photo:sonya7_tips
tips on how to use the Sony a7 series cameras
introduction
as innovative as Sony are, their user interface and ergonomics are pretty awful in these Sony a7 series cameras
unlike Olympus cameras, whose menu systems are nothing to write home about either, there is minimal context sensitive help system to explain the functions
setting a new camera up
charge the battery fully before updating firmware - unfortunately, this must be done with battery in the camera via the special USB cable which inserts into upper left side, although thankfully you can buy an optional spare battery and external charger for about $100.
update the firmware
set the region, daylight savings, date, time and desired date format
insert a SD memory card (this must not be in place during the firmware update) - the camera will prompt you if it is new to create a Sony database on it - say Yes!
set your camera to capture RAW files +/- jpegs:
menu: camera settings: Image Size = usually leave it as largest size
menu: camera settings: aspect Ratio = 3:2 (unfortunately you can't choose 4:3 or 1:1 just 16:9 but this only affects your jpegs anyway)
menu: camera settings: Quality = RAW or RAW + JPG (unfortunately, it seems you can't set a jpeg quality and size if you are shooting RAW as well - very weird and limiting indeed!)
you may wish to purchase a LCD screen protector as the Sony a7 cameras are apparently renown for getting wear and tear on their screens more than most other cameras
using dual card slots
some of the cameras have dual card slots
determining which files are saved to which slot
Sony gives you a range of options under Menu:Setup6:Record Media Settings item Recording Mode:
Standard: only records files to one slot
Simultaneous Images: Records whichever image file format has been selected to BOTH slots
Simultaneous Video: Records video to both slots
Simultaneous Images & Video: Records images in the selected formats and video to both slots identically
Sort RAW/JPEG: assuming you have selected RAW+JPEG in the file format option, the RAW files will go to the prioritized slot and jpegs to the other slot
Sort JPEG/RAW: assuming you have selected RAW+JPEG in the file format option, the JPEG files will go to the prioritized slot and RAW to the other slot
Sort Images/Video: the image files will go to the prioritized slot and video to the other slot
unfortunately you cannot send different sized jpegs to each slot or RAW+JPEG to one slot and RAW or JPEG to another as with Olympus cameras
displaying or deleting images/videos from a different card slot
unfortunately Sony do not have a rapid mechanism to switch playback slot (Olympus you hold the playback button and rotate the front dial)
You need to go to Menu:Playback3:Select Playback Media
a further issue is you cannot add this item to your My Menu quick list or to a Playback Fn button!
manage your battery life and camera power options
turn OFF the crappy Pre-AF function to avoid camera constantly trying to AF: Menu > Custom Settings Cogs 3 > Pre-AF > Off
turn off the WiFi: Menu: WiFi: Airplane Mode = ON
turn off the distracting AF Illuminator: via Menu: Camera 3: AF Illuminator = OFF
avoid using the LCD screen when not needed
make sure you always have a spare charged battery!
take along a charged USB power pack to prolong your battery life - but it does not charge the battery in the camera on the go
improve RAW image quality
consider changing the default RAW file from compressed to uncompressed for the best quality images
be alert to possible blown highlights - set Zebra = 100+ in Menu:Cogs 1
avoid shutter shock - set e-Front Curtain Shut. = ON in Menu:Cogs 4
dynamic range is largest at ISO 100
if using Sony PDAF lens adapters for Sony Alpha dSLR lenses, then ensure AF Microadjustment is set for each lens to avoid AF alignment errors
rapid access to the main camera settings
Press the Fn button on the rear and a dozen customizable settings will be displayed
unfortunately, there is no touch screen to access these, and you must use the rear control wheel to navigate using left/right arrows, and then rotate the controller to change the setting - unfortunately, you often accidentally rotate the control when trying to navigate
another option is to use the DISP button of the rear wheel controller to determine what is displayed on the LCD such as the “Quick Navi Screen” but in this case, you cannot navigate to each of the settings to change them unless you press the Fn button
no where near as nice as the Olympus Super Control Panel
creating custom memory modes
you have two “memory” modes on the PASM dial and 4 additional memory setting options in the Menu (M1,M2,M3 and M4)
to create these, just adjust all the settings to the way you like, then in the menu, go to Camera 9: Memory item, select 1,2,M1,M2,M3 or M4 as the memory to save to then press the centre button of the wheel controller to save it
optimise AF
Use Eye AF
-
you may wish to assign Eye AF on to the AF-ON button which will allow you to use normal AF without Eye AF as default, but by pressing AF-ON Eye AF becomes active, otherwise if you have Eye AF on all the time you won't be able to AF on something else when the camera does detect a face.
in the newer cameras, Eye AF works best in AF-C mode so it can track the face.
there may also be an option to choose human or animal as the subject type in the menu
selecting a AF region
many photographers like to stop the shutter button from activating AF, and instead use a rear button to activate AF, thereby separating the two actions
Menu > Custom Settings > Pre-AF > Off (this is pretty useless anyway and just wastes battery life - similar to Olympus “Fulltime AF”)
Menu > Custom Settings (Cogs 6) > Custom Key Settings > AEL Button > AF On
Menu > Custom Settings (Cogs 6) > Custom Key Settings > AF/MF Button > AF/MF Ctrl Toggle
then to have the AEL button function as AFL button (BUT ONLY in AF mode, not in MF mode unfortunately), choose Menu > Custom Settings (Cogs 4) > AF w/shutter > Off and just set it back to ON when you want the shutter button to do AF - unfortunately there is no way to assign this to a button - so there is no quick way to switch this mode
you may wish to assign C3 to centre AEL Toggle to create an exposure lock mechanism on centre spot
you may wish to assign Centre Button, or C1 or C2 to Focus Settings which allows moving AF point around in AF mode and magnify in MF mode
unfortunately, this is no where near as nice a solution as the Olympus solution which allows you to be in MF mode and the rear button works as AFL, but when you go to AF mode, the rear button works as AEL and the shutter works as AF - very clever and handy!
optimise manual focus
consider setting Focus Peaking on
menu:Cogs: Focus Peaking (set to High if mainly using it during magnified view, otherwise Mid or Low)
consider using red instead of white
for MF on stars for wide angle astro work:
peaking level to medium
peaking color to red
unfortunately:
when there is large DOF, it may show high contrast areas being in focus when they are not
when the subject is low contrast or in low light, it won't work
does not work in magnified view mode
look for the shimmer
use magnified view mode:
if shooting RAW and not worrying about jpegs, set sharpness to +3 which makes it a bit easier to judge sharpness with the EVF
switching between EVF and LCD screen
the default setting is that the LCD screen is on unless you bring your eye to the EVF in which case, the LCD deactivates and the EVF activates until you move your eye away.
you can have this same action but not show the Live View image on the LCD, just some basic settings information by going into the menu and Cogs:6:Custom Key Settings then allocate a button to Deactivate Monitor - then you can use that button to toggle LCD Live View on/off - there does not seem to be a menu item to do this otherwise!
you can set the camera to ONLY use the EVF or ONLY use the LCD screen - dive into menu, Cogs:3:FINDER/MONITOR
to deactivate rear screen totally while shooting with camera viewfinder held away from your eye
to assign a button, go to Menu:Cog:6:Custom Key Settings choose a button (eg Custom button 4) and assign Deactivate Monitor (vIII cameras have the Finder/Monitor select option which you may prefer)
this will still display the settings at the bottom, but this can be turned off too by toggling through the DISP button
determining what you see in the displays
NB. DOF preview is ALWAYS ON for native FE mount lenses, there does not seem to be a way of turning it off and this has AF locking speed ramifications when using small apertures in low light
Menu:Cogs 2: DISP allows you to choose what is visible
you can change what is displayed on the LCD screen by pressing the DISP button of the rear wheel control - this will bring up a Live Histogram, etc.
if shooting with studio flash, and the ambient will be under-exposed, make your viewing experience better by turning off the
WYSIWYG mode - Menu:Cogs 3: Live View Display set to Setting Effect OFF
this is NOT needed with newer cameras which, if a system TTL flash is detected in the hotshoe and turned on, the Setting Effect is automatically turned OFF, HOWEVER if you Do wish to visualise the ambient exposure you can assign Shot. Result Preview to a button to transiently see this.
Choose which type of AF area to display according to your chosen AF System - Menu:Cogs 3 and set CDAF area and PDAF area items.
checking exposure before taking the shot
setting sensor based IS for legacy lenses
Sony call's its image stabilisation mechanism “Steady Shot”
when you take off a compatible lens and put on one with no electronic communication with the camera, you need to set Steady Shot to Manual, and in the adjacent setting, set Steady Shot Focal Length
unfortunately, unlike Olympus cameras, it does not automatically detect a non-compliant lens and use the last focal length setting - each time you must change both settings
playback tips
Sony firmware update process
photo/sonya7_tips.txt · Last modified: 2021/10/06 09:00 by gary1