Color Quality
This section describes the basics so you can 
enjoy your camera. It tells you how to use 
various camera functions such as the mode 
dial (page 31), the function dial (page 42), the 
menus (page 80), and so on. 
						

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When the subject is outside the focus frame (Focus-lock)
Normally, in auto focus mode, place the subject within the focus 
frame   and take the picture. If the subject is off-center and 
outside the focus frame, the background within the focus frame 
will be in focus and the subject will be out of focus. To prevent 
this, use the focus-lock function by following the steps below.
 The focus-lock function is also effective when shooting subjects with which autofocus is less effective 
(page 15). 
1Place the subject within the focus frame and press the shutter button halfway down.
 The z indicator lights up in the viewfinder. A local focus frame is illuminated briefly to indicate the 
point of focus.
Hints for preventing blur
Hold the camera steady, keeping your arms 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. Using a tripod, 
or using the Super SteadyShot function is also recommended.
In a dark location, using the flash allows you to take a bright picture even of a subject in 
dim light and it also helps to prevent camera shake.
If you want to make the most of the ambient light, or if the subject is out of flash range, 
you can increase the shutter speed to reduce the camera shake without firing the flash by 
increasing the ISO. (However, this tends to make the image grainy or subject to noise.) 
						

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2Keep the shutter button halfway down, and put the subject back in the original position to re-
compose the shot.
3Press the shutter button fully down to take the picture.
 The focus-lock function will lock the exposure as well (when multi segment metering is selected 
(page 58)).
 Releasing the shutter button after shooting will disengage the focus-lock. If you keep the shutter button 
halfway down after shooting, you can continue shooting with the same focal point.
 If the z indicator does not light up in the viewfinder (the subject is in motion), you cannot use the focus-
lock function by pressing the shutter button halfway down. (See pages 53 and 71.)
Subjects that may require special focusing:
Using the auto focus, it is hard to focus on the following subjects. In such cases, use the focus lock shooting 
feature or manual focus (page 71).
– A subject that is low in contrast, such as blue sky or a white wall.
– Two subjects at different distances overlapping in the focus frame.
– A subject that is composed of repeating patterns, such as the facade of a building.
– A subject that is very bright or glittering, such as the sun, the body of an automobile, or the surface of 
water.
To measure the exact distance to the subjectThe horizontal line in the illustration shows the location of the CCD* plane. 
When you measure the exact distance between the camera and the subject, 
refer to the position of the horizontal line.
* The CCD is the part of the camera that acts as the film. 
						

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You can create various images by adjusting the shutter speed and aperture. Exposure is the 
amount of light that the camera will receive when you release the shutter.
ExposureAdjusting the light intensity
Overexposure
= too much light
Whitish imageThe exposure is automatically set to the 
proper value in the auto adjustment mode. 
However, you can adjust it manually using 
the functions below.
Manual exposure:
Allows you to adjust the shutter speed and 
aperture value manually. t page 37
Metering Mode:
Allows you to change the part of the 
subject to be measured to determine the 
exposure. t page 58
Exposure compensation:
Allows you to adjust the exposure that has 
been determined by the camera. 
t page 65 Correct exposure
Underexposure
= too little light
Darker image
Shutter speed =  Length of time the camera 
receives light
Aperture = Size of the opening allowing light to pass 
through
Image sensor = 
Part that records the image
Exposure: 
						

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The apparent color of the subject is affected by the lighting conditions.
Example: The color of an image affected by light sources
The color tones are adjusted automatically in the auto white balance mode.
However, you can adjust color tones manually with the white balance mode (page 46).
A digital image is made up of a collection of small dots called pixels.
If it contains a large number of pixels, the picture becomes large, it takes up more memory, 
and the image is displayed in fine detail. “Image size” is shown by the number of pixels. 
Although you cannot see the differences on the screen of the camera, the fine detail and data 
processing time differ when the image is printed or displayed on a computer screen.
Description of the pixels and the image size
ColorOn the effects of lighting
Weather/lightingDaylight Cloudy Fluorescent Incandescent
Characteristics of 
lightWhite (standard) Bluish Blue-tinged Reddish
QualityOn “image quality” and “image size”
1Image size: L:10M
3,872 pixels × 2,592 pixels = 10,036,224 pixels
2Image size: S:2.5M
1,920 pixels × 1,280 pixels = 2,457,600 pixels
Pixels 
						

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Selecting the image size for use
The default settings are marked with  .
* The images recorded using the camera are the same 3:2 ratio as used photograph printing paper or 
postcards, etc.
** This is a size larger than A3 size. You can print images with a margin around the A3 size image.
Selecting the image quality (compression ratio) in combination (page 83)
You can select the compression ratio when digital images are saved. When you select a high 
compression ratio, the image lacks the fineness of detail, but has a smaller file size.
PixelMany pixels (Fine 
image quality and 
large file size)Example: Printing in 
up to A3/A3+** size
Few pixels (Rough 
image quality but 
small file size)Example: For creating 
web pages
Image size*Usage guidelinesNo. of 
imagesPrinting
L:10M Larger
SmallerFor storing important images or printing A3/
A3+** size or fine A4 size images.Less
MoreFine
Rough M:5.6M For printing in A4 size or high density 
images in A5 size
S:2.5M For recording a large number of images
For creating web pages 
						

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Before your operation
Before your operation
Identifying parts
* Do not directly touch these parts.
See the pages in parentheses for details of 
operation.
AMode dial (31)
B (Drive) button (60)
CShutter button (
t step 5 in “Read This 
First”)
DControl dial (33, 94)
ESelf-timer lamp (62)
FLens contacts*
GMirror*
HLens mount
IDepth-of-field preview button (70)
JBuilt-in flash* (
t step 5 in “Read This 
First”)
KFn (Function) button (43)
LFunction dial (42)
MHook for shoulder strap (21)
NLens release button (
t step 2 in “Read 
This First”)
OFocus mode switch (71)
PDC-IN terminal (144)AVi ew fin d e r  (
t step 5 in “Read This 
First”)
BEyepiece sensors (97)
CPOWER switch (
t step 3 in “Read This 
First”)
DMENU button (80)
E (Display) button (26, 72)
F (Delete) button (
t step 6 in “Read 
This First”)
G (Playback) button (
t step 6 in 
“Read This First”)
HLCD monitor (22, 26)
IController (v/V/b/B) (
t step 3 in 
“Read This First”)
For viewing: v:  (Histogram) button 
(74)
V:   (Rotate) button (76)
JCenter button (
t step 3 in “Read This 
First”)/Spot-AF button (51)
KREMOTE (Remote-control) jack (144)
LAccessory shoe (145)
MDiopter-adjustment dial (
t step 5 in 
“Read This First”) 
						

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NFor shooting: +/– (Exposure) button (37, 
65)
For viewing:   (Reduce) button (72, 
77)
OFor shooting: AEL (AE lock) button 
(39, 67)
For viewing:   (Enlarge) button (77)
PAccess lamp (
t step 4 in “Read This 
Fi rs t ”)
Q (Super SteadyShot) switch (
t 
step 5 in “Read This First”)
RCF card cover (
t step 4 in “Read This 
Fi rs t ”)
SVIDEO/USB jack (78, 108)
TCF card insertion slot (
t step 4 in 
“Read This First”)
UCF card eject lever (
t step 4 in “Read 
This First”)ATripod 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.
BBattery cover open lever (t step 1 in 
“Read This First”)
CLock lever (
t step 1 in “Read This 
First”)
DBattery insertion slot (
t step 1 in 
“Read This First”)
EBattery cover (
t step 1 in “Read This 
First”)