Tom Bonner 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A300 / A350 Digital Field Guide 

Spectacular photos begin with your Sony Alpha and this book. Withits Alpha A300 and A350 cameras, Sony has blurred the distinctionbetween introductory and advanced d SLRs. With the expert advice inthis book, you’ll learn to use every menu and controlperfectly and gain insight into setting up and capturing shots thatwill amaze you. Reach beyond the automatic settings and takecontrol of exposure, shutter speed, white balance, and everycreative element that makes photography an art.

Part I explores using your Sony Alpha A300 or A350 straight outof the box. Starting with an in depth look at the Sony Quick AFLive View System, this part of the book also explores all theexternal controls, explaining the purpose and function of eachbutton, dial, and switch. Understanding your camera’s menusystem is crucial to getting great results with the A300 or the A350, and of course the book will also teach you how to maneuverthrough all of your camera’s menus. You’ll not onlylearn how to adjust each setting, but when and why you should makeeach adjustment.

Chapter 3 gives a thorough explanation of basic photographyfundamentals, without overwhelming jargon and technical terms. Ifyou are a new photographer you will gain an appreciation ofaperture, shutter speed, exposure, ISO and white balance. If youare an experienced photographer you’ll find helpful tips andtricks for adjusting each of these key settings.

Interchangeable lenses are one of a d SLR’s major strengths, andthat is true of both the A300 and A350. With so many lens options, choosing auxiliary lenses for the A300 series can becomeoverwhelming. Chapter 4 helps you eliminate the mystery about whichlenses to buy and gives you a full explanation of what to look forwhen evaluating a new lens. With information on wide-angle, normal, telephoto, and macro lenses, this chapter discusses the full Sonylens lineup and goes on to demystify the option of using Minoltalenses on the Sony Alpha.

Understanding light and light modifiers, such as diffusers andreflectors, is absolutely essential to getting great results from ad SLR. In chapter 5, you’ll find a complete discussion of lightingbasics, including the differences between continuous lighting andelectronic flash. The full array of light modifiers is outlined, and the chapter goes on to explain the strengths and weaknesses ofthe proprietary Sony/Minolta hot shoe design. Naturally, there isalso a discussion of which flash units work with the A300series.

Chapter 6 consists of a series of exercises designed to enhanceyour skills when shooting in a wide variety of photographicsituations, including everything from macro photography and blackand white to high dynamic range, portrait, and travel photography.Each topic is accompanied by numerous full color examples.

DSLR photography entails far more than just the camera and lens.Once you fill your memory card with great images, you will need todownload, catalog, store and edit those images. Chapter 7 takes youthrough a quick, but informative tour of the software and hardwareoptions available to simplify your digital workflow. You will beexposed to the differences between RAW and JPEG images and you’llreceive a thorough overview of your RAW processing options. Youalso learn about sharpening and noise reduction software, as wellas the best editing applications.

Table of Content

Acknowledgments.

Part I: Using the Sony Alpha A300 Series.

Chapter 1: Exploring the Sony Alpha A300 and A350.

Chapter 2: Setting Up Your Alpha A300 Series DSLR.

Part II: Creating Great Photos with the Alpha A300Series.

Chapter 3: Photography Essentials.

Chapter 4: Lenses and Accessories.

Chapter 5: Lighting Fundamentals.

Part III: Shooting with the Alpha A300.

Chapter 6: Photo Subjects.

Chapter 7: Creating a Digital Workflow.

Appendix A: Sony Alpha Resources.

Appendix B: Troubleshooting.

Glossary.

Index.

About the author

Tom Bonner has been a photographer and journalist for more than three decades. His early work revolved around automotive and motorsports subjects, and his photos appeared extensively in automotive and travel magazines in the U.S. and Canada. He also edited a monthly publication for the International Show Car Association and traveled throughout the U.S. on photographic assignments for the ISCA.