User manual SONY DSLR-A560

[. . . ] Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera Preparing the camera Before your operation Shooting images Instruction Manual A-mount Using the shooting function Using the viewing function Changing your setup Viewing images on a computer Printing images Others Index Additional information on this product and answers to frequently asked questions can be found at our Customer Support Website. Printed on 70% or more recycled paper using VOC (Volatile Organic Compound)-free vegetable oil based ink. Owner's Record The 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. __________________________ WARNING To reduce fire or shock hazard, do not expose the unit to rain or moisture. IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS. [. . . ] · AF illuminator does not operate when [Smile Shutter] is set to [On]. To deactivate the AF illuminator MENU button t 2 t [AF Illuminator] t [Off] To use the red-eye reduction The red-eye reduction reduces the red-eye phenomenon by providing preflash (low-flash light) a few times before shooting when using the flash. MENU button t 1 t [Red Eye Reduction] t [On] 100 Performing wireless flash shooting With a flash that has a wireless shooting function (sold separately), you can shoot with the flash without a cord, even when the flash is not attached to the camera. By changing the position of the flash, you can shoot an image with a three dimensional feel by highlighting the contrast of light and shadow on the subject. For the actual steps of shooting, refer to the operating instructions of the flash. 1 Attach the wireless flash to the Auto-lock Accessory shoe and turn both the camera and the flash on. 2 Fn button t Using the shooting function (Flash Mode) t (Wireless) 3 Remove the wireless flash from the Auto-lock Accessory shoe and pop up the built-in flash. · If you perform a test fire of the flash, press the AEL button. Notes · The camera cannot carry out the wireless lighting ratio control. · Turn off the wireless flash mode after wireless flash shooting. If the built-in flash is used while the wireless flash mode is still active, inaccurate flash exposures will result. · Change the channel of the external flash when another photographer is using a wireless flash nearby and his/her built-in flash light causes your external flash to fire. To change the channel of the external flash, refer to the operating instructions supplied with it. Setup of the AEL button When using a wireless flash, it is recommended that you set [AEL] to [Hold] in the Custom menu (page 149). 101 Adjusting the brightness of the image (Exposure, Flash compensation, Metering) Shooting with fixed brightness (AE Lock) When shooting into the sun or by a window, the exposure may not be appropriate for the subject because of the big difference in lighting between the subject and the background. In such cases, use the light meter where the subject is bright enough and lock the exposure before shooting. To reduce the brightness of the subject, point the camera forwards a spot that is brighter than the subject and use the light meter to lock the exposure of the entire image. To make the subject brighter, point the camera forwards a spot that is darker than the subject and use the light meter to lock the exposure of the entire image. This section describes how to shoot a brighter image of the subject using the (Spot). The spot where you lock the exposure. 1 Fn button t (Metering Mode) t (Spot) 2 Adjust the focus on the portion you want to lock the exposure. The exposure is set when the focus is achieved. 102 3 Press the AEL button to lock the exposure. (AE lock mark) appears. AEL button 4 While pressing the AEL button, focus on the subject, and shoot the subject. · If you continue to shoot with the same exposure value, press and hold the AEL button after the shooting. The setting is canceled when the button is released. Note · In focus check Live View mode (page 91), set [Func. of AEL button] to [AEL] in the Custom menu. Using the shooting function Using brightness compensation for the entire image (Exposure compensation) Except for exposure mode M, the exposure is automatically selected (Automatic exposure). Based on the exposure acquired by the automatic exposure, you can perform exposure compensation by shifting the exposure to either the + side or the ­ side, depending on your preference. You can make the entire image brighter by shifting to the + side. The entire image becomes darker when you shift it to the ­ side. Adjust in the ­ direction Base exposure Adjust in the + direction 103 1 Press the button. button · The exposure compensation screen is displayed in the viewfinder mode. 2 Adjust the exposure with the control dial. Toward + (over): Brightens an image. Toward ­ (under): Darkens an image. Standard exposure 3 Adjust the focus and shoot the subject. Shooting techniques · Adjust the compensation level by checking the recorded image. · Using bracket shooting, you can shoot multiple images with the exposure shifted to the plus or minus sides (page 120). Note · This item cannot be set when the exposure mode is set to AUTO or Scene Selection. To shoot while checking the screen using the histogram The histogram displays the luminance distribution that shows how many pixels of a particular brightness exist in the picture. Number of pixels Dark Light MENU button t 2 t [Histogram] t [On] · Instead of the Graphic Display, the histogram is displayed after you press the DISP button several times (page 42). 104 The exposure compensation will change the histogram accordingly. Shooting with the exposure compensation on the positive side brightens the whole picture, making the entire histogram shift to the bright side (right side). If the exposure compensation is applied on the negative side, the histogram will shift to the other side. Both ends of the histogram show a highkey or low-key portion. [. . . ] 123 PMB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162 PMB Launcher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161 Portrait . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Power Save . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [. . . ]