34 Steps to the Ultimate Sony Alpha 7 IV Setup
The Sony a7 IV is here, and it is time to set up this camera for use. Following are the 34 steps I took to make an out-of-the-box a7 IV ready for use.
- Charge battery
- Record serial number and add camera to insurance policy
- 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(s)
- Select M mode, press "Menu", and configure the camera as follows:
- Shooting Menu, 1 Image Quality: Image Quality Settings: File Format: RAW, RAW File Type: Lossless Comp (full image quality, reduced file size)
- Shooting Menu, 1 Image Quality: Long Exposure NR: Off (I'll enable this option for very long exposures)
- Shooting Menu, 1 Image Quality: Lens Compensation: Shading, Chromatic Aberration, and Distortion Comp: All Off (I use the RAW processing software to enable any lens compensation, with CA correction frequently selected)
- Shooting Menu, 2 Media: Format (ensure there are no important files on the card(s) prior to formatting)
- Shooting Menu, 3 File: Copyright Info: Write Copyright Info: On, Set Photographer: [your name], Set Copyright: [as desired], Write Serial Number: On (note: entering this information on the touchscreen may be a painful process)
- Shooting Menu, 6 Drive Mode: Bracket Settings: Bracket order: ->0>+ (considerably enhances image selection for HDR processing)
- Shooting Menu, 7 Shutter/Silent: Release w/o Lens: Disable
- Shooting Menu, 7 Shutter/Silent: Release w/o Card: Disable (why is this not the default?)
- Shooting Menu, 10 Shooting Display: Grid Line Display: On (Rule of Thirds selected)
- Exposure/Color Menu, 6 Color/Tone: D-Range Optimizer: Off
- Exposure/Color Menu, 6 Color/Tone: Creative Look: NT (Neutral), Sharpness = 1 (this setting provides a lower contrast histogram. I usually process with the Natural creative style in Capture One)
- Focus Menu, 1 AF/MF: Priority Set in AF-S: AF
- Focus Menu, 1 AF/MF: Priority Set in AF-C: AF
- Focus Menu, 2 Focus Area: Focus Area: Spot: S
- Focus Menu, 2 Switch V/H AF Area: AF Point Only
- Focus Menu, 3 Face/Eye AF: Face/Eye Frame Disp: On
- Focus Menu, 5 Peaking Display: On
- Playback Menu, 4 Delete: "Delete" first
- Playback Menu, 7 Playback Option: Display Rotation: Off (image fills LCD)
- Network Menu: 7 Network Menu: Airplane Mode: On
- Setup Menu: 3 Operation Customize: DISP (Screen Disp) Set: Monitor: Uncheck For viewfinder, press [enter]
- Setup Menu: 4 Custom Key/Dial Set.: Front Dial: Av/Tv (Tv in M mode) (I adjust the shutter speed more frequently and urgently than aperture and the front dial is easier to access quickly); Rear Dial: Av/Tv (Av in M mode); Rear Control Wheel: Av/Tv (Av in M mode)
- Setup Menu: 5 Touch Operations: Touch Panel/Pad: Both Valid
- Setup Menu: 5 Touch Operations: Touch Pad Settings: Touch Position Mode: Relative Position, Operation Area: Whole Screen
- Setup Menu: 10 Sound Option: Audio signals: Off (how to turn off the loud and usually-annoying AF beep sound)
- My Menu: Format; Shutter Type; Steady Shot; Face/Eye Subject; Anti-flicker Set.; Flash Comp.
- With a lens mounted and a subject in focus, adjust the viewfinder diopter until the scene is sharp
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 as I do - including in RAW-only format. While this setup works great for me, you should adjust your setup as needed.
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 or when acquiring an additional camera, you will be ready to create your setup quickly while ensuring that an important setting is not omitted. If you purchase another same or similar camera, you will be able to set it up quickly. Consider saving the camera settings to a card (Tools menu, tab 2, Save/Load Settings on card) for an easy restore.
More Information
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