Contents -- Preface -- Introduction -- Chapter 1 Getting Started with Your Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 -- 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 -- Turning on SteadyShot -- Other Settings -- Adjusting White Balance and ISO -- Using Exposure Compensation -- Using the Self-Timer -- Reviewing the Images You've Taken -- Transferring Photos to Your Computer -- Chapter 2 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 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-A850 -- Anatomy of the Sony Alpha's Menus -- Recording Menu 1/2/3/4 Options -- Image Size -- Aspect Ratio -- Quality -- D-Range Optimizer -- Custom Button -- Creative Style -- Color Space -- Flash Mode -- Flash Control -- Flash Compensation -- Exposure Step -- ISO Auto Range -- AF-A Setup -- AF Area -- Priority Setup -- AF Illuminator -- AF w/ Shutter -- Long Exp. NR/High ISO NR -- Memory -- Rec Mode Reset -- Custom Menu 1/2/3 Options -- AF/MF Button -- AF/MF Control -- AF Drive Speed -- AF Area Display -- Focus Hold Button -- Auto Review -- Preview Function -- AEL Button -- Ctrl Dial Setup -- Dial Exp. Comp -- Ctrl Dial Lock -- Button Ops. -- Release w/o Card -- Rec. Info. Disp. -- Exp. Comp. Set -- Bracket Order -- Custom Reset -- Playback Menu 1/2 Options -- Delete -- Format -- Protect -- DPOF Setup -- Playback Display -- Slide Show -- Setup Menu 1/2/3/4 Options -- LCD Brightness -- Info. Disp. Time -- Power Save -- Video Output -- HDMI Output -- Language -- Date/Time Setup -- Memory Card -- File Number -- Folder Name -- Select Folder/New Folder -- USB Connection.

Mass Strg. Card -- Menu Start -- Delete Confirm. -- Audio Signals -- Cleaning Mode -- AF Micro Adj. -- Focusing Screen -- APS-C Size Capture -- Reset Default -- Quick Navi Screen -- Settings on the Quick Navi Screen -- 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 -- Auto Mode -- Program Auto Mode -- Aperture Priority -- Shutter Priority -- Making Exposure Value Changes -- Manual Exposure -- Adjusting Exposure with ISO Settings -- Bracketing -- Dealing with Noise -- Fixing Exposures with Histograms -- Adjusting Exposures with Intelligent Preview -- Chapter 5 Advanced Techniques for Your Sony Alpha DSLR -- Exploring Ultra-Fast Exposures -- Long Exposures -- Three Ways to Take Long Exposures -- Working with Long Exposures -- Delayed Exposures -- Self-Timer -- Remote Control -- Time-Lapse/Interval Photography -- 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 -- Fine-Tuning the Focus of Your Lenses -- Lens Tune-Up -- Continuous Shooting -- Setting Image Parameters -- Customizing White Balance -- Setting White Balance by Color Temperature -- Setting a Custom White Balance -- Image Processing -- D-Range Optimizer -- Using Creative Styles -- Chapter 6 Working with Lenses -- Don't Forget the Crop Factor -- Do You Need a "Cropped" Camera, Too? -- Your First Lenses -- Buy Now, Expand Later -- Your Second (and Third…) Lens -- Sony's Alpha-bet Soup -- 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 -- The Elements of Light -- Continuous Lighting-or 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 External Electronic Flash -- HVL-F58AM Flash Unit -- HVL-F42AM Flash Unit -- HVL-F36AM Flash Unit -- HVL-F20AM Flash Unit -- Setting Flash Exposure Compensation -- Setting Flash Mode -- 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 -- Remote Camera Control -- 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-A850: Troubleshooting and Prevention -- Update Your Firmware -- Protect Your LCD -- Troubleshooting Memory Cards -- All Your Eggs in One Basket? -- Preventive Measures -- What Can Go Wrong? -- What Can You Do? -- Clean 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.