Sony NEX-7, NEX-7 B, NEX-7K, NEX-7K B Instruction Manual

Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera

Instruction Manual

Parts and controls

Triple-dial-control

Custom key assignment

AF/MF button/AEL button

Operations

E-mount

NEX-7

Others

Table of contents

This [Operations] describes basic operation of the camera, and some advanced operations using the major functions. See [Getting Started] for information on how to set up the camera, and the [Handbook] on the CD-ROM (supplied) for more detailed functions and operations.

Getting Started Handbook

Operations

(This manual)

Parts and controls

Recording........................................................................... 5

Playback............................................................................. 7

Setup .................................................................................. 8

Triple-dial-control

Triple-dial-control operation ............................................. 10

Functions of the control dials ........................................... 12

Settings modes available................................................. 13

Custom key assignment

Assigning the functions to the custom keys..................... 22

Functions that can be assigned ....................................... 23

AF/MF button/AEL button

Switching the focusing mode with the AF/MF button ....... 27

Locking the AE with AEL button ....................................... 28

Others

Menu list............................................................................ 30

The unique digital shooting functions............................... 39

α Handbook...................................................................... 42

Restriction of the functions ............................................... 43

Number of recordable images.......................................... 46

List of icons on the screen ................................................ 49

Troubleshooting................................................................ 52

Specifications ................................................................... 53

Index................................................................................. 56

Parts and controls

All the major parts of your camera, and controls and buttons that are used for recording, playback, and setups are described here.

Recording

Navigation button

Selects the adjustment settings for the Triple-dial-control operation.

Control dial R

Sets the items that appear at the top right of the screen.

Control dial L

Sets the items that appear at the top left of the screen.

ON/OFF (Power) switch

Turns on the camera at ON, off the camera at OFF.

Parts and controls

Shutter button

Shoots still images. Allows you to focus on the subject when it is pressed half way down.

Zoom ring

Zooms in or out the subject (when a zoom lens is used).

(Flash pop-up) button*

Pops up the built-in flash. Press the button when you want to fire the flash. Push the flash down to retract it when you do not want to fire the flash (page 44).

MOVIE button

Records movies. Pressing this button again stops recording (page 41).

AF/MF button/AEL button

At AF/MF, the focusing mode switches between auto and manual while the button is held down (page 27). At AEL, AE is locked while the button is held down (page 28).

button

Selects the drive mode.

button

Compensates for the exposure.

* Be careful as the flash pops up when you press the button. Retract the flash when

you are not using it. Be careful not to pinch your finger when you push the flash down.

DISP button

Switches the screen display.

Control wheel

Sets the items that appear to the right of the screen. Turn the control wheel.

Playback

(Playback) button

Switches between the shooting mode and the playback mode.

DISP button

Switches the screen display.

button

Displays the image index.

(Delete) button

Deletes the image when is displayed at the lower right corner of the screen.

Control wheel

Selects the image.

(Enlarge Image) button

Enlarges the image on the screen when it is pressed while is displayed at the center on the right side of the screen. Turning the control wheel adjusts the scaling.

Parts and controls

Setup

Soft key A

Activates the function displayed at the upper right corner of the screen.

Soft key C

Activates the function displayed at the center on the right side of the screen.

Navigation button

Selects the adjustment settings for the Triple-dialcontrol operation.

Control dial L

Sets the items that appear at the top left of the screen.

Control dial R

Sets the items that appear at the top right of the screen.

Control wheel

Sets the items that appear to the right of the screen. Turn the control wheel.

Soft key B

Activates the function displayed at the lower right corner of the screen.

Triple-dial-control

The Triple-dial-control allows you to adjust the various shooting settings quickly and intuitively, using the 3 dials and the Navigation button.

Triple-dial-control operation

The Triple-dial-control allows you to adjust or set various shooting adjustment items, simultaneously, on a single screen. Even though you can set these functions separately on the menu screen, using the Triple-dial-control, you can adjust these functions interactively on the same screen.

Navigation button

Items to be set by turning the control wheel

Items to be set by turning the control dial R

Items to be set by turning the control dial L

Press the center of the control

wheel, and turn it to select a shooting mode from P, A, S, or M.

When [Soft key C Setting] is set to [Custom], select a shooting mode by MENU t [Shoot Mode].

Press the Navigation button to select the desired settings.

Set each settings by turning the control dials L/R and the

control wheel.

z Navigation button

Each time you press the button, the item toggles as follows.

Exposure Settings

Focus Settings

White Balance Settings

D-Range Settings

Creative Style Settings

Preventing the dials from operating incorrectly

You can lock the control dials L/R and the control wheel.

Hold the Navigation button down.

To unlock them, hold the Navigation button down again. You can set to lock the control wheel only, or not to lock any of them by selecting MENU t [Setup] t [Dial/Wheel Lock].

In addition, [Picture Effect Settings] and [Custom Settings] are available. You can select the settings you want to use by selecting MENU t [Setup] t [Function Settings]. The Exposure Settings is permanent and cannot be altered.

Triple-dial-control

Functions of the control dials

The control dials and the control wheel have different tasks, depending on the “Settings” currently in effect. See “Settings modes available” (pages 13 to 20) for more details.

Control dial L Control dial R Control wheel

Exposure Settings* Shutter speed/

Focus Settings (AF mode)

Focus Settings (MF mode)

White Balance Settings

D-Range Settings DRO level/HDR

Creative Style Settings

Picture Effect Settings**

Custom Settings** Custom Settings 1

* Permanent item ** This item cannot be selected in the default setting. You can add it by MENU t

[Setup] t [Function Settings].

Aperture/Program shift

Focus area Flexible spot

Enlarging position (up/down)

Mode/Color temperature

level

Mode Option Option

Mode Option –

mode

Aperture/ Exposure compensation

position (right/ left)

Enlarging position (right/left)

Color temperature (B-A)

Exposure compensation

Custom Settings 2 mode

ISO

Flexible spot position (up/ down)

Enlarging position (up/down)

Color temperature (G-M)

Mode

Custom Settings 3 mode

Settings modes available

What you can set with each Settings mode are described here.

indicates the default setting.

Exposure Settings

Shooting mode Control dial L Control dial R Control wheel

Manual Exposure Shutter speed Aperture ISO

Shutter Priority Shutter speed Exposure

compensation

Aperture Priority Aperture Exposure

compensation

Program Auto Program shift Exposure

compensation

• You can set the exposure compensation by turning the control dial R when [Anti Motion Blur], [Sweep Panorama], or [3D Sweep Panorama] is selected.

Focus Settings (AF mode)

Set [Autofocus Area].

In [Flexible Spot], move the area right or left.

In [Flexible Spot], turn it to move the area up or down, and press the top/bottom/right/left to finely adjust the area.

ISO

Triple-dial-control

Control dial L

(Multi) The camera uses the 25 AF areas and focuses

(Center) The camera uses the AF area located in the center

(Flexible Spot) Moves the focusing area to focus on a small subject

automatically.

• When the Face Detection function is active, AF operates with priority on faces.

area exclusively.

or narrow area. Press soft key B to bring the focusing area back to the center.

Focus Settings (MF mode)

You can set the enlarged position for manual focusing.

Move the enlarged position up or down. Move the enlarged position right or left.

Move the enlarged position up or down. Press the top/bottom/right/left to finely adjust the position.

You can adjust the scaling with soft key B or C.

White Balance Settings

Set the mode.

Adjust the color between B (blue) and A (amber).

Adjust the color between G (green) and M (magenta).

Control dial L

AWB (Auto WB) The camera automatically detects a light source and

(Daylight) If you select an option to suit a specific light source,

(Shade)

(Cloudy)

(Incandescent)

(Fluor.: Warm

White)

(Fluor.: Cool

White)

(Fluor.: Day

White)

(Fluor.:

Daylight)

(Flash)

(C.Temp./Filter) Adjusts the color temperature depending on the light

(Custom) Allows to use the white balance setting retained by

adjusts the color temperature.

the color temperature is adjusted for the light source (preset white balance).

source. Achieves the effect of CC (Color Compensation) filters for photography. To select a color temperature, press soft key B followed by turning the control dial L.

[Custom Setup].

z Setting the custom white balance

Selecting [Custom] with the control dial L and pressing soft key B will display the [Custom Setup] screen. Hold the camera so that the white area fully covers the AF area located in the center, and then press the shutter button down. The calibrated values are stored for later use.

Triple-dial-control

D-Range Settings

This figure shows the histogram before the D-Range Optimizer or the Auto HDR was applied, not that of the image that will actually be shot.

Control wheel

(Off) Does not use [DRO/Auto HDR].

(D-Range

Opt.)

(Auto HDR) Shoots 3 images with different exposures, and then

Control dial L

AUTO, Lv1 – Lv5 (D-Range Opt.)

AUTO, 1.0 EV – 6.0 EV (Auto HDR)

By dividing the image into small areas, the camera analyzes the contrast of light and shadow between the subject and the background, producing the image with the optimal brightness and gradation.

overlays the bright area of the under exposed image and the dark area of the over exposed image to create an image with rich gradation. 1 image with proper exposure and 1 overlaid image are recorded.

Using the D-Range Optimizer, optimizes the gradations of a recorded image in each area of the image. Select the optimal level between Lv1 (weak) and Lv5 (strong). Automatically adjusted at [AUTO].

Using the Auto HDR, sets the exposure difference, based on the contrast of the subject. Select the optimal level between 1.0 EV (weak) and 6.0 EV (strong). Automatically adjusted at [AUTO].

Set the optimum level.

Set the exposure compensation value (–5.0 EV to +5.0 EV).

Set the mode.

z To use the D-Range Settings effectively

By combining the DRO/Auto HDR manual setting (exposure difference/ DRO-Level) and the exposure compensation, you can control the range of the contrast of light and shadow (gradations) to be reproduced. With DRO, set a DRO-Level to reproduce the shadow side, and set a minus value of exposure compensation to reproduce the light side. A large minus compensation and DRO-Level setting may cause noise. It is recommended that you check the result first, by enlarging the playback image, etc. With Auto HDR, set the exposure difference to adjust the overall reproduction range, and shift the range towards light side (minus compensation) or shadow side (plus compensation) with the exposure compensation.

Creative Style Settings

Set the mode.

Adjust the contrast, saturation, or sharpness.

Select the contrast, saturation, or sharpness.

Control dial L

(Standard) For shooting various scenes with rich gradation and

beautiful colors.

(Vivid) The saturation and contrast are heightened for

shooting striking images of colorful scenes and subjects such as flowers, spring greenery, blue sky, or ocean views.

(Neutral) The saturation and sharpness are lowered for

capturing images in a quiet tone. This is also suitable for capturing image material to be modified with a computer.

Triple-dial-control

(Clear) For capturing images in a clear tone with limpid

(Deep) For capturing images with deep and dense color

(Light) For capturing images with bright and uncomplicated

(Portrait) For shooting the skin color in a soft tone, ideally

(Landscape) The saturation, contrast, and sharpness are

(Sunset) For shooting the beautiful red of the setting sun.

(Night

Scene)

(Autumn

leaves)

(Black &

White)

(Sepia) For capturing images in sepia monotone.

Control wheel

(Contrast) The higher the value selected, the more the

(Saturation) The higher the value selected, the more vivid the

(Sharpness) The higher the value selected, the more the contours

colors in the highlighted area, suitable for capturing radiant light.

expressions, suited to capturing the solid presence of the subject.

color expressions, suited to capturing refreshingly light ambience.

suited for shooting portraits.

heightened for shooting vivid and crisp scenery. Distant landscapes also stand out more.

The contrast is attenuated for capturing a nightscape that is more faithful to the real view.

For capturing autumn scenes, vividly highlighting the red and yellow of coloring leaves.

For shooting images in black and white monotone.

difference of light and shadow is accentuated, thus making an impact on an image.

color. When a lower value is selected, the color of the image is restrained and subdued.

are accentuated, and the lower the value selected, the more the contours are softened.

Picture Effect Settings

Set the mode.

Set the option.

Control dial L

(Off) Does not use the Picture Effect function.

(Toy Camera) Creates the look of a Toy Camera photo with shaded

(Pop Color) Creates a vivid look by emphasizing color tones.

(Posterization) Creates a high contrast, abstract look by heavily

(Retro Photo) Creates the look of an aged photo with sepia color

(Soft High-key) Creates an image with the indicated atmosphere:

(Partial Color) Creates an image which retains a specific color, but

(High Contrast

Mono.)

(Soft Focus) Creates an image filled with a soft lighting effect.

corners and pronounced colors. You can set the color tone with the control dial R.

emphasizing primary colors, or in black and white. You can select primary colors or black and white with the control dial R.

tones and faded contrast.

bright, transparent, ethereal, tender, soft.

converts others to black and white. You can select a color with the control dial R.

Creates a high-contrast image in black and white.

You can set the intensity of the effect with the control dial R.

Triple-dial-control

(HDR Painting) Creates the look of a painting, enhancing the colors

(Rich-tone

Mono.)

(Miniature) Creates an image which enhances the subject

and details. The camera releases the shutter 3 times. You can set the intensity of the effect with the control dial R.

Creates an image in black and whi te with rich gradation and reproduction of details. The camera releases the shutter 3 times.

vividly, with the background defocused considerably. This effect may often be found in pictures of miniature models. You can select the area to be in focus with the control dial R. The focus on other areas is greatly reduced.

Custom Settings

You can change the mode of the function assigned to [Custom Settings 1, 2, 3]. Assign the function by selecting MENU t [Setup] t [Function Settings] t [Custom Settings 1, 2, 3].

Change the mode of the function assigned to [Custom Settings 1]. The default setting is [White Balance].

Change the mode of the function assigned to [Custom Settings 2]. The default setting is [DRO/Auto HDR].

Change the mode of the function assigned to [Custom Settings 3]. The default setting is [Creative Style].

When [Creative Style] or [White Balance] is assigned to [Custom Settings 3], you can make a fine adjustment with soft key B.

+ 44 hidden pages