The Sony Alpha NEX-6

The Sony Alpha NEX-6

by Brian Matsumoto Ph. D, Carol F. Roullard
Released July 2013
Publisher(s): Rocky Nook
ISBN: 9781457181955

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Book description

The Sony Alpha NEX-6: The Unofficial Quintessential Guide provides a wealth of experience-based information and insights on this exciting new camera. Authors Brian Matsumoto and Carol F. Roullard team up to help the new owner navigate past the confusion that often comes with using a complex and powerful camera.

This book explores the features and capabilities of the camera in a way that far surpasses the user's manual. It guides the reader through the camera features with step-by-step instructions for setting menu commands, and explains how, when, and why these adjustments are needed. Every button, dial, switch, and menu configuration setting is explored in a friendly manner, with suggestions and tips for setup according to various shooting styles. The informative text is illustrated with screenshots and example images throughout, making it easy to follow along.

The authors cover everything from the camera's basic features to advanced photographic applications. The first section of the book teaches new users to start taking pictures immediately by using the camera's Intelligent Auto and Superior Auto modes. In the second section, you'll learn how to begin taking control by switching to the semi-automatic modes. Finally, you'll learn to take full manual control of the camera, which will allow you to capture images that are a unique reflection of your creative personality.

Brian and Carol go beyond just the camera itself and share how third-party software and optional accessories can improve on the camera's standard commands. You'll even learn how the electronic viewfinder and Sony's novel shutter design improve the camera's utility for critical scientific photography (i.e., photomicrography).

The Sony Alpha NEX-6: The Unofficial Quintessential Guide will allow you to take control of your camera, push the envelope, and have fun. Use this book as your guide to quickly and easily make the most of your camera. 

Table of contents

  1. Cover Page
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright Page
  4. Dedication
  5. Acknowledgements
  6. Preface
  7. Table of Contents
  8. Camera Body Reference
  9. Chapter 1: Getting Started
    1. Introduction
    2. Using This Book
    3. Description of the Camera and Its Features
      1. Dual Viewing System
      2. Diopter Adjustment Dial
      3. Setting Up Your New Sony NEX-6
      4. Battery
      5. Memory Card
    4. Assembling the Camera
      1. Protecting the Lens
      2. Protecting the LCD Screen
    5. Turning On the Camera
    6. Camera Controls: Setting the Camera Area, Date, and Time
    7. Introducing Menu Navigation
    8. Error Messages
    9. Reinitializing Commands to Default Values (Or, Getting Out of Trouble)
    10. Quick Access to Command Options
      1. Fn Button
      2. Buttons Whose Function You Can Define
      3. Control Wheel’s Bottom Rim
      4. ISO (Control Wheel’s Right Rim)
      5. Drive Mode (Control Wheel’s Left Rim)
      6. For Viewfinder Data Display Format Screen
    11. Cleaning the Sensor
    12. Recommendations
  10. Chapter 2: Photography Basics and the NEX-6
    1. Introduction
    2. Basic Photography Concepts
    3. File Formats
      1. File Formats for Still Photography
      2. File Formats for Movies
    4. Shutter Button
    5. Focusing
      1. Advanced Focusing Features: Face Detection and Object Tracking
    6. Exposure (Shutter Speed, Aperture, ISO)
    7. White Balance and the Appearance of Colors
    8. Drive Mode Function
      1. Single Shooting
      2. Continuous Shooting
      3. Delayed and Remote Firing of the Camera
      4. Bracket Cont.
    9. Recording Movies
      1. How to Take Movies
      2. Movies and Your NEX-6
  11. Chapter 3: Managing Your Images
    1. Introduction
    2. The LCD Screen
    3. The Viewfinder
    4. LCD Screen versus Viewfinder
    5. Data Display Formats
      1. Previewing Data Display Formats
      2. Reviewing Still Picture Data Display Formats
      3. Reviewing Movie Data Display Formats
    6. Compositional Controls for Previewing Images
    7. Review Recorded Images
      1. Auto Review or No Auto Review
      2. Reviewing Files with the Playback Button
      3. Playing Back Still Pictures
      4. Playing Back Panoramic Pictures
      5. Playing Back MP4 or AVCHD Movies
      6. Reviewing Multiple Pictures and Movies
      7. Reviewing Still Pictures with the Slide Show Command
      8. Zooming In on Recorded Still Images
    8. Evaluating Exposure with Histograms
      1. Histograms in Preview Mode
      2. Histograms in Playback Mode
    9. Protecting Saved Pictures and Movies
    10. Deleting Saved Pictures and Movies
    11. Working Outside the Camera
      1. Downloading Pictures and Movies to Your Computer
      2. Sony NEX-6 Software
      3. Image Data Converter
      4. PlayMemories Home
      5. Playing Pictures and Movies on Your TV Screen
      6. Printing Your Pictures
    12. Recommendations
  12. Chapter 4: Automatic Settings
    1. Introduction
    2. Functions Available for Automatic Modes
      1. Drive Mode Command
      2. Flash Mode Command
      3. Face Detection and Registration Functionality
      4. Activating Face Detection
      5. Registering Faces
      6. Assigning Priorities to Registered Faces
      7. Deleting Registered Faces
      8. Using Face Detection and Registration
      9. Object Tracking Command
      10. Face Priority Tracking Command
      11. Smile Shutter Functionality
      12. Automatic Portrait Framing
    3. Shooting Modes
    4. Intelligent Auto Mode
    5. Superior Auto Mode
    6. Photo Creativity Feature
    7. SCN (Scene Selection) Predefined Scene Modes
    8. Recommendations
  13. Chapter 5: Taking Control of the Camera
    1. Introduction
    2. Control Keys and Buttons
    3. Exposure Compensation: Fine-Tuning Automatic Exposure
    4. Autofocus
      1. Autofocus Area: Identifying Where to Focus
      2. Defining the Focus Point
      3. Choosing an Autofocus Area
      4. Autofocus Mode
      5. Autofocus in Dim Light
    5. Manual Focus: Overriding Automatic Focusing
    6. ISO
    7. White Balance
    8. Three Semiautomatic Modes: Shutter Priority (S), Aperture Priority (A), and Program Auto (P)
      1. Shutter Priority (S)
      2. Aperture Priority (A)
      3. Program Auto (P)
    9. Recommendations
  14. Chapter 6: Manual Operation of the Camera
    1. Introduction
    2. Manual Exposure Mode Controls
      1. Extremely Long Exposure “B” Shutter Speed
      2. Noise Reduction with Long Exposure
      3. Noise Reduction at High ISO
      4. Metering Modes
    3. Manual Focusing: Overriding Automatic Focusing
      1. MF Assist
      2. Peaking Function
    4. Manual Adjustments for Color Temperature
      1. White Balance Color Temperature
      2. Custom White Balance
      3. Fine-Tuning WB: Fine Adjustment of Amber-Blue and Green-Magenta
    5. Lens Compensation
    6. Bracketing and Dynamic Range
    7. Recommendations
  15. Chapter 7: Customizing the Camera
    1. Introduction
    2. Customizing Buttons
    3. Fn Button
      1. Setting the Fn Button
    4. Customization of Other Buttons
    5. Customizing Buttons Summary
    6. Help Information
      1. Shooting Tip List
      2. Help Guide Display
    7. Recommendations
  16. Chapter 8: Additional Features
    1. Introduction
    2. Sweep Panorama Mode
      1. Sweep Panorama Mode Commands
      2. Shooting a Panoramic Picture
      3. Panorama Results
      4. Panning Problems
    3. Auto Port. Framing Function
    4. DRO/Auto HDR Function
      1. DRO Function
      2. Auto HDR Function
      3. Using DRO and Auto HDR
    5. Utilizing Predefined Color Schemes
      1. Creative Style Function
      2. Picture Effect Function
      3. Creative Style and Picture Effect Differences
    6. Recommendations
  17. Chapter 9: Adding Applications to the Camera
    1. Introduction
    2. Working with the Camera’s Wi-Fi: Communicating with a Smartphone
    3. Downloading Apps
    4. PlayMemories Camera Apps
    5. Camera Apps We Like and Use
      1. Smart Remote Control
      2. Photoretouching
      3. Multi Frame NR
      4. Time-lapse
    6. Recommendations
  18. Chapter 10: Using Accessories
    1. Introduction
    2. The Kit Lens
    3. Sony E-mount and A-mount Lenses
    4. Legacy and Used Lenses
    5. Telescopes
    6. Microscopes
    7. Remote Release
    8. Tripod
    9. Recommendations
  19. Chapter 11: Flash Photography
    1. Introduction
    2. Principles of Electronic Flash for the Built-in Unit
    3. Flash Artifact: Red Eye
      1. Alternate Ways of Reducing Red Eye
    4. Flash Command
    5. Using Flash in Intelligent Auto and Superior Auto
      1. What You Can Do with Flash in Intelligent Auto and Superior Auto
      2. What You Can’t Do with Flash in Intelligent Auto and Superior Auto
    6. Flash Options in P, A, S, or M Modes
      1. Controlling Lens Aperture While Working with Flash
      2. Viewfinder Brightness: A Note for Studio Photographers
      3. Sony Accessory Flash Units
      4. Bounce or Indirect Lighting: Flash Accessories
      5. Sony Wireless Flash
      6. Slow Sync. Flash
    7. Recommendations
  20. Chapter 12: Making Movies
    1. Introduction
    2. Frame Rate versus Shutter Speed
    3. Choosing a File Format
      1. AVCHD
      2. MP4
    4. Record Settings (Quality)
      1. Interlaced Scanning (i)
      2. Progressive Scanning (p)
      3. Bit Rate and Frame Rate
      4. AVCHD Record Setting Command
      5. MP4 Record Setting Command
    5. Additional Movie Controls
    6. Framing and Starting the Movie
    7. Which Shooting Mode for Controlling Your Recording
    8. Adding Creative Style, Picture Effect, or DRO
    9. Recommendations
  21. Appendix A: Menu and Function Commands
    1. Sony NEX-6 Menu Commands
  22. Appendix B: Error Messages/Warning Messages and Resolutions
  23. Index

Product information

  • Title: The Sony Alpha NEX-6
  • Author(s): Brian Matsumoto Ph. D, Carol F. Roullard
  • Release date: July 2013
  • Publisher(s): Rocky Nook
  • ISBN: 9781457181955