28 Steps to the Perfect Sony a7R III Setup

The highly-anticipated Sony a7R III is here and I am sharing the 28 steps I took to make it ready for use.

• Charge battery
• Install neck strap
• Download and install Capture One (for Sony) and/or Sony Imaging Edge (unless your current favorite RAW image processing software supports the Sony a9)
• Insert charged battery and power on the camera
• Set the timezone, 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: Lens Comp.: All Off
• Camera Menu 1, Tab 3: Bracket Settings: ->0>+ (makes selecting images for HDR processing easier)
• Camera Menu 1, Tab 5: Priority Set in AF-S: AF
• Camera Menu 1, Tab 5: Priority Set in AF-C: AF
• Camera Menu 1, Tab 5: Focus Area: Flexible Spot
• Camera Menu 1, Tab 5: Swt. V/H AF Area: AF Point Only
• Camera Menu 1, Tab 9: Reset EV Comp.: Maintain
• Camera Menu 1, Tab 10: Spot Metering Point: Focus Point Link
• Camera Menu 1, Tab 12: DRO/Auto HDR: Off
• Camera Menu 1, Tab 12: Creative Style: Neutral, Sharpness = 1 (I usually process with the Natural creative style in Capture One)
• Camera Menu 2, Tab 4: Release w/o Card: Disable
• Camera Menu 2, Tab 6: Grid Line: Rule of 3rds Grid
• Camera Menu 2, Tab 8: Custom Key(Shoot.): Custom Button 1: ISO, Custom Button 4: Focus Magnifier
• Camera Menu 2, Tab 9: Audio signals: Off (How to turn off the loud and usually-annoying AF beep sound)
• Setup Menu, Tab 1: Volume Settings: 3
• Setup Menu, Tab 1: Delete confirm: "Delete" first
• Setup Menu, Tab 2: Touch Operation: On
• Setup Menu, Tab 5: Copyright Info: Write Copyright Info: On, Set Photographer: {name}, Set Copyright: {name}
• My Menu: RAW File Type, Long Exposure NR; Px. Shift Multi Shoot.; Focus Mode; Anti-flicker Shoot.; Silent Shooting; Steady Shot; Format;

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

To copy this configuration would mean that you intend to shoot similar to how I shoot – including shooting 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 own menu setup parameters, keeping an up-to-date list such as this one is a good idea. If your camera ever needs reset to factory settings, you will be ready to restore your setup quickly while ensuring that you do not miss an important setting.

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Sony a7R III

Get the Sony a7R III at B&H | Amazon | Adorama | WEX.