Taking photographs (b auto)

Select b (auto) mode for simple “point-and-shoot” photography.

Lenses with retractable barrels

Lenses with retractable barrels must be extended before use. Rotate the zoom ring as shown until the lens clicks into the extended position.

  1. Select photo mode by rotating the photo/video selector to C.
  2. Rotate the mode selector to AUTO (b).
  3. Ready the camera.
    Holding the handgrip in your right hand and cradling the camera body or lens with your left, bring your elbows in against the sides of your chest.
    Landscape (wide) orientation
    Portrait (tall) orientation
  4. Frame the photograph.

    Position the main subject in the AF-area brackets (5).
    • The AF-area brackets will disappear and a yellow border indicating the focus point appears around the faces of human subjects detected by the camera. If the camera detects the subject’s eyes, the yellow focus point will instead appear over one or the other of their eyes.
  5. Press the shutter-release button halfway to focus.
    • The focus point will be displayed in green when the camera focuses. If the camera is unable to focus, the AF-area brackets will flash.
    • The AF-assist illuminator may light to assist the focus operation if the subject is poorly lit.
    • If the camera detects human faces or eyes, the focus point will light green when the subject is in focus. The focus point will flash in red when the camera does not focus.

    The AF-assist illuminator

    Do not obstruct the AF-assist illuminator while it is lit.

  6. Smoothly press the shutter-release button the rest of the way down to take the photograph.

The memory card access lamp

The memory card access lamp will light while the photograph is being recorded. Do not remove the memory card or battery.

The touch shutter

You can also take a photograph by touching the monitor. Touch your subject to focus and lift your finger to release the shutter.

Zooming in photo mode

Press the X button in photo mode to zoom in on the view (up to about 31×).

  • The zoom ratio increases every time you press the X button, and decreases every time you press the W (Q) button.
  • When using zoom while shooting, a navigation window is displayed at the bottom right of the monitor to show which part of the composition is zoomed in.
  • In playback zoom, use the multi selector to move to areas of the frame not visible in the monitor.