Cover -- Contents -- Preface -- Introduction -- Chapter 1 Getting Started with Your Sony Alpha dSLR -- Differences Between the A580 and A560 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 -- Using the Alpha's Flash -- An Introduction to Movie Making -- Reviewing the Images You've Taken -- Transferring Photos to Your Computer -- Chapter 2 Sony Alpha DSLR-A580/A560 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 -- Anatomy of the Sony Alpha's Menus -- Recording 1/2/3 Menu -- Image: Size -- Image: Aspect Ratio -- Image: Quality -- Movie: File Format -- Movie: Size -- Movie: Audio Rec. -- SteadyShot -- Panorama: Size -- Panorama: Direction -- 3D Pan.: Image Size -- 3D Pan.: Direction -- Default: Right -- Flash Control -- AF Illuminator -- AF Method -- Color Space -- Long Exposure NR/High ISO NR -- Custom 1/2 Menu -- Eye-Start AF -- Func. of AEL Button -- AEL -- Focus Hold Button -- Red Eye Reduction -- Release w/o Lens -- Auto Off w/ VF -- Grid Line -- Histogram -- Auto Review -- Playback 1/2 Menu -- Delete -- Still/Movie Select -- Slide Show -- 3D Viewing -- Protect -- Specify Printing -- Volume Settings -- Select Folder -- Select Date -- Playback Display -- Memory Card Tool Menu -- Format -- File Number -- Folder Name -- Select REC Folder -- New Folder -- Recover Image DB -- Display Card Space -- Clock Setup Menu -- Date/Time Setup -- Area Setting -- Setup 1/2 Menus -- LCD Brightness -- Power Save (LV) -- Power Save (OVF).

CTRL for HDMI -- Language -- Help Guide Display -- USB Connection -- Upload Settings -- Audio Signals -- Cleaning Mode -- Pixel Mapping -- Version -- Demo Mode -- Reset Default -- 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 -- Multi Frame Noise Reduction -- Bracketing -- Dealing with Noise -- Fixing Exposures with Histograms -- Auto, Scene, and Specialized Modes -- Auto and Scene Modes -- Sweep Panorama Mode -- 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 -- 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 -- Manual Focus -- Focus Check Live View -- Focus Stacking -- 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 Live View and Movie Making -- Working with Live View -- What You Can Do with Live View -- Making Movies -- Preparing to Shoot Video -- Steps During Movie-Making -- Tips for Shooting Better Movies -- Make a Shooting Script -- Use Storyboards -- Storytelling in Video -- Lighting for Video -- Audio -- Chapter 7 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 8 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 Built-In Flash -- Flash Exposure Compensation -- Using the External Electronic Flash -- HVL-F58AM Flash Unit -- HVL-F43AM 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 9 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 10 Sony Alpha DSLR-A580/A560: Troubleshooting and Prevention -- Update Your Firmware -- Protect Your LCD -- Troubleshooting Memory Cards -- All Your Eggs in One Basket? -- 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.