Sony A 100 Manual

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Using the shooting functions
Using the shooting functions
Using the mode dial
Set the mode dial to the desired function.
In this Operating Instructions, the available mode dial setting is shown as follows.
Recording modes
: Auto adjustment mode
Allows easy shooting with the settings adjusted automatically, depending entirely 
on the camera. t step 5 in “Read This First”
      : Scene Selection mode
Allows you to shoot with preset settings according to the scene (page 32).
P:Program auto mode
Allows you to shoot with the exposure adjusted automatically (both the shutter 
speed and the aperture value). The other settings can be adjusted, and your setting 
values can be saved (page 33).
A:Aperture priority mode
Allows you to shoot after adjusting the aperture value manually (page 34).
S:Shutter speed priority mode
Allows you to shoot after adjusting the shutter speed manually (page 36).
M:Manual exposure mode
Allows you to shoot after adjusting the exposure manually (both the shutter speed 
and the aperture value) (page 37).
Mode dial
Unavailable Available 
						

							32
You can shoot with the following preset settings according to the scene. You can change any of the settings except [Color/DEC] (page 49).
 Portrait
 Landscape
 Macro
 Sports action
 Sunset
Scene SelectionPASM
Shoots with backgrounds blur away, and the subject is sharpened. To blur the background more, using the telephoto position of the lens is more 
effective.
 It is recommended that you use the flash when the subject is backlit. Also, when 
you do not use the flash, it is recommended that you use the lens hood to prevent 
unnecessary light from seeping into the lens.
Shoots scenery with vivid and sharp colors. It is recommended that you push down the flash not to fire the flash.
 The shutter speed becomes slower when the subject is dark. If   appears in 
the viewfinder, be careful about camera shake or use a tripod. The Super 
SteadyShot function is also effective.
Shoots close subjects such as flowers, insects.
You can achieve clear and sharp focus.
 When shooting with the built-in flash within the range of 1 m (39 3/8 inches), 
shadows may appear on the lower part of the image. Do not use with the built-in 
flash.
Shoots moving subjects outdoors or in bright places. The AF mode is set to   (Continuous AF) (page 53). The camera continues to 
focus while the shutter button is pressed and held halfway down.
 The drive mode is set to Continuous (page 61). The camera shoots the image 
continuously while the shutter button is pressed.
 Do not use the flash if the subject is out of the flash range (Push the built-in flash 
back down). Flash range 
 t step 5 in “Read This First”
Shoots the red of the sunset beautifully. 
						

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Using the shooting functions
 Night view/portrait
 The shutter speed is slower, so using a tripod is recommended. The Super SteadyShot function is also 
effective. (t step 5 in “Read This First”)
In program auto mode, the camera automatically adjusts the shutter speed and the aperture 
according to the brightness of the subject just as in the auto adjustment mode (mode dial: 
AU TO ) .  
Program Shift
You can temporarily change the aperture value and shutter speed combination that was 
adjusted by the camera.
There are two methods for the program shift function.
P
S shift: You can choose the desired shutter speed. The aperture value is adjusted 
automatically. This setting is the default setting.
P
A shift: You can choose the desired aperture value. The shutter speed is adjusted 
automatically.
 You can switch the PS shift and the PA shift with [Ctrl dial set] in the   Custom menu (page 94).
1Set the mode dial to P.
2Look into the viewfinder or press the shutter button halfway down until the shutter speed and 
aperture value are displayed on the LCD monitor.Night portrait
Shoots portraits in dark places.
Pull up the flash to use it.
 The shutter speed is up to 2 seconds.
 Take care that the subject does not move to prevent the image from blurring.
Night viewShoots night scenes at a distance without losing the dark atmosphere of 
the surroundings.
Do not use the flash (Push the flash back down).
 The picture may not be taken properly when shooting a wholly dark night scene.
Shooting with Program autoPASM
Shutter button
Control dialMode dial 
						

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3Select the aperture value or the shutter speed using the control dial when the shutter speed and 
the aperture value are displayed.
 When the shutter speed and the aperture value are displayed, you no longer have to keep pressing the 
shutter button.
 When the shutter speed and the aperture value disappear seconds later, the adjusted values also disappear.
 When the flash is pulled up, you cannot select the program shift (even if you turn the control dial, the 
program shift is not turned on). When the program shift is turned on, pulling up the flash cancels the 
program shift.
You can adjust the amount of light that passes through the lens. If you open the aperture (a 
smaller F-number), the amount of light allowed into the lens increases and the in-focus range 
becomes narrower. Only the main subject is then in focus. When the aperture is closed (a 
larger F-number), the amount of light decreases and the in-focus range becomes wider. The 
whole image is sharpened.
The shutter speed is automatically adjusted to obtain correct exposure according to the 
brightness of the subject.
Shooting with aperture priority modePASM
PS shift (The default setting) PA shift
Open the apertureClose the aperture
Mode dial
Control dial 
						

							35
Using the shooting functions
1Set the mode dial to A.
2Select an aperture value using the control dial.
 The aperture range depends on the lens.
 The aperture value is adjusted in 1/3 Ev increments.
 Before shooting, you can do a quick check on the image blur with the depth-of-field preview function 
(page 70).
 If the proper exposure is not obtained after making the settings, the shutter speed on the LCD monitor and 
in the viewfinder flashes when the shutter button is pressed halfway down. You can shoot at this point, but 
adjusting again is recommended.
 When the flash is pulled up, the flash fires regardless of the amount of ambient light (page 54).
 When using the flash, if you close the aperture (a larger F-number), the flash light does not reach a distant 
subject. Opening the aperture (a smaller F-number) is recommended.
 If you close the aperture (a larger F-number), the amount of light passing through the lens is decreased 
and the shutter speed becomes slower. Using a tripod is recommended.
zShooting techniques
The depth of field is the in-focus range. Opening the aperture makes the depth of field shallower (the in-
focus range becomes narrower) and closing the aperture makes the depth of field wider (the in-focus 
range becomes wider).
Adjust the aperture to suit your purpose, either to sharpen the specific area of image, or to focus on the 
entire image.
Open the aperture
The subject is sharpened with 
its background blurred.Close the aperture
Over a wide range, both 
nearby and faraway subjects 
are brought into focus. 
						

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You can adjust the shutter speed manually. If you shoot a moving subject at a higher shutter 
speed, it appears as if frozen on the image. At a lower shutter speed, the subject appears as if it 
flowing.
Aperture value is automatically adjusted to attain correct exposure according to the brightness 
of the subject.
1Set the mode dial to S.
2Select a shutter speed using the control dial.
 You can adjust the shutter speed between 30 and 1/4000 second. You can adjust it between 30 and 1/
125 second (with the Super SteadyShot function activated) or 30 and 1/160 second (with the Super 
SteadyShot function deactivated) when using the flash.
 The shutter speed is adjusted in 1/3 Ev increments.
 If the proper exposure is not obtained after making the settings, the aperture value on the LCD monitor 
and in the viewfinder flashes when the shutter button is pressed halfway down. You can shoot at this point, 
but adjusting again is recommended.
 When the flash is pulled up, the flash fires regardless of the amount of ambient light (page 54).
 When using the flash, if you close the aperture (a larger F-number) by making the shutter speed slower, 
the flash light does not reach a distant subject. If you want to use the slower shutter speed, the Slow Sync 
shooting is recommended (page 69).
 When the shutter speed is one second or more, the noise reduction will be done after shooting (page 85).
 The   (Camera-shake warning) indicator does not appear in the shutter speed priority mode.
Shooting with shutter speed priority 
modePASM
High shutter speed
Slow shutter speed
Control dialMode dial 
						

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Using the shooting functions
Manual exposure
You can manually adjust the shutter speed and aperture values.
This mode is useful when you maintain the setting of the shutter speed and the aperture value 
or when you use an exposure meter.
1Set the mode dial to M.
2Select a shutter speed using the control dial.
 “BULB” (Bulb shooting) is indicated next to “30” (page 40).
3Press and hold the +/– (Exposure) button and turn the control dial to select the aperture.
zShooting techniques
When shooting a moving person, car, or spindrift, etc., using the high shutter speed, 
you can express moment that is beyond what the human eye can see.
When shooting a subject such as the flow of a river at a slower shutter speed, you can 
create an image that captures the subject’s flowing movement. In such cases, use of a 
tripod is recommended to prevent camera shake.
Shooting with manual exposure modePASM
Mode dial
Control dial
+/– (Exposure) button 
						

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 In the manual exposure mode, even when [ISO] (page 44) is set to [AUTO], it is fixed to ISO 100.
 You can assign the function of the control dial with [Ctrl dial set] in the   Custom menu (page 94).
 The   (Camera-shake warning) indicator does not appear in the manual exposure mode.
 When the flash is pulled up, the flash fires regardless of the amount of ambient light (page 54).
zEv scale
The Ev scale on the LCD monitor and in the viewfinder indicates the difference between the standard 
exposure (0.0Ev) determined by the camera meter and the set exposure determined by the shutter speed, and 
the aperture specified by the photographer. (Metered Manual)
: stands for Metered Manual.
Standard exposure 1.0Ev over exposure 2.0Ev or more over 
exposure 
The set exposure specified by 
the photographer is the same 
as the exposure determined by 
the meter.The set exposure specified by 
the photographer is 1.0Ev 
more (+) than the standard 
exposure determined by the 
meter.The b B arrow appears at the 
end of the scale if the set 
exposure is over 2.0Ev more 
(+) or less (-) than the standard 
exposure. The arrow starts 
flashing if the difference 
becomes greater. 
						

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Using the shooting functions
zHow to use the AEL button in manual mode
While you press and hold the AEL (AE Lock) button, the exposure determined by the meter is locked as the 
standard exposure (0.0Ev). Changing the composition on the LCD monitor and in the viewfinder while 
holding the AEL button causes the exposure within the spot metering circle to continually shift to match the 
movements and the display indicates the difference between the standard exposure determined by the meter 
and the exposure within the spot metering circle.
The following illustrations show a case where the set exposure specified by the photographer is 1.0Ev more 
than the locked standard exposure determined by the meter. When the composition is changed in the 
viewfinder, the exposure within the spot metering circle is 0.7Ev more than the set exposure, thereby 
making it 1.7Ev more than the standard exposure determined by the meter.
Manual shift
You can change the shutter speed and aperture value combination without changing the 
exposure in manual mode.
1Set the mode dial to M.
2Select a shutter speed and aperture value (page 37).
3Press and hold the AEL (AE lock) button and turn the control dial to select the desired shutter 
speed and aperture value combination.
The exposure specified 
by the photographer
The exposure within the 
spot metering circle 
when you recompose 
your shot.Spot metering circle
Mode dial
Control dial
AEL (AE lock) button 
						

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BULB (long exposure) shooting
As long as the shutter button is pressed, the shutter remains open. You can shoot trails of light, 
such as fireworks. Attach a tripod to the camera when using the bulb shooting function.
1Set the mode dial to M.
2Turn the control dial to the left until [BULB] is indicated.
3Press and hold the +/– (Exposure) button and turn the control dial to select the aperture.
4Attach the eyepiece cover (page 41).
5Press and hold the shutter button for the duration of the shooting.
 You can shoot in bulb exposure mode up to about four hours using a fully charged battery pack.
 After shooting, the noise reduction will be done for the same amount of time that the shutter was open. 
When the message “Processing...” appears, you cannot do any further shooting. To cancel this function, 
see page 85.
 The Super SteadyShot function is automatically turned off.
 The higher the ISO sensitivity, or the longer the exposure time, the more outstanding the noise on the 
monitor.
 To reduce camera-shake, connecting the Remote Commander (not supplied) is recommended (page 144).
Mode dial
Control dial
+/– (Exposure) buttonShutter button