Record mode display

Here you can see an example of the live preview image as seen on the LCD/EVF just prior to taking a shot, note the composition bracket in the center of the frame. Various settings information is displayed along the top and down the right side of the display, note the new live histogram on the left. Info: Battery life (in minutes), image size and quality, record folder, remaining frames, Memory Stick status (bar graph), mode, Flash status, Macro focus, Wide AF, ISO 100, +0.7 EV compen.

A half-press of the shutter release causes the cameras autofocus and metering systems to lock, a steady green dot and the green colour of the AF brackets indicates a good AF lock and you can now see the exposure shown on the right side of the display.	The DSC-F717 doesn't by default show any review image after taking a shot, you must remember to hold the shutter release down if you want to see the shot after you've taken it.
Pressing the 4-way controller to the left in record mode displays the last image taken, as above. This display can be instantly removed by half-pressing the shutter release.	An example of movie capture mode, here the time indicator shows available space for 2 minutes 14 seconds at the current setting.
Example of Shutter Priority mode (before half-pressing the shutter release). Note the blue jog-dial indicator in the bottom right of the screen, a click and roll of the jog-dial will change shutter speed. The 'NR' prefix before the shutter speed indicates automatic noise reduction will be applied to this exposure.	Example of Aperture Priority mode (before half-pressing the shutter release). Note the blue jog-dial indicator in the bottom right of the screen, a click and roll of the jog-dial will change aperture.
Switching to NightFraming mode immediately removes the Infrared filter (you'll hear the click) and the display turns green. The two IR lamps on the front of the lens bathe the subject in IR light. Fully depressing the shutter release takes a shot in normal mode.	NightShot mode operates in the same way as NightFraming, except that the final shot is taken in the same IR sensitive mode used for focusing.
An example of the F717's new full Auto mode. In this mode you can not set exposure compensation, ISO sensitivity, White Balance etc. This is essentially a point and shoot mode.	Here's an example of the live histogram in use, adjust the exposure compensation and you can see the image histogram shift. Very useful for judging the correct exposure.

Record: Auto Focus areas

The DSC-F717 now has five different AF areas and six different AF area settings. Each setting is selected by simply moving the Jog Dial indicator, clicking the Jog Dial down and then rolling it to select the new mode. The first setting is Wide AF where the camera automatically uses up to three of three horizontal AF areas in the center of the frame. The next five settings correspond to one of five AF areas (in a cross pattern) which the camera will use for Auto Focus detection. The image on the right below is simply an example of what you would see in Wide AF mode if the camera chooses to use all three AF points after focusing.

Record: Manual Focus

Flipping the focus switch (side of lens barrel) to the MANUAL setting enables manual focusing using the ring on the front of the lens barrel. During focusing the center portion of the frame is magnified (to take up the whole view) and the current focus distance is displayed in metres. If you prefer this magnify feature can be disabled in the SETUP menu.