Instruction Manual
Page 1
Printed on a computer Printing images Digital Single Lens Reflex Camera Instruction Manual DSLR-A500/A550 Preparing the camera Before your operation Shooting images Using the shooting function Using the viewing function Changing your setup Viewing images on 70% or more recycled paper using VOC (Volatile Organic Compound)-free vegetable oil based ink. Additional information on this product and answers to frequently asked questions can be found at our Customer Support Website.
Printed on a computer Printing images Digital Single Lens Reflex Camera Instruction Manual DSLR-A500/A550 Preparing the camera Before your operation Shooting images Using the shooting function Using the viewing function Changing your setup Viewing images on 70% or more recycled paper using VOC (Volatile Organic Compound)-free vegetable oil based ink. Additional information on this product and answers to frequently asked questions can be found at our Customer Support Website.
Instruction Manual
Page 9
... mode 61 Shooting with program auto 62 Shooting by controlling the blur of the background (Aperture priority 63 Shooting a moving subject with various expressions (Shutter speed priority 65 Shooting with the exposure adjusted manually (Manual exposure 67 Shooting trails with long exposure (BULB 69 Shooting with the viewfinder (OVF 71 Switching to the viewfinder 71 Adjusting the focus of the finder (diopter adjustment) 72 Switching the recording information display (DISP) 73 LCD monitor (Graphic Display 74 LCD monitor (Standard Display 76 Viewfinder 78 Using...
... mode 61 Shooting with program auto 62 Shooting by controlling the blur of the background (Aperture priority 63 Shooting a moving subject with various expressions (Shutter speed priority 65 Shooting with the exposure adjusted manually (Manual exposure 67 Shooting trails with long exposure (BULB 69 Shooting with the viewfinder (OVF 71 Switching to the viewfinder 71 Adjusting the focus of the finder (diopter adjustment) 72 Switching the recording information display (DISP) 73 LCD monitor (Graphic Display 74 LCD monitor (Standard Display 76 Viewfinder 78 Using...
Instruction Manual
Page 11
...Protecting images (Protect 122 Deleting images (Delete 123 Viewing images on a TV screen 125 Changing your setup Setting image size and image quality 128 Setting the method for recording on a memory card ..... 130 Changing the noise reduction setting 132 Changing the function of the AEL button 133 Changing other settings 134 Setting the LCD monitor 135 Confirming the version of the camera 137 Resetting to the default 138 Viewing images Using your computer 140 on a computer Using the software 147 Printing images Specifying DPOF 152 Printing images by connecting the camera to...
...Protecting images (Protect 122 Deleting images (Delete 123 Viewing images on a TV screen 125 Changing your setup Setting image size and image quality 128 Setting the method for recording on a memory card ..... 130 Changing the noise reduction setting 132 Changing the function of the AEL button 133 Changing other settings 134 Setting the LCD monitor 135 Confirming the version of the camera 137 Resetting to the default 138 Viewing images Using your computer 140 on a computer Using the software 147 Printing images Specifying DPOF 152 Printing images by connecting the camera to...
Instruction Manual
Page 45
...) White balance (104) DRO/Auto HDR (98) Creative Style (101) The functions selected by the MENU button You can set up the basic settings for the camera as a whole or execute functions such as shooting, playback, or other operations. Recording menu Image size (128) Aspect ratio (128) Quality (129) 1 Flash control (96) AF illuminator (90) SteadyShot (48) Color Space (102) Long exp.NR (132) High ISO NR (132) 2 Custom menu Eye-Start AF (71) AEL button (92) 1 Red eye reduc. (90) Auto review...
...) White balance (104) DRO/Auto HDR (98) Creative Style (101) The functions selected by the MENU button You can set up the basic settings for the camera as a whole or execute functions such as shooting, playback, or other operations. Recording menu Image size (128) Aspect ratio (128) Quality (129) 1 Flash control (96) AF illuminator (90) SteadyShot (48) Color Space (102) Long exp.NR (132) High ISO NR (132) 2 Custom menu Eye-Start AF (71) AEL button (92) 1 Red eye reduc. (90) Auto review...
Instruction Manual
Page 62
Shooting with program auto This mode is suitable for z Using the automatic exposure, while keeping the custom settings for ISO sensitivity, Creative Style, D-Range optimizer, etc. 1 Set the mode dial to P. 2 Set the shooting functions to your desired settings (pages 79 to 112). • To fire the flash, press the button. 3 Adjust the focus and shoot the subject. 62
Shooting with program auto This mode is suitable for z Using the automatic exposure, while keeping the custom settings for ISO sensitivity, Creative Style, D-Range optimizer, etc. 1 Set the mode dial to P. 2 Set the shooting functions to your desired settings (pages 79 to 112). • To fire the flash, press the button. 3 Adjust the focus and shoot the subject. 62
Instruction Manual
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... control dial while pressing the AEL button to [200]. When you set. Manual shift You can change the shutter speed and aperture value combination without changing the exposure you shoot with the flash. Toward -: Images become brighter. In M mode, the ISO setting [AUTO] is beyond the range of the EV scale. Standard value Notes • The (Camera shake warning) indicator is not indicated in manual exposure mode. • When the mode dial is set to M, the ISO setting [AUTO] is set...
... control dial while pressing the AEL button to [200]. When you set. Manual shift You can change the shutter speed and aperture value combination without changing the exposure you shoot with the flash. Toward -: Images become brighter. In M mode, the ISO setting [AUTO] is beyond the range of the EV scale. Standard value Notes • The (Camera shake warning) indicator is not indicated in manual exposure mode. • When the mode dial is set to M, the ISO setting [AUTO] is set...
Instruction Manual
Page 70
... hold the shutter button for the same amount of the shooting. As long as the shutter button is temporarily set to [BULB], the shutter speed is pressed, the shutter remains open using a tripod, turn off the SteadyShot function (page 48). • The longer the exposure time, the more conspicuous the noise on the Wireless Remote Commander triggers BULB shooting and pressing it again stops BULB shooting. Pressing the SHUTTER button on the image. • After shooting, noise reduction (Long exp.NR...
... hold the shutter button for the same amount of the shooting. As long as the shutter button is temporarily set to [BULB], the shutter speed is pressed, the shutter remains open using a tripod, turn off the SteadyShot function (page 48). • The longer the exposure time, the more conspicuous the noise on the Wireless Remote Commander triggers BULB shooting and pressing it again stops BULB shooting. Pressing the SHUTTER button on the image. • After shooting, noise reduction (Long exp.NR...
Instruction Manual
Page 91
... flash is used while the wireless flash mode is still active, inaccurate flash exposures will result. • Change the channel of the external flash when another photographer is using a wireless flash, it . Notes • The camera cannot carry out the wireless lighting ratio control. • Turn off the wireless flash mode after wireless flash shooting. Setup of the AEL button When using a wireless flash nearby and his/her built-in the Custom menu (page 133). 91 To change the channel of the external flash, refer to the operating instructions...
... flash is used while the wireless flash mode is still active, inaccurate flash exposures will result. • Change the channel of the external flash when another photographer is using a wireless flash, it . Notes • The camera cannot carry out the wireless lighting ratio control. • Turn off the wireless flash mode after wireless flash shooting. Setup of the AEL button When using a wireless flash nearby and his/her built-in the Custom menu (page 133). 91 To change the channel of the external flash, refer to the operating instructions...
Instruction Manual
Page 92
..., point the camera forwards a spot that is darker than the subject and use the light meter to shoot a brighter image of the big difference in lighting between the subject and the background. The exposure is set when the focus is bright enough and lock the exposure before shooting. The spot where you lock the exposure. 1 Fn button t (Metering mode) t (Spot) 2 Adjust the focus on the portion you want to lock the exposure of the entire image...
..., point the camera forwards a spot that is darker than the subject and use the light meter to shoot a brighter image of the big difference in lighting between the subject and the background. The exposure is set when the focus is bright enough and lock the exposure before shooting. The spot where you lock the exposure. 1 Fn button t (Metering mode) t (Spot) 2 Adjust the focus on the portion you want to lock the exposure of the entire image...
Instruction Manual
Page 95
... shooting and playback in Live View mode does not indicate the final recorded image. Notes • This item cannot be set to the bright side (right side). The histogram will differ based on the positive side brightens the whole picture, making the entire histogram shift to AUTO or Scene Selection. 95 When the subject has low intensity, such as night scenery. Both ends of flash light alone, without changing...
... shooting and playback in Live View mode does not indicate the final recorded image. Notes • This item cannot be set to the bright side (right side). The histogram will differ based on the positive side brightens the whole picture, making the entire histogram shift to AUTO or Scene Selection. 95 When the subject has low intensity, such as night scenery. Both ends of flash light alone, without changing...
Instruction Manual
Page 109
... signals and the self-timer lamp indicate the condition. The self-timer lamp flashes quickly and the audio signal sounds quickly right before the shooting. Using the shooting function The maximum number of continuous shots The number of continuous shooting may be slower. Fine Standard RAW & JPEG RAW DSLR-A550 32 images 116 images 7 images 14 images DSLR-A500 12 images 58 images 3 images 6 images To shoot continuously at higher speeds (DSLR-A550 only) The camera shoots continuously at the first shot. Using the self-timer The 10-second self-timer is convenient...
... signals and the self-timer lamp indicate the condition. The self-timer lamp flashes quickly and the audio signal sounds quickly right before the shooting. Using the shooting function The maximum number of continuous shots The number of continuous shooting may be slower. Fine Standard RAW & JPEG RAW DSLR-A550 32 images 116 images 7 images 14 images DSLR-A500 12 images 58 images 3 images 6 images To shoot continuously at higher speeds (DSLR-A550 only) The camera shoots continuously at the first shot. Using the self-timer The 10-second self-timer is convenient...
Instruction Manual
Page 129
... file size of . Changing your setup 129 3:2 A normal ratio. 16:9 An HDTV ratio. File format: RAW (Records using the RAW compression format.) This format does not perform any digital processing on one memory card, but the image quality will allow more files to [L]. This will be taken when the image quality is fixed to be recorded on the images. With this camera. Quality MENU button t 1 t [Quality] t Select the desired setting (RAW) (RAW & JPEG) (Fine) (Standard) File format: RAW (Records using the RAW compression format.) + JPEG A RAW image...
... file size of . Changing your setup 129 3:2 A normal ratio. 16:9 An HDTV ratio. File format: RAW (Records using the RAW compression format.) This format does not perform any digital processing on one memory card, but the image quality will allow more files to [L]. This will be taken when the image quality is fixed to be recorded on the images. With this camera. Quality MENU button t 1 t [Quality] t Select the desired setting (RAW) (RAW & JPEG) (Fine) (Standard) File format: RAW (Records using the RAW compression format.) + JPEG A RAW image...
Instruction Manual
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... next operation quickly. Pressing the shutter button halfway down returns the camera to (Remote Commander). MENU button t 1 t [Power Save (LV)] or [Power Save (OVF)] t Select the desired time Note • Regardless of the setting here, the camera turns to power save mode after 30 minutes when the camera is connected to a TV or the drive mode is set different time intervals for the Live View (LV) and viewfinder modes (OVF). Selecting the language MENU button t 1 t [ Language] t Select the language 134 MENU button t 2 t [Audio signals] t Select the desired setting Removing...
... next operation quickly. Pressing the shutter button halfway down returns the camera to (Remote Commander). MENU button t 1 t [Power Save (LV)] or [Power Save (OVF)] t Select the desired time Note • Regardless of the setting here, the camera turns to power save mode after 30 minutes when the camera is connected to a TV or the drive mode is set different time intervals for the Live View (LV) and viewfinder modes (OVF). Selecting the language MENU button t 1 t [ Language] t Select the language 134 MENU button t 2 t [Audio signals] t Select the desired setting Removing...
Instruction Manual
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... set to the surrounding lighting conditions using the light sensor (page 36). Setting the displayed time of the image right after shooting (Auto review) You can check the recorded image on . • When using the camera with your setup You can change the displayed time. Setting the LCD monitor Setting the brightness of the LCD monitor manually The brightness of the LCD monitor is automatically adjusted to the brightest setting even if you select [Auto]. MENU button t 1 t [LCD brightness] t [Manual] t Select the desired setting...
... set to the surrounding lighting conditions using the light sensor (page 36). Setting the displayed time of the image right after shooting (Auto review) You can check the recorded image on . • When using the camera with your setup You can change the displayed time. Setting the LCD monitor Setting the brightness of the LCD monitor manually The brightness of the LCD monitor is automatically adjusted to the brightest setting even if you select [Auto]. MENU button t 1 t [LCD brightness] t [Manual] t Select the desired setting...
Instruction Manual
Page 138
... compensation (93) Recording information display (73) Playback display (115) Drive mode (108) Flash mode (88) Autofocus mode (82) AF area (83) Face Detection (52) Smile Shutter (113) ISO (103) Metering mode (97) Flash compens. (95) White balance (104) ColorTemperature/Color filter (105) Custom white balance (106) DRO/Auto HDR (98) Creative Style (101) Recording menu Reset to the default You can reset the main functions of the camera. Resetting to ±0.0 Graphic Display Single-image screen (with recording information) Single-shot adv. MENU button t 3 t [Reset default] t [OK] The...
... compensation (93) Recording information display (73) Playback display (115) Drive mode (108) Flash mode (88) Autofocus mode (82) AF area (83) Face Detection (52) Smile Shutter (113) ISO (103) Metering mode (97) Flash compens. (95) White balance (104) ColorTemperature/Color filter (105) Custom white balance (106) DRO/Auto HDR (98) Creative Style (101) Recording menu Reset to the default You can reset the main functions of the camera. Resetting to ±0.0 Graphic Display Single-image screen (with recording information) Single-shot adv. MENU button t 3 t [Reset default] t [OK] The...
Instruction Manual
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... describes how to copy images in a memory card to a computer connected using a USB interface that is compatible with Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0 compliant) allows advanced transfer (high speed transfer) as standard Notes on connecting your camera using a USB cable. Recommended computer environment The following environment is recommended for all the recommended computer environments mentioned above or in an environment based on the types of the operating systems described above...
... describes how to copy images in a memory card to a computer connected using a USB interface that is compatible with Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0 compliant) allows advanced transfer (high speed transfer) as standard Notes on connecting your camera using a USB cable. Recommended computer environment The following environment is recommended for all the recommended computer environments mentioned above or in an environment based on the types of the operating systems described above...
Instruction Manual
Page 149
... the instructions on the screen. 149 Viewing images on the screen to complete the installation. Note • When the restart confirmation message appears, restart the computer following software is complete. 3 Remove the CD-ROM after the installation is installed and shortcut icons appear on the desktop. • Sony Image Data Suite "Image Data Converter SR" "Image Data Lightbox SR" • Sony Picture Utility "PMB" "PMB Guide" x Macintosh • Log on as Administrator. 1 Turn on your...
... the instructions on the screen. 149 Viewing images on the screen to complete the installation. Note • When the restart confirmation message appears, restart the computer following software is complete. 3 Remove the CD-ROM after the installation is installed and shortcut icons appear on the desktop. • Sony Image Data Suite "Image Data Converter SR" "Image Data Lightbox SR" • Sony Picture Utility "PMB" "PMB Guide" x Macintosh • Log on as Administrator. 1 Turn on your...
Instruction Manual
Page 164
... image file was recorded using a model other than that you cannot restore it. You cannot mark a DPOF mark. • You cannot mark DPOF marks on RAW images. Viewing images Your camera cannot play back images. • The folder/file name has been changed on your computer is in USB mode. The color of an image recorded in Live View mode is too bright or too dark for the metering range of the image right after switching to recognize the color...
... image file was recorded using a model other than that you cannot restore it. You cannot mark a DPOF mark. • You cannot mark DPOF marks on RAW images. Viewing images Your camera cannot play back images. • The folder/file name has been changed on your computer is in USB mode. The color of an image recorded in Live View mode is too bright or too dark for the metering range of the image right after switching to recognize the color...
Instruction Manual
Page 169
... file format was formatted on this card. If the message still appears, change the memory card. Set date and time? • Set the date and time. Power insufficient • You tried to use the memory card again, however, all previous data in your camera. • The memory card is insufficient. Others 169 Warning messages If the following messages appear, follow the instructions below. Unable to perform [Cleaning mode] when the battery level is damaged. • The terminal section of the card. Use correct model...
... file format was formatted on this card. If the message still appears, change the memory card. Set date and time? • Set the date and time. Power insufficient • You tried to use the memory card again, however, all previous data in your camera. • The memory card is insufficient. Others 169 Warning messages If the following messages appear, follow the instructions below. Unable to perform [Cleaning mode] when the battery level is damaged. • The terminal section of the card. Use correct model...
Instruction Manual
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... the memory card. Processing... • When Long exposure noise reduction will be established. No images • There is locked. Initializing USB connection... • A USB connection has been established. If you intend to continue to use the camera, you have been shooting continuously. Shutter is no image in manual focus check mode is not attached. • When attaching the camera to an astronomical telescope or something similar, set the exposure mode to be displayed. No SD memory card...
... the memory card. Processing... • When Long exposure noise reduction will be established. No images • There is locked. Initializing USB connection... • A USB connection has been established. If you intend to continue to use the camera, you have been shooting continuously. Shutter is no image in manual focus check mode is not attached. • When attaching the camera to an astronomical telescope or something similar, set the exposure mode to be displayed. No SD memory card...