Sony DSC-H7, DSC-H9 Handbook

VCLICK!

Table of contents

Basic Operations

Using functions for shooting

Digital Still Camera

Cyber-shot Handbook

DSC-H7/H9

Before operating the unit, please read this Handbook thoroughly together with the

“Instruction Manual” and the “Cyber-shot Step-up Guide”, and retain them for future

reference.

Using functions for viewing

Customizing the settings

Viewing images on a TV

Using your computer

Printing still images

Troubleshooting

Others

Index

Notes on using your camera

Types of “Memory Stick” that can be used (not supplied)

The IC recording medium used by this camera is a “Memory Stick Duo”. There are two types of “Memory Stick”.

“Memory Stick Duo”: you can use a “Memory Stick Duo” with your camera.

“Memory Stick”: you cannot use a “Memory Stick” with your camera.

Other memory cards cannot be used.

• For details on “Memory Stick Duo”, see page 129.

When using a “Memory Stick Duo” with “Memory Stick” compatible equipment

You can use the “Memory Stick Duo” by inserting it into the Memory Stick Duo Adaptor (not supplied).

• For details on the usable battery pack, see page 131.

Carl Zeiss lens

This camera is equipped with a Carl Zeiss lens which is capable of reproducing sharp images with excellent contrast. The lens for this camera has been produced under a quality assurance system certified by Carl Zeiss in accordance with the quality standards of Carl Zeiss in Germany.

Notes on the LCD screen, the LCD finder and the lens

• The LCD screen and the LCD finder are manufactured using extremely high-precision technology so over 99.99% of the pixels are operational for effective use. However, there may be some tiny black points and/or bright points (white, red, blue or green in color) that constantly appear on the LCD screen or the LCD finder. These points are normal in the manufacturing process and do not affect the recording in any way.

Black, white, red, blue

or green points

• Do not hold the camera by taking hold of the LCD screen.

Memory Stick Duo Adaptor

Notes on the battery pack

• Charge the battery pack (supplied) before using the camera for the first time.

• The battery pack can be charged even if it is not completely discharged. Also, even if the battery pack is not fully charged, you can use the partially charged capacity of the battery pack as is.

• If you do not intend to use the battery pack for a long time, use up the existing charge and remove it from your camera, then store it in a cool, dry place. This is to maintain the battery pack functions.

• Exposing the LCD screen, the LCD finder or the lens to direct sunlight for long periods may cause malfunctions. Be careful when placing the camera near a window or outdoors.

• Do not press against the LCD screen. The screen may be discolored and that may cause a malfunction.

Notes on using your camera

• Images may trail across on the LCD screen in a cold location. This is not a malfunction.

• Be careful not to bump the movable lens, and be careful not to apply force to it.

The pictures used in this Handbook

The photographs used as examples of pictures in this Handbook are reproduced images, and are not actual images shot using this camera.

On illustrations

Illustrations used in this Handbook are those of the DSC-H7 unless noted otherwise.

Notes on using your camera .....................................................................2

ControlBasic techniques for better images ...............................................8

Focus – Focusing on a subject successfully.....................................................8

Exposure – Adjusting the light intensity ........................................................... 10

Color – On the effects of lighting ..................................................................... 12

Quality – On “image quality” and “image size” ............................................... 12

Flash – On using the flash ............................................................................... 14

Identifying parts ......................................................................................15

Indicators on the screen..........................................................................20

Changing the screen display...................................................................24

Using the internal memory......................................................................25

Basic Operations

Using the mode dial ................................................................................26

Shooting images easily (Auto Adjustment mode) ...................................27

Shooting still images (Scene Selection)..................................................31

Shooting in the dark (Night Shot) (DSC-H9 only) ...................................34

Using the wheel dial................................................................................35

Shooting with manual adjustment ........................................................... 36

Shooting with Program Shift Shooting with shutter speed priority mode Shooting with aperture priority mode Shooting with manual exposure mode ISO: Selecting a luminous sensitivity EV: Adjusting the light intensity Focus: Changing the focus method

Viewing images.......................................................................................43

Deleting images ......................................................................................45

Learning the various functions – HOME/Menu.......................................47

Menu items .............................................................................................50

Table of contents

Using functions for shooting

Shooting menu ........................................................................................51

Scene Selection: Selecting the Scene Selection mode Image Size: Selecting the image size Face Detection: Detecting the face of subject REC Mode: Selecting the continuous shooting method Color Mode: Changing the vividness of the image or adding special effects Metering Mode: Selecting the metering mode White Bal: Adjusting the color tones Flash Level: Adjusting the amount of flash light Red Eye Reduction: Reducing the red-eye phenomenon Contrast: Adjusting the contrast Sharpness: Adjusting the sharpness SteadyShot: Selecting the anti-blur mode SETUP: Selecting the shooting settings

Using functions for viewing

Playing back images from the HOME screen .............................62

(Single Image): Playing back a single image (Index Display): Playing back a list of images (Slide Show): Playing back a series of images

Viewing menu......................................................................................65

(Delete): Deleting images (Slide Show): Playing back a series of images

(Retouch): Retouching still images after shooting

(Protect): Preventing accidental erasure

: Adding a Print order mark (Print): Printing images using a printer (Rotate): Rotating a still image (Select Folder): Selecting the folder for viewing images

Customizing the settings

Customizing the Manage Memory feature and the Settings

Manage Memory..........................................................................72

Memory Tool — Memory Stick Tool ..................................................72

Format Create REC. Folder

Change REC. Folder Copy

........70

Table of contents

Memory Tool — Internal Memory Tool ............................................. 74

Format

Settings ..........................................................................................75

Main settings — Main Settings 1...................................................... 75

Beep Function Guide

Initialize

Main settings — Main Settings 2...................................................... 76

USB Connect COMPONENT

Video Out

Shooting Settings — Shooting Settings 1.........................................78

AF Illuminator Grid Line AF Mode

Digital Zoom Conversion Lens

Shooting Settings — Shooting Settings 2.........................................81

Flash Sync. Auto Orientation

Auto Review Expanded Focus

Clock Settings...................................................................................83

Language Setting .............................................................................84

Viewing images on a TV

Viewing images on a TV ......................................................................... 85

Viewing images by connecting your camera to a TV with the supplied cable for multiuse terminal Viewing an image by connecting your camera to a HD TV

Using your computer

Enjoying your Windows computer........................................................... 88

Installing the software (supplied) ............................................................90

Copying images to your computer ..........................................................91

Viewing image files stored on a computer with your camera (using a

“Memory Stick Duo”)............................................................................... 97

Using the “Picture Motion Browser” (supplied) .......................................98

Using the “Music Transfer” (supplied) ...................................................104

Using your Macintosh computer ........................................................... 105

Table of contents

Printing still images

How to print still images ........................................................................107

Printing images directly using a PictBridge compliant printer ...............108

Printing at a shop ..................................................................................111

Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting .....................................................................................113

Warning indicators and messages ........................................................125

Others

To use your camera abroad — Power sources......................................128

On the “Memory Stick” ..........................................................................129

On the battery pack...............................................................................131

On the battery charger ..........................................................................132

Index

Index......................................................................................................133

ControlBasic techniques for better images

Focus

Exposure

Color Quality

This section describes the basics so you can enjoy your camera. It tells you how to use various camera functions such as the mode dial (page 26), the wheel dial (page 35), the HOME screen (page 47), the menus (page 49), and so on.

Focusing on a subject successfully

Flash

When you press the shutter button halfway down, the camera adjusts the focus automatically (Auto Focus). Remember to press the shutter button only halfway down.

Press the shutter button fully down suddenly.

To shoot a still image difficult to focus on If the image looks blurred even after focusing, it may be because of camera shake.

Press the shutter button halfway down.

t [Focus] (page 40)

AE/AF lock indicator

flashing , lit/beeps

Then press the shutter button fully down.

t See

“Hints for preventing blur” (as follows).

ControlBasic techniques for better images

Hints for preventing blur

The camera moved accidentally when you took the picture. This is called “Camera shake”. On the other hand, if the subject moved when you took the picture, it is called “subject blur”.

Camera shake

Cause

Your hands or body shake while you hold the camera and press the shutter button, and the entire screen is blurred.

What you can do to reduce the blurring

• Use a tripod or place the camera on a flat, stable surface to hold the camera steady.

• Shoot with a 2-second delay self-timer and stabilize your camera by holding your shooting arm firmly at your side after pressing the shutter button.

Subject blur

Cause

Even though the camera is steady, the subject moves during the exposure so the subject looks blurred when the shutter button is pressed.

Notes

• The anti-blur function is enabled in the factory default settings so that the camera shake is reduced automatically. However, this is not effective for subject blur.

• Besides, camera shake and subject blur occur frequently under low-light or slow shutter speed conditions, such as those encountered in Twilight or Twilight Portrait mode. In that case, shoot with the above tips in mind.

What you can do to reduce the blurring

• Select (High Sensitivity mode) in Scene Selection.

• Select a higher ISO sensitivity to make the shutter speed faster, and press the shutter button before the subject moves.

ControlBasic techniques for better images

Exposure

You can create various images by adjusting the exposure and the ISO sensitivity. Exposure is the amount of light that the camera will receive when you release the shutter.

Adjusting the light intensity

Shutter speed = Length of time the camera receives

Exposure:

Aperture = Size of the opening allowing light to pass

Overexposure

= too much light Whitish image

Correct exposure

Underexposure

= too little light Darker image

light

through

ISO (Recommended Exposure Index)

Recording sensitivity

The exposure is automatically set to the proper value in the auto adjustment mode. However, you can adjust it manually using the functions below.

Manual exposure:

Allows you to adjust the shutter speed and aperture value manually (page 38).

Adjusting EV:

Allows you to adjust the exposure determined by the camera (pages 24, 40).

Metering Mode:

Allows you to change the part of the subject to be measured to determine the exposure (page 56).

ControlBasic techniques for better images

Hints for the exposure value (EV)

When shooting a whitish overall image such as a backlit subject or a snowy scenes, the camera judges that the subject is bright and may set a darker exposure for the image. In such cases, adjustment of the exposure in the + (plus) direction is effective.

Adjust in the + direction

When shooting a darker overall image, the camera judges that the subject is dark and may set a brighter exposure for the image. In such cases, adjustment of the exposure in the – (minus) direction is effective.

Adjust in the – direction

You can check the exposure referring to the histogram chart. Be careful not to overexpose or underexpose your subject (giving a whitish or darkish image).

Adjusting ISO Sensitivity (Recommended Exposure Index)

ISO sensitivity is a speed rating for recording media that incorporates an image sensor that receives light. Even when the exposure is the same, images differ depending on the ISO sensitivity. To adjust the ISO sensitivity, see page 39.

High ISO sensitivity

Records a bright image even when shooting in a dark location. However, the image tends to become noisy.

Low ISO sensitivity

Records a smoother image. However, when the exposure is insufficient, the image may become darker.

ControlBasic techniques for better images

Color

On the effects of lighting

The apparent color of the subject is affected by the lighting conditions.

Example: The color of an image affected by light sources

Weather/lighting

Characteristics of light

Daylight Cloudy Fluorescent Incandescent

White (standard) Bluish Green-tinged Reddish

The color tones are adjusted automatically in the auto adjustment mode. However, you can adjust color tones manually with [White Bal] (page 57).

Quality

On “image quality” and “image size”

A digital image is made up of a collection of small dots called pixels. If it contains a large number of pixels, the picture becomes large, it takes up more memory, and the image is displayed in fine detail. “Image size” is shown by the number of pixels. Although you cannot see the differences on the screen of the camera, the fine detail and data processing time differ when the image is printed or displayed on a computer screen.

Description of the pixels and the image size

1 Image size: 8M

3264 pixels × 2448 pixels = 7,990,272 pixels

2 Image size: VGA

Pixels

640 pixels × 480 pixels = 307,200 pixels

Selecting the image size for use (page 13)

Pixel

Many pixels (Fine image quality and large file size)

Few pixels (Rough image quality but small file size)

Example: Printing in up to A3 size

Example: An attached image to be sent by email

ControlBasic techniques for better images

The default settings are marked with .

Image size

8M (3264×2448) For prints up to A3 (11×17") Less

(3264×2176) Shoot in 3:2 aspect ratio

3:2

5M (2592×1944) For prints up to A4 (8.5× 11")

3M (2048×1536) For prints up to 10×15 cm (4×6")

VGA (640×480) Shoot at a small image size for

16:9

(1920×1080) Shoot in HDTV aspect ratio

1) Images are recorded in 3:2 aspect ratio, same as photograph printing paper or postcards, etc.

2) Both edges of the image may be cut off when printing (page 122).

Movie image size Frame/Second Usage guidelines

Guidelines No. of images Printing

or 13×18 cm (5×7")

e-mail attachment

640(Fine) (640×480) Approx. 30 Shoot high quality movie for display on TV

640(Standard) (640×480) Approx. 17 Shoot standard quality movie for display on

320 (320×240) Approx. 8 Shoot at a small size for email attachment

• The larger the image size, the higher the image quality.

• The more frames per second you played back, the smoother playback can be.

Fine

Rough

ControlBasic techniques for better images

Flash

On using the flash

The eyes of the subject may come out red, or fuzzy white circular spots may appear when using the flash. These phenomena can be reduced by taking the following steps.

The “Red-eye phenomenon”

This is caused by the reflection of flash light off the blood vessels of the retina of the subjects eyes because the pupils of the subjects eyes are wide open in a dark place.

Camera Eye

Retina

How can the “Red-eye phenomenon” be reduced?

• Set [Red Eye Reduction] to [On] (page 59).

• Select (High Sensitivity mode)* in Scene Selection (page 32). (The flash is turned off automatically.)

• When the eyes of the subject turns out red, correct the image with [Retouch] on the viewing menu (page 65) or with the supplied software “Picture Motion Browser”.

“White circular spots”

This is caused by particles (dust, pollen, etc.) in the air, which when they are close to the lens, can be accentuated by the camera's flash.

Camera

Particles (dust, pollen, etc.) in

the air

How can “White circular spots” be reduced?

• Light the room and shoot the subject without a flash.

• Select (High Sensitivity mode)* in Scene Selection. (The flash is turned off automatically.)

* Even though you selected (High Sensitivity mode) in Scene Selection, the shutter speed might be

slower under low-light conditions, or in a dark place. In that case, use a tripod or hold your shooting arm firmly at your side after pressing the shutter button.

Subject

Identifying parts

See the pages in parentheses for details of operation.

DSC-H9 only

A POWER button/POWER lamp B Mode dial (26) C Shutter button (27) D Remote sensor E AF illuminator (78)/Self-timer lamp

(29)

F Lens G Flash (29) H Finder adjustment dial

• When you select with the FINDER/LCD button to shoot by using the finder, adjust the finder adjustment dial to match your eyesight so the image appears clearly within the finder.

I Hook for shoulder strap J Multi connector

Used in the following situations:

• Making a USB connection between the camera and the computer.

• Making a connection to audio/video input jacks on a TV.

• Making a connection to a PictBridge compliant printer.

DSC-H9 only

K /BRK button (53) L (Metering mode) button (56) M NIGHTSHOT switch

Identifying parts

A Finder B (Playback) button (43) C FINDER/LCD button D LCD screen (24)

DSC-H9 only

• You can adjust the angle of the LCD panel to meet various shooting situation.

E MENU button (49) F Control button (inside)/Wheel dial

(outside) (35) Menu on: v/V/b/B/z (49) Menu off: DISP/ / / (24, 29)

G HOME button (47) H Microphone I For shooting: Zoom (W/T) button (28)

For viewing: / (Playback zoom) button/ (Index) button (43, 44)

J DC IN jack/DC IN jack cover

When using an AC-LS5K AC Adaptor (not supplied)

1 To DC IN jack

v mark

2 To wall outlet

• You cannot charge the battery pack by connecting your camera to the AC-LS5K AC Adaptor. Use the battery charger to charge the battery pack.

K Hook for shoulder strap L Speaker M Battery/“Memory Stick Duo” cover N Tripod receptacle (bottom)

• Use a tripod with a screw length of less than

5.5 mm (7/32 inch). You will be unable to firmly secure the camera to tripods having screws longer than 5.5 mm (7/32 inch), and may damage the camera.

O Battery insertion slot P Battery eject lever Q “Memory Stick Duo” slot R Access lamp

Identifying parts

Remote Control

A Transmitter B HOME button (47) C SLIDE SHOW button (62)

• You can enjoy the slide show by pressing this button.

D MENU button (49) E SHUTTER button (27)

• Cannot press halfway down.

F For shooting: Zoom (W/T) button (28)

For viewing: / (Playback zoom) button/ (Index) button (43, 44)

• You cannot zoom in fast even if you press the zoom button of the Remote Control fully.

G Control button

Menu on: v/V/b/B/z (49) Menu off: DISP/ / / (24, 29)

Notes

• Remove the insulation sheet before using the Remote Control.

Insulation sheet

• Point the Remote Control towards the remote sensor to operate your camera (page 15).

To change the battery of the Remote Control

1 While pressing on the tab, inset your

fingernail into the slit to pull out the battery case.

2 Place a new battery with the + side facing

up.

3 Insert the battery case back into the

Remote Control until it clicks.

Ta b

• The Remote Control has a button type lithium battery (CR2025) built in. Do not use batteries other than CR2025.

Identifying parts

Lens hood/Adaptor ring

A Lens hood B Adaptor ring

Attaching the lens hood

When you shoot in bright lighting conditions, such as outdoors, we recommend that you use the lens hood to reduce the image quality deterioration caused by unnecessary light.

1 Attach the adaptor ring while the power is

off.

3 Turn the lens hood and position the

indicator to the indicator of the position ring until it clicks. While doing this, hold and fix the indicator of the adaptor ring to not turn.

• You can attach the lens cap with the lens hood

attached.

• When using the lens hood, be careful that the

following: – The AF illuminator light may be blocked. – The infrared light of Night Shot may be

blocked. (DSC-H9 only)

– The flash light may be blocked, causing the

shadow to appear when using the built-in flash.

– The Remote sensor may be blocked, and the

Remote Control may not operate correctly.

2 Turn the position ring and position the

indicator of the adaptor ring to the indicator of this camera, as illustrated below.

Indicators

Position ring

Identifying parts

Storing the lens hood

The lens hood can be attached in the reverse direction to store it with the camera when it is not in use. Position the lens hood as shown below and turn the lens hood clockwise until it clicks.

Attaching a conversion lens (not supplied)

When you want to do enhanced wide-angle shots or zoom-in shots on distant objects, attach a conversion lens.

1 Attach the adaptor ring. 2 Attach a conversion lens.

• When shooting with the conversion lens, go through the settings of [Conversion Lens] (page 80).

• For details, see the operating instructions supplied with your conversion lens.

Indicators on the screen

Each time you press v (DISP) button, the display changes (page 24). See the pages in parentheses for details of operation.

When shooting still images

When shooting movies

Display Indication

Battery remaining

P S A M Mode dial (26)

Low battery warning (125)

Image size

Mode dial/Menu (Scene Selection)

Night Shot (34) (DSC-H9 only)

(51)

(31)

Display Indication

Recording mode (53)

BRK

±1.0

Metering mode (56)

SteadyShot

Self-timer (29)

Contrast (60)

Sharpness (60)

White balance (57)

Face Detection (52)

(60)

Vibration warning

• Indicates vibration may prevent you from shooting clear images due to insufficient lighting. Even if the vibration warning appears, you can still shoot images. However, we recommend that you turn on the anti-blur function, using the flash for better lighting or using a tripod or other means to stabilize the camera (page 9).

Zoom scaling (

Color mode

(55)

28, 79)

Indicators on the screen

Display Indication

z AE/AF lock (27)

Standby REC

ISO400 ISO number (39)

125 Shutter speed

F3.5 Aperture value

+2.0EV Exposure Value

00:00:12 Recording time

AF range finder frame

9 Manual focus (42)

z SET z OK

MOVE

Standby a movie/Recording a movie

NR slow shutter

• When the shutter speed drops below a certain speed in low light conditions, the NR (Noise Reduction) slow shutter function activates automatically to reduce the picture noise.

(40)

indicator

(29)

Macro

Operation guide for shooting image

Manual focus bar (42)

(40)

Display Indication

Recording Media

Recording folder

• This does not appear when using internal memory.

96 Remaining number of

00:00:00 Remaining recordable time

Flash mode (29)

Conversion lens (80)

REAR Flash synchro (81)

recordable images

AF illuminator

Red-eye reduction (59)

Flash charging

(72)

(78)

Display Indication

C:32:00 Self-diagnosis display

(125)

Self-timer (29)

Spot metering cross hair

(56)

AF range finder frame (40)

Histogram (24)

Indicators on the screen

When playing back still images

When playing back movies

Display Indication

Battery remaining

VOL. Vo l u m e (43)

Image size

Protect (67)

Print order (DPOF) mark

(51)

(111)

PictBridge connecting

(109)

Zoom scaling (43)

PictBridge connecting

(110)

• Do not disconnect the cable

for multi-use terminal while the icon is displayed.

Display Indication

N Playback (43)

Playback bar

00:00:12 Counter

101-0012 Folder-file number

2007 1 1 9:30 AM

z PLAY z STOP

BACK/

Recorded date/time of the playback image

Operation guide for playing image

Select images

NEXT V VOLUME

Adjust volume

Histogram

• appears when histogram

(24)

display is disabled.

(69)

Indicators on the screen

Display Indication

Playback Media

Playback folder

• This does not appear when using internal memory.

8/8 12/12 Image number/Number of

Change folder

Metering mode (56)

Flash

images recorded in selected folder

• This does not appear when using internal memory.

White balance

(69)

(57)

C:32:00 Self-diagnosis display

(125)

ISO400 ISO number (39)

+2.0EV Exposure Value (40)

500 Shutter speed

F3.5 Aperture value

Changing the screen display

v (DISP) (Screen display button) button

Each time you press the v (DISP) button, the display changes as follows.

Brightness of LCD backlight up

Histogram on

During playback, the image information is displayed.

Histogram display

Indicators off

Indicators on

(page 24)

• If you view images in bright outside light, adjust the brightness of the LCD backlight up. However, the battery power may decrease faster under such condition.

• The display becomes Histogram on t Indicators off t Indicators on when connected to a TV (page 85).

• The histogram does not appear in the following situations: While shooting

– When the menu is displayed. – When recording movies During playback – When the menu is displayed. – In index mode – When you are using playback zoom. – When you are rotating still images. – During playback of movies

• A large difference in the histogram displayed when shooting and during playback may occur when:

– The flash strobes. – The shutter speed is slow or fast.

• The histogram may not appear for images recorded using other cameras.

z Adjusting EV (Exposure Value) by

displaying a histogram

BrightDark

A histogram is a graph showing the brightness of an image. Adjust the mode dial to settings other than , and press v (DISP) repeatedly to display the histogram inside the screen. The graph display indicates a bright image when skewed to the right side, and a dark image when skewed to the left side.

A Number of pixels B Brightness

• The histogram also appears when playing back a single image, but you cannot adjust the exposure.

Using the internal memory

The camera has approximately 31 MB of internal memory. This memory is not removable. Even when there is no “Memory Stick Duo” inserted in the camera, you can record images using this internal memory.

• Movies with the image size set to [640(Fine)] cannot be recorded using the internal memory.

When a “Memory Stick Duo” is inserted

[Recording]: Images are recorded on the “Memory Stick Duo”.

[Playback]: Images on the “Memory Stick Duo” are played back.

On image data stored in the internal memory

We recommend that you copy (back up) data without error using one of the following methods.

To copy (back up) data on a “Memory Stick Duo”

Prepare a “Memory Stick Duo” with a capacity of 64 MB or more, then perform the procedure explained in [Copy] (page 73).

To copy (back up) data on a hard disk of your computer

Perform the procedure on pages 91 to 93 without a “Memory Stick Duo” inserted in the camera.

Internal memory

[Menu, Settings, etc.]: Various functions can be

performed on images on the “Memory Stick Duo”.

When there is no “Memory Stick Duo” inserted

[Recording]: Images are recorded using the internal memory.

[Playback]: Images stored in the internal memory are played back.

[Menu, Settings, etc.]: Various functions can be performed on images in the internal memory.

• You cannot copy image data on a “Memory Stick Duo” to the internal memory.

• By connecting the camera and a computer with a cable for multi-use terminal, you can copy data stored in the internal memory to a computer. However you cannot copy data on a computer to the internal memory.

Basic Operations

Using the mode dial

Set the mode dial to the desired function.

Control button

: Auto Adjustment mode for Still Image

Allows easy shooting with the settings adjusted automatically (page 27).

P: Program Auto*

Allows you to shoot with the exposure adjusted automatically (both the shutter speed and the aperture value) (page 36).

S: Shutter Speed Priority Shooting*

Allows you to shoot after adjusting the shutter speed manually (page 37).

A: Aperture Priority Shooting*

Allows you to shoot after adjusting the aperture value manually (page 38).

M: Manual Exposure Shooting*

Allows you to shoot after adjusting the exposure manually (both the shutter speed and the aperture value) (page 38).

Mode dial

: Movie recording mode

Allows you to record movies with audio (page 27).

/ / / / /SCN ( ): Scene Selection mode

Allows you to shoot with preset settings according to the scene (page 31).

*You can select various setting using the menu. (For details on the functions available t page 50)

Shooting images easily (Auto Adjustment mode)

Mode dial

Finder

FINDER/LCD button

Zoom button

MENU button

HOME button

Shutter button

Macro button

z button

Control button

1 Select the desired function from the mode dial.

When shooting still images (Auto Adjustment mode): Select .

When shooting movies: Select .

2 Hold the camera steady, keeping your arm at your side.

DISP button

Flash button

Self-timer button

v/V/b/B button

Position the subject in the center of the focus frame.

Basic Operations

3 Shoot with the shutter button.

When shooting still images:

1Press and hold the shutter button halfway down to focus.

The z (AE/AF lock) indicator (green) flashes, a beep sounds, the indicator stops flashing and remains lit.

Shooting images easily (Auto Adjustment mode)

2Press the shutter button fully down.

AE/AF lock indicator

When shooting movies:

Press the shutter button fully down. To stop recording, press the shutter button fully down again.

If you shoot a still image of a subject that is difficult to focus on

• The shortest shooting distance is approx. 50 cm (19 3/4 inches) (W)/120 cm (3 feet 11 1/4 inches) (T).

Shoot in the close-up (Macro) mode when you shoot a subject closer than the shooting distance (page 29).

• When the camera cannot focus on the subject automatically, the AE/AF lock indicator changes to flashing

slowly and the beep does not sound. In addition, the AF range finder frame disappears. Recompose the shot and focus again.

Subjects difficult to focus on are:

– Distant from the camera and dark – The contrast between the subject and its background is poor. – Seen through glass – Moving fast – Reflective light or with a lustrous finish – Flashing – Backlit

W/T Using the zoom

Press T to zoom, press W to undo the zoom. Pressing the button slightly zooms slowly and pressing the button fully down zooms fast.

• When the zoom scale exceeds 15×, the camera uses the Digital Zoom function.

For details on the [Digital Zoom] settings and the image quality, see page 79.

• Even if you press the button fully down, the camera zooms slowly while shooting a movie.

Shooting images easily (Auto Adjustment mode)

Flash (Selecting a flash mode for still images)

Press B ( ) on the control button repeatedly until the desired mode is selected.

(No indicator): Flash Auto

Strobes when there is insufficient light or backlight (default setting).

: Flash forced on

: Slow synchro (Flash forced on)

The shutter speed is slow in a dark place to clearly shoot the background that is out of flash light.

: Flash forced off

• The flash automatically pops up and strobes. Close the flash by hand after use.

• The flash strobes twice. The first time is to adjust the light quantity.

• While charging the flash, is displayed.

Macro (Shooting close-up)

Press b ( ) on the control button repeatedly until the desired mode is selected.

(No indicator): Macro Off

: Macro On (W side: Approx. 1 cm or farther (13/32 inches or farther), T side: Approx. 120 cm or farther

(3 feet 11 1/4 inches or farther))

Macro

• Setting the zoom all the way to the W side is recommended.

• The in-focus range becomes narrow, and the complete subject may not entirely be in focus.

• The Auto Focus speed drops when you shoot images in the Macro.

Using the self-timer

Press V ( ) on the control button repeatedly until the desired mode is selected.

Basic Operations

(No indicator): Not using the self-timer

: Setting the 10-second delay self-timer : Setting the 2-second delay self-timer

Press the shutter button, the self-timer lamp flashes, and a beep sounds until the shutter operates.

Shooting images easily (Auto Adjustment mode)

Self-timer lamp

To cancel, press V ( ) again.

• Use the 2-second delay self-timer to prevent blur of an image made by the shaking of the

camera when pressing the shutter button.

Adjusting the angle of the LCD screen

You can adjust the angle of the LCD screen.

• Forcing the LCD screen to move over the range of movement may cause malfunction.

+ 107 hidden pages

Sony DSC-H7, DSC-H9 Handbook

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Notes on using your camera

Table of contents

ControlBasic techniques for better images

Focus

Exposure

Color

Quality

Flash

Identifying parts

Indicators on the screen

Changing the screen display

Using the internal memory

Basic Operations

Using the mode dial

Shooting images easily (Auto Adjustment mode)