A7SII Quick Start Guide

Last Updated:
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Firmware v3.0

Basic Settings

  • Reset the Camera: Menu > Setup > 7 >Setting Reset
  • Set Camera to Movie Mode (Top dial with dumb frame of film icon)
  • Set Exposure Compensation to 0 (Wheel on Right)
  • Set your File Format: Menu > Camera Settings >2 > File Format [4K XAVC S or HD XAVC S]
  • Set your FPS and Quality: Menu > Camera Settings > 2 > Record Settings [FPS + Data Rate]
  • Set Dual Video Rec Mode: Menu > Camera Settings > 2 > Dual Rec
  • Picture Profile – Select / Reset Picture Profile: Menu > Camera Settings > 5 > Picture Profile
    • Gamma: SLOG3
    • Knee: Manual / Manual Set Point 85%, Slope +2
    • Color: S-GAMUT or PRO or ITU709 MATRIX
    • Saturation: 0
    • Color Depth: 0
    • Color Phase: 0
  • Select Which Movie Mode: Menu > Camera Settings > 7 > (Movie/HFR) [Manual or HFR Manual]
  • Sleep Mode: Menu > Setup > 2 > Pwr Save Start Time
  • Set NTSC/PAL: Menu > Setup > 3 > (NTSC/PAL Selector)
  • Steady Shot: Menu > Camera Settings > 8 > SteadyShot + SteadyShot Settings

Exposure Settings

  • ISO: Dial on the back side
    • Standard in Log2: 1600 ISO
  • Shutter Speed: Upper dial on the back [Note Slow Shutter Speed]
  • Aperture: Upper front dial (you can reset the dial on the user settings) – Check lens for manual lenses
  • White Balance: Menu > Camera Settings > 5 > White Balance
    • 3200 – Tungsten
    • 5600 – Daylight
    • Auto White Balance (AWB) for special light sources like neon lights
  • Exposure Compensation: Dial on top – set to 0

Additional Helpers

  • Zebras: Menu > Custom Settings > 1 > Zebra
    • Recommended: 85%
  • Manual Focus Assist (MF Assist): Menu > Settings 1 > MF Assist > ON
  • Focus Magnification Time: Menu > Settings 1 > 2 sec
  • Guides: Menu > Custom Settings > 1 > Marker Display (has to be on) + Marker Settings + Aspect Settings
    • Recommended: 4:3, 1.66:1, 1.85:1, 2.35:1
    • This is only for framing and composition reference. These do not appear in your editing software
  • Gamma Display Assist: Menu > Setup > 1 > Gamma Disp. Assist
  • HDMI: Menu > Setup > 4 > HDMI Settings
  • Peaking: Menu > Custom Settings > 2 > Peaking Level + Peaking Color
  • Finder / Monitor: Menu > Custom Settings > 3 > FINDER/MONITOR
  • Monitor / Viewfinder Brightness: Menu > Setup > 1 > Monitor Brightness + Viewfinder

Brightness

  • Audio Levels: Menu > Setup > 1 > Audio Signals
  • Custom Function: Menu > Custom Settings > 6 > Custom Key Settings
  • Fn Button Customizing: Menu > Custom Settings > 6 > Function Menu Set
  • APS-C lens: Menu > Custom Settings > 6 > (APS-C/Super 35mm)
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