Lessons
Class Introduction
05:40 2Sony A7 Mark II: Overview
15:53 3Photography Basics
07:36 4Basic Controls
08:12 5Panorama Controls
04:44 6Mode Dial and Exposure Compensation
10:47 7Custom Key Settings
06:27 8Focus Area
08:45Multi Interface Shoe
02:31 10Back Side: Navigation
11:02 11Function Button: Modes
22:40 12Display Options
10:18 13Left and Right Side: Navigation
15:26 14Bottom and Front: Navigation
03:45 15Sony Lens Options
15:37 16Camera Menu: 1
09:29 17Camera Menu: 2
06:01 18Camera Menu: 3
02:42 19Camera Menu: 4
05:02 20Camera Menu: 5
08:31 21Camera Menu: 6
08:46 22Camera Menu: 7
11:32 23Camera Menu: 8
05:39 24Camera Menu: 9
07:16 25Custom Set-Up: 1
04:42 26Custom Set-Up: 2
05:33 27Custom Set-Up: 3
09:19 28Custom Set-Up: 4
04:24 29Custom Set-Up: 5
09:35 30Custom Set-Up: 6
03:53 31Custom Set-Up: 7
07:12 32Custom Set-Up: 8
02:41 33Wireless Options
03:44 34Application and Play Menus
17:42 35Set-Up Menu: 1-6
16:01 36Camera Operation
09:21Lesson Info
Photography Basics
So if you're new to photography and kind of relax in this first section I just want to go through a few minutes of photography basics I know a lot of you in fact probably most of you that own this camera already got this stuff down but just hang with me for five minutes we're going toe will make this quick all right so you guys have got yourself a mira list camera here. This is one of the new hot type of cameras out of the market muralist camera means it does not have a mere innit now it does have a normal interchangeable wins like the sl ours we have an aperture in the lands which is one of the ways that we have of controlling the lights. So as we open and close this aperture we can let in more light or less light beyond the amount of light it also controls our depth of field over on the right hand side you can see our depth of field is extremely narrow at an f setting of one point four as we change our aperture our depth of field grows. Those red hash marks indicate the front edge in...
the back edge of focusing so as we stopped down to f twenty two we are growing our depth of field for a greater amount so that's one of the controls within the camera that controls light and depth of field now, light coming into the image sensor wilson information back to the lcd display, and this is where you can look at information on the back of the camera will be looking at it here in the class that way. But the better way of shooting most type of photos is by using the viewfinder. That way you get a hold, the camera in a more steady position, and the elektronik viewfinder that you look at with your eye above is of a higher resolution than the lcd on the back of the camera. So for anybody doing critical focusing issues, it's going to be much better to use the if you find her up on your eye because it's got at least, I think it's about double the number of pixels in it. Now at the sensor level, it's kind of interesting how the shutter system works in a marylise cameras a little different than an slr. Normally, when you're composing your image, the camera needs to get light in at the image. Now there is a first curtain and a second curtain when it comes to the shutter curtain, when it's time to take a picture, you press the shutter release and the first curtain then closes. The sensor is then charged and ready for accepting an image, and this is your actual exposure right here. And then the second curtain comes in and closes off, and it works in this manner so that every pixel is exposed for exactly the same amount of time, and then the second curtain opens again so that you can see and compose your next subsequent image. Now there is a difference in the camera you can choose not to use the first curtain or you can choose not to use the first and the second curtain and do it all electronically. This is something I will further explain as we get into the silent shutter and the elektronik first curtain shutter of the camera so shutter speeds after apertures is our second way of controlling the amount of light that is getting in our camera, and so we can use shutter speeds for either stopping action or blurring action if we want five hundredth of a second, for instance, is a good cheddar speed for stopping fast human action pretty normal shutter speed might be one hundred twenty fifth for more normal speed type movement thirtieth of a second is going to be getting into the slow shutter speeds where we get blur and if you're new to photography blur isn't necessarily a bad thing sometimes it's a good thing to have and this one in this photo you can see the bridge is sharp and the people are moving and that's why they're blurred one eighth of a second if you want to do waterfalls and rivers flowing, cz one second is a good goal shutter speed to get to to get that type of look and you can do shutter speeds down to thirty seconds with the camera on this, and this is a little bit of light painting and star points, so a lot of different things that you can do with the different shutter speeds so that's what's going on at the sensor level within the camera. So the sensor is one of the most important pieces within the camera on one of the characteristics that is very important about the sensor is thie size of the sensor and there's a lot of different cameras out on the market that use different size sensors, and this is going to be telling of their capabilities, thie accessories that they use and what they're going to be best at. And so this uses the largest of the common sensors out on the market, what is commonly referred to as a full frame sensor. It's, based on thirty five millimetre film there's, nothing special about thirty five millimeter film other than it was really popular because it was just kind of this perfect size of film for the enlargements and the size of the camera, that was a result of it. And so it's very convenient to have all these different lenses that we can work on these type of cameras. There are a lot of other cameras, including cameras from sony that use a smaller size sensor like this a p s sensor in the middle and then there are some other ones that are a little bit smaller those of the cannons mainly that used the one point six senses so there are different size sensors the one in all three of these cameras is the full size one just a quick note you know, when people buy cameras. One of the biggest questions I have is how do I attach the strap on? And so one of the key things to know is that the tail end goes on the underside of the subtle strap a jester and that's just to keep the pressure down on it so it's less likely to slip out don't want to be dropping one of these cameras they're not drop proof and do not do well in drops. Finally, how do you hold the camera when you are ready to shoot a photo and there is a correct way and an incorrect way of holding a camera and the correct way, I don't know how you'll ever remember this is with your left thumb up and so I will show you right here I know a lot of people will grab a camera and this just kind of seems like the normal way of grabbing a camera, but it's not as good because it leaves your elbow way out here in the wind without any support. If you use it like this, it keeps your elbow down in your torso and it's, a much steadier position and just holding the camera in a more steady position will allow you to shoot at one two to shutter speeds lower than you would with an incorrect technique, and so good technique does count. Now, as we go through this class, there is going to be a ton of different times where I am going to tell you about a feature that khun b set automatically or manually, and you're going to need to start making decisions on which one is more important to you. Which one do you want to dio well with automatic it's? Very convenient, but with manual you have control and generally as you get more and more serious about photography, you want mohr and mohr control over everything that's going on and so it's nice to be able to set things in automatic when it's doing the doing what you wanted to dio. But if you can flip it over and emmanuel and have more control that's going to help you get exactly the results you want. As you learn more about it and as you have the time, and you're willing to put out the little bit of effort to make those settings in there. So just something to think about as we go through this, so that I cz just a few of the basics. Now, if that sort of information is interesting to you, I do have a class called the fundamentals of photography. This is a lengthy class for anyone who really wants to dive into photography and really get to understand it. Well, we have a lot of time to go, very in depth, in a a lot of different products. And so that is something that is available right now through creative life.
Class Materials
Bonus Materials with Purchase
Ratings and Reviews
Diane Schulman
INCREDIBLE Class! I couldn't find anything on the internet that truly explained this camera, explained what it can and can't do and what accessories would work with it. I have had my Sony A7II for awhile now, but was so overwhelmed by it, I rarely even took it out of its case. It was just easier to use my Canon 5D III. After this class, I am so excited to finally practice with and use my Sony. John is an incredible teacher. He is thorough, professional, fun and knowledgeable! Buying this class was the best investment!!! I feel like I just got the gift of a new camera because I can finally use my Sony!!! Thanks John and Thanks Creative Live!!!
Enrique Vega es
I stored my Sony A7II for more than a year since I've been Canon's user for 7 years and I felt unsure of taking this new camera which implied a different menu system, different functions, a little bit intimidating. Finally, I took a bit of valor, put my camera next to the computer monitor for then start watching this guide and I spent a great time actually. I'm amazed at how helpful and clear is the sequence of the chapters. It was enough to get to chapter ten to know all the basic controls and start taking pictures with an equivalent confidence of my good old Canon, or even better since in the chapter 8th I learned how accurate and easy to use is the focusing system, either, manual or auto (For stills I've always used manual focusing). Very informative, enjoyable and now I became a new fan of the mirrorless cameras, at the point that I'm considering to buy another two :D
Madgardener
Was so grateful to find this class introducing the operation of my first mirrorless camera. The Sony a7 series is quite different from my Canon DSLRs and I am confident that John gave me a good head start. Without this comprehensive intro it would have been VERY frustrating and I would not be making full use of the camera's many abilities! Thanks for a great course at a fair price.
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