Sony A 230 Manual

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141
Speed range 1/4000 second to 30 
seconds, bulb, (1/3 EV 
step)
Flash sync speed
1/160 second
[Built-In-Flash]
Flash G.No.
GN 10 (in meters at ISO 
100)
Recycling time
Approx. 4 seconds
Flash coverage
Covering 18 mm lens 
(focal length that the lens 
indicates)
Flash compensation
±2.0 EV (1/3 EV step)
[Recording media]
“Memory Stick PRO Duo” 
media, SD memory card, 
SDHC memory card
[LCD monitor]
LCD panel 6.7 cm (2.7 type) TFT 
drive
Total number of dots
230 400 (960 × 240) dots
[Input/output terminals]
USB miniB
HDMI HDMI type C minijack
[Power, general]
Used battery pack
Rechargeable battery pack 
NP-FH50
[Others]
PictBridge Compatible
Exif Print CompatiblePRINT Image Matching III
Compatible
Dimensions Approx. 128 × 97 × 
67.5 mm (5 1/8 × 3 7/8 × 
2 3/4 inches) (W/H/D, 
excluding protrusions)
Mass Approx.450 g (15.9 oz) 
(without batteries, memory 
card and body accessories)
Operating temperature
0 to 40°C (32 to 104°F)
File format JPEG (DCF Ver. 2.0, Exif 
Ver. 2.21, MPF Baseline) 
compliant, DPOF 
compatible
USB communication
Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0 
compliant)
BC-VH1 Battery charger
Input rating 100 V – 240 V AC, 50/60 
Hz, 4 W
Output rating
 8.4 V DC, 0.28 A
Operating temperature range
0 to 40°C (32 to 104°F)
Storage temperature range
–20 to +60°C (–4 to 
+140°F)
Maximum dimensions
Approx. 60 × 25 × 95 mm 
(2 3/8 × 1× 3 3/4 inches) 
(W/H/D)
Mass Approx. 75 g (2.6 oz) 
						

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Rechargeable battery pack 
NP-FH50
Used battery
Lithium-ion battery
Maximum voltage
DC 8.4 V 
Nominal voltage
DC 6.8 V
Maximum charge current
1.75 A
Maximum charge voltage
DC 8.4 V
Capacity
Typical 6.1 Wh (900 mAh)
Minimum 5.9 Wh (870 mAh)
Maximum dimensions
Approx. 31.8 × 18.5 × 45.0 
mm (1 5/16 × 3/4 × 1 13/16 
inches) (W/H/D)
Mass Approx. 50 g (1.8 oz)
Design and specifications are subject 
to change without notice.On focal length
The picture angle of this camera is 
narrower than that of a 35 mm-format 
film camera. You can find the 
approximate equivalent of the focal 
length of a 35 mm-format film 
camera, and shoot with the same 
picture angle, by increasing the focal 
length of your lens by half.
For example, by using a 50 mm lens, 
you can get the approximate 
equivalent of a 75 mm lens of a 35 
mm-format film camera.
On image data compatibility
 This camera conforms with DCF 
(Design rule for Camera File 
system) universal standard 
established by JEITA (Japan 
Electronics and Information 
Technology Industries 
Association).
 Playback of images recorded with 
your camera on other equipment 
and playback of images recorded or 
edited with other equipment on 
your camera are not guaranteed. 
						

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Trademarks
  is a trademark of Sony 
Corporation.
 “Memory Stick,”  , “Memory 
Stick PRO,”  , 
“Memory Stick Duo,” 
, “Memory Stick 
PRO Duo,”  , 
“Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo,” 
, “Memory 
Stick Micro,” “MagicGate,” and 
 are trademarks of 
Sony Corporation.
 “InfoLITHIUM” is a trademark of 
Sony Corporation.
 “PhotoTV HD” is a trademark of 
Sony Corporation.
 Microsoft, Windows, and Windows 
Vista are either registered 
trademarks or trademarks of 
Microsoft Corporation in the 
United States and/or other 
countries.
 HDMI, the HDMI logo and High-
Definition Multimedia Interface are 
trademarks or registered trademarks 
of HDMI Licensing LLC.
 Macintosh and Mac OS are 
trademarks or registered trademarks 
of Apple Inc.
 PowerPC is a registered trademark 
of IBM Corporation in the United 
States.
 The SDHC logo is a trademark.
 MultiMediaCard is a trademark of 
MultiMediaCard Association.
 Intel, Intel Core, MMX, and 
Pentium are trademarks or 
registered trademarks of Intel 
Corporation. Adobe is a registered trademark or 
a trademark of Adobe Systems 
Incorporated in the United States 
and/or other countries.
 D-Range Optimizer Advanced uses 
technology provided by   Apical 
Limited.
 In addition, system and product 
names used in this manual are, in 
general, trademarks or registered 
trademarks of their respective 
developers or manufacturers. 
However, the ™ or ® marks are not 
used in all cases in this manual. 
						

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Troubleshooting
If you experience trouble with your camera, try the following solutions. 
Check the items on pages 144 to 152. Consult your Sony dealer or local 
authorized Sony service facility.
The battery pack cannot be installed.
 As you insert the battery pack, use the tip of the battery pack to push the 
lock lever (page 15).
 Check the model number of the battery pack (pages 11, 16).
The remaining battery indicator is incorrect, or sufficient remaining 
battery indicator is displayed but the power runs out too quickly.
 This phenomenon occurs when you use the camera in an extremely hot or 
cold location (page 156).
 The battery pack is discharged. Install a charged battery pack (page 12).
 The battery pack is dead (page 16). Replace it with a new one.
Cannot turn on the camera.
 Install the battery pack correctly (page 15).
 The battery pack is discharged. Install a charged battery pack (page 12).
 The battery pack is dead (page 16). Replace it with a new one.
1Check the following items.
2Remove the battery pack, and insert the battery pack again after 
about one minute, and turn on the power.
3Reset the settings (page 119).
4Consult your Sony dealer or local authorized Sony service facility.
Battery pack and power 
						

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145
The power turns off suddenly.
 If you do not operate the camera for given period of time, the camera turns 
to power saving mode and nearly shuts down. To cancel the power save, 
operate the camera, such as pressing the shutter button halfway down 
(page 114).
The CHARGE lamp flashes when charging the battery pack.
 Remove and re-insert the battery pack correctly.
 Charge the battery pack under the suitable temperatures between 10 and 
30°C (50 and 86°F).
Nothing is displayed on the LCD monitor when the power is turned on.
 In the default setting, the LCD monitor will turn off if no operation is 
registered for more than 10 seconds to minimize the battery consumption.
The image is not clear in the viewfinder.
 Adjust the diopter scale properly using the diopter-adjustment dial 
(page 24).
The image has not been recorded.
 A memory card is not inserted.
The shutter does not release.
 You are using a memory card with a write-protect switch, and the switch is 
set to the LOCK position. Set the switch to the recording position.
 The position of the memory card switch is wrong. Set it to the correct 
position (page 20).
 Check the free capacity of the memory card (page 27). If it is full, do one of 
the following:
– Delete unnecessary images (page 102).
– Change the memory card.
 You cannot record images while charging the built-in flash (page 75).
 The shutter cannot be released when the subject is out of focus.
 The lens is not attached properly. Attach the lens properly (page 18).
 When an astronomical telescope, etc., is attached to the camera, set the 
recording mode to M and do your shooting.
Shooting images 
						

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 The subject may require special focusing (page 70). Use the focus-lock or 
manual focus function (pages 71, 74).
Recording takes a long time.
 The noise reduction function is turned on (page 112). This is not a 
malfunction.
 You are shooting in RAW mode (page 109). Since the RAW data file is 
large, the RAW mode shooting may take time.
The image is out of focus.
 The subject is too close. Check the minimum focal distance of the lens.
 You are shooting in manual focus mode, set the focus mode lever to AF 
(autofocus) (page 69).
 When the focus mode switch is equipped with the lens, set it to AF.
 Ambient light is insufficient.
Eye-Start AF does not work.
 Set [Eye-Start AF] to [On] (page 71).
 Press the shutter button halfway down.
The flash does not work.
 The flash mode is set to [Autoflash]. If you want to make sure the flash fires 
without fail, set the flash mode to [Fill-flash] (page 75).
Fuzzy specks appear in images shot using the flash.
 Dust in the air reflected the flash light and appeared in the image. This is 
not a malfunction.
The flash takes too long to recharge.
 The flash has been fired in succession in a short period. When the flash has 
been fired in succession, the recharging process may take longer than usual 
to avoid overheating of the camera.
A picture taken with the flash is too dark.
 If the subject is beyond the flash range (the distance that the flash can 
reach), the pictures will be dark because the flash light does not reach the 
subject. If the ISO is changed, the flash range also changes with it 
(page 77). 
						

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 In the following cases, the image may be dark. Remove these accessories, 
then shoot.
– An ND filter or a PL filter.
– A diffuser.
– A wide panel for the HVL-F36AM flash.
The date and time are recorded incorrectly.
 Set the correct date and time (pages 23, 115).
The aperture value and/or shutter speed flashes when you press the 
shutter button halfway down.
 Since the subject is too bright or too dark, it is beyond the available range of 
the camera. Adjust the setting again.
The image is whitish (Flare).
Blurring of light appears on the image (Ghosting).
 The picture was taken under a strong light source, and excessive light has 
entered the lens. Attach a lens hood (sold separately).
The corners of the picture are too dark.
 If any filter or hood is used, take it off and try shooting again. Depending on 
the thickness of the filter and improper attachment of the hood, the filter or 
the hood may partially appear in the image. The optical properties of some 
lenses may cause the periphery of the image to appear too dark (insufficient 
light).
The eyes of the subject come out red.
 Activate the red eye reduction function (page 77).
 Get close to the subject, and shoot the subject within the flash range using 
the flash (page 77).
Dots appear and remain on the LCD monitor.
 This is not a malfunction. These dots are not recorded (page 7).
The image is blurred.
 The picture was taken in a dark location without the flash, resulting in 
camera shake. The use of a tripod or the flash is recommended (pages 47, 
75). 
						

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The EV scale b B is flashing in the viewfinder.
 The subject is too bright or too dark for the metering range of the camera.
Your camera cannot play back images.
 The folder/file name has been changed on your computer (page 127).
 When an image file has been processed by a computer or when the image 
file was recorded using a model other than that of your camera, playback on 
your camera is not guaranteed.
 The camera is in USB mode. Delete the USB connection (page 125).
The image does not appear on the TV screen.
 Check whether the connection is correct (page 104).
Your camera cannot delete an image.
 Cancel the protection (page 101).
You have deleted an image by mistake.
 Once you have deleted an image, you cannot restore it. We recommend that 
you protect images that you do not want to delete (page 101).
You cannot mark a DPOF mark.
 You cannot mark DPOF marks on RAW images.
You do not know if the OS of your computer is compatible with the 
camera.
 Check “Recommended computer environment” (pages 121, 129).
Your computer does not recognize your camera.
 Check that the camera is turned on.
 When the battery level is low, install the charged battery pack (page 12), or 
use the AC Adaptor (sold separately).
Viewing images
Deleting/Editing images
Computers 
						

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 Use the USB cable (supplied) (page 122).
 Disconnect the USB cable, and connect it again firmly.
 Set [USB connection] to [Mass Storage] (page 122).
 Disconnect all equipment other than the camera, the keyboard and the 
mouse from the USB jacks of your computer.
 Connect the camera directly to your computer without passing through a 
USB hub or other device (page 121).
You cannot copy images.
 Make the USB connection by properly connecting the camera with your 
computer (page 122).
 Follow the designated copy procedure for your OS (page 123).
 When you shoot images with a memory card formatted by a computer, you 
may not be able to copy the images to a computer. Shoot using a memory 
card formatted by your camera (page 111).
The image cannot be played back on a computer.
 If you are using “PMB,” refer to the “PMB Guide.”
 Consult the computer or software manufacturer.
After making a USB connection, “PMB” does not start automatically.
 Make the USB connection after the computer is turned on (page 122).
You do not know how to operate the software (supplied).
 See help or the guide of each software.
Cannot insert a memory card.
 Insertion direction of the memory card is wrong. Insert it in the correct 
direction (page 20).
Cannot record on a memory card.
 The memory card is full. Delete unnecessary images (page 102).
 An unusable memory card is inserted (page 21).
You have formatted a memory card by mistake.
 All the data on the memory card is deleted by formatting. You cannot 
restore it.
Memory card 
						

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“Memory Stick PRO Duo” media are not recognized by a computer with a 
“Memory Stick” media slot.
 If “Memory Stick PRO Duo” media are not supported on your computer’s 
“Memory Stick” media slot, connect the camera to the computer 
(page 122). The computer will recognize the “Memory Stick PRO Duo” 
media.
Also see “PictBridge compliant printer” (as follows) in conjunction with 
the following items.
The color of the image is strange.
 When you print the images recorded in Adobe RGB mode using sRGB 
printers that are not compatible with Adobe RGB (DCF2.0/Exif2.21), the 
images are printed at a lower intensity level (page 88).
Images are printed with both edges cut off.
 Depending on your printer, the left, right, top, and bottom edges of the 
image may be cut off. Especially when you print an image shot with the 
aspect ratio set to [16:9], the lateral end of the image may be cut off.
 When printing images using your own printer, cancel the trimming or 
borderless settings. Consult the printer manufacturer as to whether the 
printer provides these functions or not.
 When having images printed at a digital print shop, ask the shop whether 
they can print the images without cutting off both edges.
Cannot print images with the date.
 Using “PMB,” you can print images with date (page 133).
 This camera does not have a feature for superimposing dates on images. 
However, because the images shot with the camera include information on 
the recording date, you can print images with the date superimposed if the 
printer or the software can recognize Exif information. For compatibility 
with Exif information, consult the manufacturer of the printer or the 
software.
 When you print images at a shop, images can be printed with the date if you 
ask them to do so.
Printing