35 Steps to the Ultimate Sony Alpha 7C R and 7C II Setup
The Sony Alpha 7C R and Sony Alpha 7C II cameras are here, and it is time to set up these cameras for use. For setup purposes, these cameras are identical, and the steps taken to prepare out-of-the-box a7C R and 7C II cameras for use are as follows.
- Charge the battery
- Record the serial number, and add the camera to insurance policy
- Download and install Capture One (for Sony) or Sony Imaging Edge (unless your current favorite RAW image processing software supports this camera)
- Insert a memory card(s) (we'll format it later)
- Insert the charged battery, and power on the camera
- Set the time zone, date, time, and timeformat
- 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 Compressed L (ultimate image quality with reduced file size)
- Shooting Menu 1 Image Quality: Long Exposure NR: Off (manually enable this option for very long exposures)
- Shooting Menu 1 High ISO NR: Low (most software overrides this setting)
- Shooting Menu 1 Image Quality: Lens Compensation: Shading, Chromatic Aberration, and Distortion Comp: All Off (software often overrides this setting, 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 (put your name and your business name on your images, also helpful if your camera gets lost) (note that you may find entering this information on the touchscreen a painful process)
- Shooting Menu 5 Drive Mode: Selftimer during Bracket: 2 Sec (avoid camera shake)
- Shooting Menu 5 Drive Mode: Bracket Settings: Bracket order: ->0>+ (eases image selection for HDR processing)
- Shooting Menu 6 Shutter/Silent: Release w/o Lens: Disable
- Shooting Menu 6 Shutter/Silent: Release w/o Card: Disable (why is this not the default?)
- Shooting Menu 9 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 a Standard or Natural creative style)
- Focus Menu 1 AF/MF: Focus Mode: Single-shot AF (this setting gets changed frequently)
- Focus Menu 1 AF/MF: Priority Set in AF-S: AF
- Focus Menu 1 AF/MF: Priority Set in AF-C: AF (I care more about properly focused images than maintaining a high frame rate)
- Focus Menu 2 Focus Area: Focus Area: Spot: S (this setting gets changed frequently)
- Focus Menu 2 Switch V/H AF Area: AF Point Only
- Focus Menu 5 Peaking Display: On (show focus indication when manually focusing)
- Playback Menu 4 Delete: "Delete" first (makes deleting images faster — the camera still provides a second change to cancel the delete request)
- Playback Menu 7 Playback Option: Display Rotation: Off (the reviewed image always fills LCD)
- Network Menu: 8 Network Menu: Airplane Mode: On
- Setup Menu: 4 Dial Customize: Custom Key/Dial Set.: Dial/Wheel: Front Dial: Av/Tv (Tv in M mode) (option #2) (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)
- 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 signal (Shooting): Off (how to turn off the AF beep sound)
- My Menu: Format, Shutter Type, Steady Shot, Recognition Target, Anti-flicker Set., Flash Comp., Focus Mode
- With a lens mounted and a subject in focus (or view the menu system), 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 optimally for me, you should adjust the camera setup to your needs.
If you can't remember your menu setup parameters, keeping an up-to-date list such as this one is a great idea. Anytime the camera is set to the factory state, such as when serviced or when acquiring an additional camera, the list will ensure all settings are quickly re-established. Consider saving the camera settings to a card (Tools menu, tab 2, Reset/Save Settings) for an easy restore or replication. The setup file can be copied to a computer drive for long-term storage. Unfortunately, I couldn't load the a7C R settings on the a7C II.
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