| 35mm |
A film and digital image sensor format that uses an image size of 36mm x 24mm, also called "Full Frame". The 900 boasts the 35mm full frame format while other Sony D-SLRs use the smaller APS-C image sensor format. |
| 40-segment Honeycomb-Pattern
|
Advanced exposure metering system that detects and compensates for back-lighting and unusually bright subjects on a dark background. The system also supports centerweighted and spot metering functions.
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| A exposure mode
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Short for Aperture Priority auto exposure, where the user sets aperture and the camera sets shutter speed automatically. This is especially useful in portraits, where wide-open apertures blur the background. |
| A Mount |
An autofocus lens family that dates from the Minolta Maxxum 7000 of 1985 and is compatible with Sony D-SLRs. There is an installed base of 16 million ‚A Mount‚ lenses, worldwide.
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| ADI flash metering
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Advanced Distance Integration uses distance encoding information from the lens to provide the correct flash exposure. Minimizes the influence of subject and background reflectivity.
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| Angle of view
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A property of lenses. Telephoto lenses take in the narrowest angle of view. Portrait, normal, wide angle and fish-eye lenses take in progressively wider angles of view.
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| Anti-Dust
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Precautions to repel or remove the dust that can accumulate on the image sensor during lens changes. Sony uses an anti-static coating to repel dust and image sensor vibration to remove dust.
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| Aperture
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The lens opening that controls the passage of light. Also refers to the maximum opening and current setting, measured in f-number.
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| APS-C
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The Advanced Photo System initially defined a family of photographic film sizes. In D-SLRs, APS-C refers to a class of image sensors roughly the size of an APS-C film frame: 23.4mm x 16.7mm.
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| Aspherical lens element
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A lens element with variable curvature to suppress chromatic aberration, a problem also known as color fringing.
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| Auto Pop-up flash
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System that deploys and triggers the built-in flash on the 200, 300 and 350.
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| BIONZ‚ processor
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Designed and manufactured by Sony, this large scale integrated circuit (LSI) stands behind the responsiveness and performance of Sony cameras. Performs Dynamic Range Optimization, ISO adjustment, noise reduction, de-mosaicing and other vital functions.
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| Bokeh
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Pronounced ‚boke-eh‚ or ‚boke-uh, from the Japanese for blur, the quality of the defocused part of an image. A key component of lens ‚personality‚ is the way a lens renders backgrounds out of focus. Lenses with similar technical specs can vary greatly in their bokeh. Sony‚Äôs SAL135F28 Smooth Transition Focus lens and SAL500F80 Reflex Super Telephoto are famous for their painterly bokeh.
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| Bounce Flash
|
A photographic technique that achieves subtle lighting by reflecting the light from an accessory flash unit off a wall, ceiling or specially provided surface.
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| Burst mode
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Function that records several consecutive shots when the shutter release is pressed and held. Sony cameras can capture several frames per second and continue capturing up to the capacity limit of the memory card.
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| Carl Zeiss
|
Legendary German lens company whose classic designs are cherished by photographic professionals and advanced amateurs. Sony offers selected Carl Zeiss lenses for D-SLRs.
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| CCD |
Short for Charge Coupled Device, the CCD is the image sensor technology in most digital cameras, including the 200, 300 and 350. Sony is the world leader in CCD production.
See also, CMOS. |
| Center-cross AF sensor
|
Auto focus sensing system that improves focusing accuracy on the horizontal line.
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| Circular Aperture
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A lens technology that uses curved iris leaves. Circular aperture enables more graceful out-of-focus backgrounds, without the tell-tale polygon shapes generated by conventional apertures.
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| Clear Photo LCD‚ monitor
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A Sony technology for LCD monitors with high contrast, high resolution and improved color.
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| CMOS |
Short for Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor, CMOS is an image sensor technology used in selected digital cameras. Sony is a world leader in CMOS technology. The Sony 700 and 900 feature Sony Exmor‚ CMOS image sensors.
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| Contrast
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An essential quality of photography that depends greatly on the performance of the lens.
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| Creative Style
|
Adjustable presets to optimize contrast, saturation and sharpness. The Creative Styles include Standard, Vivid, Portrait, Landscape, Night View, Sunset, Black and White and Adobe RGB. In addition to these, the 700 offers Neutral, Clear, Deep, Light, Autumn Leaves and Sepia.
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| Daylight Fill Flash
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Technique that puts light into the deep shadows created by sunlight.
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| Defocusing
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See ‚bokeh.‚
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| Depth of field
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The range of camera-to-subject distances that remains in-focus at a given aperture and focus setting. Depth of field is affected by imager size, aperture size, subject distance and lens focal length.
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| Distance encoder
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A lens feature that communicates the focus setting back to the camera. Enables highly accurate ADI flash metering.
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| Drive Mode
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Switch that enables customers to take multiple pictures with a single press of the shutter release. Multi-burst takes consecutive images. Bracketing captures important shots at, over and under a key camera setting for added insurance in getting the shot. For example, the camera can bracket exposure, White Balance or DRO.
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| D-SLR
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Digital Single Lens Reflex camera, a type of digital camera that provides a through-the-lens optical viewfinder and works with interchangeable lenses.
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| DT (Digital Technology) lenses
|
A set of Sony lenses designed specifically for cameras with APS-C format image sensors. DT lenses will not work properly on 35mm film cameras or the 900 35mm full-frame D-SLR.
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| Dynamic Range Optimizer (DRO)
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A BIONZ‚ processor function that recalculates the picture data to retain detail in bright highlight and deep shadow areas. DRO Standard works on the entire image while DRO Advanced addresses each part of the image separately.
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| Dynamic range
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The maximum reproducible breadth of audio sound intensity or image brightness. A wider dynamic range results in pictures that retain details in bright highlights and deep shadows. Limited dynamic range results in pictures with ‚blown out‚ highlights and/or ‚crushed‚ blacks.
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| ED glass
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Extra-low Dispersion glass lens elements help control chromatic aberration, a problem also called color fringing.
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| EV (Exposure Value)
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A measure of relative exposure. One step in EV equals a doubling or halving of light, through either shutter speed or aperture control.
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| Exmor‚ image sensor
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A Sony CMOS technology for dramatically faster response and reduced image noise. Uses an array of on-chip analog-to-digital converters and two stages of on-chip noise reduction.
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| Exposure Mode Dial
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Control that offers quick access to the most commonly used exposure functions, including Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Manual Exposure and Scene Selections.
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| Eye-Start AF
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A Sony system that saves time by initiating auto focus as soon as you put your eye to the viewfinder.
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| Fast Lenses
|
Lenses with large apertures, called ‚fast‚ because they enable shooting at faster shutter speeds. Shooting at large aperture also enables photographers to soften the background for flattering portraits and pleasing photographic effects.
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| Flaring |
A problem that happens when extraneous light enters a lens and reflects inside. Reduces contrast and distorts the image. Can be controlled by lens hoods and careful lens design.
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| f-number
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The aperture opening also known as f-stop. Smaller f-numbers correspond to larger aperture openings.
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| Focal length
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The distance in millimeters from the optical center of a lens to the focal plane. Because 35mm format focal lengths are well understood by photographers, APS-C format focal lengths are often expressed as ‚35mm equivalent.‚
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| Focus control
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Users can adjust the auto focus process to match the shooting situation, including Single Shot AF, Automatic AF, Continuous AF for moving subjects, Direct Manual Focus and Manual Focus.
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| Full frame
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See ‚35mm.‚
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| Function (Fn) button
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Control on cameras that activates the menu for quick access to functions and settings.
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| G Series
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This lens series is built to the highest standards of optical performance and designed to last a lifetime.
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| HDMI‚ output
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Camera port that enables direct connection to a compatible HDTV. Requires accessory cable, not supplied.
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| Histogram
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Exposure assistance that charts the number of pixels in the image at each exposure level from dark to light. No values on the left indicate overexposure, no values on the right indicate underexposure.
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| HSS |
High Speed Sync enables flash photography at very fast shutter speeds, perfect for daytime fill flash with a blurred background.
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| Image stabilization
|
See ‚ SteadyShot INSIDE in-camera image stabilization.‚
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| InfoLITHIUM battery
|
Sony technology that provides a readout of remaining battery life in percent.
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| Intelligent Preview
|
A feature of the 900 that enables you to gauge the effect of exposure, white balance and Dynamic Range Optimizer before you take the shot.
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| ISO |
An index of sensitivity to light. While each type of film has its own, fixed ISO, digital cameras have electronically adjustable ISO. High ISO settings achieve brighter pictures at night, usually at some sacrifice in image noise.
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| JPEG |
A popular image file format in all types of computer applications, including digital photography, desktop publishing, websites and PC documents. Short for Joint Photographic Experts Group, the JPEG format uses compression to achieve high quality in a modest file size.
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| Konica Minolta
|
Historic source of the SLR and ‚A mount‚ lens expertise in the Sony lineup.
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| Landscape
|
In general language, a photograph of the countryside. In image formats, a horizontally oriented picture — one that is wider than it is tall.
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| LCD |
Short for Liquid Crystal Display, the technology used in digital camera monitors and status displays.
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| Live View
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A system that enables D-SLR photographers to frame their shots in the LCD monitor, as an option to looking through the optical viewfinder.
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| M exposure mode
|
Short for Manual exposure, where the user sets aperture and shutter speed for maximum creative control.
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| Macro
|
A type of lens typically used for small objects, close to the camera.
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| Maxxum |
US tradename for a series of autofocus 35mm SLR cameras from Minolta, later Konica Minolta, the forebears of the line of D-SLRs.
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| Minolta |
See ‚Konica Minolta.‚
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| MTF |
Short for Modulation Transfer Function, a graphic curve that plots the lens contrast against another variable, such as resolution, aperture, zoom focal length or position on the image surface. A family of MTF curves is the most revealing gauge of lens quality.
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| Noise |
Random, unwanted elements added to an electronic signal. In audio, noise can be heard as a hiss or rushing sound. In electronic imaging, noise appears as mottling, texture or flecks of color unrelated to the original scene.
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| Normal |
In lenses, an angle of view corresponding to unaided human vision, roughly 50mm focal length (35mm equivalent).
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| Optical Glass Pentaprism
|
Because a great viewfinder is crucial to D-SLR photography, the 700 and 900 use a professional-grade pentaprism made of precision optical glass.
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| Optical Viewfinder
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The eyepiece that enables D-SLR photographers to frame shots through the lens.
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| P exposure mode
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Short for Program auto exposure, where the camera sets aperture and shutter automatically.
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| Pentamirror tilt mechanism
|
The technology in the 300 and 350 that enables Quick AF. The mirror tilts one way to direct light into the optical viewfinder and another way to direct light into a second image sensor, dedicated to placing the Live View image on the LCD monitor.
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| Perspective |
The influence of the lens on how foreground objects appear in relation to the background. Wide angle lenses can impart exaggerated, distorted perspective, which is particularly visible in portraits. Telephoto lenses tend to flatten perspective.
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| PhotoTV HD viewing
|
A Sony a system that provides better color gradations when displaying digital photos on a compatible Sony BRAVIA HDTV.
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| Portrait |
In general language, a picture of a person. In lenses, a somewhat narrow angle of view, corresponding to 100mm focal length (35mm equivalent), ideal for flattering pictures of people. In image formats, a vertically-oriented picture — one that is taller than it is wide.
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| Quick AF
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A proprietary Sony system that combines the speed and responsiveness of D-SLR shooting with the convenience and familiarity of Live View framing.
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| Quick Shift Bounce
|
In the Sony a HVL-F58AM accessory flash unit, a feature that switches between vertical and horizontal shooting with a single motion.
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| RAW |
A type of image file that retains sensor data prior to de-mosaicing and most other processes. RAW files enable the greatest latitude in PC manipulation because they retain maximum information from the camera. RAW files typically require more storage capacity than JPEG files and require compatible software for viewing and processing.
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| Reflex lens
|
A super telephoto lens that uses two mirrors to fold the optical path. Reflex lenses can be much lighter, shorter and lower in chromatic aberration than conventional super telephoto lenses.
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| Refraction |
Discovered by Isaac Newton, the tendency of the different colors of light to bend differently when passing through glass. Refraction generates unwanted chromatic aberration, also called color fringing.
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| Resolution |
The number of megapixels in an image sensor or digital image. Also a measure of the finest detail a lens can reproduce.
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| S exposure mode
|
Short for Shutter Priority auto exposure, where the user sets shutter speed and the camera sets aperture automatically. This is especially useful for sports, where high shutter speeds freeze the action.
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| Scene Selection
|
Easy-access settings on the Exposure Dial to auto exposure modes optimized for popular shooting situations. Modes include Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sports Action, Sunset and Night View/Night Portrait.
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| Sharpness |
The subjective impression of picture detail, which is supplied by resolution and contrast working hand-in-hand.
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| Shutter speed
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The duration of exposure, typically expressed in fractions of a second.
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| Smart Teleconverter
|
Digital zoom feature that works together with the Live View system of the 300 and 350. Smart Teleconverter crops in on the digital image, while maintaining original pixels at 1:1.
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| Smooth Transition Focus
|
Lens technology that uses an apodization element to achieve uniquely graceful, painterly defocusing or bokeh. See also, ‚ bokeh.‚ |
| Spherical acute matte
|
The focus screens of the 700 and 900 balance optimum brightness with high diffusion for out-of-focus areas. This visible difference makes it easy to achieve pinpoint manual focus.
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| SSM |
The Super Sonic wave Motor achieves fast, near-silent autofocus even with heavy telephoto and wide-aperture lenses.
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| SteadyShot INSIDE in-camera image stabilization
|
A system to reduce the blur caused by camera shake. Where others build image stabilization into individual lenses, Sony builds it into the camera body itself. In this way, every lens is stabilized, even exotic macro and telephoto lenses.
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| T* (T-star)
|
Special Carl Zeiss lens coatings that reduce internal reflections by 82%, compared to conventional lenses.
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| Teleconverter |
An attachment that multiplies the focal length of a lens. The SAL14TC and SAL20TC multiply the focal length by 1.4x and 2.0x, respectively. (They work exclusively with the SAL70200G and SAL300F28G in auto and manual focus modes, and with the SAL135F28 and SAL70400G in manual focus only.)
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| Telephoto |
A lens with a narrow angle of view, often used in sports and wildlife photography.
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| Tilting LCD
|
The ability to pivot the LCD up and down to capture a wider variety of situations in Live View.
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| Viewfinder coverage
|
The ability of a viewfinder to represent the photographic frame. Most D-SLR optical viewfinders cover 95% of the frame or less. The 900 viewfinder covers approximately 100%.
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| White balance
|
An electronic adjustment that compensates for color differences in ambient light, for example among sunshine, clouds, incandescent and fluorescent lights.
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| Wide angle
|
A lens with wide angle of view, often used for group photos, architectural and landscape photography.
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| Working distance
|
The distance from the front of the lens barrel to the subject.
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| Zoom |
A lens with variable focal length to adjust to varying shooting situations.
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