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
Custom Set-Up: 2
Second page of customs set up audio levels do you want to be able to see those in screen so normally I like to have this stuff turned off but if you're using it and you need it it's a nice thing to be able to turn on if you're shooting that type of audio out in the field being able to get that visual confirmation of where it's at is handy when you take an image do you want it to show up on the back of the screen and this is something that we have become very accustomed to with digital cameras is we should have a picture and then we look at it on the back of the camera and for many people you're going to want to leave this on to second so you can check out what you just shot but the beauty of a muralist camera is that well when you're taking pictures you are taking a digital image all right and with the traditional slr you're looking analog with your eyes at the subject and you need to look at the image because now that's the digital image you just took but on this one you are looking a...
t a digital image as you compose it in the viewfinder or on the back of the camera so there's really not a lot of reason toe look at your picture after you've taken it unless you're trying to capture specific moments and you want to see if you got that moment, but the look of the image when it comes to sharpness and focusing and white balance is something you get to see ahead of time. So I think the more accomplished photographers with this camera are going to turn this moat off so that they can see what their image is going to look like. They captured the image, and they move on to the next image very quickly. And so it just speeds up the shooting process a little bit. And is one of the reasons why marylise cameras can be a little bit faster to shoot with because there's no checking your image you already know before you take it that it's what you want and so turning it off for are more advanced users. I think it's a good choice. The display button on the back of the camera will cycle through a variety of different options, and you can choose which options you will see both in the monitor and in the finder of the camera, and you can check on or off any of these boxes. And so I typically believe him all checked on so that I can cycle through and take a look at that option if I need it if I after a period of time learned that I never used one of these display options, I'll dive in here and unchecked the box, and so if the camera is new to you, I would go in and check all the boxes off. If you've had the camera for six months or a year, you might go in and say, you know what? I never used this display and you could uncheck that box and save yourself a button press from time to time, the peking level. And so what this is doing here is it's showing you and in focus area and so let's do a little demo here and let's, go ahead and jump into the menu section, and we're going to dive over to the peking level. All right, russ, give me a low, medium or high let's go medium. All right? So we're gonna go medium on this. And so now when we manually focus and I need to jump into manual focus down here, it is going to shimmer in highlights with what's in focus. And so let's, uh, manually focus and so it's automatically magnifying, but you see that little shimmer around the edge of the camera there that means that I have properly focused on that russell going to see if I can get you from here. Who? Here's ross he's. Gotta be over here somewhere. There he is. All right, there we go. Russ seems to be a little out of focus there, let's. See if we can focus and let's get him to shimmer. Can we get him to shimmer? Get the focus. Oh, he's, not really shimmering very much because we put it on low let's, change it to a peking level of high. I can see what that looks like here. And so has I. Zoom in there's a little bit of shimmer there's a little gleam around his years. Look at that and so you can see in the background we don't have the best test subject over here. Let me go back over to the cameras and we will check the look in the high mode. And so how much of these shimmering highlights? Once again, this is like the zebras we saw earlier, technically it's very helpful and a great system for using aesthetically. I find it really irritating when trying to compose an image and this is shimmering while I'm trying to shoot the photograph in there. So normally I would leave this turned off, but this is a perfect item to have customized to one of the buttons on the camera right back to the menu, so that is peaking level we can also choose the color. We're not going to bother going in do a little demo on this, but they do have different colors that you can choose, depending on the type of subject that you're shooting. Whatever contrast with it, the best exposure setting guidelines. And so in the camera, you will see a gigantic setting of what you are adjusting, whether shutter speeds or apertures. And while that's really nice it's actually showing you that information about two millimeters below it. And so it seems to be superfluous information and it's just taking up good quality real estate of the image you're shooting on dh so it's, nice information, and I'm a big fan of great visuals, but it's taking up space of the image that you are shooting at least a ce faras your visual view of it. And so I'm going to say, recommend turning that off because all that information is right in there anyway, right below it.
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
VeraInAlbania
John is an excellent teacher! In fact his Fundamentals of Digital Photography 2014 was the first ever class I watched on CreativeLive, and since then I'm in love with his teaching style as well as with CreativeLive! I bought my Sony A7II in March 2015 and when I found out that John is giving a class on it I was very excited! As I expected I learnt many secrets about my camera which I had been using for 9 months already. For example about the option of focusing on the eyes, setting the buttons, making panoramas etc. The camera is still smarter than me I must admit. I am enjoying my Sony even more now since after the class I feel much more confident. Thank you John and CreativeLive for such an opportunity! I would recommend to everyone who has a Sony a7II camera and the other cameras in this line to watch this class. It's a concentrate of useful information, very detailed and to the point. I spent two days just watching the class and practicing new knowledge with my camera straight away. I had to postpone all the other life chores. And I would be ready to watch the class again after some time as it's a professional camera which needs a lot of practice!
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