28 Steps to the Ultimate Sony a7C Setup

With a Sony a7C in hand, it is time to set up the camera for use. Following are the 28 steps I took to make an out-of-the-box Sony a7C ready for use.

• Charge battery
• Download and install Capture One (for Sony) and/or Sony Imaging Edge (unless your current favorite RAW image processing software supports this camera)
• Insert charged battery and power on the camera
• Set the time zone, date, time, timeformat
• insert memory card (don't forget to format it)
• Scroll through all of the menu tabs to configure the camera as follows:
• Camera Menu 1, Tab 1: Quality: RAW
• Camera Menu 1, Tab 1: RAW File Type: Uncompressed (unless taking advantage of the about-50% smaller RAW file size)
• Camera Menu 1, Tab 2: Long Exposure NR: Off
• Camera Menu 1, Tab 2: Lens Comp.: All Off
• Camera Menu 1, Tab 3: Bracket Settings: ->0>+ (makes selecting images for HDR processing easier)
• Camera Menu 1, Tab 4: Priority Set in AF-S: AF
• Camera Menu 1, Tab 4: Priority Set in AF-C: AF
• Camera Menu 1, Tab 4: Focus Area: Flexible Spot: S
• Camera Menu 1, Tab 4: Swt. V/H AF Area: AF Point Only
• Camera Menu 1, Tab 5: Face/Eye AF Set.: Face Dtct Frame Disp: On
• Camera Menu 1, Tab 8: Spot Metering Point: Focus Point Link
• Camera Menu 1, Tab 11: DRO/Auto HDR: Off
• Camera Menu 1, Tab 11: Creative Style: Neutral, Sharpness = 1 (This provides a lower contrast histogram. I usually process with the Natural creative style in Capture One)
• Camera Menu 2, Tab 5: Release w/o Lens: Disable
• Camera Menu 2, Tab 5: Release w/o Card: Disable (why is this not the default?)
• Camera Menu 2, Tab 7: Grid Line: Rule of 3rds Grid
• Camera Menu 2, Tab 10: Audio signals: Off (How to turn off the loud and usually-annoying AF beep sound)
• Playback Menu, Tab 3: Display Rotation: Off (use full LCD for image review)
• Setup Menu, Tab 1: Delete confirm: "Delete" first
• Setup Menu, Tab 3: Touch Panel/Pad: Touch Panel+Pad
• Setup Menu, Tab 3: Touch Panel/Pad Settings: Touch Pos. Mode: Relative Position; Operation Area: Whole Screen
• Setup Menu, Tab 5: Copyright Info: Write Copyright Info: On, Set Photographer: {name}, Set Copyright: {name}
• My Menu: Format; Silent Shooting; SteadyShot; Face/Eye AF Set; Live View Display

I make additional menu and other setting changes based on current shooting scenarios, but this list covers my initial camera setup process.

To copy this configuration means you intend to shoot similar to how I shoot - including in RAW-only format. While my setup works great for me, your best use of this list may be for tweaking your own setup.

If you can't remember your menu setup parameters, keeping an up-to-date list such as this one is a great idea. Anytime your camera is reset-to-factory state for some reason, such as when being serviced, you will be ready to restore your setup quickly while ensuring that you do not miss an important setting. If you purchase another same or similar camera, you will be able to set it up quickly.

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Sony a7C

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