Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 Review: 6. Operation & Controls: Digital Photography Review

Top of camera controls (right)

On the top right of the camera we have the exposure mode dial, shutter release button, control dial and drive mode button. Two buttons on the rear of the camera but 'under your thumb' are exposure compensation and AE lock.

Exposure modes

Position	Mode
	Auto Program Exposure This is essentially the camera's "point and shoot" mode. When you select this mode various settings return to particular defaults (listed below). However unlike other digital cameras in Auto mode they are not locked and can be adjusted (apart from color mode). • Metering: Multi-Segment • Flash: Auto • AF area: Wide AF • AF mode: Auto • ISO: Auto • D-Range: Standard • Color mode: Standard • Drive: Single shot • Exp. comp: 0 EV
P	Program Exposure (with shift) Program exposure mode on the A100 can be shifted, this means that you can select one of a variety of equal exposures by turning the control dial, by default the exposure is shifted by shutter speed (indicated as PS), you can choose to shift by aperture (PA) by changing the 'Control dial set' option in the custom menu.
A	Aperture Priority In this mode you select the aperture and the camera will calculate the shutter speed for the exposure (depending on metered value; metering mode, ISO). Aperture is displayed on the viewfinder status bar and the LCD monitor (if recording display is enabled), turn the control dial to select different apertures.
S	Shutter Priority In this mode you select the shutter speed and the camera will calculate the correct aperture for the exposure (depending on metered value; metering mode, ISO). Shutter speed is displayed on the viewfinder status bar and the LCD monitor (if recording display is enabled), turn the control dial to select different shutter speeds.
M	Full Manual Exposure In this mode you select the aperture and the shutter speed (and additionally Bulb shutter). By default turn the control dial to select shutter speed, hold the exposure compensation button and turn the dial to select aperture. You can reverse this function by changing the 'Control dial set' option in the custom menu. As you turn the dials the EV scale on the recording display and the viewfinder status line indicates how close the selected exposure is to the metered exposure (+/- 2 EV).

Scene exposure modes

Most of the settings in any of the scene exposure modes are the same as 'Auto' mode, that is Auto ISO, Multi-Segment metering etc. However there are obviously other parameters which vary with each mode.

Position	Mode
	Portrait Selects large apertures (small F numbers) to reduce the depth of field and make the portrait subject stand out from the background. Uses the Portrait image mode and Center Spot AF area.
	Landscape Selects small apertures (large F numbers) to enlarge the depth of field and ensure more of the image appears to be sharp and 'in focus'. Uses the Landscape image mode and Center Spot AF area.
	Macro Tends to select faster shutter speeds to avoid shake at high macro magifications (although does tend to try to maintain an aperture of around F5.6). Uses the Standard image mode and Center Spot AF area as well as Single-shot AF.
	Sports Selects faster shutter speeds to capture moving action, also engages continuous drive mode. Uses the Standard image mode and Center Spot AF area as well as Continuous AF.
	Sunset Selects small apertures (large F numbers) to enlarge the depth of field and ensure more of the image appears to be sharp and 'in focus'. Uses the Sunset image mode and Center Spot AF area.
	Night portrait Selects large apertures (small F numbers) to reduce the depth of field and make the portrait subject stand out from the background. Uses the Night view image mode and Center Spot AF area.

Buttons (shooting mode)

Pressing a push button setting (such as drive mode) displays the range of options available on the LCD monitor (examples above), turn the main dial to change a setting and then tap any other button (such as the shutter release) to return to shooting mode.

Button	Action
	Drive mode [clip above] • Single frame advance • Continuous advance • Self-timer (press up/down to select between 10 or 2 seconds) • Continuous bracketing (press up/down to select exposure step) • Single frame bracketing (press up/down to select exposure step) • White balance bracketing (press up/down to select Hi / Lo step)
	Exposure compensation / Aperture In all exposure modes except Manual this button acts to change the exposure compensation. The adjustment is made as above, press then turn the control dial. In manual exposure mode this button is used set the Aperture (or Shutter speed if the function of the control dial has been customized).
AEL	Auto Exposure Lock When you press the AEL button the camera takes a meter reading and locks it, the exposure will be locked as long as you hold the AEL button (even over multiple shots). In Program or Aperture Priority exposure modes with the flash up the AEL button will activate slow sync flash with a locked exposure. (The action of the AEL button can be changed in section 1 or the custom menu).

Buttons (play mode)

Button	Action
	Magnify (zoom in) In play mode enters the camera's magnify mode, press again to magnify the image further (up to 12x). Interestingly the A100 memorizes the last magnify 'level' used and returns to that when the button is pressed.
	Reduce (zoom out) Steps back in magnification until eventually returning to single image view. Rather oddly and honestly frustrating this button does not go to index view if you are at single image view, to achieve that you must press the display button twice.

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