Sony Camera Alpha Slt A57 Instruction Manual

							4-420-759-11(1)
SLT-A57
Interchangeable Lens 
Digital Camera
Instruction Manual
A-mount
Preparing the camera
Shooting and viewing 
images
Shooting images to suit 
your subject
Using the shooting 
functions
Using the playback 
functions
Functions list
Viewing images on a 
computer
Others
Index 
						

							2
Owner’s RecordThe model and serial numbers are located 
on the bottom.
Record the serial number in the space 
provided below.
Refer to these numbers whenever you call 
upon your Sony dealer regarding this 
product.
Model No. SLT-A57
Serial No. __________________________
To reduce fire or shock hazard, do 
not expose the unit to rain or 
moisture.IMPORTANT SAFETY 
INSTRUCTIONS
SAVE THESE 
INSTRUCTIONS.
DANGER - TO 
REDUCE THE RISK 
OF FIRE OR 
ELECTRIC SHOCK, 
CAREFULLY 
FOLLOW THESE 
INSTRUCTIONS.
If the shape of the plug does not fit the 
power outlet, use an attachment plug 
adaptor of the proper configuration for the 
power outlet.
Battery packIf the battery pack is mishandled, the 
battery pack can burst, cause a fire or even 
chemical burns. Observe the following 
cautions.
• Do not disassemble.
 Do not crush and do not expose the 
battery pack to any shock or force such as 
hammering, dropping or stepping on it.
 Do not short circuit and do not allow 
metal objects to come into contact with 
the battery terminals.
 Do not expose to high temperature above 
60°C (140°F) such as in direct sunlight or 
in a car parked in the sun.
 Do not incinerate or dispose of in fire.
 Do not handle damaged or leaking 
lithium ion batteries.
 Be sure to charge the battery pack using a 
genuine Sony battery charger or a device 
that can charge the battery pack.
WARNING
Caution 
						

							3
 Keep the battery pack out of the reach of 
small children.
 Keep the battery pack dry.
 Replace only with the same or equivalent 
type recommended by Sony.
 Dispose of used battery packs promptly 
as described in the instructions.
Battery chargerEven 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).
The power cord (mains lead), if supplied, is 
designed specifically for use with this 
camera only, and should not be used with 
other electrical equipment.
RECYCLING LITHIUM-ION 
BATTERIES
Lithium-Ion batteries are 
recyclable.
You can help preserve 
our environment by 
returning your used 
rechargeable batteries to 
the collection and 
recycling location nearest you.
For more information regarding recycling 
of rechargeable batteries, call toll free 
1-800-822-8837, or visit http://
www.rbrc.org/
Caution: Do not handle damaged or 
leaking Lithium-Ion batteries.
Battery Pack and lensThis device complies with Part 15 of the 
FCC Rules, Operation is subject to the 
following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful 
interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including 
interference that may cause undesired 
operation.
This Class B digital apparatus complies 
with Canadian ICES-003.
UL is an internationally recognized safety 
organization.
The UL Mark on the product means it has 
been UL Listed.
If you have any questions about this 
product, you may call: 
Sony Customer Information Center
1-800-222-SONY (7669)
The number below is for the FCC related 
matters only.
Regulatory Information
CAUTION
You are cautioned that any changes or 
modifications not expressly approved in 
this manual could void your authority to 
operate this equipment.
For Customers in the U.S.A. 
and Canada
For Customers in the U.S.A.
Declaration of Conformity
Trade Name: SONY
Model No.: SLT-A57
Responsible Party: Sony Electronics 
Inc.
Address:16530 Via Esprillo,
San Diego, CA 92127 U.S.A.
Telephone No.: 858-942-2230
This device complies with Part 15 of the 
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the 
following two conditions: (1) This 
device may not cause harmful 
interference, and (2) this device must 
accept any interference received, 
including interference that may cause 
undesired operation. 
						

							
4
Note:This equipment has been tested and found 
to comply with the limits for a Class B 
digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the 
FCC Rules.
These limits are designed to provide 
reasonable protection against harmful 
interference in a residential installation. 
This equipment generates, uses, and can 
radiate radio frequency energy and, if not 
installed and used in accordance with the 
instructions, may cause harmful 
interference to radio communications. 
However, there is no guarantee that 
interference will not occur in a particular 
installation. If this equipment does cause 
harmful interference to radio or television 
reception, which can be determined by 
turning the equipment off and on, the user 
is encouraged to try to correct the 
interference by one or more of the 
following measures:– Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
– Increase the separation between the  equipment and receiver.
– Connect the equipment into an outlet 
on a circuit different from that to which 
the receiver is connected.
– Consult the dealer or an experienced 
radio/TV technician for help.
The supplied interface cable must be used 
with the equipment in order to comply with 
the limits for a digital device pursuant to 
Subpart B of Part 15 of FCC Rules.
Notice for the customers in the 
countries applying EU Directives
The manufacturer of this product is Sony 
Corporation, 1-7-1 Konan Minato-ku 
Tokyo, 108-0075 Japan. The Authorized 
Representative for EMC and product safety 
is Sony Deutschland GmbH, Hedelfinger 
Strasse 61, 70327 Stuttgart, Germany. For 
any service or guarantee matters please 
refer to the addresses given in separate 
service or guarantee documents.
This product has been tested and found 
compliant with the limits set out in the 
EMC Directive for using connection cables 
shorter than 3 meters (9.8 feet).
AttentionThe electromagnetic fields at the specific 
frequencies may influence the picture and 
sound of this unit.
NoticeIf static electricity or electromagnetism 
causes data transfer to discontinue midway 
(fail), restart the application or disconnect 
and connect the communication cable 
(USB, etc.) again.
For Customers in Europe 
						

							5
Disposal of Old Electrical & 
Electronic Equipment (Applicable in 
the European Union and other 
European countries with separate 
collection systems)
This symbol on the product or on its 
packaging indicates that this product shall 
not be treated as household waste. Instead it 
shall be handed over to the applicable 
collection point for the recycling of 
electrical and electronic equipment. By 
ensuring this product is disposed of 
correctly, you will help prevent potential 
negative consequences for the environment 
and human health, which could otherwise 
be caused by inappropriate waste handling 
of this product. The recycling of materials 
will help to conserve natural resources. For 
more detailed information about recycling 
of this product, please contact your local 
Civic Office, your household waste 
disposal service or the shop where you 
purchased the product.
Disposal of waste batteries 
(applicable in the European Union 
and other European countries with 
separate collection systems)
This symbol on the battery or on the 
packaging indicates that the battery 
provided with this product shall not be 
treated as household waste.
On certain batteries this symbol might be 
used in combination with a chemical 
symbol. The chemical symbols for mercury 
(Hg) or lead (Pb) are added if the battery 
contains more than 0.0005% mercury or 
0.004% lead.
By ensuring these batteries are disposed of 
correctly, you will help prevent potentially 
negative consequences for the environment 
and human health which could otherwise be 
caused by inappropriate waste handling of 
the battery. The recycling of the materials 
will help to conserve natural resources.
In case of products that for safety, 
performance or data integrity reasons 
require a permanent connection with an 
incorporated battery, this battery should be 
replaced by qualified service staff only.
To ensure that the battery will be treated 
properly, hand over the product at end-of-
life to the applicable collection point for the 
recycling of electrical and electronic 
equipment.
For all other batteries, please view the 
section on how to remove the battery from 
the product safely. Hand the battery over to 
the applicable collection point for the 
recycling of waste batteries.
For more detailed information about 
recycling of this product or battery, please 
contact your local Civic Office, your 
household waste disposal service or the 
shop where you purchased the product. 
						

							6
A moulded plug complying with BS 1363 
is fitted to this equipment for your safety 
and convenience.
Should the fuse in the plug supplied need to 
be replaced, a fuse of the same rating as the 
supplied one and approved by ASTA or 
BSI to BS 1362, (i.e., marked with an   or 
 mark) must be used.
If the plug supplied with this equipment has 
a detachable fuse cover, be sure to attach 
the fuse cover after you change the fuse. 
Never use the plug without the fuse cover. 
If you should lose the fuse cover, please 
contact your nearest Sony service station.
Notice for customers in the 
United Kingdom 
						

							7
Table of Contents
Notes on using your camera  .............................................. 9
Preparing the camera
Checking the supplied items ............................................ 11
Identifying parts  .............................................................. 12
Charging the battery pack ................................................ 18
Inserting the battery pack/memory card (sold separately)
..................................................................................... 20
Attaching a lens  ............................................................... 23
Turning the camera on and setting the clock  ................... 26
Before shooting  ............................................................... 28
Adjusting the viewfinder to the visual acuity (diopter 
adjustment) ......................................................... 28
Holding the camera properly ...................................... 28
Shooting and viewing images
Shooting still images  ....................................................... 30
Recording movies  ............................................................ 32
Playing back images  ........................................................ 33
Deleting images (Delete)  ................................................. 34
Shooting images to suit your subject
Adjusting the angle of the LCD screen  ........................... 35
Shooting with the various shooting modes ...................... 36
 Superior Auto  .................................................. 37
 Scene Selection  .................................................. 38
 Sweep Panorama/  3D Sweep Panorama ....... 39
 Continuous Advance Priority AE Mode  ............ 40
Using the shooting functions
Using the flash  ................................................................. 41
Adjusting the brightness of the image  ............................. 43
 Selecting the drive mode  .................................... 45
Switching the recording information display (DISP)  ...... 46
Setting image size  ............................................................ 47
Image Size  .................................................................. 47
Panorama: Size  ........................................................... 47 
						

							8
Using the playback functions
Enlarging images  ............................................................. 49
Switching to the display of the image list  ....................... 50
Viewing images on a TV screen ...................................... 51
Functions list
Functions that can be operated with the buttons/switch
..................................................................................... 52
Selecting a function with the Fn (Function) button  ......... 53
Functions that can be selected with the Fn (Function) button
..................................................................................... 54
The functions selected with the MENU button  ............... 56
Using the guide function of the camera ........................... 63
In-Camera Guide  ........................................................ 63
Shooting Tip  ............................................................... 63
Viewing images on a computer
Using with your computer  ............................................... 65
Using the software  ........................................................... 67
Selecting the method for creating a disc of movies ......... 70
Others
List of icons on the screen  ............................................... 73
Functions available for each shooting mode  ................... 76
Flash modes available ...................................................... 77
Learning more about the camera (α Handbook) .............. 78
Checking the number of recordable images/recording time
..................................................................................... 79
Specifications .................................................................. 83
Index ................................................................................92 
						

							9
Notes on using your camera
Shooting procedure This camera has 2 modes for monitoring 
subjects: the LCD screen mode using the 
LCD screen, and the viewfinder mode 
using the viewfinder.
 The recorded image may be different 
from the image you monitored before 
recording.
Notes on the functions available with 
the camera
 To check whether it is a 1080 60i-
compatible device or 1080 50i-
compatible device, check for the 
following marks on the bottom of the 
camera.
1080 60i-compatible device:60i
1080 50i-compatible device:50i
 This camera is compatible with 1080 60p 
or 50p-format movies. Unlike standard 
recording modes up to now, which record 
in an interlacing method, this camera 
records using a progressive method. This 
increases the resolution, and provides a 
smoother, more realistic image.
 You may feel uncomfortable symptoms 
such as eyestrain, nausea, or a tired 
feeling while watching 3D-images 
recorded with the camera on 3D-
compatible monitors. When you watch 
3D-images, we recommend that you take 
a break at regular time intervals. Since 
the need for or frequency of break times 
varies among individuals, please set your 
own standards. If you feel sick, stop 
watching 3D-images, and consult a 
doctor as needed. Also, refer to the 
operating instructions of the connected 
device or the software used with the 
camera. A child’s vision is always 
vulnerable (especially for children under 
6 years of age). Before allowing them to 
watch 3D-images, please consult with an 
expert, such as a pediatric or ophthalmic 
doctor. Be sure to make sure your 
children follow the precautions above.
No compensation for contents of the 
recording
The contents of the recording cannot be 
compensated for if recording or playback is 
not possible due to a malfunction of your 
camera or a memory card, etc.
Back up recommendationTo avoid the potential risk of data loss, 
always copy (back up) data to other 
medium.
Notes on the LCD screen, electronic 
viewfinder, lens, and image sensor
 The LCD screen and electronic 
viewfinder are manufactured using 
extremely high-precision technology so 
over 99.99% of the pixels are operational 
for effective use. However, there may be 
some tiny black points and/or bright 
points (white, red, blue or green in color) 
that constantly appear on the LCD screen 
and electronic viewfinder. These points 
are normal in the manufacturing process 
and do not affect the images in any way.
 Do not hold the camera by taking hold of 
the LCD screen.
 Do not expose the camera to sunlight or 
shoot sunward for a long time. The 
internal mechanism may be damaged. If 
sunlight is focused on a nearby object, it 
may cause a fire.
 There is a magnet on the back and around 
the rotating shaft of the hinge part of the 
LCD screen. Do not bring anything that 
is easily affected by a magnet, such as 
floppy disk, credit cards near the LCD 
screen.
 Images may trail across on the screen in a 
cold location. This is not a malfunction. 
When turning on the camera in a cold 
location, the screen may become 
temporarily dark. When the camera 
warms up, the screen will function 
normally.
Notes on long-time recording When you continue to shoot for a long 
time, the temperature of the camera rises.  
						

							10
Notes on using your camera
If the temperature reaches above a certain 
level, the   mark is indicated on the 
screen and the camera is turned off 
automatically. If the power is turned off, 
leave the camera for 10 minutes or longer 
to allow the temperature inside the 
camera to decrease to a safe level.
 Under high ambient temperatures, the 
temperature of the camera rises quickly.
 When the temperature of the camera 
rises, the image quality may deteriorate. 
It is recommended that you wait until the 
temperature of the camera drops before 
continuing to shoot.
 The surface of the camera may get warm. 
This is not a malfunction.
Notes on importing AVCHD movies to 
a computer
When importing AVCHD movies to a 
computer, for Windows computers, use the 
“PlayMemories Home” software on the 
CD-ROM (supplied).
Notes when playing movies on other 
devices
 This camera uses MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 
High Profile for AVCHD format 
recording. Movies recorded in AVCHD 
format with this camera cannot be played 
with the following devices.
– Other devices compatible with 
AVCHD format that does not support 
High Profile
– Devices incompatible with the 
AVCHD format
This camera also uses MPEG-4 AVC/
H.264 Main Profile for MP4 format 
recording. For this reason, movies 
recorded in MP4 format with this camera 
cannot be played on devices other than 
those that support MPEG-4 AVC/H.264.
 Discs recorded with HD image quality 
(high definition) can be played back only 
on AVCHD format-compatible devices. 
DVD-based players or recorders cannot 
play back HD image quality discs, as 
they are incompatible with the AVCHD 
format. Also, DVD-based players or 
recorders may fail to eject HD image 
quality discs. 1080 60p/50p movies can be played back 
on compatible devices only.
Warning on copyrightTelevision programs, films, videotapes, and 
other materials may be copyrighted. 
Unauthorized recording of such materials 
may be contrary to the provisions of the 
copyright laws.
The pictures used in this manualThe photographs used as examples of 
pictures in this manual are reproduced 
images, and are not actual images shot 
using this camera.
On the data specifications described 
in this manual
The data on performance and specifications 
is defined under the following conditions, 
except as described in this manual: at an 
ordinary ambient temperature of 25ºC 
(77°F), and using a battery pack that is 
charged for about 1 hour after the 
CHARGE lamp goes out.
Model nameThis manual covers several models 
supplied with different lenses.
The model name varies depending on the 
supplied lens. The available model varies 
depending on the countries/regions.
Model nameLens
SLT-A57 –
SLT-A57K DT18-55mm
SLT-A57Y DT18-55mm and 
DT55-200mm