Sony DSLR-A100 Kit 10-megapixel digital SLR camera
with 18-200mm zoom lens

Features
Lens
Controls
Menu
Supplied Software
Printing Capabilities
Specifications

Features

Overview: The revolutionary DSLR-A100 camera combines Sony mastery of digital technology with Minolta's legendary SLR technology including auto-focus and anti-shake compatibility with over 20 years of A-mount lenses sold worldwide.

LCD Monitor: The DSLR-A100 uses a 2.5 Clear Photo LCD Plus screen. This design makes it easy to read the camera's setup menus even in bright sunlight and gives you better visibility when you use the screen to view your recorded images.

Optical Viewfinder: The DSLR-A100 uses a fixed eye-level system with a roof mirror type pentaprism which allows for a 95% field of view.

10.2 MP CCD: A large 23.6 x15.8mm APS-C size imager with Sony's advanced design allows more light to pass to each pixel, increasing the sensitivity and reducing noise. This technology provides greater detail when you make big prints or crop in close on your subject.

Super Steadyshot: When you shoot in low light, the shutter remains open longer; so to compensate for shaky hands or fast-moving subjects, the Super Steadyshot system automatically reduces image blur. Because the feature is built into the camera and not the lens you will get the benefit of Super SteadyShot stabilization with every lens you use.

Low Light Capability: The DSLR-A100 captures great photos without a flash even in low light which makes it perfect for shooting in locations where flashes are prohibited.

Anti-Dust Technology: To keep the CCD imager clean for better pictures, the DSLR-A100 camera utilizes both static-free anti-dust coating on the CCD filter and ant-dust vibration that automatically shakes the CCD to dislodge dust each time the camera is shut off.

Dynamic Range Optimizer: To recover details in dark or bright areas of the picture, the DSLR-100 camera provides two levels of Dynamic Range Optimization:

• Normal Pro: This setting improves shadow detail using standard gamma curves for fast shot-to-shot response time.
• Advanced Pro: This setting adjusts the dynamic range area-by-area for the greatest precision.

Bionz Image Processor: By using hardware-based LSI (Large Scale Integrated) circuitry that responds ten times faster than software image processors the camera's response time is faster, the Dynamic Range Optimization processing is improved and battery life is extended.

Eye-Start Autofocus System: This system allows the DSLR-A100 camera to begin its precision autofocus adjustment the moment you bring your eye to the viewfinder which allows you capture fast-action subjects.

Continuous Burst Mode (3 frames per second): The camera offers continuous JPEG image capture up to the limit of your flash memory card to help you catch fast action subjects more effectively.

Raw Burst Mode (Up to 6 shots): The intelligent buffer system allows you to capture more shots without waiting for the buffer to clear.

Super-Accurate Exposure Control: This is a 40-segment honeycomb sensing system that provides multi-pattern measuring for superior exposure control accuracy.

Flexible Exposure Modes: The DSLR-A100 provides full manual exposure control for greater freedom when shooting in a wide range of condition.

Lithium Ion Battery with Stamina Power: The supplied NP-FM55H Lithium Ion rechargeable batter lets you take up to 750 shots on a full charge based on CIPA standard. It recharges quickly with supplied the battery charger.

Dual Media Options: The DSLR-100 camera accepts both CompactFlash Type I/II media (Optional) and Memory Stick Duo media (Optional) with supplied adapter.

Lens

Optics: The camera kit features a Sony DT 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 Lens

• DT Lens Design: This is a more compact, lightweight lens designed specifically for the APS-size CCD imager used in the Sony DSLR-A100
• Aspherical Lens Elements: This allows the lens to correct visual abnormalities at wide-angle setting, enabling the lightweight lens to capture more visually accurate wide--angle shots.
• ED (Extra-low Dispersion) Glass: This technology reduces color abnormalities at telephoto extension, correcting certain wavelengths of light for sharp, clear images with well defined colors.
• Circular Aperture: The aperture blades form a near circle at the wide openings used for low-light shots which allows spot-light sources to have a pleasing circular defocused effect

Zooming: The lens allows you to rotate the zooming ring to set the desired focal length.

Focusing: The lens can be used in the auto-focus or manual focus mode.

• Auto-Focus: when using the auto-focus, the camera focuses the lens automatically. Do not touch the focus ring when the camera is set to auto-focus
• Manual Focus: when using the manual focus rotate the focusing ring while looking through the viewfinder

Lens Hood: It is recommended that you use the supplied lens hood to reduce fare and ensure maximum image quality.

Controls

Recording Modes:

• Auto Adjustment: This mode allows easy shooting with settings adjusted automatically depending entirely on the camera
• Scene Selection: This mode allows you to shot with preset settings according to the scene.
  • Portrait: This setting shoots with the backgrounds blurred out and the subject is sharpened.
  • Landscape: This setting shoots scenery with vivid and sharp colors.
  • Macro: This setting shoots close subjects such as flowers or insects. You can achieve clear and sharp focus.
  • Sports Actions: This setting shoots moving subjects outdoors or in bright places.
  • Sunset: This setting shoots the red of the sunset beautifully.
  • Night view/portrait: This shutter speed is slower so using a tripod is recommended.
    • Night portrait: This setting shoots portraits in dark places. Pull up flash to use it.
    • Night view: This setting shoot night scenes at a distance without losing the dark atmosphere of the surroundings. Do not use the flash on this setting.
• Program Auto: This mode allows you to shoot with the exposure adjusted automatically (both the shutter speed and the aperture value).
  • Program Shift: You can temporarily change the aperture value and shutter speed combination that was adjusted by the camera using two methods:
    • P/s shift: You can choose the desired shutter speed and the aperture value is adjusted automatically.
    • P/a shift: You can choose the desired aperture value and the shutter speed is adjusted automatically.
• Aperture Priority: This mode allow you to shoot after adjusting the aperture value manually. You can adjust the amount of light that passes through the lens.
• Shutter Speed Priority: This mode allows you to shoot after adjusting the shutter speed manually.
  • High Shutter Speed: The moving subject appears as if frozen on the image.
  • Slow Shutter Speed: The moving subject appears as if it were flowing.
• Manual Exposure: This mode allows you to shoot after adjusting the exposure manually (Both the shutter speed and the aperture value).
  • Manual Shift: You can change the shutter speed and aperture value combination without changing the exposure in manual mode.
  • Bulb (Long Exposure) Shooting: In this setting as long as the shutter button is pressed, the shutter remains open. You can shoot trails of light, such as fireworks.

Function Dial: You can set the focus frame, AF mode, metering mode, flash compensation, and color mode.

• ISO: You can adjust the ISO sensitivity and switch the Zone Matching setup on the camera.
  • ISO: ISO is a unit of measurement of sensitivity to light. The larger the number, the higher the sensitivity.
  • Zone matching: This setting allows you to keep the image from being overexposed or underexposed when shooting a high-keyed or low-keyed subject.
• WB: You can adjust the color tones according to the lighting conditions. There are six preset modes:
  • Daylight: This mode adjusts for outdoors and sunlit subjects.
  • Shade: This mode adjust for shady conditions on a clear day.
  • Cloudy: This mode adjust for a cloudy sky.
  • Tungsten: This mode adjusts for place where lighting conditions change quickly.
  • Fluorescent: This mode adjusts for florescent lighting.
  • Flash: This mode adjusts for flash conditions.
• D-R: By using the D-range optimizer the camera analyzes the shooting conditions and automatically corrects the image to improve the image quality.
• DEC: The DEC/Color mode has combination of color tone, white balance, contrast, saturation and sharpness presets that are best for various shooting conditions and purposes:
  • Standard: This setting reproduces various scenes with rich gradation and beautiful color.
  • Vivid: This setting reproduces memorable scenery such as blue sky, sunsets, spring greenery, and autumn leaves with deep and vivid colors.
  • Portrait: This setting accentuates the subject and softly reproduces skin tones.
  • Landscape: This setting reproduces the scenery with vivid and sharp colors.
  • Sunset: This setting beautifully reproduces the red of the sunset.
  • Night View: This setting reproduces the light area vividly and the dark area crisply.
  • B & W: This setting is for monochrome images.
  • Adobe RGB: This setting uses the Adobe RGB color space.
• Focus: You can change the auto focus mode and the auto focus area.
  • AF (Auto focus) Area: You can select between 3 settings.
    • Wide AF Area: The camera determines which of the nine local focus frames is used in focusing with the wide focus frame.
    • Spot AF Area: The camera use the spot focus frame exclusively.
    • Focus Area Selection: You can choose a local focus frame from the nine frames.
  • AF (Auto focus) Mode: You can select between 4 modes.
    • Single-Shot AF: This mode is used when shooting a motionless subject
    • Direct Manual Focus: This mode is used when an unwanted subject come into focus.
    • Continuous AF: This mode is used when the subject is in motion.
    • Automatic AF: This mode automatically switches between single-shot AF and continuous AF depending on the subject's motion.
• Flash Mode: There are 4 settings for the flash mode.
  • Autoflash: In auto mode the flash automatically fires if it is dark or against light.
  • Fill-Flash: In this mode the flash fires whenever the built-in flash is pulled up.
  • Rear Sync: In rear sync mode the objects illuminated by other light sources are captured first, then the flash is fired.
  • WL (Wireless): The camera can use the flash light to transmit signal to an external off-camera flash to produce a more three-dimensional image. (Requires optional HVL-56AM or HVL-F36AM)
• Metering Mode: This mode allows the camera to measure the brightness of a subject from the following three methods:
  • MultiSegment: This method divides the whole screen into 40 segments to measure light.
  • Center Weighted: While emphasizing the central area of the screen, this method measure the average brightness of the entire screen.
  • Spot: This method measure light only in the spot metering circle in the center of the frame.

Using the Drive Button: You can set the shutter button to shoot in six methods using the Drive button.

• Single Frame Advance: Default setting for standard picture taking.
• Shooting Continuously: When you press and hold the shutter button, the camera records the images continuously at three images per second.
• Self-Timer: You can set the camera to two different self-timers.
  • 10 Second: After you press the shutter button, the shutter will be released about 10 seconds later.  This is convenient when the photographer wants to appear in a photo.
  • 2 Second: After you press the shutter button, the shutter will be released about 2 seconds later. This is convenient to reduce camera-shake.
• Continuous Bracket: The camera can shoot three continuous images with the exposures shifted automatically. It uses 2 settings.
  • Bracket 0.3Ev continuous: This setting shoots images continuously with exposure value shifted by plus or minus 0.3 step.
  • Bracket 0.7Ev continuous: This setting shoots images continuously with the exposure value shifted by plus or minus 0.7 step.
• Single Bracket: The camera can shoot frame by frame with exposure value shifted automatically. It uses 2 settings.
  • Bracket 0.3Ev single: This setting shoots images frame by frame with the exposure value shifted by plus or minus 0.3 step.
  • Bracket 0.7Ev single: This setting shoots images frame by frame with the exposure value shifted by plus or minus 0.7 step.
• White Balance Bracket Shooting: Based on the selected white balance, and color temperature, three pictures are taken while automatically shifting the color temperature. One shot records three frames of an image in following order - image with "normal white balance", image with "paler colors", and image with "reddish colors". The camera uses two setting for this feature.
  • Bracket WB (L): This setting shifts the white balance by 10 mired (a unit to indicate the color conversion quality in color temperature filters) when taking a picture.
  • Bracket WB (H): Shifts the white balance by 20 mired when taking a picture.

Adjusting Exposure: You can manually shift the exposure value determined by the camera. Use this when you do not get the proper exposure; for instance, the subject and its background have high contrast (light and dark).

AE Lock: You can fix the exposure before deciding on the composition when taking a picture.  This is effective when the metering object and focusing object are different or when you want to shoot continuously while keep the same exposure value.

Slow Sync: In a case where the background is dark or low lit and is out of flash range you can use the Slow Sync mode to shoot the image with the flash and a slow shutter speed to capture a clear image of both the subject and background..

Depth-of-Field Preview: The preview function enables you to see the image with the aperture used in the actual shooting, allowing you to check the approximate sharpness of the subject image before you take the picture.

Manual Focus: When it is difficult to get the proper focus in auto focus mode, you can adjust the focus manually.

Playback Screen: There are 3 display settings to view you pictures back.

• Single Image Screen: This setting allows you to view one picture at a time.
• Index Screen: This setting allows you to display your images by folders. Each folder contains six images that will display on the screen.
• All Images: This setting allows you to view your pictures four, nine, or sixteen images at a time.

Histogram Display: A histogram is the luminance distribution that shows how many pixels of a particular brightness exists in a picture. The histogram display of this camera shows the brightness on the horizontal axis (left side is black, right side is white) and the number of pixels on the vertical axis.

Rotating an Image: You can rotate a playback image upside down or horizontally. You can copy rotated images to a computer depending on your computer's software.

Enlarge Images: This camera allows you to enlarge an image for closer examination.

Viewing Images on a TV Screen: The camera comes with a 60" video composite cable to hook up to your TV so you can view your still images back on your television.

Menu

Recording Menu 1:

• Image Size: You can set the image size you want to record to one of the following.
  • L:10M - 3872 x 2592 pixels. Recommended for 8x10 pictures.
  • M:5.6M - 2896 x 1936 pixels. Recommended for 4x6 to 5x7 pictures.
  • S:2.5M - 1920 x 1280 pixels. Recommended for recording a large number of images.
• Quality: The image compression rate determines the image quality of your pictures.
  • RAW: A RAW file is the raw material to be processed on the computer for professional purposes.
  • RAW & JPEG (RAW+): A RAW image and a JPEG image are created at the same time. This is suitable when you need two image files (a JPEG for viewing and a RAW for editing).
  • Fine: JPEG format for capturing still images in high quality.
  • Standard (STD): This JPEG format will allow more images to be recorded but the image quality will be lower.
• Instant Playback: Once an image is recorded, you can display it on the LCD monitor for two, five, or ten seconds. You can also delete it during instant playback.
• Noise Reduction: When a long exposure takes place, the noise reduction process is performed for the duration that the shutter was open to reduce the grainy noise in the image. You cannot take the next picture until the process is over. You can turn this function off when timing of shooting takes precedence over quality.
• Eye-Start AF: The focus is confirmed when you look into the viewfinder and the shutter speed and aperture are adjusted automatically. You can turn this feature off which also improves battery life.

Recording Menu 2

• Red Eye: This features reduces the red-eye phenomenon by providing low-flash light a few times before shooting when using the flash.  This feature can be turned "On" or "Off".
• Flash Control: You can select between 2 flash control modes to set the amount of flash light.
  • ADI Flash: The camera determines the amount of flash light by measuring the amount of reflected light from the pre-flash and the associated distance information.
  • Pre-Flash TTL: The camera determines the amount of flash light by measuring  only the amount of reflected light from the pre-flash.
• Flash Default: The flash mode is set to autoflash by default when the mode dial is set to Auto, P, or Scene Selection or you can set the camera to Fill-Flash which will allow the  flash to fire every time.
• Bracket Order: You can arrange the order of the images you shoot in a bracket from either low to high exposure or from 0, -, +.
• Reset: You can reset the main functions of the recording mode back to default.

Playback Menu 1

• Delete: You can delete unnecessary images by selecting individual images or selecting "All".
• Format: This feature allows you to format the recording medium.
• Protect: This feature protects images against accidental erasure. You can select individual images, all images to protect them or cancel all images to cancel the protection.
• Index Format: You can select the index screen format from the following settings.
  • Display sixteen images, nine images, or four images on the screen at one time.
  • Or select File browser to displays six images on the screen from folder to folder.

Playback Menu 2

• Slide Show: This feature allows you to playback recorded images in order with a 5-second interval.
• DPOF Set: Using the camera, you can specify the images and the number of images to print before you print images at a shop or with your printer. You can select "All" to print all images or you can select "Marked Images" to pick only certain images to print.
• Date Imprint: You can impose the date onto your images when printing pictures.
• Index Print: You can create an index print of all the images from specified folder.
• Cancel Print: This feature clears all selections made for printing.

Custom Menu 1

• Priority Setup: This feature allows you to select settings for the shutter release.
  • AF: In this mode the shutter cannot be released until the focus in confirmed.
  • RP (Release): In this mode the shutter can be released before the focus is confirmed. Select this setting if the shooting opportunity takes precedence over quality.
• Focus Hold Button: If you use a lens equipped with a focus hold button, you can change the function of the button to preview a shot.
• AEL Button: This button has two functions.
  • AEL Function: This function locks the exposure value in during any metering mode.
  • Spot AEL Function: This function temporarily performs spot metering and locks the acquired exposure value.
• Ctrl Dial Set: You can change the function of the control dial in manual or program shift mode to select between shutter speed or aperture setting.
• Exposure Compensation Set: This feature has two settings.
  • Ambient & Flash: The exposure compensation is performed on  both the ambient light range (the background that the flash light does not reach) and the flash light range.
  • Ambient Only: The exposure compensation is limited to the ambient light range, while the exposure of the flash light range is fixed.
• AF Illuminator: When you press the shutter button halfway down using the flash under dark lighting, the flash light may be fired. This helps focus a subject in auto focus mode when taking photos in low or dark light.

Custom Menu 2

• Shutter Lock: You can select the shutter lock to keep the shutter from releasing when no recording medium is inserted in the camera or when no lens is mounted on the camera.
• AF Area Setup: When the shutter button is pressed half way down, the local focus frame in focus is briefly illuminated in red. You can change the duration of illumination to .6 or .3 seconds or turn off the illumination.
• Monitor Display: The LCD monitor can be set to turn off automatically when you are looking in the viewfinder.
• Record Display: You can set the recording information display to rotate automatically when the camera is being used in a vertical position.
• Playback Display: This feature allows you to playback images vertically that are recorded vertically.

Setup Menu 1

• LCD Brightness: you can adjust the brightness of the LCD monitor depending on your surroundings.
• Transfer Mode: This mode selects the USB mode to be used when connecting the camera to your computer.
  • Mass Storage: This setting is used for copying images to the computer.
  • PTP (Picture Transfer Protocol): This setting prints images with a PictBridge compliant printer or copies images to a PTP compliant device.
• Video Output: This feature sets the video signal output according to the TV color system of the connected video equipment. You may select between NTSC or PAL.
• Audio Signals: This feature turns "ON" or "OFF" the sound that is produced when the shutter is used.
• Language: This feature allows you to select the languages used to display the menu items, warning, and messages.
• Date/Time Set: This feature allows you set the current date and time on the camera. This must be set to use the Date Imprint feature.

Setup Menu 2

• File Number Memory: This function allows you to select the method used to assign file numbers to images recorded.
• Folder Name: The default standard form folder can be changed to a date form folder to classify the folders by date for storage and playback convenience.
• Select Folder: When a standard form folder is selected and there are two or more folders, you can select which folder you want to use for the new recorded image.

Setup Menu 3

• LCD Backlight: While shooting, the recording information display appears on the LCD monitor. You can change the displayed time of the information from 1 minute, 30 seconds, 10 seconds, or 5 seconds.
• Power Save: If you do not operate the camera for a given period of time, the camera turns to power saving mode and almost completely shuts down. You can adjust the time it takes for the camera to go into power save mode to 30 minutes, 10 minutes, 5 minutes, 3 minutes or 1 minute.
• MenuSec. Memory: In the default setting, when you press the menu button the "Recording" or "Playback" menu is displayed first. You can change this setting to display the previously and most recent selected menu screen first.
• Delete Confirmation: Before deleting images or folders a confirmation screen appears to make sure you want to delete the select images or folders.
• Clean CCD: If there is dust on the CCD use a blower brush and the anti-dust function to clean the CCD quickly. Cleaning can be performed only when the battery level is at full strength. Low battery power during cleaning can cause damage to the shutter.
• Reset Default: You can reset the main functions of the camera back to the factory default settings.

Supplied Software

Picture Motion Browser and Image Data Converter SR Ver. 1.1: Application Software is included with your camera and is contained and installed from one disc.

Picture Motion Browser:

• Import images shot with the camera and display them on the camera.
• Organize images on the computer on a calendar by shooting date to view them.
• Retouch, print, and send images as e-mail attachments and change the shooting date.

Image Data Converter SR Ver 1.1:

• You can edit images recorded in RAW mode with various corrections, such as tone curve, and sharpness.
• You can save the images in a general-purpose file format.

PC Requirements:

• OS Pre-Installed: Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP professional.
• CPU/Memory: Sony recommends Pentium III 500 MHz or faster, 128 MB of RAM or more for use with "Picture Browser". Sony recommends MMX Pentium III 1GHz or faster for use with the "Image Data Converter SR Ver 1.1".
• Hard Disk Space: 200 MB or more.
• Virtual Memory: 700 MB or more.
• Display: 1024 x 768 dots or more; high color (16-bit color) or more.

Macintosh Requirements:

• OS Pre-Installed: Mac OS X (v1.3-10.4)
• CPU/Memory: iMac, eMac, iBook, PowerBook, Power Mac G4/G5 series, Mac mini with 256MB or more.
• Display: 1024 x768 dots or more; 32,000 colors or more.

Printing Capabilities

Printing Options: There are fours ways you can print your pictures from your camera.

• Printing directly using a PictBridge compliant printer.
• Printing directly using a Memory Stick Duo / CF Card/Microdrive  compliant printer:
• Printing using a computer with the supplied software and requirements.
• Printing from a picture station at a retail shop.

Specifications

Number of Images: