Sony F3 Manual

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Checking the functions available
Flash modes available
The flash modes you can select depend on the shooting mode and functions 
selected.
In the table below,   indicates the function available. – indicates the function 
not available.
The flash modes you cannot select are displayed in gray on the screen.
 The flash modes may be limited also by conditions other than the shooting mode.
 Even if you select a workable flash mode, the flash does not fire unless it is raised.
Shoot ModeFlash OffAutoflashFill-flashSlow Sync.Rear Sync.
 (Intelligent 
Auto)
–––
 (Superior 
Auto)–––
 (Sweep 
Panorama)––––
 (3D Sweep 
Panorama)––––
 (Anti Motion 
Blur)––––
SCN (Scene 
Selection)––
–––
––
–––
–––
––––
––––
––– –
P (Program Auto)––
A (Aperture 
Priority)––
S (Shutter Priority)––
M (Manual 
Exposure)––
Notes 
						

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 [Autoflash] can be selected when [Shoot Mode] is set to [Intelligent Auto], 
[Superior Auto], or certain [Scene Selection] modes only. 
						

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Importing images to the computer
Importing images to the computer
Installing the software
To utilize images recorded with the camera, the following software is 
provided:
 “Image Data Converter”
You can open RAW format image files.
 “PlayMemories Home” (Windows only)
You can import still images or movies recorded with the camera to your 
computer so that you can view them, and use various convenient features to 
enhance the images you have shot.
 Log on as Administrator.
 Use “Image Data Converter” to play back RAW images.
 If “PMB” (Picture Motion Browser) supplied with a camera that was purchased 
before 2011 has already been installed on the computer, “PMB” will be 
overwritten by “PlayMemories Home,” and you may be unable to use some 
functions of “PMB” that were previously available.
 “PlayMemories Home” is not compatible with Mac computers. When you play 
back images on Mac computers, use the appropriate application software supplied 
with the Mac computer.
xWindows
The following computer environment is recommended when using the 
supplied software and importing images via a USB connection.
*  64-bit editions and Starter (Edition) are not supported. Windows Image Mastering 
API (IMAPI) Ver. 2.0 or later is required to use the function for creating discs.
Notes
OS (pre-installed)Microsoft Windows XP* SP3/Windows Vista** SP2/
Windows 7 SP1
“PlayMemories 
Home”CPU: Intel Pentium III 800 MHz or faster
For playing/editing the High Definition movies: Intel Core 
Duo 1.66 GHz or faster/Intel Core 2 Duo 1.66 GHz or 
faster (Intel Core 2 Duo 2.26 GHz or faster (AVC HD (FX/
FH))) 
Memory: Windows XP 512 MB or more (1 GB or more is 
recommended), Windows Vista/Windows 7 1 GB or more
Hard Disk: Disk space required for installation—
approximately 500 MB
Display: Screen resolution—1024 × 768 dots or more
“Image Data 
Converter Ver.4”CPU/Memory: Pentium 4 or faster/1 GB or more
Display: 1024 × 768 dots or more 
						

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** Starter (Edition) is not supported.
xMac
The following computer environment is recommended when using the 
supplied software and importing images via a USB connection.
1Turn on your computer, and insert the CD-ROM (supplied) 
into the CD-ROM drive.
The installation menu screen appears.
 If it does not appear, double-click [Computer] (For Windows XP: [My 
Computer]) t  (PMHOME) t [Install.exe].
 If the AutoPlay screen appears, select “Run Install.exe” and follow the 
instructions that appear on the screen to proceed with the installation.
2Connect the camera to the computer.
3Click [Install]. Make sure that both “Image Data Converter” and “PlayMemories 
Home” are checked and follow the instructions on the screen.
 When the restarting confirmation message appears, restart the computer 
following the instructions on the screen.
 DirectX may be installed depending on the system environment of your 
computer.
4Remove the CD-ROM after the installation is complete.The following software is installed and shortcut icons appear on the 
desktop.
“Image Data Converter”
“PlayMemories Home”
“PlayMemories Home Help Guide”
OS (pre-installed)USB Connection: Mac OS X v10.3 to v10.7
“Image Data Converter”: Mac OS X v10.5/10.6 (Snow 
Leopard)/10.7 (Lion)
“Image Data 
Converter Ver.4”CPU: Intel processors, such as Intel Core Solo/Core Duo/
Core 2 Duo
Memory: 1 GB or more is recommended.
Display: 1024 × 768 dots or more 
						

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Importing images to the computer
What you can do with the supplied software
x“PlayMemories Home”
With “PlayMemories Home” you can do the following, etc.:
 To set images shot with the camera and display them on the computer.
 To organize images on the computer on a calendar by shooting date to view 
them.
 To retouch (Red Eye Correction, etc.), print, and send still images as e-mail 
attachments, change the shooting date and more.
 To print or save still images with the date.
 To create a Blu-ray Disc or DVD disc from AVCHD movies imported to a 
computer. (An internet connection environment is required when a Blu-ray 
Disc/DVD disc is created for the first time.)
For details on “PlayMemories Home,” refer to “PlayMemories Home Help 
Guide”.
Double-click the shortcut of   (PlayMemories Home Help Guide) on the 
desktop. Or, click [Start] t [All Programs] t [PlayMemories Home] t 
[PlayMemories Home Help Guide].
“PlayMemories Home” support page (English only)
http://www.sony.co.jp/pmh-se/
 “PlayMemories Home” is not compatible with Mac computers. When you play 
back images on Mac computers, use the appropriate application software supplied 
with the Mac computer.
1Turn on your Mac computer, and insert the CD-ROM 
(supplied) into the CD-ROM drive.
2Double-click the CD-ROM icon.
3Copy the [IDC_INST.pkg] file in the [MAC] folder to the 
hard disk icon.
4Double-click the [IDC_INST.pkg] file in the copy-to folder. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation.
Note 
						

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x“Image Data Converter”
With “Image Data Converter” you can do the following, etc.:
 To edit images recorded in RAW format with various corrections, such as 
tone curve, and sharpness.
 To adjust images with white balance, exposure, and Creative Style, etc.
 To save the images displayed and edited on a computer. 
You can either save the image as RAW format or save it in the general file 
format.
 To display and compare the RAW images and JPEG images recorded by this 
camera.
 To rank images in 5 grades.
 To apply color labels, etc.
For details on “Image Data Converter,” refer to Help.
Click [Start] t [All Programs] t [Image Data Converter] t [Help] t 
[Image Data Converter Ver.4].
“Image Data Converter” support page (English only)
http://www.sony.co.jp/ids-se/ 
						

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Importing images to the computer
Creating a disc of movies
You can create a disc from AVCHD movies that have been recorded with this 
camera.
Depending on the disc type, playable devices may vary.
Select the method that suits your disc player.
Here, two ways of creating a disc of movies are described; creating a disc with 
a computer using PlayMemories Home or creating a disc with devices other 
than a computer such as a recorder.
* When creating a disc using “PlayMemories Home,” changing the image quality 
to a lower setting allows you to create a disc.
xCreating a disc using a computer
You can import AVCHD movies to a computer using “PlayMemories Home” 
and create an AVCHD recording disc or a standard definition image quality 
(STD) disc. For details on the method for creating a disc using “PlayMemories 
Home,” see “PlayMemories Home Help Guide.”
Disc type/usage
Record setting 
available
Player
FXFH
To keep high-definition 
image quality (HD)Blu-ray Disc playback 
devices
(Sony Blu-ray Disc player, 
PlayStation®3, etc.)
To keep high-definition 
image quality (HD) 
(AVCHD recording disc)–*AVCHD format playback 
devices
(Sony Blu-ray Disc player, 
PlayStation®3, etc.)
To keep standard 
definition image quality 
(STD)–* –*Ordinary DVD playback 
devices
(DVD player, computer that 
can play DVD, etc.) 
						

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 To create a Blu-ray Disc with “PlayMemories Home,” you have to install 
proprietary add-on software. For details, access following URL:
http://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/BDUW/
 The PlayStation
®3 may not be available in some countries/regions.
 Movies recorded with the [60i 24M(FX)/50i 24M(FX)]/[24p 24M(FX)/25p 
24M(FX)] setting in [Record Setting] are converted by “PlayMemories Home” in 
order to create an AVCHD recording disc. This conversion can take a long time. 
Also, you cannot create a disc with the original image quality. If you want to keep 
the original image quality, you must store your movies on a Blu-ray Disc.
xCreating a disc with a device other than a computer
You can create a disc with a Blu-ray Disc recorder etc.
The disc type you can create depends on the device used.
 For details on how to create a disc, refer to the operating instructions of the device 
you use.
Notes
DeviceDisc type
Blu-ray Disc recorder: To 
create a Blu-ray Disc or DVD 
with standard image quality 
(STD)
 High-
definition 
image 
quality (HD)Standard 
definition 
image 
quality 
(STD)
HDD recorder, etc.: To create a 
DVD with standard image 
quality (STD)
Standard definition image 
quality (STD)
Note 
						

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Others
Others
Checking the number of recordable images
 When “0” (the number of recordable images) flashes in yellow, the memory card 
is full. Replace the memory card with another one, or delete images in the current 
memory card (page 29).
 When “NO CARD” (the number of recordable images) flashes in yellow, it means 
no memory card has been inserted. Insert a memory card.
xNumber of still images and time of movies that can be 
recorded on a memory card
Still imagesThe table shows the approximate number of still images that can be recorded 
on a memory card formatted with this camera. The values are defined using 
Sony standard memory cards for testing. The values may vary depending on 
the shooting conditions.
Image size: L 16M
Aspect ratio: 3:2*
(Units: images)
* When [Aspect Ratio] is set to [16:9], you can record more images than the 
numbers shown in the table above (except for [RAW]).
Once you insert a memory card into the 
camera and set the power switch to ON, 
the number of images that can be 
recorded (should you continue to shoot 
using the current settings) is displayed 
on the LCD screen.
Notes
Capacity
Quality2GB4GB8GB16GB32GB
Standard 410 820 1650 3350 6700
Fine 295 590 1150 2400 4800
RAW & JPEG 80 160 325 650 1300
RAW 110 220 445 890 1750 
						

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MoviesThe table below shows the approximate recording times available. These are 
the total times for all movie files. Continuous recording is possible for 
approximately 29 minutes per recording. The maximum size of an MP4 movie 
file is about 2 GB.
(h (hour), m (minute))
 The recording time of movies varies because the camera is equipped with VBR 
(Variable Bit Rate) which automatically adjusts image quality depending on the 
shooting scene.
When you record a fast-moving subject, the image is clearer but the recording time 
is shorter because a lot of memory needed to record.
The recording time also vary depending on the shooting condition or your subject 
or the setting of image quality/size.
Capacity
Record Setting2GB4GB8GB16GB32GB
60i 24M(FX)
50i 24M(FX)10 m 20 m 40 m 1 h 30 m 3 h
60i 17M(FH)
50i 17M(FH)10 m 30 m 1 h 2 h 4 h 5 m
24p 24M(FX)
25p 24M(FX)10 m 20 m 40 m 1 h 30 m 3 h
24p 17M(FH)
25p 17M(FH)10 m 30 m 1 h 2 h 4 h 5 m
1440×1080 12M 20 m 40 m 1 h 20 m 2 h 45 m 5 h 30 m
VGA 3M 1 h 10 m 2 h 25 m 4 h 55 m 10 h 20 h 5 m
Note