Camera Buttons and Modes

8/13/2019 Camera Buttons and Modes

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Lesson 1 of 4: Selecting and Using Shooting and Special

Modes

Welcome to the Course

So, you've gotten comfortable taking basic pictures with your Sony digital still camera,

and maybe you've even experimented with some of the buttons and settings, but you

aren't happy with the results. You're not quite sure why some of your shots don't comeout as you'd like, and you're ready to get better results. If these statements apply to you,

you're in the right place. his course will help you identify and learn to select settings

that cure common photo problems, and help demystify how some settings work to helpyou take even better photos.

You'll learn how to ad!ust these settings, and more"

Scene Selection modes #hite balance

$lash and exposure settings

%oom

&ontrast and sharpness

his course is geared toward digital camera users who know how to take pictures in

automatic mode but want to learn more about features, buttons, and settings on theircamera. sers who have been unable to identify or properly select settings to deal with

common photo problems (such as red)eye* or special situations (such as shooting

indoors* will find this course particularly valuable in improving their photo shooting

skills and results.

+ach lesson is accompanied by a short assignment and qui that aren't meant to be taxing

but to reinforce concepts and terms covered within the lesson. You should also use the

-essage oard )) your virtual classroom for this course )) to exchange questions andcomments about course topics with your classmates and instructor, share your expertise,

and offer feedback to make this course more enriching.

/et's get started with a tour of camera modes.

All About Modes: Auto Adjustment, rogram Auto,and Scenes

If you rely on your camera's auto mode for shooting pictures, your photos probably don't

always turn out as intended. 0uto modes simplify digital photography but can'tcompensate for all shooting conditions. his section gets you started on the right foot by

teaching you how to select and use your camera's picture shooting modes.


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Understanding Shooting Modes

he first and most important setting to select before you shoot a picture is the mode orshooting mode. he modecontrols whether the camera takes pictures totally

automatically, or whether the camera selects some settings for you.

he fully automatic mode for most cameras is called the auto mode, or more specifically,

the Auto Adjustmentmode for Sony cameras. #hen you select this mode, the cameraselects all settings for you, and all you have to do is point, focus, and shoot. his is the

mode you've probably used to get started with your camera.

0uto 0d!ustment mode disables all menu settings except mode and setup choices, in most

instances.

If you use the 0uto 0d!ustment mode and don't get the results you're looking for, you can

try one of the available Scene Selectionmodes. Selecting a Scene Selection mode tellsthe camera to apply certain preset settings that optimie the results for specific lighting

and scene conditions. $or example, if your camera includes a each Scene Selectionmode, set the flash and other settings so that the camera emphasies rich blue tones in

photos (see $igure 1)1*. If your camera model includes a Soft snap Scene Selection

mode, it applies a variety of settings so that you can take a nice portrait with the sub!ectin sharp focus against a fuier background.

$igure 1)1" Select the each Scene Selection mode for bright beach conditions where you

want to emphasie the blue sky in the photo.

0 Scene Selection mode generally presets a flash setting, among other settings, which

may affect the time the camera requires to cycle between shots.

So, if you're !ust now moving beyond 0uto 0d!ustment mode, using a Scene Selectionmode works as a good next step. 0ll you need to do is look at the overall conditions

you're shooting in )) snow, beach, low lighting, night scene, landscape, and so on )) and


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select the camera Scene Selection mode that best matches those conditions. 0fter you

learn how to select a mode, the 2sing a Scene Selection -ode for Special Situations2

section gives you more details about specific Scene Selection modes.

he available Scene Selection modes vary depending on your camera model, but this

lesson covers some of the more common modes. &onsult your camera's User's GuideandRead This Firstguide (if any* to learn more about the Scene Selection modes for your

camera and how and when to use them.

o have control over more camera settings, select rogram Automode. In this mode,

the camera sets key exposure settings for you. !"posureis the amount of light allowed

through the lens that hits the camera's picture sensor. wo factors control exposure"

shutter speed(how long the shutter stays open to let the light in* and aperturesi#e(the

sie of the opening that lets in the light when the shutter opens*. 0fter selecting 3rogram

0uto mode, the camera's menu should offer the full range of other settings. You'll learn

about the most important settings and how to select them throughout this course.

You should use 3rogram 0uto mode and ad!ust settings on your own when"

You shoot test shots with 0uto 0d!ustment and applicable Scene Selection modes

and aren't happy with the results as viewed on the camera /&4 (liquid crystal

display* screen.

0 Scene Selection mode won't let you select a setting you know you need.

You think that shooting conditions look fairly good, and you'd like to fine)tune

your shots a setting or two at a time, such as ad!usting the flash or contrast in the

picture. his last situation )) which is good old practice )) teaches you the mostabout how individual setting changes affect the quality of images produced by

your camera.

5igher)end camera models, such as digital S/6 (single)lens reflex* cameras for

prosumers and professional photographers, also include modes that enable the user tocontrol shutter speed and aperture settings. &onsult your camera's User's Guideto learn

more about these modes and how to use them.

Some digital cameras also include the ability to shoot short movies in addition to stillimages. sually, you select -ovie mode in the same way that you select any other

shooting mode. $or more information, see the 2Shoot -ovies with a 4igital &amera2

section later in this lesson.

Selecting a Mode

0fter removing the lens cap, if applicable, and turning the camera on, select the shooting

mode to use for a picture. Sony digital camera models generally enable you to select the

shooting mode using a mode dial. 0s shown in $igure 1)7, the mode dial is usuallylocated in the upper)right corner on the back of the camera.


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$igure 1)7" he mode dial appears on the back of the &yber)shot8 4S&)#9:, in the

upper)right corner.

Some cameras ha$e a mode s%itch instead of a mode dial&

ecause the mode dial offers so many modes, it usually identifies each mode with an icon

alone. $or example, the icon for 0uto 0d!ustment mode

and the icon for 3rogram 0uto mode.

#hile your camera's manual details all the modes and corresponding icons for your

particular camera, the following table shows the icons for the most common modes found

on recent camera models.

Higher-end cameras might also include a High-speed shutter mode, with an icon thatlooks like a person swinging a golf club.

o set the mode, turn the mode dial until the icon for the desired shooting mode lines up

to the Select position. he Select position is usually at the ; o'clock position (if you thinkof the mode dial as a clock face*, and is typically indicated with a dot or indentation

beside that location. 0fter you select a shooting mode, you can choose other camera

settings and shoot pictures.

Using a Scene Selection Mode for Special Situations


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+ven though the name and purpose for some of the Scene Selection modes might seem

obvious, now's a good time to review each mode and how exactly to use it"

'igh sensiti$it(:his mode, unique to Sony cameras, shoots at IS< 1:::. In

photography, IS< measurements refer to light sensitivity. $or camera film, IS se this Scene Selection

mode. If the scene you're shooting is mostly white, this mode uses the right

settings to bring out details that would otherwise be lost.

*each:his mode ad!usts settings to take pictures at the beach, particularly in

bright sunlight. It helps to emphasie daling blue skies.

Landscape:he most important thing about this mode is it turns on the infinity

(?* focus preset setting. his ensures that ob!ects far away appear as crisp andclear as possible in your images. his Scene Selection mode works well fordistant mountain shots, as implied by its icon, but really can work anytime you're

located some distance away from what you're shooting.

Soft snap:his Scene Selection mode really can produce a shot that looks like a

pro took it. his mode optimies settings for a close)up portrait, producing shots

with warm tones (especially warm skin tones* and a soft background (even though

the sub!ect is in sharp focus*, like the example shown in $igure 1)@. 0ny time youwant to get a great shot of a friend or family member, use this mode.


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$igure 1)@" Aotice how the background, especially the leaf tips toward the upper right,

are in soft focus while the sub!ect is crisp.

aking a shot with a Scene Selection mode doesn't prevent you from ad!usting thecamera's other settings, which you'll learn more about during this course. 5owever,

applying a Scene Selection mode does limit which settings you can change by hidingthem on the camera's menu or simply disabling the settings on the button controlling

them. $or many cameras, you can't work with color, contrast, or sharpness settings whenyou select a Scene Selection mode. In other cases, you can't select close up focus settings

or modes for shooting pictures quickly. &heck your camera's User's Guidefor a table

detailing which settings each Scene Selection mode presets, and which menu settings areavailable when using a Scene Selection mode.

our camera might beep at !ou if !ou tr! to select a setting that isn't a"ailable with the

currentl! selected #cene #election mode.

So, to use a Scene Selection mode, in a nutshell"

1. 3ower up the camera.7. Select the Scene Selectionmode by turning the mode dial to the proper position.

@. Select any other settings to ad!ust the shot.

B. $ocus and shoot the picture.

hat's it for Scene Selection modes. Aext up is a look at color modes

unch Up a hoto %ith Special Color Modes

he selected color mode, the first Shooting -enu (menu* selections covered in thiscourse, also greatly affects the overall feel of your shots. he color mode setting changes

the relative brightness of the colors in the image or applies a special color effect. Sonycameras typically offer these color mode choices"

+ormal:his default setting shoots images with a normal color range.

*W:his color mode converts the image colors to black and white and tones in

between, like the example shown in $igure 1)B.


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$igure 1)B" his sub!ect was shot in C# mode.

lack)and)white images can have an almost !ournalistic feel, while sepia images evoke

an earlier time. -any photo editing programs convert photos shot in color to black and

white and sepia, so you can have your photos both ways.

Sepia:his color mode converts image colors to tones of cream, brown, and

black, resulting in a vintage photo feel. he image in $igure 1)D was taken with

the Sepia color mode.

$igure 1)D" his sub!ect was shot in Sepia mode.

+atural:his color mode tells the camera to convert colors to slightly muted

tones that look more quiet and natural.

-ich:Selecting this color mode (ields images %ith pumped up, bright colors&


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o select the color mode before you take a picture"

1. urn on the camera and use the mode dial to select an overall picture shooting

mode.

You also can set some menu options when the camera is in 3layback mode.

7. 3ress the M!+Ubutton Eto display the menu, which appears on the /&4 screen

on the back of the camera. he M!+Ubutton is clearly labeled, and may appear

as an oval button on the back of your camera.

Some of the newer Sony digital cameras, like the Sony 4S&)A1, use a newer touch

screen system for selecting settings and commands. If you have one of these cameras,

consult yourRead This Firstand User's Guidedocuments to get the specific steps forusing the features and settings covered in this course.

@. 3ress the left or right arrow button on the control button to select Coloror ColorMode&

B. 3ress the up or down arrow button on the control button to select the desired

&olor mode.

#ith some cameras, you need to press the dot button (center of the control button* to

accept your choice before moving to the next step.

D. 3ress the M!+Ubutton again to finalie your selectiEEEEEEEon.F. Set additional menu options as needed, and then focus and shoot the picture.

hat was easy enoughG he next section addresses -ovie mode.

Shoot Mo$ies %ith a .igital Camera


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#hile no digital still camera is designed to rival a true digital video camera, most digital

still cameras today offer at least some capacity to shoot brief movies. Start the movie

recording process using the mode dial, as for any still image shooting mode. #hen youselect -ovie mode with the mode dial, the camera disables certain features that don't

work when shooting a movie, such as flash, !ust as for a shooting mode.

You change menu settings that remain available to shoot, as desired, and then shoot the

movie. (You generally can work with &olor, $ocus, and a few other menu settings.*

5ere's a simple way to shoot a movie"

1. 3ower on the camera and use the mode dial to select Mo$iemode.

7. 3ress the Image Sie button. sually found on the back of the camera, this ovalbutton has the icon shown in $igure 1)F.

$igure 1)F" he Image Sie button.

@. 3ress the up or down arrow button on the control button to select the desired sie.he available sies include"

/402ine3:his sie is only available when a -emory Stick8 media is

installed in the camera. It shoots images at FB: x BH: pixels with little data

compression, so it provides higher quality when played back on a .

i"elis a shortened version of 3icture +lement. 4igital video and still images are

composed of these colored dots. Compressionrefers to a method of eliminatingunneeded file data to conserve storage space.

/40Standard3:his setting tells the camera to capture video at FB: x BH:

pixels, with compression used to reduce file sie. playback is of astandard quality.


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1/0:#ith this setting, the camera shoots a much smaller image at 1F: x

117 pixels.

B. 3ress the Image Sie button again to set your selection.D. 3ress the shutter button all the way to start recording. 0s a reminder, the shutter

button is usually a round button on the upper)right corner of the camera.F. $ollow the action with the camera, ooming as needed. (/esson 7 provides more

information about ooming.*9. 3ress the shutter button all the way to stop recording.


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+nhance your knowledge of these vital digital photography skills by completing the

assignment and taking the qui. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to post

them on the -essage oard.

Course 7$er$ie%

Your digital camera features numerous modes and settings. his course shows you how

to take better photos by learning how to select the right modes and settings.

Assignment

It doesn't take much practice to get comfortable with selecting a picture shooting modeand another basic setting or two on your digital camera. #ith experience comes

confidence, and trying out these steps will build the base you need"

1. 3ower on your digital camera.

7. Identify the mode dial on the camera. urn it to each of the available modes,recalling what each mode icon means.

&onfirm your recollection by consulting your camera's User's Guide.

@. $ind an ob!ect or person in your office or home to serve as the sub!ect for a photo,

and if needed, arrange the ob!ect or person in a location suitable for a few testphotos.

B. Standing a few feet away from the sub!ect, or at a range where you can easilyfocus the camera, take a picture using 0uto 0d!ustment mode.

D. se the mode dial to select Soft snapmode, and then take another picture of the

sub!ect. If you need to move a bit closer to the sub!ect to help the camera focus,

do so.

F. /eaving the shooting mode set to Soft snap, use the Shooting -enu to select the

Sepiacolor mode. Shoot another picture of the sub!ect.

9. Select la(bac8mode for the camera (press the 3layback or right arrow button

on the back of the camera*, and then use the left and right arrow options on thecontrol button to review and compare the images you've shot on the /&4 display.

H. $or added learning, use your camera's controls to shoot approximately 7: seconds

of video, and then use the 3layback button to review it on the /&4 display.

Lesson 5 of 4: 9mpro$ing Clarit( and 2ocus in our

ictures


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2ocus Correctl( *efore Shooting

ecause digital cameras can hold so many photos and make it easy to erase bad shots, it's

tempting to skimp on simple things like focusing the camera because you can always takeanother shot. If you've ever taken digital camera shots of a special occasion only to find

that some are blurry when you view or print them, you might have already learned apainful lesson about not taking the time to get the right focus.

4igital cameras offer the ability to focus automatically, a feature called 0uto $ocus, or0$, for current Sony digital cameras. #hen you use the Shutter button correctly, the

camera locks the focus on the sub!ect. 5owever, some camera users simply press the

Shutter button down completely, an incorrect method which may not give 0uto $ocustime to really work.

$ollow these steps to focus a shot correctly"

1. urn the camera on and select a picture shooting mode and other settings asdesired.

7. $rame and oom in on the sub!ect as desired. If you're not up to speed with your

camera's oom capabilities, the section titled 2%oom and se 4igital %oom

Settings2 in this lesson provides a refresher. he rectangular box (the 0$ range

finder frame* at the center of the /&4 screen shows you the primary area that0uto $ocus uses to set the picture focus, although by default most cameras use a

focus method that also can focus on sub!ects throughout the frame.

The terms frameand composemean to point the camera at the sub%ect and use the &(

screen or finder to determine how to position the sub%ect in the picture.

@. 3ress the Shutter button halfway down and hold it, as shown in $igure 7)1. You

feel some resistance when the button reaches the point that it activates 0uto

$ocus. You can't see it in the figure, but a dot near the top of the /&4 screencalled the 0+J0$ lock indicator stays lit )) rather than flashing )) and the camera

beeps to indicate that 0uto $ocus has locked in.


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$igure 7)1" 3ress the Shutter button halfway down and hold it to focus.

If the 0+J0$ lock indicator resumes flashing and the camera doesn't beep, you've lost

0uto $ocus. ry the techniques after these steps to try to get better focus.

B. 3ress the Shutter button all the way down. You should hear the shutter operate to

take the picture.D. 6elease the Shutter button.

he next section offers tips and tricks for resolving focus problems and improving the

overall image.

)ips for Achie$ing Sharper 2ocus

In some cases, you may have trouble focusing even when you use the Shutter buttoncorrectly to engage 0uto $ocus. 0dditional focus problems can result from a variety of

issues that boil down to two main causes" shake (vibration* and lighting issues. ry the

following tips to achieve sharper focus"

*race (our arms:You can steady your arms in a number of ways to eliminate

shake. $or example, pull your elbows tighter toward your body or rest your

elbows on a solid surface to brace your forearms. If you're shooting from a lower

level, try kneeling on one knee and resting an elbow on the knee that's up.


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Use a tripod:If you don't have a good opportunity to brace yourself for a shot,

consider using a tripod. $or example, the user shown in $igure 7)7 is shooting a

picture at a sharp downward angle while kneeling on an unstable sandy surface,so the tripod provides stability that's difficult to achieve in such a situation. -ost

digital cameras have a screw mount for a tripod on the bottom. 4efinitely

consider a tripod, because it's an inexpensive, effective accessory for improvingthe quality of your shots.

$igure 7)7" 0 tripod helps to eliminate shake for sharper images.

Use the self;timer:#ith the self)timer, you can place the camera on a solid

surface to take the shot, eliminating shake without the use of a tripod. he self)

timer delay also means that the camera shoots seconds after you press the Shutter

button, eliminating even subtle shake caused by that action. Ma8e sure the A2 9lluminator feature is on:his feature, included on some

cameras, shines additional light on the sub!ect to help 0uto $ocus work. (he 0$

Illuminator often uses red light as opposed to the brighter, lighter flash light.* he


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0uto $ocus feature relies on light, typically locking on the brightest area in the

photo. ecause you usually position the sub!ect closest to the camera (also

typically in the center of the frame* and the sub!ect usually reflects the most light,0uto $ocus can easily lock in. 5owever, in low lighting situations and in some

cases in which the sub!ect and background lighting are equally bright, 0uto $ocus

can have trouble.

You control the 0$ Illuminator using the Setup choice on the menu formost Sony cameras.

If the 0$ Illuminator is on and you still can't get good focus, you may be too far away

from your sub!ect. ry moving a step or two closer.

he 0$ Illuminator does not work in all picture shooting modes.

Use A2 Loc8:his feature is generically called focus lock. If the sub!ect of your

picture isn't centered and therefore isn't within the bounds of the 0$ range finderthrowing off light, 0uto $ocus may not be able to work. /ucky for you that you

can trick it into working. 3oint the camera so that the sub!ect falls within the 0$range finder on the /&4 screen. 3ress the Shutter button halfway down and hold

it until the 0+J0$ lock indicator stays lit (stops flashing*. 3oint the camera back

to the original location so that you see your original shot composition. 3ress theShutter button all the way down to take the shot.

)r( another focus mode:$or some cameras, you need to be a minimum distance

of about 7: inches away from the sub!ect. In such situations, the -acro (close)up*

focus mode might help improve focus.

+an! #on! cameras ha"e a built-in technolog! that helps reduce blurriness and shake. )f!our camera has image stabili*ation technolog! -- such as #tead!#hot )mage

#tabili*ation -- !our camera automaticall! helps to eliminate shake. ther cameras, such

as some digital #&R models, enable !ou to appl! additional stabili*ation.

Use flash if (ou aren


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-ost cameras enable you to select either a two)second or 1:)second self)timer delay. o

select a self)timer delay"

1. 3lace the camera where you want it to rest when you shoot the picture or put it onthe tripod.

7. 3ower on the camera, select the shooting mode, and select other settings. -akesure that you have exited the Shooting -enu if you've used it to choose settings.

@. 3ress the control button down arrow button once or twice to select either the two)second or 1:)second self)timer. 0s shown in $igure 7)@, the down arrow position

on the control button has a self)timer icon to remind you that you use that button

to set the self)timer.

$igure 7)@" he control button down arrow button has a self)timer icon.

=enerally, pressing the button once specifies a 1:)second delay and

pressing it a second time changes to the two)second delay. You can verify

that you've selected the right delay by checking for an indicator near the

top of the /&4 screen on your camera. he indicator shown at the top of$igure 7)B shows that you've set a 1:)second delay, whereas the bottom

indicator means a two)second delay. If you don't see either indicator, the

self)timer is turned off.


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$igure 7)B" +ither of these indicators on the /&4 screen shows that you've set the self)timer.

B. se the 0uto $ocus (press the Shutter button halfway down and hold* to focus the

shot.D. 3ress the Shutter button all the way down and then release it. If you want to get

into the shot, do so. 0fter the specified delay, the camera takes the picture.

Some of the newer Sony digital cameras, like the 4S&)A1, use a newer touch screen

system for selecting settings and commands. If you have one of these cameras, consultyourRead This Firstand User's Guidedocuments to get the specific steps for using the

features and settings covered in this course.

he next section covers picture sie and quality settings.

Understand and Select icture Si#e and =ualit(

If you've already taken a basic digital photography course or did a lot of research before

you purchased your digital camera, you know that -3 (megapixels* refers to the number

of colored dots (pixels* in an image. +ach megapixel is equivalent to 1 million pixels. If a

camera is capable of shooting an image that's 7,H1F pixels by 7,117 pixels )) morecommonly indicated as 7H1F x 7117 )) you multiply those dimensions to find the total

megapixelsK in this case, that image sie is D,;B9,@;7 pixels, which rounds up to Fmegapixels. So, a digital camera that can make pictures that large is a F)megapixelcamera.

hat doesn't mean every shot captured with such a camera has F million pixels. -ost

digital cameras enable you to control the sie and quality for every picture. Your camera

offers various picture sie settings, so you can shoot at the maximum sie or any of anumber of smaller sies. $or example, if you're using the 9)megapixel 4S&)#9: camera,

you can select one of the following sies for each still photo"

>M:@:97 x 7@:B picture sie

?:5:@:97 x 7:BH picture sie, to achieve a @"7 width)to)height ratio @M:7D;7 x 1;BB picture sie

?M:7:BH x 1D@F picture sie

5M:1F@7 x 177B picture sie

BA:FB: x BH: picture sie (use for #eb pictures or e)mail*

1/::1;7: x 1:H:, a special sie for shooting images that you want to display on

a widescreen or computer monitor


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$igure 7)D" 3ress this button to select picture sie.

@. 3ress the up or down arrow button on the control button to select the desiredpicture sie (see the /&4 screen*.

B. 3ress the Image Sie button again to finalie the sie setting.

D. 3ress the M!+Ubutton to display the menu.

F. 3ress the left or right arrow button on the control button and select & =ualit(3,which has an icon that looks like the left half of a square with smaller rectangles

to the right. $inish the selection if needed.

$or some cameras, you need to press the dot button (center of the control button* to

accept menu choices.

9. 3ress the up or down arrow button on the control button to select the desired

quality setting. $inish the selection if needed.

H. 3ress the M!+Ubutton again to finalie your choice.;. Set additional menu options as needed, and then focus and shoot the picture.

0fter you've set the picture sie and quality, check the /&4 screen. Indicators there show

the selected picture sie and quality. 0nother indicator (!ust a number nearby* tells youhow many images the remaining storage space can hold at those settings. &heck yourcamera's User's Guidefor more details about these indicators.

he next section goes over the oom feature and important oom settings.

Eoom and Use .igital Eoom Settings

-ost digital cameras today offer two types of oom" optical oom and digital oom. #ith

optical #oom,the lens extends to change the focal length. ($ocal length determinesmagnification.* #ith digital #oom,your camera mathematically changes image data to

enlarge the image.


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$igure 7)F, or it's a rocker switch located toward the upper)right corner on the back of the

camera.

$igure 7)F" se the oom lever to oom in or out on the sub!ect.

he 22 and 2#2 on the oom lever stand for 2tight2 and 2wide.2 -ove the oom lever

toward the (or press the side of the rocker button* to oom in on the sub!ect, makingit larger in the shot. -ove the %oom lever toward the # (or press the # side of therocker button* to oom out from the sub!ect, including more surrounding background or

more distant ob!ects.

0t a point when you're ooming in (toward the *, the digital oom kicks in. he picture

quickly !umps to a much higher magnification. $or example, the image shown in $igure7)9 shows the image before the digital oom took effect.

$igure 7)9" Image prior to digital oom effect.

he image in $igure 7)H shows the image !ust after the digital oom took effect.


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$igure 7)H" 4igital oom !umps to a higher magnification.

-ost digital cameras enable you to turn the digital oom off, and some even offer

multiple digital oom settings, such as Smart oom and 3recision oom. (&onsult your

camera's User's Guideto learn about the available choices and how they work on yourcamera.* In general, here's how to select whether to use digital oom or choose a

particular type of digital oom"

1. 3ress the M!+Ubutton.

$rom here on, this course assumes that you've got the camera powered on and set to thedesired picture shooting mode and have made any other necessary settings before starting

any set of steps. You can change some of the settings described in this course duringpicture playback. o do so, put your camera in 3layback mode before displaying themenu.

7. 3ress the left or right arrow button on the control button to select Setup,and then

press the right arrow button.

4epending on your camera model, press the right arrow button or center (dot* button on

the control button to finish making each menu selection.

@. 3ress an arrow button on the control button as needed to select the category that

holds the 4igital %oom choice, which is called Cameraor Camera1(consultyour camera's User's Guide*. $inish the category selection, if needed.

B. 3ress an arrow button to select .igital Eoom&Select the setting if needed.D. 3ress an arrow button on the control button to select the desired setting )) 7ff,

Smart,or recision&Select the setting if needed.

F. 3ress the M!+Ubutton to close the menu.


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he names sound backwards, but 3recision oom can cause more distortion than Smart

oom.

0s you oom, the /&4 screen may show a oom magnification indicator near the upperleft, such as "1&?&0 digital oom indicator (either a 3 or an S with a magnifying glass*

appears when digital oom has been engaged.

hat's ooming, in a nutshell. he next section covers manual focus modes.

Change the 2ocus Mode

If you've tried the techniques outlined in the earlier 2$ocus &orrectly efore Shooting2section and still can't get a sharp image using 0uto $ocus, you can select another focus

mode.

-acro mode enables you to more easily take extremely close pictures. o toggle -acro

mode on and off on most cameras, press the right arrow (-acro* button on the controlbutton, highlighted in $igure 7);. #hen -acro mode is active, an indicator that looks

like a tulip appears in the lower)left corner of the /&4 screen.

$igure 7);" 3ress the -acro button (right arrow* to turn the -acro focus mode on or off.

You have to use the menu to select any of the other available focus methods. he focusmethods for your camera are likely to include"


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Finfinit( or unlimited focus3:his enables you to focus on far)away sub!ects.

>&0m, ?&0m, 1&0m,and &@m:his sets the focus to ob!ects at the preset distance

specified. sing one of these presets can help you overcome a difficult shootingsituation, such as shooting a picture of a bird through your window screen.

Center A2:his enables you to focus more specifically on the area within the

range finder. o use the 0$ lock (focus lock* feature described earlier to focus ona sub!ect outside the center of the image, this focus method actually forces that

feature to work best.

Multi A2 MultipointA23:his is the default mode. It enables the camera to

focus on sub!ects in the center range finder and at other points in the frame.

Additional focus methods:he high)end prosumer and digital S/6 cameras

may include focus methods such as $lexible Spot 0$ and -anual focus, as well

as controls for setting a focus monitoring method, and more.

In terms of selecting a focus mode, the process varies widely depending on your cameramodel. $or some cameras, pressing a $


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those !ust outside to make the edge more apparent. 6educing sharpness makes the pixels

more similar and the edge less distinct. 0dding sharpness can improve a picture taken

under low lighting conditions (which tends to make colors look more similar*, whilereducing sharpness can add a more natural and muted appearance to a picture, if that's the

look you're going for.

0dding too much sharpness can really distort the color and brightness of some pixels in

the image. ake a few practice shots with different sharpness settings before you snap thepictures that you intend to be your 2keepers.2

6ather than having


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$igure 7)1:" hese three urst shots catch a puppy in motion.


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Some cameras include additional settings, such as the ability to change the interval

(length of time* between each burst frame.

Multi *urst:akes 1F frames using a 1- image sie. -ulti urst mode enables

you to take a relatively long series of shots at a decent quality, providing a solid

middle ground.


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@. 3ractice using the Shutter button to focus the camera on sub!ects at varying

distances away from you.

B. 0ctivate the Macrofocus mode, and take a close)up shot of a flower or favoriteob!ect. 4eactivate Macromode.

D. 3hotograph a sub!ect using three different picture sies available on your camera.

F. 3oint the camera at a distant sub!ect. %oom in until the digital oom kicks in.3hotograph the ob!ect. %oom back out !ust until digital oom deactivates, and then

photograph the ob!ect again.

9. ake a photo of the sub!ect, ad!ust the brightness and contrast settings, and thenphotograph the sub!ect again.

$or more information on how to use the menu to select any of the settings mentioned,

consult your camera's User's Guide.

H. Shoot a sequence of photos using the *urstor Multi *urstrecording mode.

;. &opy the images to your computer and view them, taking note of the impact of

the various settings you used to snap the pictures.

Lesson ? of 4: Betting the Lighting -ight

Select a 2lash Mode and 2lash Le$el

-ost digital cameras include a flash to provide supplemental lighting in situations wherethe ambient light isn't adequate to make a good photo. You can usually control how the

camera flashes to get the best photo result under the current lighting conditions. -any

Sony8 cameras offer four flash settings, which you can identify based on an indicatorshown near the upper)left corner of the camera /&4 screen. he following identify the

flash settings and indicators, and gives you guidance about when to use each particular

setting"

2lash Auto:his is the default mode for Sony cameras. he camera flashes

whenever the lighting is too low or the sub!ect appears to be backlit. 0 bac8litsub!ect has more lighting from behind than above or in front, so it appears in

silhouette, as shown in $igure @)1. $lash illuminates the front of the sub!ect toovercome the backlighting. his mode has no indicator.


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$igure @)1" #hen a sub!ect is backlit (left*, use flash to bring out the details (right*.

2lash forced on:-akes the camera flash for all shots. se this mode in low

lighting conditions, especially when the camera has difficulty focusing, or when

you need to ensure that flash fills in a backlit sub!ect. It may be counterintuitive,but if a sub!ect's face (or other details* is too heavily shaded on an extremely

sunny day, try adding flash to reduce the heavy shadows and bring out details.

Indicator"

Slo% s(nchro:$orces the flash on. his mode works best for shooting modes

with a slow shutter speed and is the default setting applied by the wilight portraitScene Selection picture shooting mode. 0fter setting your camera to the 3rogram

0uto shooting mode, select the Slo%s(nchroflash mode to help bring out

background ob!ects or detail when taking a picture in low lighting conditions.Indicator"


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2lash forced off:ells the camera to use no flash with a picture. se this flash

mode when you want a more natural shot, especially if the flash seemed too harsh

in a picture you've already shot or if you're shooting a sub!ect that has shiny or

reflective areas. Indicator"

Some higher)end cameras offer additional flash settings, such as the ability to control

flash synch.

$lash only works within a certain distance range from the camera, which varies

depending on the camera's capabilities and the oom you're using. 0s an alternative to

turning flash off, you can back up from your sub!ect a bit further and oom in or shoot

the picture at a slight down angle to reduce excessive flash reflections. If you're taking aphoto of someone who wears glasses and taking the glasses off isn't an option, it helps to

have the sub!ect look slightly to one side or the other.

You don't need to use flash if you can ad!ust the indoor lighting in another way. sing anoverhead light on a dimmer enables you to vary the lighting level to suit your needs.


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$igure @)7" he control button up arrow button has a flash mode icon.

sing flash on a backlit sub!ect is generically called fill flash&Some image editingprograms enable you to add fill flash in specific areas of a picture to decrease heavy

shadows and bring out details.

@. $ocus and take the picture.

If you experience flash reflections in the eyes of people or pets you're photographing, seethe 2urn


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If the image is too light overall, it's o$ere"posedand if it's too dark overall, it's

undere"posed&If working with the metering method doesn't give the results you want,

change the image exposure (also called !,for e"posure $alue* manually. 3ress the leftarrow button on the control button, shown in $igure @)@, to display an exposure value

scale bar at the left side of the /&4 display. 3ress the up or down arrow button to set the

exposure as desired, and then press the left arrow button again to accept the setting andturn off the exposure value scale bar display.

$igure @)@" 3ress the left arrow button on the control button to select an exposure

manually.

Some professional)level cameras offer a brac8etingfeature, which enables you to shoot

a series of shots at varying exposure levels, so you can pick the one that looks the best.

Aow that you've gotten a look at metering modes, it's time to explore white balance

settings, in the next section.

Understand and Use White *alance Settings

If you've ever put a string of holiday lights up around your window, you've seen that light

can have different colors. #hat most of us don't realie is that different types of lighting

that we perceive as 2white2 actually have different color characteristics. 0lthoughsunlight outdoors is usually true white in tone, indoor incandescent lighting can give a

picture an orange or yellow cast. &loudy outdoor light or fluorescent indoor lighting can

give a photo a blue cast.


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If you're using a picture shooting mode other than the 0uto 0d!ustment mode, you may

need to ad!ust the camera's %hite balance setting,which compensates for the color cast

applied by different types of lighting. he following table details the available whitebalance settings and the indicator that appears in the upper)left area of the /&4 screen

for each.

9ndicator Mode +ame Use

Ao

indicator0uto

his default mode ad!usts the white balance automatically. You

can leave the camera set to this mode unless you notice an

unpleasant color cast to your pictures.

$lash Sets the white balance to work with the current flash settings.

Incandescent&hanges the white balance to offset warm incandescent tones.se it in any setting with incandescent lighting, including the

typical home indoors or photo studio conditions.

$luorescent

&hanges the white balance to offset cool fluorescent tones. his

mode works well in institutional settings, such as school gyms or

cafeterias. If the fluorescent lights flicker, this mode may notwork well.

&loudy&hanges the white balance to compensate for cloudy outdoorconditions. Select this mode, in particular, if shots taken on a

cloudy day fail to 'pop' or look a little monochromatic.

4aylight

&hanges the white balance to compensate for outdoor conditions

with warm lighting. You can use it to shoot not only daylight

scenes, but also sunrise and sunset scenes, or scenes with bright

night lighting, such as neon or fireworks.

able @)1" #hite balance mode indicators, with the modes and their uses.

he white balance changes you make can be a matter of your taste, actual lightingconditions, and the appearance of the sub!ect. $or example, if you prefer cool tones in

your images, you may prefer the image of the skein of handspun yarn in $igure @)B,

which hasn't been corrected for white balance.


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$igure @)B" 0n image with cool tones.

$igure @)D has more balanced colors, which enhances the apparent detail.

$igure @)D" #hite balance correction can change a color cast caused by the type of

lighting on the sub!ect.

o select a white balance setting, use the M!+Uand control buttons to select W*

White *al3, and then select the desired white balance setting.

he next section covers IS< settings.


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Understand and Use 9S7 Settings

You learned in /esson 1 that you can select the 5igh sensitivity Scene Selection picture

taking mode to have the camera shoot pictures at the 1::: IS< setting. You also learnedthat IS< is a measurement of light sensitivity, specifically, how sensitive the digital

camera's sensor is to light or luminosity. In terms of selecting an IS< setting, keep thesegeneral guidelines in mind"

/ower IS< settings make the camera's sensor less sensitive to light and work for

high lighting conditions.

5igher IS< settings make the sensor more sensitive to luminosity so the camera

can capture a high)quality image in conditions with lower lighting.

6ather than selecting the 5igh sensitivity picture shooting mode or letting the camera setIS< automatically, you can select an IS< setting manually and then choose other camera

settings as desired to achieve the combination and effect that you prefer. 4epending on

your camera model, you may be able to choose from several IS< settings, including H:,1::, 7::, B::, H::, and 1:::.

In film cameras, the IS< rating of film is often called the film speed&2$ast2 film with a

higher rating requires less light but results in a grainier image, whereas 2slow2 film with a

lower rating requires more light but results in a finer image. $ilm rated IS< B:: isgenerally considered the best all)purpose film, giving the photographer the most

flexibility in choosing exposure settings.

o change the IS< setting, use the M!+Uand arrow buttons to select 9S7,and then

select the desired IS< setting.

he final section in this lesson covers red)eye reduction.

)urn 7n -ed !(e -eduction

If you've ever taken pictures with flash during a nighttime event, you've probably seen an

example of the dreaded red)eye. he tell)tale mark of red;e(eis a distinctive red or greenglow in the pupils of the people or pets in the picture. 6ed)eye results when the bright

flash light bounces off the retina at the back of the eye, creating the beautiful glow.

$igure @)F shows an example of the green version of red)eye in a picture taken with flash.

#hen you turn your camera's 6ed +ye 6eduction feature on, the flash strobes multipletimes before the camera shoots the picture to reduce the red)eye effect.


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$igure @)F" he puppy's left eye has a green glow called red)eye.

6ed)eye tends to appear as a green glow in some conditions, but is most red in sub!ects

with blue eyes.

o turn on the 6ed +ye 6eduction feature"

1. se the M!+Uand control buttons to select Setup&7. 3ress an arrow button on the control button to select the category that holds the

6ed +ye 6eduction setting, which is likely called Cameraor Camera1(consult

your camera's User's Guide*. $inish the category selection, if needed.@. se the arrow buttons again to select -ed !(e -eduction&Select the setting if

needed.

1. 3ress the up or down arrow button on the control button to select the desired

setting, either 7nor 7ff&Select the setting if needed.7. 3ress the Menubutton again to close the menu.

hat's it for /esson @G You're well on your way to understanding and proficiently using

most of the modes and buttons on your camera.

Mo$ing 7n

In this lesson, you learned how some readily available camera settings can help you

control the light and color tone qualities of your pictures. In addition, you now know how

to select a flash mode, flash level, and metering mode, work with white balance, select anIS< setting, and turn on 6ed +ye 6eduction. In /esson B, you'll learn how to use the

camera's capabilities for storing and viewing your pictures.


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6einforce new concepts now by completing the assignment and taking the qui. If you

have any questions or comments, feel free to post them on the -essage oard.

Course 7$er$ie%

Your digital camera features numerous modes and settings. his course shows you howto take better photos by learning how to select the right modes and settings.

Assignment

$or this assignment, perform the following steps"

1. 3ower on your digital camera.7. urn the mode dial on the camera to rogram Auto3mode. his mode gives

you the greatest flexibility in experimenting with other settings.

@. If needed, grab a piece of paper and a pen or pencil, and take notes about whichsettings you use for various shots.

B.

Documents

Camera Buttons and Modes