Book Description David Busch's Sony a77 II Guide to Digital Photography is your all-in-one comprehensive resource and reference for the Sony a77 II camera. This advanced Sony model features a new autofocus sensor with an industry-leading 79 AF points, and lightning fast tracking. It can capture 24-megapixel images at a blazing fast 12 fps or shoot 1080p high-definition movies with stereo sound. With this book in hand, you will explore the world of digital photography, develop your creativity, and take great photographs with your a77 II. Filled with detailed how-to steps and full-color illustrations, David Busch's Sony a77 II Guide to Digital Photography covers all the camera's features in depth, from taking your first photos through advanced details of setup, exposure, lens selection, lighting, and more, and relates each feature to specific photographic techniques and situations. Also included is the handy a77 II "roadmap," an easy-to-use visual guide to the camera's features and controls. Learn when to use each option and, more importantly, when not to use them, by following the author’s recommended settings for every menu entry. With best-selling photographer and mentor David Busch as your guide, you'll quickly have full creative mastery of your camera’s capabilities, whether you're shooting on the job, as an advanced enthusiast, or are just out for fun. Start building your knowledge and confidence, while bringing your vision to light with the Sony a77 II today. Show and hide more
Table of Contents
Cover Title Copyright Dedication Acknowledgments About the Author Contents Preface Introduction Chapter 1 Getting Started with Your Sony a77 II Your Out-of-Box Experience Initial Setup Battery Included Final Steps Formatting a Memory Card Selecting a Shooting Mode Choosing a Metering Mode Choosing a Focus Mode Selecting a Focus Point Other Settings Adjusting White Balance and ISO Using the Self-Timer Using the Built-In Flash An Introduction to Movie Making Reviewing the Images You’ve Taken Transferring Photos to Your Computer Software Chapter 2 Sony a77 II Roadmap Front View The Sony a77 II’s Business End What You See, and What You Get LCD vs. EVF Choosing Your View Swiveling the Screen Going Topside Underneath Your Sony a77 II Lens Components Chapter 3 Camera Settings Menu Anatomy of the Menus Camera Settings Menu Image Size Aspect Ratio Quality Panorama: Size Panorama: Direction File Format Record Setting Drive Mode Flash Mode Flash Compensation Flash Control Power Ratio Red Eye Reduction AF-A Setup Focus Area AF Illuminator AF Drive Speed AF Track Duration (Still Photos) AF Track Duration (Movies) Exposure Compensation Exposure Step ISO Metering Mode White Balance DRO/Auto HDR Creative Style Picture Effect Zoom Focus Magnifier Long Exposure. NR/High ISO NR Center Lock-on AF Smile/Face Detect Soft Skin Effect Auto Object Framing Auto Mode Scene Selection Movie SteadyShot (Still Photos) SteadyShot (Movies) Color Space Auto Slow Shutter Audio Recording Audio Recording Level Audio Out Timing Wind Noise Reduction Memory Chapter 4 Custom Settings, Playback, and Setup Menus Custom Settings Menu Zebra Focus Magnifier Time Grid Line Audio Level Display Auto Review DISP Button Peaking Level Peaking Color Exposure Settings Guide Live View Display AF Range Control Assist AF Area Auto Clear AF Area Points Flexible Spot Points Wide AF Area Display Zoom Setting Eye-Start AF FINDER/MONITOR Release w/o Lens Priority Setup AF w/ Shutter AEL w/Shutter SteadyShot w/ Shutter e-Front Curtain Shutter Superior Auto Exp. Comp. Set Bracket Order Face Registration AF Micro Adjustment Lens Compensation Function Menu Set Custom Key Settings Dial Setup Dial Ev Comp MOVIE Button Dial Lock Playback Menu Delete View Mode Image Index Display Rotation Slide Show Rotate Enlarge Image 4K Still Image Playback Protect Specify Printing Setup Menu Monitor Brightness Viewfinder Brightness Finder Color Temperature Volume Settings Audio Signals Upload Settings Tile Menu Mode Dial Guide Delete Confirm Power Save Start Time Cleaning Mode Demo Mode Remote Control HDMI Settings USB Connection USB LUN Setting Language Date/Time Setup Area Setting Format File Number Select REC Folder New Folder Folder Name Recover Image Database Display Media Information Version Setting Reset Chapter 5 Shooting Modes and Exposure Control Getting a Handle on Exposure Equivalent Exposure How the a77 II Calculates Exposure Correctly Exposed Overexposed Underexposed Metering Mid-Tones The Importance of ISO Choosing a Metering Method Choosing an Exposure Mode Aperture Priority (A) Mode Shutter Priority (S) Mode Program Auto (P) Mode Making Exposure Value Changes Manual Exposure (M) Mode Exposure Bracketing Using Dynamic Range Optimizer Working with HDR Auto HDR Bracketing and Merge to HDR Exposure Evaluation with Histograms Tonal Range Histogram Basics Understanding Histograms Automatic and Specialized Shooting Modes Auto and Scene Modes Sweep Panorama Mode Dealing with Digital Noise High ISO Noise Chapter 6 Mastering Autofocus Options Getting into Focus Phase Detection Contrast Detection Adding Circles of Confusion Components of Autofocus Focus Modes—Begin/Stop Area to Focus On Lock-On, Object Detection, and Tracking Manual Focus Focus Peaking Autofocus Summary Focus Stacking Chapter 7 Advanced Techniques for Your Sony a77 II Exploring Ultra-Fast Exposures Long Exposures Three Ways to Take Long Exposures Working with Long Exposures Continuous Shooting Continuous Advance Priority AE Setting Image Parameters Customizing White Balance Setting White Balance by Color Temperature Setting a Custom White Balance Image Processing Using Creative Styles Picture Effects Chapter 8 Shooting Movies Basic Settings File Format Record Setting Exposure Settings Movie Zebra Auto Slow Shutter Audio Settings Audio Recording Audio Recording Level Audio Out Timing Wind Noise Reduction Other Settings AF Track Duration (Movies) SteadyShot Recording Video Steps During Movie Making Tips for Shooting Better Video Stop That! Lens Craft Keep Things Stable and on the Level Shooting Script Storyboards Storytelling in Video Composition Lighting for Video Audio Chapter 9 Working with Lenses But Don’t Forget the Crop Factor Sony’s Alpha-bet Soup Lens Mounts and Motors Your First Lens Buy Now, Expand Later Your Second (and Third . . .) Lens Your Wide Angle/Normal Options Longer Lenses What Lenses Can Do for You Zoom or Prime? Categories of Lenses Using Wide-Angle and Wide-Zoom Lenses Avoiding Potential Wide-Angle Problems Using Telephoto and Tele-Zoom Lenses Avoiding Telephoto Lens Problems Telephotos and Bokeh Add-ons and Special Features Lens Hoods Telephoto Extenders Macro Focusing Using the Lensbaby SteadyShot and Your Lenses Fine-Tuning the Focus of Your Lenses Lens Tune-Up Chapter 10 Making Light Work for You The Elements of Light Continuous Lighting—or Electronic Flash? Continuous Lighting Basics Daylight Incandescent/Tungsten Light Fluorescent Light/Other Light Sources Adjusting White Balance Electronic Flash Basics How Electronic Flash Works Using the Built-In Flash Setting Flash Modes Flash Exposure Compensation Flash Control Red Eye Reduction Using the External Electronic Flash HVL-F60M Flash Unit HVL-F58AM Flash Unit HVL-F43M Flash Unit HVL-F36AM Flash Unit HVL-F20AM Flash Unit Wireless and Multiple Flash Channels Groups (RMT and RMT2) More Advanced Lighting Techniques Diffusing and Softening the Light Using Multiple Light Sources Other Lighting Accessories Chapter 11 Using Wi-Fi and NFC Making a Wi-Fi Connection Using WPS Push Registering Manually Wi-Fi Settings Wi-Fi Functions Sending Photos to a Smart Device Wi-Fi Transfer to a Computer Viewing Images on a TV Near Field Communications (NFC)