Rx100vii Ebook May22
Rx100vii Ebook May22
Rx100vii Ebook May22
eBook
by Mark Galer Sony Ambassador
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Contents
Meet the Author Menu Design Other Notable Features
Why customise your camera? • Fn Menu Masterclass Movies
• Touch Operation
Learning Support What's in Mark's Bag
The RX100 VII Advantage ISO Mark’s Custom Settings
• Sensor Design Shooting Modes Firmware Updates
• Lens Design
• Fast & Reliable AF
• SCN Supporting Website
• PASM
• Fast Drive Mode Become a Patron
• Single Burst Shooting
• Eye AF Memories eBooks
• Animal Eye AF • Portrait Flickr Albums
• DMF • Action
• 4K Movies • Landscape (hand-held)
Index
• The Pocketable A9 • Landscape (tripod) Movie Index
• Street
Community Support
Camera Controls
Mastering the Small Sensor Focus Mode & Focus Area
Live View Advantages Image Review (Playback)
Movie Mode
Interval Shooting Donation Page
MARK GALER is a photographer, educator and
published author (30 books for Focal Press). He
has a commercial background in editorial
photography and was also a Digital Imaging
Ambassador for Adobe for a period of 14 years.
He was a Program Director and Senior Lecturer in
Photography at RMIT University in Melbourne and
has circumnavigated the globe on a motorcycle.
I receive some equipment from Sony each year to review and a small
annual retainer. I have not been asked or paid to create these learning
resources or promote products that I do not feel entirely comfortable
using in my own photographic workflows.
If you click on one of the links in this guide and then purchase the item
from B&H Photo you do not pay anything extra, but I do receive a small
commission. If you do not want to purchase from B&H please consider
making a small donation to show your gratitude.
I believe the information in this digital guide is accurate, but if you feel I
have made any errors you can leave feedback on the Dropbox page
where you downloaded this guide. Thanks. Mark Galer
Sony Digital Imaging Ambassador
Mark Galer
Why customise your camera?
The Sony is a technically advanced
camera that is highly customisable to meet the
demanding needs of a broad range of creative
photographers. This guide has been designed to
provide you with ideas and suggestions to help
you customise your own camera to help maximise
your creative potential.
Custom Keys
The Custom Button (C) can be
used to access your most
frequently changed camera
setting. This button is only a
4 delete button in Playback mode
when reviewing an image. It is
also possible to assign different
1 functions to the top, left and
right sides of the Control Wheel.
My Menu
My Menu allows you to add
Menu items in an order that
makes sense to you. This
ensures that you never have to
hunt through 37 pages looking
for your favourite half-dozen
menu items.
Memories
It is possible to register groups of
camera setttings to three memories
stored on the camera and four more
on the memory card. These can
then be recalled via the MR key on
the Shoot Mode Dial.
Patreon
Back to Contents Page
The Advantage
Small and compact mirrorless
cameras have significant operating
differences when compared to
DSLR and Interchangeable Lens
Cameras. Understanding these
differences will help you avoid some
pitfalls that are commonly
encountered by photographers who
have been using other cameras.
Electronic Shutter
Stacked CMOS BIS
A Wolf Alpha in RX Clothes
Sony has described the RX100 VII as
‘the pocketable Alpha 9’. This is
because the RX100 VII shares the same
advanced imaging sensor and blackout-
free live view panning using a distortion
free electronic shutter. The A9 is the
only interchangeable lens camera that
uses this advanced sensor technology.
24mm Equivalent
200mm Equivalent
24mm Equivalent
200mm Equivalent
3. Fast & Reliable AF
8. DMF
Focus Mode
Override Focus to Here
Shutter
Flash Release
Finder
On/Off
Fn Key
Access and modify your 12 most used
camera settings for quick control - these
can be customised by going to Page 8 of
the Camera Settings2 tab. You will
Function (Fn) Menu probably notice that mine looks nothing
like yours! Drive Mode is usually in the Fn
menu by default, but as we can also
access this via the left button on the
Control Wheel there is no problem with
replacing it with something more useful.
Custom Fn Menu
Drive Mode
• Lo 5 frames per second
Lo, Mid, Hi
• Mid 10 frames per second
• Hi 20 frames per second
Drive • Single Burst Shooting
• Self-Timer Options
• Bracket Options
Exposure
Comp
…if it doesn’t look right on the Monitor then, odds on, it isn’t right
Back to Contents Page
The default option for
closing the finder (VF) is
to Power Off the camera
Diopter Control
Electronic ViewFinder / EVF
The finder is often referred to as the EVF
or Electronic ViewFinder. It is advisable to
spend some time setting these up just the
way you like them. Brightness may appear Monitor
to be the only option at first glance (page If the Monitor is tilted the view will not
1 of the Setup1 menu) but the Creative switch to the Finder. The monitor’s
Styles (Contrast, Saturation and brightness can be set to ‘Sunny
Sharpness) can also be adjusted. The Weather’ when the ambient light is
DRO setting (Dynamic Range Optimizer) very bright (Setup1 Menu). Pressing
also has an impact on the image the ‘Display’ button repeatedly will
presented in the Finder and on the display different levels of information.
Monitor. These modifications have zero
effect on Raw images being captured.
Display
Check or uncheck the
options you want to see,
or not see, when you press
the Display button.
Level
Display
Pressing the Display button
repeatedly cycles through
different levels of information
(including the Histogram and the
Level (shown here).
Flash
This isn’t the brightest of flashes but it is OK
to illuminate subjects that are close the
camera when you find yourself in a very dark
location. If you have a white ceiling above
you can even use your finger to tilt the flash
back and bounce the flash off the white
surface so that your subjects don’t look like
they were caught in a pair of car headlights.
As I am not a big fan of using the flash I have
assigned this button to ISO Auto Min. SS.
Over exposure
WYSIWYG
Exposure
Compensation
Scene with Dominant Dark Tones
Absolute White
The goal of adjusting the
exposure, before you take an
image, is to put the brightest
highlights and darkest
shadows between the goal
posts of absolute black and
absolute white (clipping). If
you don’t, you will lose detail
in the highlights or shadows.
Live Exposure
Press the Display button until
you see the Histogram on the
monitor or in the Finder.
Exposure Review
When reviewing your images
you can press the Display
button a number of times until
you see the histogram view.
Play Now
www.youtube.com/c/AlphaCreativeSkills
Menu Design
The RX100 VII camera uses the same Menu
design that can be found on Sony’s Alpha
cameras, making this an ideal ‘second
camera’ for an Alpha user. It also makes the
prospect of upgrading to one of Sony’s larger
cameras less daunting for an RX owner, after
they have become familiar with the operational
workflows of this camera. The menus allow the
user to fully customise the user interface and
have their most-used camera settings just one
click or button-press away.
Camera Settings1
Camera Settings2
Setup
Back to Contents Page
Fn Menu (Stills)
Fn Menu Upper1 Upper2 Upper3 Upper4 Upper5 Upper6
Upper Touch Operation Focus Mode Focus Area Exposure Comp. ISO Metering Mode
Fn Menu (Movies)
Fn Menu Upper1 Upper2 Upper3 Upper4 Upper5 Upper6
Upper Audi Rec Level Focus Mode Focus Area Exposure Comp. ISO Zebra Display
Fn Menu
This is an alternative view of the
Fn menu that can be accessed by
pressing the Display button, just
below it, several times (before you
press the Fn key).
Navigate Fn Menu
In the standard view of the Fn
menu you can access and modify
your 12 most used camera
settings for quick control by
Function (Fn) Menu navigating to the Fn item using
the left and right buttons on the
Control Wheel. When the item is
highlighted you do NOT need to
press to select, you can simply
spin the Control Wheel to find the
alternative option.
Vertical Menus
When a Fn option is selected
with a press of the Center button,
the main menus will run vertically
rather than horizontally and the
menus can still be accessed
using the Control Wheel.
Touch Operation
The Monitor can be used as a
Touch Screen to select and
move focus. These settings are
accessed via the Setup2 and
Custom Operation2 menus.
Touch Operation
If Touch Operation is always
left On it is possible to move
the focus point with your nose
when using the Finder.
Function of Touch Operation
Touch Focus
movies & stills
Tap again to shift focus to another
subject and then cancel when you
want to revert to Autofocus (AF: Wide)
Touch Focus
movies & stills
Touch operation also works in Manual
Focus (MF). Simply double tap the monitor
to magnify the view to check the depth of
field or check your point of focus MF
Adjust Parameters
(if required)
ISO Auto
• Auto
• 100-12,800
Note > Upper limit of Auto ISO
can be modified if required.
H F R
Auto
...for ‘set-and-forget’ shooting
Back to Contents Page
SCN (scene)
This mode allows you to choose the type of subject The first four scene Modes are highlighted over the
you are photographing in order to help the camera’s following slides. I will then outline some of my
artificial intelligence. After selecting SCN on the preferred settings that will give you a little more
Shoot Mode dial you can choose different SCN control over shooting these subjects.
modes from the Fn menu.
Back to Contents Page
Portrait SCN
1/30 Second
f/2.8
ISO: Auto
P: Program
A: Aperture Priority
S: Shutter Priority
M: Manual with Auto ISO
PASM
P: Program
A: Aperture Priority
S: Shutter Priority
M: Manual with Auto ISO
Aperture Priority
Widest Aperture
ISO: Auto
ISO Auto Min. SS: Fast
Action (slow speed panning) - slow shutter speed to create background blur
Memories
Create a memory for groups of
your favourite Camera Settings
The ability to recall a group of saved camera
settings means a photographer can quickly
switch from shooting landscape with one
group of settings to shooting action with a
completely different group of settings with just
one turn of the shoot mode dial.
The RX100 VII has three Memory Recall options Four more memories can be stored on the
that can be accessed via the MR Recall on the Memory Card (M1-M4), These are, however,
Shoot Mode dial. deleted when the card is formatted.
ISO AUTO
Face Priority in AF ON
ISO AUTO
Pre AF OFF
Zoom 24-200mm
ON (for single subjects)
Face/Eye Priority in AF OFF (for multiple subjects or when
people will appear behind primary subject)
Play Now
www.youtube.com/c/AlphaCreativeSkills
Back to Contents Page
Focus Mode & Focus Area
If you like taking photographs of subjects that don’t stay
still, these Focus skills are the essential tools for
success. When somebody asks me what the best
Focus Area is I know they need help - because the
answer is that it depends on the subject and the
background and the presence of obstacles that may
momentarily obscure your subject. Once you know why
the camera chooses the subject it chooses, then it no
longer appears to be rocket science. You can master
this skill - I have confidence in you :-)
Play Now
https://www.youtube.com/c/AlphaCreativeSkills
Back to Contents Page
Face/Eye Prty in AF
The Subject Detection allows
you to quickly switch between
Animal and Human subjects.
Highlight the Subject Detection
option in the Fn menu using
the Control Wheel.
Animal Eye AF
Face/Eye Prty in AF
Animal Eye AF is especially
useful when the subject is close
to the camera and the depth of
field is insufficient to cover the
entire head of the animal (often
found with wide aperture
telephoto lenses and close
proximity to your subject).
Animal Eye AF
If you like action and you
click on one movie link in
this eBook - make it this
one. In fact, watch it twice!
Play Now
www.youtube.com/c/AlphaCreativeSkills
Back to Contents Page
Focus Point Link
When using Spot Metering
rather than Multi (Evaluative
Metering) you can link the
metering point to the Spot AF
point. This can present a useful
workflow for photographers at
concerts. It is perhaps the only
time I don’t use Multi Metering or
Manual Exposure.
Play Now
www.youtube.com/c/AlphaCreativeSkills
Back to Contents Page
Image Review (Playback)
It is a valuable exercise to be able to review an
image we have just captured to check if it is
sharp and well exposed. This gives us the
opportunity to modify focus and/or exposure
settings to perfect image capture. The review
process also allows us to rate and delete
images. I personally like to rate images with a
star so that they appear in my post-production
software with the ratings intact (Lightroom
Classic). This also allows me to share just my
rated images without having to cycle through
all images. Although it is possible to delete
images in-camera I personally like to do this in
my editing software.
Image Review
When reviewing your images
you can press the Display
button a number of times until
to change the level of
information you see with the
image. Press the Left or Right
side of the Control Wheel to
move forwards or backwards
through your images.
Exposure Review
When reviewing your images
you can press the Display
button a number of times until
you see the histogram view.
This allows you to assess if the
exposure used to capture the
image was appropriate.
Magnify Review
Press the AF-On button to
Zoom in to check if the image is
sharp. The image will, by
default, zoom to the Focus point
used when taking the image.
Date Review
Move the Zoom switch to the
left to Zoom out to the Grid
View that is organised by date
or by folder. Use the Control
Wheel to move through the
captured images. Move the
Zoom switch to the right to
Zoom in to return to reviewing
a single image or navigate left
to access the Calendar view.
Calendar Review
Press the AEL button to Zoom
out further to the Calendar
View that is organised by date
of capture. Press the AF/MF
button to return to reviewing a
single image.
Display as Group
When shooting bursts of images in
Continuous Shooting it is possible
during playback to see the groups
of images rather than all images.
When cycling through the groups
you can see individual images in
that group by pressing the Center
Button in the Control Wheel.
Play Now
www.youtube.com/c/AlphaCreativeSkills
Back to Contents Page
Picture Profiles Blog Post
www.markgaler.com/using-picture-profiles-sony-alpha-cameras
Back to Contents Page
Interval Shooting
The ‘Interval Shooting Function’ allows us
to capture the still images required to
create TimeLapse Movies using post
production software.
Mode 2
Aperture Priority & Auto White Balance
For scenes where the level of light is changing,
e.g., for sunset and sunrise set only the Focus
setting to Manual.
Possible issues with using Auto exposure
Sudden changes in exposure or white balance settings can lead to a
visible ‘flicker’ in the final movie. Changing the ‘AE Tracking Sensitivity’
to ‘Low’ may help reduce sudden changes in exposure.
www.youtube.com/c/AlphaCreativeSkills
Back to Contents Page
Masterclass Movies
Hungry for more? Well, join the Masterclass series —
designed for photographers with serious stamina for
extra learning. I have cherry-picked four of my
presentations for you to watch. Just get comfortable I
have been known to talk for a while on subjects I am
passionate about :-)
NiSi make a filter kit for the RX100 VII camera and
SmallRig make a cage if you need to attach a few
more accessories (microphone etc) while filming.
Back to Contents Page
255
L-Bracket
HOLD OPTIONS
Aperture Preview (when Live View is Off)
Shot Result Preview (when Live View is On)
RMT-P1BT
Bluetooth Remote
Extreme Pro
1TB 2TB
Clip
Optional Extra: SmallRig D-Ring 1/4 inch Thread SKU 976 for Standard Plate V3
SKU 838 for Dual Plate V2 (extra washer needed)
Tripod
LeoFoto MT-03
+
Tabletop
LH-25
Purchase from
LH-30 Head
Extra Large
Standard
Pilot
Messenger Bags
Khaki & Charcoal Options
7L
Exterior (W x D x H): 35 x 15 x 24 cm
Main Compartment: 32 x 10 x 20
Weight: 1.85 lb (840 g)
BENQ SW271C
BENQ SW321C
* Full-Frame Equivalent
Order from B&H Photo (USA)
Fn Menu (Movies)
Fn Menu Upper1 Upper2 Upper3 Upper4 Upper5 Upper6
Upper Audi Rec Level Focus Mode Focus Area Exposure Comp. ISO Zebra Display
White Balance
(applied to Monitor & EVF but not file)
DRO
(applied to Monitor & EVF but not file)
Creative Style
(applied to Monitor & EVF but not file) Settings usually Switched to OFF
Picture Effect Pre-AF
(unavailable) (switch on for selfies and self-timer portraits)
1
Before Updating Firmware Please Read:
https://briansmith.com/guide-to-sony-camera-firmware-updates/
Seminar 22
Seminar 22
Choosing the right gear
Choosing the Right Gear Part 1 Choosing the Right Gear Part 2
Assorted Topics
Seminar 33
Assorted Topics
eBooks
If you have enjoyed this eBook and would
like to download additional eBooks just
head over to Patreon and take a look at
what is on offer.
Patreon
Back to Contents Page
Flickr Albums
If you want to look at Ultra High Definition
images captured by a range of Sony
cameras and Sony lenses there is no
better place to go than to my Flickr Pro
Account. I have organised the images into
albums that are either specific to the Sony
product or to a particular genre of
photography.
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