Sony A 330 Manual

							Using the shooting function
81
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 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 control 
button is used.
 When using a tele converter (sold separately), etc., rotation of the focusing ring may 
not be smooth.
 The correct focus in the viewfinder is not achieved if the diopter is not adjusted 
properly in viewfinder mode (page 69).
 The direct manual focus function is not available on this camera.
Adjusting the focus manually (Manual focus)
1Set the focus mode switch on the 
lens to MF.
2When the lens is not equipped 
with the focus mode switch, set 
the focus mode switch on the 
camera to MF.
3Rotate the focusing ring of the 
lens to achieve a sharp focus.
Focusing 
ring 
						

							82
Zooming in in one step
You can zoom in to the center of an image using the smart teleconverter 
(Digital zoom) and record the image.
The image size is automatically set to the following regardless of the 
selected image size.
* The number of pixels in the image size selected here is different from that 
of the image size selected in normal mode.
M:  3264 × 2176 pixels (DSLR-A380)/
2768 × 1840 pixels (DSLR-A330)
S: 2416 × 1600 pixels (DSLR-A380)/
2032 × 1360 pixels (DSLR-A330)
Notes When the LIVE VIEW/OVF switch is set to “OVF,” the smart teleconverter is 
unavailable.
 When [Quality] is set to   (RAW) or   (RAW & JPEG), the smart 
teleconverter is unavailable.
 When the smart teleconverter is available (when in autofocus mode), [AF area] is set 
to  (Spot).
1Set the LIVE VIEW/OVF switch to 
“LIVE VIEW.”
2Press the   button.
 Each time you press the   button, the 
zoom scaling changes as follows: 
Approx. ×1.4 t Approx. ×2 t Off
 button
Zoom scaling Image size
Approx. ×1.4 M*
Approx. ×2 S* 
						

							Using the shooting function
83
 When the smart teleconverter is available, [Metering mode] is set to   (Multi 
segment). 
						

							84
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.
When the mode dial is set to AUTO, the flash pops up automatically if it is 
dark or you are shooting into the light.
1 on the control button t Select 
the desired setting
2After the flash has finished 
charging, 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 focus on a subject (AF 
illuminator).
 (Flash charging) 
indicator 
						

							Using the shooting function
85
 The lens hood (sold separately) may block the light of the flash. Remove 
the lens hood when using the flash.
 When using the flash, shoot the subject at a distance of 1 m (3.3 feet) or 
greater.
 When shooting indoors or shooting nightscapes, you can use slow sync to 
shoot a brighter image of people and backgrounds.
 You can use rear sync to shoot a natural image of the trail of a moving 
subject such as a moving bicycle or a walking person.
Notes Do not hold the camera by grabbing the flash emitter.
 Shooting conditions required to prevent shadows from appearing on an image vary, 
depending on the lens.
 When the exposure mode is set to AUTO or Scene Selection, the   (Slow sync.), 
 (Rear sync.), and   (Wireless) items cannot be selected.  (Flash Off)Does not fire even if it is dark.
 (Autoflash)Fires if it is dark or against light.
 (Fill-flash)Fires every time you trigger the shutter.
 (Slow sync.)Fires every time you trigger the shutter. 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 everytime you 
trigger the shutter.
 (Wireless)Fires an external flash (sold separately) that is off the camera 
and away from it (Wireless flash shooting).
Shooting techniques 
						

							86
The flash range
The range of the built-in flash depends on the ISO sensitivity and aperture 
value. Refer to the following table.
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.)
 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  1 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 – 7.1 m (4.6 – 23 
feet)1 – 5 m (3.3 – 16 
feet)1 – 3.6 m (3.3 – 11 
feet)
100 1 – 3.6 m (3.3 – 11 
feet)1 – 2.5 m (3.3 – 8.2 
feet)1 – 1.8 m (3.3 – 5.9 
feet)
200 1 – 5.1 m (3.3 – 16 
feet)1 – 3.5 m (3.3 – 11 
feet)1 – 2.5 m (3.3 – 8.2 
feet)
400 1.4 – 7.1 m (4.6 – 23 
feet)1 – 5 m (3.3 – 16 
feet)1 – 3.6 m (3.3 – 11 
feet)
800 2 – 10 m (6.6 – 32 
feet)1.4 – 7.1 m (4.6 – 23 
feet)1 – 5.1 m (3.3 – 16 
feet)
1600 2.8 – 14 m (9.2 – 46 
feet)2 – 10 m (6.6 – 32 
feet)1.4 – 7.1 m (4.6 – 23 
feet)
3200 4 – 20 m (13 – 66 
feet)2.8 – 14 m (9.2 – 46 
feet)2 – 10 m (6.6 – 32 
feet) 
						

							Using the shooting function
87
With an external wireless flash (sold separately), 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.
Notes The camera cannot perform a pre-flash test of the wireless flash. Confirm that the 
flash fires properly by releasing the shutter.
 The camera cannot carry out the wireless lighting ratio control.
 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 causes your external flash to fire. 
To change the channel of the external flash, refer to the operating instructions 
supplied with it.
Performing wireless flash shooting
1Attach the wireless flash to the accessory shoe and turn both 
the camera and the flash on.
2 on the control button t  
(Wireless)
3Remove the wireless flash from the accessory shoe. 
						

							88
Adjusting the brightness of the image 
(Exposure, Flash compensation, 
Metering)
Except for recording mode M, the exposure is automatically selected 
(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.
 The exposure compensation screen is 
displayed in the viewfinder mode.
 button
2Adjust the exposure with the 
control dial.
Toward + (over): Brightens an image.
Toward – (under): Darkens an image.
Standard exposure
Adjust in the – 
directionBase exposure
Adjust in the + 
direction 
						

							Using the shooting function
89
 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 101).
Note This item cannot be set when the exposure mode is set to AUTO or Scene Selection.
To shoot while checking the screen using the histogram
3Adjust the focus and shoot the subject.
Shooting techniques
The histogram displays the luminance 
distribution that shows how many pixels 
of a particular brightness exist in the 
picture. To display the histogram, press 
DISP on the control button (pages 39 and 
104).
The exposure compensation will change 
the histogram accordingly. The right 
illustration is an example.
Shooting with the exposure 
compensation on the positive side 
brightens the whole picture, making the 
entire histogram shift to the bright side 
(right side). If the exposure compensation 
is applied on the negative side, the 
histogram will shift to the other side.
Both ends of the histogram show a high-
key or low-key portion. It is impossible to 
restore these area with a computer later. 
Adjust the exposure if necessary and 
shoot again.Number of pixels
Dark Light 
						

							90
Notes The histogram displayed in Live View mode does not indicate the final recorded 
image. It indicates the condition of the image just monitored on the LCD monitor. 
The histogram will differ based on aperture setting, etc.
 The histogram differs between shooting and playback in the following situations:
– When firing the flash.
– When the subject has low intensity, such as night scenery.
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 This item cannot be set when the exposure mode is set to AUTO or Scene Selection.
 If you have adjusted the flash level,   appears on the LCD monitor/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 higher flash effect may not be visible due to the limited amount of flash light, if 
the subject is outside the maximum range of the flash. If the subject is very close, the 
lower flash 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.
Adjusting the amount of flash light (Flash compensation)