Sony A 200 Manual

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Shooting images
Set the mode dial to   (Landscape).
 To accentuate the openness of the scenery, set the lens to wide angle.
 Taking landscape photos
This mode is suitable to
zShoot the entire range of scenery in 
sharp focus with vivid colors.
Shooting technique 
						

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Set the mode dial to   (Macro).
 Get close to the subject and shoot at the minimum distance of the lens.
 You can shoot a closer subject using a macro lens.
 Set the built-in flash to   (Flash Off) when you shoot a subject within 
1 m (3.3 feet).
 In macro mode shooting, the Super SteadyShot function will not be fully 
effective. Use a tripod to achieve better results (page 47).
 Taking small-subject photos
This mode is suitable to
zShoot close subjects such as 
flowers, insects, dishes, or small 
goods. You can achieve clear and 
sharp focus.
Shooting techniques 
						

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Shooting images
Set the mode dial to   (Sports action).
 The camera shoots images continuously while the shutter button is 
pressed.
 Press and hold the shutter button halfway down until the right moment.
 Set the ISO sensitivity higher when shooting in poor light (page 82).
 Taking moving-subject photos
This mode is suitable to
zShoot moving subjects outdoors or 
in bright places.
Shooting techniques 
						

							54
Set the mode dial to   (Sunset).
 Used to shoot an image accentuating the red color compared with other 
modes. This is also suitable for shooting the beautiful red of the sunrise.
 You can adjust the depth of the color by exposure compensation. Shifting 
to the under side (–) deepens the colors, while shifting to the over side (+) 
attenuates the colors. 
 Taking sunset photos
This mode is suitable to
zShoot the red of the sunset 
beautifully.
Shooting techniques 
						

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Shooting images
Set the mode dial to   (Night portrait/Night view).
Set [Flash mode] to   (Flash Off) when you shoot a night view without 
persons (page 74).
 Take care that the subject does not move to prevent the image from 
blurring.
 The shutter speed is slower, so using a tripod is recommended.
Note The picture may not be taken properly when shooting a wholly dark night scene.
 Taking night view photos
This mode is suitable to
zShoot portraits in night scenes.
zShoot night scenes at a distance 
without losing the dark atmosphere 
of the surroundings.
Shooting techniques 
						

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Shooting an image the way you want it 
(Exposure mode)
With a single lens reflex camera, you can adjust the shutter speed (how 
long the shutter is open) and aperture (the range that is in focus: depth of 
field) to enjoy a variety of photographic expressions.
For example, you can use a fast shutter speed to shoot the ephemeral shape 
of a wave, or you can accentuate a flower by opening the aperture to put 
everything in front of and beyond the flower out of focus. These are a few 
of the effects you can enjoy with your camera (pages 59, 61).
Adjusting the shutter speed and aperture not only creates the photographic 
effects of movement and focus, but also determines the brightness of the 
image by controlling the amount of exposure (the amount of light the 
camera takes in), which is the most important factor in photo shooting.
Changing of picture brightness by the amount of exposure
When using a faster shutter speed, the camera opens the shutter for a 
shorter time. This means less time for the camera to take in light, resulting 
in a darker picture. To take a brighter picture, you can open the aperture 
(the hole through which the light passes) to some extent in order to adjust 
the amount of light the camera takes in at one time. 
The brightness of the picture adjusted by the shutter speed and aperture is 
called “exposure.”
This section will show you how to adjust the exposure and enjoy various 
photo expressions by the use of movement, focus, and light. You can find 
out the right way to shoot the image and the subject you like.
Amount of 
exposurelow high 
						

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Shooting images
 Shooting with program auto
This mode is suitable to
zUse the automatic exposure, while 
keeping the custom settings for ISO 
sensitivity, Creative Style, D-Range 
optimizer, etc.
zKeep the exposure compensation 
measured by the camera, but change 
the combination of shutter speed and 
aperture depending on the subject 
(Program shift).
1Set the mode dial to P.
2Set the shooting functions to your desired settings (pages 67 to 
92).
The settings will be stored until you reset the settings.
 To fire the flash, press the   button.
3Adjust the focus and shoot the subject. 
						

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To use Program shift
Notes If you turn the camera off and on or a certain period of time is passed, Program shift 
“P
S” or “PA” is canceled and returned to “P.”
 When Program Shift “P
S” is selected, the   (Camera shake warning) indicator is 
not displayed.
1Press the shutter button halfway 
down to adjust the focus.
The correct exposure (shutter speed and 
aperture value) determined by the camera 
is indicated.
Shutter speed
2Rotate the control dial to select 
your desired combination while 
the focus is achieved.
The recording mode indicator is switched 
to “P
S” (Shutter speed priority program 
shift), and the shutter speed and aperture 
value are changed.
 Switch to “P
A” (Aperture priority 
program shift) when you want to select 
a combination by reference to the 
aperture value (page 59).
PS
3Shoot the subject.
Aperture value
Aperture 
value Shutter speed 
						

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Shooting images
 Shooting by controlling the blur of the background 
(Aperture priority)
This mode is suitable to
zPut the subject in sharp focus and 
blur everything in front of and 
beyond the subject. Opening the 
aperture narrows the range that is in 
focus. (Depth of field becomes 
shallower.)
zShoot the depth of the scenery. 
Narrowing down the aperture widens 
the range that is in focus. (Depth of 
field becomes deeper.)
1Set the mode dial to A. 
						

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 The shutter speed may become slower depending on the aperture value. 
When the shutter speed is slower, use a tripod.
 The flash range differs according to the aperture value. When you shoot 
with the flash, check the flash range (page 73).
 To blur the background more, use a telephoto lens or a lens that is 
equipped with a smaller diaphragm (bright lens).
2Select the aperture value (F-
number) with the control dial.
 Smaller F-number: The foreground and 
background of the subject are blurred.
Larger F-number: The subject and its 
foreground and background are also 
focused on.
 You cannot check the blurring of an 
image in the viewfinder. Check the 
recorded image and adjust the aperture.
Aperture (F-number)
3Adjust the focus and shoot the 
subject.
The shutter speed is automatically 
adjusted to obtain correct exposure.
 When the camera judges that the proper 
exposure is not obtained with the 
selected aperture value, the shutter 
speed flashes. In such cases, adjust the 
aperture again.
Shutter speed
Shooting techniques