Sony A57 Lens

Identifying parts

DT 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 SAM

(Supplied with the SLT-A57K/A57Y)

DT 55-200mm F4-5.6 SAM

(Supplied with the SLT-A57Y)

AFocusing ring

BZoom ring

CFocal-length scale

DFocal-length index

ELens contacts

FFocusing mode switch

GMounting index

• The DT 18-55mm F3.5-5.6

SAM/DT 55-200mm F4-5.6

SAM are designed for Sony A-

mount cameras (models equipped

with an APS-C sized image

sensor). You cannot use these

lenses on 35mm-format cameras.

• For the lenses other than DT 18-

55mm F3.5-5.6 SAM/DT 55-

200mm F4-5.6 SAM, refer to the

operating instructions supplied

with the lens.

Lens

Contents

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