Sony's digital camera range is versatile enough to accommodate both amateur and professional photographers alike. Their models encompass both basic point-and-shoot cameras for simple snapshots to elaborate single-lens-reflex-style models that give precise artistic control. How you use a Sony digital camera will depend on what model you have purchased.
Setting Up Your Camera
Sony digital cameras all require a battery and a memory card, no matter which model you have chosen. Start your experience by charging the camera battery fully. If the unit takes disposable batteries, make sure your batteries are fresh and fully charged. Old or poorly charged batteries may affect functions of the camera, such as metering and flash use.
The next important piece of equipment to use with your camera is the memory card. Older models of Sony camera may use a proprietary type of memory produced by Sony called a memory stick; other models may use an SD or Compact Flash card. Consult your camera's guide to see what type of memory is appropriate for your camera. Format your memory card before use by using the camera's "Format" function, usually located in the settings menu. Once you have formatted and inserted a memory card and the batteries are charged, you are ready to use your Sony camera.
Photographing With Your Sony
The act of taking a photo with your Sony camera can be as simple as aiming the lens and pressing the shutter release, or as manual as using a traditional film SLR. Whichever type of camera you have chosen, there are a few simple steps to taking a great image.
Select your shooting mode. Sony digital cameras offer a range of manual, semi-automatic, and automatic modes for shooting. Automatic modes will select the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO sensitivity for you. Manual mode requires you to select all of these, and semi-automatic modes allow you to control one or more, but not all factors. Understanding what modes are available on your camera will help you cope with different shooting conditions.
Compose the image using either the viewfinder or the LCD screen. Cameras that are point-and-shoot will display the image on the LCD screen as you are composing it. Single-lens-reflex cameras have the mirror in the way, so the image may only be composed in the viewfinder.
Press the shutter release halfway down to secure your focus. This works on both point-and-shoot and single-lens-reflex digital cameras. Pressing the button will secure your focus, locking it onto your subject even if the camera is moved.
Press the shutter release completely down to take your photograph. It will display on the LCD screen for a few moments after the photograph is taken, which allows you to review your image.
Tags: memory card, digital cameras, shutter release, Sony camera, Sony digital