Main
4-420-756-11(1)
SLT-A57
Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera
Handbook A-mount
Table of Contents
Preparing the camera
Shooting and viewing images
Page
Shooting
Page
Playback
Setup of the camera
Computer
Print
Cleaning
Page
Page
Notes on using your camera
Shooting procedure
Notes on the functions available with the camera
No compensation for contents of the recording
Back up recommendation
Notes on importing AVCHD movies to a computer
Notes when playing movies on other devices
Warning on copyright
The pictures used in this manual
On the data specifications described in this manual
Preparing
the
camera
Identifying parts
Front side
Rear side
Top side
Sides/Bottom
Page
Lens
Charging the battery pack
1
the battery charger.
2
to the wall outlet (wall socket).
Inserting the battery pack/memory card (sold separately)
To remove the battery pack
To remove the memory card
To check the remaining battery level
5
6
Available memory cards
Attaching a lens
1
2
3
1
2
Note on changing the lens
Turning the camera on and setting the clock
1
2
3
4
5
6
Before shooting
Page
Shooting still images
1
2
3
4
5
6
Shooting and viewing images
Recording movies
1
2
start recording.
Playing back images
1
2
desired mode
3
Deleting images (Delete)
1
2
Shooting images to suit your subject
Adjusting the angle of the LCD screen
Adjust the LCD screen to an easily viewable angle.
Shooting with the various shooting modes
The following shooting modes are provided with the camera:
Set the mode dial to the desired mode.
Scene recognized by the camera
Shooting function
1 2
Scene Selection
1 2
control button.
To change the scene, press the Fn button, then select another scene.
Page
Continuous Advance Priority AE Mode
1 2
press the center z on the control button.
To change the mode, press the Fn button, then select an other mode.
3
The camera continues to shoot while the shutter button is pressed fully down.
Using the flash
1
2
3
charging, shoot the subject.
Using the shooting functions
Adjusting the brightness of the image
1 2
control dial.
Page
Selecting the drive mode
on the control button t Select the desired mode
Switching the recording information display (DISP)
Setting image size
MENU button t 1 t [Image Size] t Select the desired size
MENU button t 1 t [Panorama: Size] or [3D Pan. : Image Size] t Select the desired size
Image Size
Panorama: Size
Page
Using the playback functions
Enlarging images
1
2
3
Switching to the display of the image list
Viewing images on a TV screen
1
2
3
Functions list
Functions that can be operated with the buttons/switch
Selecting a function with the Fn (Function) button
Functions that can be selected with the Fn (Function) button
The functions that can be selected with the Fn button are as follows:
Page
The functions selected with the MENU button
Still shooting menu
Movie shooting menu
Custom menu
Page
Playback menu
Memory Card Tool menu
Clock setup menu Setup menu
Page
Using the guide function of the camera
In-Camera Guide
Shooting Tip
1
button when the recording information display is displayed.
Page
Viewing images on a computer
Using with your computer
Recommended computer environment (Windows)
Viewing images on a computer
Recommended computer environment (Mac)
Using the software
Log on as Administrator.
Installing the software (Windows)
1
the CD-ROM drive.
1
Using PlayMemories Home
2 3
4
Using Image Data Converter
Page
Selecting the method for creating a disc of movies
Creating a disc using a computer
Creating a disc with a device other than a computer
Viewing images on a computer
Others
List of icons on the screen
Graphic Display (LCD screen)
Display All Info. (LCD screen)
For playback (Basic information display)
Page
Page
Others
Functions available for each shooting
*When [Manual Exposure] is selected, this function is not available.
/
Flash modes available
/
Page
Setting up the camera
Removing the eyecup
The screen displayed for shooting
Histogram
MENU button t 2 t [Live View Display] t [Setting Effect OFF]
The digital level gauge
Monitoring the subject through the lens without effects displayed
List of icons for viewfinder mode
In Intelligent Auto, Superior Auto, or Scene Selection mode
In Cont. Priority AE Mode/ P/A/S/M mode
Preparation (Advanced operations)
Shooting a clear image without camera shake
MENU button t 3 or 1 t [SteadyShot] t Select the
Camera shake warning indicator
Using the SteadyShot function
Using a tripod
Shooting (Advanced operations)
Selecting the shooting mode
Superior Auto
Intelligent Auto/ Flash Off
Set the mode dial to (Scene Selection), select the desired mode, and shoot images (page 39).
Scene Selection
Page
Set the mode dial to (Sweep Panorama) or (3D Sweep Panorama), and shoot images (page 40).
Sweep Panorama/ 3D Sweep Panorama
compatible TV.
Page
MENU button t 1 t [Panorama: Direction] or [3D Pan.: Direction] t Select the desired setting
Set the mode dial to (Cont. Priority AE Mode), select the desired mode, and shoot images (page41).
Cont. Priority AE Mode
Program Auto
1 2
to 148).
Aperture Priority
1 2
number) with the control dial.
3
Shutter Priority
1
2
control dial.
3
Manual Exposure
1 2
3
exposure is set.
1
BULB
Page
Page
Movie recording setup
Press the MOVIE button to start recording (page 33).
Recording movies easily
Digital Zoom
Zoom factor of up to about 4 times is available.
1
2
the control button.
Recording movies with the shutter speed and aperture adjusted
1 2 3
File Format
4
5
Record Setting
The higher the average bit-rate, the higher the image quality.
MENU button t 1 t [Record Setting] t Select the desired size
[File Format]: [AVCHD]
Audio Recording
[File Format]: [MP4]
Page
Adjusting the focus
Autofocus
1
camera to AF.
2
3
down to check the focus and shoot the image.
Focus-lock
1
2
3
Fn button t (Autofocus Mode) t Select the desired setting
Autofocus Mode
Fn button t (AF area) t Select the desired setting
AF area
The AF illuminator
Object Tracking
1
2
3
MENU button t 4 t [Face Priority Tracking] t [On]
Manual focus
1
2
3
Peaking
Focus Magnifier
1
2
3
4
5
Detecting faces
Fn button t (Smile/Face Detect.) t Select the desired
Face Detection
Face Registration
1
2
3
MENU button t 4 t [Face Registration] t [Delete] t Select the face you want to delete
Fn button t (Auto Port. Framing) t Select the desired
Auto Port. Framing
When the camera detects a smile, the shutter is released automatically.
Smile Shutter
1
Normal Smile] t Select the desired Smile Detection Sensitivity mode with b/B on the control button
2
3
Select an item other than [Smile Shutter].
Page
Adjusting the brightness of the image
AE Lock
1 2 3
4
Fn button t (Metering Mode) t Select the desired mode
Metering Mode
Flash Comp.
Exposure compensation and flash compensation
MENU button t 2 t [Flash control] t Select the desired
Flash control
Page
The flash
Press the Fn button, select the desired flash mode, press the button, and shoot images (page 42).
Wireless flash
1
turn both the camera and the flash on.
2 3
and pop up the built-in flash.
Setting ISO
1
Multi frame noise reduction
the ISO screen.
2
Compensating for the brightness and contrast automatically (D-Range)
Fn button t (DRO/Auto HDR) t Select the desired setting
D-RangeOptimizer
1 2
Auto HDR
Page
Setting the image processing
Select the desired effect filter to achieve more impressive and artistic expression.
Picture Effect
(Picture Effect) on the control button t Select the desired setting
When a mode that has a fine adjustment option is selected, select the desired setting with b/B.
1 2
(Contrast), (Saturation), and (Sharpness) can be adjusted for each Creative Style item.
Adjusting the color tones (White balance)
WB on the control button t Select the desired setting
The fine adjustment screen for color
Color Temp./Color Filter
1
2 3
Custom white balance
1
To call the custom white balance setting
WB on the control button t (Custom)
Press B to display the fine adjustment screen and compensate the color to your preference.
2
located in the center, and then press the shutter button down.
3
Magnifies images with higher scale than the optical zoom (ZOOM)
1
(page 31).
2
3
image process.
Page
Selecting the drive mode
Shooting single shot
Cont. Shooting
Self-timer
(Self-timer) t Select the
Bracket: Cont./Single Bracket
Page
WB bracket
(WB bracket) t Select the desired setting
Remote Cdr.
1
2
Playback (Advanced operations)
Playback (Advanced operations)
The screen displayed for playback
List of icons on the histogram display
Each time you press DISP on the control button, the screen chan ges as follows.
Switching the screen during playback
Page
Using the playback functions
Rotating an image
1
2
View Mode
Slide Show
Playback Display
Scrolling panoramic images
Protecting images (Protect)
Deleting images (Delete)
Delete (Multiple Img.)
1 2
3
4 5
Page
About playback on TV
Connect the camera to a TV using an HDMI cable (sold separately) and play back images (page52).
Using BRAVIA Sync
MENU button t 1 t [3D Viewing]
3D Viewing
1
(page5 2).
The input is automatically switched and the image shot with the camera appears on the TV screen.
2 3
Setup of the camera (Advanced operations)
Setting the aspect ratio and image quality
MENU button t 1 t [Quality] t Select the desired setting
MENU button t 1 t [Aspect Ratio] t Select the desired ratio
Aspect Ratio
Quality
Page
Setting the other functions of the camera
MENU button t 2 t [Long Exposure NR] t Select the
High ISO NR
MENU button t 2 t [High ISO NR] t Select the desired
Long Exposure NR
Color Space
Release w/o Lens
MENU button t 2 t [Grid Line] t Select the desired setting
MENU button t 2 t [Auto Review] t Select the desired
MENU button t 3 t [Func. of AEL button] t Select the
Grid Line Auto Review
Func. of AEL button
MENU button t 3 t [ISO Button] t Select the desired
MENU button t 3 t [Preview Button] t Select the desired
ISO Button
Preview Button
The electronic front curtain shutter function shortens the time lag between shutter releases.
MENU button t 4 t [Front Curtain Shutter] t Select the
MENU button t 1 t [LCD Brightness] t Select the desired
Electronic Front Curtain Shutter
LCD Brightness
Viewfinder Bright.
Eco Mode
Power Save
FINDER/LCD Setting
MENU button t 1 t [FINDER/LCD Setting] t [Manual]
Lens compensation
Lens Comp.: Peripheral Shading Lens Comp.: Chromatic Aberration Lens Comp.: Distortion
Setting the method for recording on a memory card
Note that formatting irrevocably erases all data on a memory card, including protected images.
Folder Name
MENU button t 1 t [Format] t [Enter]
MENU button t 1 t [File Number] t Select the desired
Select REC Folder
New Folder
MENU button t 1 t [Recover Image DB] t [Enter]
MENU button t 2 t [Upl oad Settings] t Select the desired
Recover Image DB
Upload Settings
Page
Resetting to the default
You can reset the main functions of the camera.
Still shooting menu (Reset Default/Rec mode reset)
MENU button t 3 t [Initialize] t Select the desired setting t [Enter]
The items to be reset are as follows. Shooting functions (Reset Default/Rec mode reset)
Movie shooting menu (Reset Default/Rec mode reset)
Custom menu (Reset Default/Custom reset)
Playback menu (Reset Default)
Memory Card Tool menu (Reset Default)
Setup menu (Reset Default)
Others (Reset Default)
Confirming the version of the camera
MENU button t 3 t [Version]
Computer (Advanced operations)
Connecting the camera to the computer
MENU button t 2 t [USB Connection] t Select the desired
Setting the USB connection
Connecting to the computer
1
2 3 4
computer.
Importing images to the computer (Windows)
Importing images to the computer (Mac)
1
2
3
Deleting the USB connection
1
on the tasktray.
2
Creating a movie disc
Creating a high definition image quality (HD) disc (AVCHD recording disc)
5
1 2
3 4
1 2
selecting a disc.
3 4
5
Discs you can use with PlayMemories Home
Print (Advanced operations)
Specifying DPOF
Date Imprint
1
2 3
4 5
Cleaning the camera and a lens
Cleaning the lens
Cleaning the camera
Cleaning the image sensor
Cleaning the image sensor automatically using the cleaning mode of the camera
1 2
3
Page
4
5
6
Trouble shooting/Others (Advanced operations)
Troubleshooting
Battery pack and power
The CHARGE lamp flashes when charging the battery pack.
Shooting images
Nothing is displayed on the LCD screen in viewfinder mode when the power is turned on.
The image is not clear in the viewfinder.
No images in the viewfinder.
The shutter does not release.
Recording takes a long time.
The same image is shot several times.
The image is out of focus.
Eye-Start AF does not work.
Page
Viewing images
Deleting images
Computers
Memory card
Printing
Others
Page
Trouble shooting/Others (Advanced operations)
Warning messages
Page
Precautions
Do not use/store the camera in the following places
On storing
On operating temperatures
On moisture condensation
On using the lenses and accessories
On memory cards
On recording/playback
Page
To use your camera abroad Power sources
On TV color systems
AVCHD format
Recording and playback on your camera
3D-shootings
Notes on recording
Note on playback of 3D- images
Notes on 3D-image files
Memory card
Notes on using memory cards
Notes on the Memory Stick media used with the camera
Notes on using Memory Stick Micro media (sold separately)
Battery pack/ Battery charger
Effective use of the battery pack
Notes on using the battery pack
Battery life
How to store the battery pack
The License
Notes on the License
On GNU GPL/LGPL applied software
Index
Index
Numerics
A
B
C
E
F
G
H
I
J
L
M
N
O
S
T
U
V
W
