Contents -- Preface -- Introduction -- Chapter 1 Getting Started with Your Sony Alpha DSLR-A390/A290 -- Differences Between the A390 and A290 Models -- Your Out-of-Box Experience -- Initial Setup -- Battery Included -- Final Steps -- Formatting a Memory Card -- Selecting a Shooting Mode -- Choosing a Metering Mode -- Choosing a Focus Mode -- Selecting a Focus Point -- Other Settings -- Adjusting White Balance and ISO -- Using the Self-Timer -- Reviewing the Images You've Taken -- Transferring Photos to Your Computer -- Chapter 2 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390/A290 Roadmap -- Front View -- The Sony Alpha's Business End -- Going Topside -- Underneath Your Sony Alpha -- Lens Components -- LCD Panel Readouts -- Looking Inside the Viewfinder -- Chapter 3 Setting Up Your Sony Alpha DSLR-A390/A290 -- Anatomy of the Sony Alpha's Menus -- Recording 1/2 Menu -- Image Size -- Aspect Ratio -- Quality -- Flash Compensation -- AF Illuminator -- SteadyShot -- Color Space -- Long Exp. NR/High ISO NR -- Custom Menu -- Eye-Start AF -- Ctrl Dial Setup -- Red-Eye Reduction -- Auto Review -- Auto Off w/ VF -- Playback Menu -- Delete -- Format -- Slide Show Interval -- Protect -- Specify Printing -- Playback Display -- Setup 1/2/3 Menus -- LCD Brightness -- Power Save (Live View) (Alpha A390 Only) -- Power Save (Optical Viewfinder) -- CTRL for HDMI -- Help Guide Display -- Display Color -- Date/Time Setup -- Language -- File Number -- Folder Name -- Select Folder/New Folder -- USB Connection -- Audio Signals -- Pixel Mapping (Alpha A390 Only) -- Cleaning Mode -- Version -- Reset Default -- Function Menus -- Shooting Function Menu -- Playback Function Menu -- Chapter 4 Getting the Right Exposure -- Getting a Handle on Exposure -- How the Sony Alpha Calculates Exposure -- Choosing a Metering Method -- Choosing an Exposure Method -- Aperture Priority -- Shutter Priority.

Program Auto Mode -- Making Exposure Value Changes -- Manual Exposure -- Adjusting Exposure with ISO Settings -- Bracketing -- Dealing with Noise -- Fixing Exposures with Histograms -- Scene Modes -- Chapter 5 Advanced Techniques for Your Sony Alpha DSLR-A390/A290 -- Exploring Ultra-Fast Exposures -- Long Exposures -- Three Ways to Take Long Exposures -- Working with Long Exposures -- Delayed Exposures -- Self-Timer -- Getting into Focus -- Phase Detection -- Contrast Detection -- Focus Modes -- Focus Pocus -- Adding Circles of Confusion -- Making Sense of Focus Sensors -- Your Autofocus Mode Options -- Setting the AF Area -- Continuous Shooting -- Setting Image Parameters -- Customizing White Balance -- Setting a Custom White Balance -- Image Processing -- D-Range Optimizer -- Using Creative Styles -- Working with Live View -- What You Can/Cannot Do with Live View -- Chapter 6 Working with Lenses -- But Don't Forget the Crop Factor -- Your First Lens -- Buy Now, Expand Later -- Your Second (and Third…) Lens -- What Lenses Can Do for You -- Zoom or Prime? -- Categories of Lenses -- Using Wide-Angle and Wide-Zoom Lenses -- Avoiding Potential Wide-Angle Problems -- Using Telephoto and Tele-Zoom Lenses -- Avoiding Telephoto Lens Problems -- Telephotos and Bokeh -- Add-ons and Special Features -- Lens Hoods -- Telephoto Extenders -- Macro Focusing -- SteadyShot and Your Lenses -- Chapter 7 Making Light Work for You -- Continuous Illumination versus Electronic Flash -- Continuous Lighting Basics -- Daylight -- Incandescent/Tungsten Light -- Fluorescent Light/Other Light Sources -- Adjusting White Balance -- Electronic Flash Basics -- How Electronic Flash Works -- Using the Built-In Flash -- Flash Exposure Compensation -- Using the External Electronic Flash -- HVL-F58AM Flash Unit -- HVL-F42AM Flash Unit -- HVL-F36AM Flash Unit -- HVL-F20AM Flash Unit.

More Advanced Lighting Techniques -- Diffusing and Softening the Light -- Using Multiple Light Sources -- Other Lighting Accessories -- Chapter 8 Downloading and Editing Your Images -- What's in the Box? -- Picture Motion Browser -- Image Data Lightbox SR -- Image Data Converter SR -- Transferring Your Photos -- Using a Card Reader and Software -- Dragging and Dropping -- Editing Your Photos -- Image Editors -- RAW Utilities -- Chapter 9 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390/A290: Troubleshooting and Prevention -- Updating Your Firmware -- Protecting Your LCD -- All Your Eggs in One Basket? -- What Can Go Wrong? -- What Can You Do? -- Cleaning Your Sensor -- Dust the FAQs, Ma'am -- Identifying and Dealing with Stubborn Dust -- Avoiding Dust -- Sensor Cleaning -- Glossary -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W -- Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- Q -- R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W -- Z.