Book description
Now that you’ve bought the amazing Sony a7 series camera, you need a book that goes beyond a tour of the camera’s features to show you exactly how to use the camera to take great pictures. With Sony a7 Series: From Snapshots to Great Shots, you get the perfect blend of photography instruction and camera reference that will take your images to the next level! Beautifully illustrated with large, vibrant photos, this book teaches you how to take control of your photography to get the image you want every time you pick up the camera.
Follow along with your friendly and knowledgeable guide, Pulitzer
Prize—winning photographer and author Brian Smith, and you
will:
Learn the top ten things you need to know about shooting with the Sony a7 series cameras
Learn to use the camera’s advanced camera settings to gain full control over the look and feel of your images
Master the photographic basics of composition, focus, depth of field, and much more
Learn all the best tricks and techniques for getting great action shots, landscapes, and portraits
Find out how to get great photos in low light
Learn the basics behind shooting video with your a7 series camera and start making movies of your own
Understand the nuances of your menu settings and how to customize your camera
Learn more about lens mount adopters, creative compositions, and accessories through three downloadable bonus chapters
Grasp all the concepts and techniques as you go, with assignments at the end of every chapter
And once you’ve got the shot, show it off! Join the book’s Flickr group, share your photos, and discuss how you use your camera to get great shots at flickr.com/groups/sonya7-a7rfromsnapshotstogreatshots.
Table of contents
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Dedication
- Acknowledgments
- Contents
- Introduction
-
1. Sony a7-Series Top Ten List
- Ten Tips to Make Your Shooting More Productive Right Out of the Box
- Poring Over the Camera
- Poring Over the Camera
- Poring Over the Camera
- Poring Over the Camera
- 1. Charge Your Battery
- 2. Turn Off the Auto ISO Setting
- 3. Set Your JPEG Image Quality
- 4. Configure Your LCD and Viewfinder
- 5. Set Your Autofocus Area and Mode
- 6. Set the Correct White Balance
- 7. Set Your Color Space
- 8. Know How to Override Autofocus
- 9. Review Your Shots
- 10. Hold Your Camera for Proper Shooting
- Chapter 1 Assignments
-
2. First Things First
- A Few Things to Know and Do Before You Begin Taking Pictures
- Poring Over the Picture
- Choosing the Right Memory Card
- Formatting Your Memory Card
- Updating a7-Series Firmware
- Cleaning the Sensor
- Using the Right Format: RAW vs. JPEG
- Lenses and Focal Lengths
- Understanding Exposure
- Motion and Depth of Field
- Chapter 2 Assignments
-
3. Menu Settings
- Navigating the Menus
- Poring Over the Menu
-
Camera Settings
- Image Size
- Aspect Ratio
- Quality
- Panorama: Size
- Panorama: Direction
- File Format
- Record Settings
- Drive Mode
- Dual Video REC
- Flash Mode
- Flash Comp
- Red Eye Reduction
- Focus Mode
- Focus Area
- Focus Settings
- AF Illuminator
- Movie AF drive speed
- Movie AF Track Sensitivity
- Exposure Comp
- Exposure Step
- ISO
- ISO AUTO Minimum Shutter Speed
- Metering Mode
- White Balance
- DRO/Auto HDR
- Creative Styles
- Picture Effect
- Picture Profile
- Zoom
- Focus Magnifier
- Long Exposure NR
- High ISO NR
- Center Lock-on AF
- Smile/Face Detection
- Soft Skin Effect
- Auto Object Framing
- Auto Mode
- Scene Selection
- Movie
- SteadyShot
- SteadyShot Setting
- SteadyShot Focal Length
- Color Space
- Auto Slow Shutter
- Audio Recording
- Audio Rec Level
- Audio Out Timing
- Wind Noise Reduction
- Memory Recall
- Memory
-
Custom Settings
- Zebra
- MF Assist
- Focus Magnify Time
- Grid
- Marker Display
- Marker Setting
- Audio Level Display
- Auto Review
- DISP Button
- Peaking Level
- Peaking Color
- Exposure Set Guide
- Live View Display
- Display Continuous AF area
- Phase Detect Area
- Pre-AF
- Zoom Settings
- Eye-Start AF
- Finder / Monitor
- Release w/o Lens
- Release w/o Card
- Priority Set in AF-S
- Priority Set in AF-C
- AF w/Shutter
- AEL w/Shutter
- Silent Shooting
- e-Front Curtain Shutter
- Superior Auto Image Extract
- Exposure Comp Set
- Reset EV Comp
- Bracket Order
- Face Registration
- APS-C Size Capture
- APS-C/Super 35mm
- AF Micro Adjust
- Lens Comp
- AF System
- Video Light Set
- Function Menu Setting
- Custom Keys Settings
- Dial Set-up
- Dial EV Comp
- Zoom Ring Rotate
- MOVIE Button
- Dial / Wheel Lock
- Wireless
- Application
- Playback
-
Setup
- Monitor Brightness
- Viewfinder Brightness
- Finder Color Temp
- Volume Settings
- Audio Signals
- Upload Settings
- Tile Menu
- Mode Dial Guide
- Delete Confirm
- Display Quality
- Power Save Start Time
- NTSC/PAL Selector
- Cleaning Mode
- Demo Mode
- TC/UB Settings
- Remote Control
- HDMI Settings
- HDMI 4K Output Select
- USB Connection
- USB LUN Setting
- Language
- Date/Time Setup
- Area Settings
- Copyright Info
- Format
- File Number
- Select REC Folder
- New Folder
- Folder Name
- Recover Image DB
- Display Media Info
- Version
- Certification Logo
- Settings Reset
- Chapter 3 Assignments
- 4. Customizing Your Camera
-
5. Shooting Modes
- Get Shooting with the Shooting Modes
- Poring Over the Picture
- Intelligent Auto Mode
- Scene Selection Modes
- Sweep Panorama
- Why You May Never Want to Use the Full Auto Modes Again
- Picture Effects
- P: Program Auto Mode
- S: Shutter Priority Mode
- A: Aperture Priority Mode
- M: Manual Mode
- How I Shoot: Here Are the Camera Settings I Use
- Chapter 5 Assignments
-
6. Portrait Photography
- Settings and Features to Make Great Portraits
- Poring Over the Picture
- Automatic Portrait Mode
- Using Aperture Priority Mode
- Metering Modes for Portraits
- Using the AE Lock Feature
- Focusing: The Eyes Have It
- Classic Black-and-White Portraits
- The Portrait Creative Style for Better Skin Tones
- Using Face Detection and Registration
- Portraits on the Move
- The Rule of Thirds
- Tips for Shooting Better Portraits
- Chapter 6 Assignments
-
7. Moving Target
- Tricks to Shooting Sports and Action
- Poring Over the Picture
- Stop Right There!
- Using Shutter Priority (S) Mode to Stop Motion
- Using Aperture Priority (A) Mode to Isolate Your Subject
- Keep Them in Focus with Continuous AF and Autofocus Area Selection
- Keeping Up with Continuous Shooting Mode
- Manual Focus for Anticipated Action
- A Sense of Motion
- Tips for Shooting Action
- Chapter 7 Assignments
-
8. Landscape and Cityscape Photography
- Tips, Tools, and Techniques to Get the Best Landscapes and Cityscapes
- Poring Over the Picture
- Sharp and In Focus: Using Tripods
- Selecting the Proper ISO
- Using Noise Reduction
- Selecting a White Balance
- Using the Landscape Creative Style
- Shooting Beautiful Black-and-White Landscapes
- Golden Light
- Shooting Compelling Sunrises and Sunsets
- Making Water Fluid
- Composing Landscapes and Streetscapes
- Where to Focus
- Easier Focusing
- Using Manual Focus Assist
- Using DMF Focus Mode
- Expand Your Range
- Shooting Panoramas
- Look for the Unexpected
- Chapter 8 Assignments
-
9. Mood Lighting
- Shooting When the Lights Get Low
- Poring Over the Picture
- Raising the ISO: The Simple Solution
- High ISO Noise Reduction
- Using Fast Glass
- Using OSS Lenses
- Mark II: 5-Axis Sensor-Shift Stabilization
- Focusing in Low Light
- Shooting Long Exposures
- Using Flash
- Compensating for the Flash Exposure
- Flash Modes
- Using an External Flash
- Taming Flash Reflections
- Chapter 9 Assignments
-
10. Advanced Techniques
- Take Your Images to the Next Level
- Poring Over the Picture
- Spot Meter for More Exposure Control
- Manual Mode
- Avoiding Lens Flare
- Using the Sun Creatively
- Macro Photography
- High Dynamic Range Photography
- Using Dynamic Range Optimizer
- Wireless Remote Capture App
- Installing and Updating Sony PlayMemories Camera Apps
- Sharing Photos with Send to Smartphone
- One-Touch Connection with an NFC-Enabled Android Smartphone
- Tethering Your a7-Series Camera
- Chapter 10 Assignments
-
11. Lights, Camera, Action!
- Getting Professional-looking Video from a7-Series Cameras
- Poring Over the Camera
- It’s All About the Lenses
- Movie Shooting Modes
- Getting a Shallow Depth of Field
- Giving a Different Look to Your Videos
- Picture Profiles
- Shooting 4K
- Accessories for Video
- Tips for Better Video
- Watching and Editing Your Video
- Chapter 11 Assignments
- Index
- 12. Lens Mount Adapters
- 13. Creative Compositions
- 14. Pimp My A7
Product information
- Title: Sony a7 Series: From Snapshots to Great Shots
- Author(s):
- Release date: August 2015
- Publisher(s): Peachpit Press
- ISBN: 9780134185576
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