Sony A 200 Manual

							Using the shooting function
71
Note The AF area may not be illuminated during continuous shooting or when the shutter 
button is pressed all the way down without pause.
When it is difficult to get the proper focus in autofocus mode, you can 
adjust the focus manually.
Notes In the case of a subject that can be focused in autofocus mode, the z indicator lights 
up in the viewfinder when the focus is confirmed. When the Wide AF area is used, 
the center area is used, and when the Local AF area is used, the area that is selected 
with the controller is used.
 The camera resets the focal length to   (infinity) when the POWER switch is set to 
ON.
 When using a tele converter, etc., rotation of the focusing ring may not be smooth.
 The correct focus is not achieved if the diopter is not adjusted properly (page 26).
Adjusting the focus manually (Manual focus)
1Set the focus mode switch to MF.
2Rotate the focusing ring of the 
lens to achieve a sharp focus.
Focusing 
ring 
						

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Using the flash
In a dark location, using the flash allows you to shoot the subject brightly, 
and it also helps to prevent camera shake. When shooting into the sun, you 
can use the flash to shoot a bright image of the backlit subject.
 The lens or lens hood may block the light of the flash and a shadow may 
appear on the image. Remove the lens hood.
 Shoot the subject at a distance of 1 m (3.3 feet) or greater.
Note Do not hold the camera by grabbing the flash emitter.
1Press the   button.
The flash pops up.
 In AUTO or Scene Selection mode, the 
flash automatically pops up if the 
amount of light is insufficient or the 
subject is backlit. The built-in flash 
does not pop up even if you press the   
button.
 button
2After the flash charging is 
completed, shoot the subject.
 Flashing: The flash is being charged. 
When the indicator flashes, you cannot 
release the shutter.
 Lit: The flash has been charged and is 
ready to fire.
 When you press the shutter button 
halfway down under dark lighting in 
autofocus mode, the flash may be fired 
to help easily focus a subject (AF 
illuminator).
 (Flash charging) 
indicator
Shooting techniques 
						

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73
The flash range
The range within which the correct exposure is provided depends on the 
combination of the flash range and ISO sensitivity. Refer to the following 
table to determine the shooting distance.
The AF illuminator
 AF illuminator does not operate when [Autofocus mode] is set to   
(Continuous AF) or the subject is moving in   (Automatic AF). (The 
 or   indicator lights in the viewfinder.)
 The AF illuminator may not operate with focal lengths of 300 mm or 
longer.
 When an external flash is attached, the AF illuminator of the external 
flash is used.
To deactivate the AF illuminator
MENU button t  2 t [AF illuminator] t [Off]
To use the red-eye reduction
The red-eye reduction reduces the red-eye phenomenon by providing pre-
flash (low-flash light) a few times before shooting when using the flash.
MENU button t  1 t [Red eye reduc.] t [On]
Aperture F2.8 F4.0 F5.6
ISO 
settingAUTO 1.4 – 8.6 m (4.6 – 28 
feet)1 – 6 m (3.3 – 20 
feet)1 – 4.3 m (3.3 – 14 
feet)
100 1 – 4.3 m (3.3 – 14 
feet)1 – 3 m (3.3 – 9.8 
feet)1 – 2.1 m (3.3 – 6.9 
feet)
200 1 – 6 m (3.3 – 20 
feet)1 – 4.3 m (3.3 – 14 
feet)1 – 3 m (3.3 – 9.8 
feet)
400 1.4 – 8.6 m (4.6 – 28 
feet)1 – 6 m (3.3 – 20 
feet)1 – 4.3 m (3.3 – 14 
feet)
800 2 – 12 m (6.6 – 39 
feet)1.4 – 8.6 m (4.6 – 28 
feet)1 – 6 m (3.3 – 20 
feet)
1600 2.8 – 17 m (9.2 – 56 
feet)2 – 12 m (6.6 – 39 
feet)1.4 – 8.6 m (4.6 – 28 
feet)
3200 4 – 24 m (13 – 79 
feet)2.8 – 17 m (9.2 – 56 
feet)2 – 12 m (6.6 – 39 
feet) 
						

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Note The red-eye reduction is available only when the built-in flash is used.
Fn button t [Flash mode] t Select the desired setting
 When shooting indoors or using nightscape, you can use slow sync to 
shoot a bright image of people and the background.
 You can use rear sync to shoot a natural image of the trailing of a moving 
subject such as a moving bicycle or a walking person.
With an external wireless flash (not supplied), you can shoot with the flash 
without a cord when the external flash is not attached to the camera. By 
changing the position of the flash, you can shoot an image with a three 
dimensional feel by highlighting the contrast of light and shadow on the 
subject.
For the actual steps of shooting, refer to the operating instructions of the 
flash.
Selecting the flash mode
 (Flash Off)Does not fire even if the built-in flash pops up. This is not 
selectable when the mode dial is set to P, A, S, or M.
 (Autoflash)Fires if it is dark or against light. This is not selectable when 
the mode dial is set to P, A, S, or M.
 (Fill-flash)Fires whenever the built-in flash pops up.
 (Slow sync.)Fires whenever the built-in flash pops up. Slow sync shooting 
allows you to shoot a clear image of both the subject and the 
background by slowing the shutter speed.
 (Rear sync.)Fires right before the exposure is completed whenever the 
built-in flash pops up.
 (Wireless)Fires an external flash (not supplied) that is off the camera 
and away from it (Wireless flash shooting).
Shooting techniques
Performing wireless flash shooting 
						

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75
Fn button t [Flash mode] t  (Wireless)
 To do a pre-flash test, pull up the flash and press the AEL button on the 
camera.
Notes Turn off the wireless flash mode after wireless flash shooting. If the built-in flash is 
used while the wireless flash mode is still active, inaccurate flash exposures will 
result.
 Change the channel of the external flash when another photographer is using a 
wireless flash nearby and his/her built-in flash light triggers firing of your flash. To 
change the channel of the external flash, refer to the operating instructions supplied 
with it.
The AEL button setting
When using the wireless flash, it is recommended that you set [AEL button] 
(page 112) to [AEL hold] in the   Custom menu. 
						

							76
Adjusting the brightness of the image 
(Exposure, Flash compensation, 
Metering)
When shooting into the sun or by a window, the exposure may not be 
appropriate for the subject because of the big difference in lighting between 
the subject and the background. In such cases, use the light meter where the 
subject is bright enough and lock the exposure before shooting. To reduce 
the brightness of the subject, point the camera forwards a spot that is 
brighter than the subject and use the light meter to lock the exposure of the 
entire image. To make the subject brighter, point the camera forwards a 
spot that is darker than the subject and use the light meter to lock the 
exposure of the entire image.
This section describes how to shoot a brighter image of the subject using 
the  (Spot).
Shooting with fixed brightness (AE Lock)
1Fn button t [Metering mode] t  (Spot)
2Adjust the focus on the portion you want to lock the exposure.
The exposure is set when the focus is achieved.
The spot where you 
lock the exposure. 
						

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77
To check the exposure of the image
3Press the AEL button to lock the 
exposure.
 (AE lock mark) appears in the 
viewfinder and on the LCD monitor.
AEL button
4While pressing the AEL button, focus on the subject, and shoot 
the subject.
 If you continue to shoot with the same exposure value, press and hold the 
AEL button after the shooting. The setting is canceled when the button is 
released.
Hold down the AEL button and place the 
spot metering circle on the spot where the 
lighting is contrasted from the subject. 
The metering indicator displays the 
degree of exposure difference, zero being 
the locked exposure.
Shifting to the + side makes the image 
brighter, and shifting to the – side makes 
the image darker.
When the image is too bright or too dark 
to get the proper exposure, b or B 
appears or flashes at the end of the 
indicator.Spot metering circle 
						

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Except for recording mode M, the exposure is automatically acquired. 
(Automatic exposure)
Based on the exposure acquired by the automatic exposure, you can 
perform exposure compensation by shifting the exposure to either the + 
side or the – side, depending on your preference. You can make the entire 
image brighter by shifting to the + side. The entire image becomes darker 
when you shift it to the – side.
Using brightness compensation for the entire image 
(Exposure compensation)
1Press the   button to display the 
exposure compensation screen. button
2Adjust the exposure with the 
control dial.
Toward + (over): Brightens an image.
Toward – (under): Darkens an image.
Standard exposure
3Adjust the focus and shoot the subject.
Adjust in the – 
directionBase exposure
Adjust in the + 
direction 
						

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79
 Adjust the compensation level by checking the recorded image.
 Using bracket shooting, you can shoot multiple images with the exposure 
shifted to the plus or minus sides (page 90).
When shooting with the flash, you can adjust the amount of flash light 
alone, without changing the exposure compensation. You can only change 
the exposure of a main subject which is within the flash range.
MENU button t  1 t [Flash compens.] t Select the 
desired setting
 Toward +: Makes the flash level higher.
Toward –: Makes the flash level lower.
Notes If you have adjusted the flash level,   appears in the viewfinder when the built-in 
flash is pulled up. When you adjust it, be careful not to forget to reset the value.
 The positive effect may not be visible due to the limited amount of flash light, if the 
subject is at or around the maximum range for the flash. If the subject is very close, 
the negative effect may not be visible.
Exposure compensation and flash compensationExposure compensation changes the shutter speed, aperture, and ISO sensitivity (when 
[AUTO] is selected) to perform the compensation. If the flash is used, the amount of 
flash light is also changed.
However, flash compensation only changes the amount of flash light.
MENU button t  1 t [Flash control] t Select the desired 
setting
Shooting techniques
Adjusting the amount of flash light (Flash compensation)
Selecting the flash control mode to set the amount of flash 
light (Flash control) 
						

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ADI: Advanced Distance Integration
TTL: Through the lens
 When [ADI flash] is selected, using a lens that is provided with a distance 
encoder feature can perform more accurate flash compensation by using 
more accurate distance information.
Notes When the distance between the subject and the external flash (not supplied) cannot 
be determined (wireless flash shooting using an external flash (not supplied), 
shooting with an off-camera flash using a cable, shooting with a macro twin flash, 
etc.), the camera automatically selects Pre-flash TTL mode.
 Select [Pre-flash TTL] in the following cases, as the camera cannot perform flash 
compensations with ADI flash.
– A wide panel is attached to the HVL-F36AM flash.
– A diffuser is used for flash shooting.
– A filter with an exposure factor, such as an ND filter, is used.
– A close-up lens is used.
 ADI flash is only available in combination with a lens that is provided with a 
distance encoder. To determine if the lens is equipped with a distance encoder, refer 
to the operating instructions supplied with the lens.
Fn button t [Metering mode] t Select the desired mode
ADI flashThis method controls the lighting of the flash, factoring in the 
focus distance information and light metering data from the 
pre-flash. This method enables an accurate flash 
compensation with virtually no effect from the reflection off 
the subject.
Pre-flash TTLThis method controls the amount of flash light depending on 
the data only from pre-flash light metering. This method is 
susceptible to the reflection off the subject.
Selecting the method for measuring the brightness of a 
subject (Metering mode)
 (Multi segment)This divides the whole screen into 40 segments to measure 
light (40-segment honeycomb pattern metering).
 (Center weighted)While emphasizing the central area of the screen, this mode 
measures the average brightness of the entire screen.
 (Spot)This mode measures light only in the spot metering circle in 
the center of the frame.