SONY A7RV: Settings to Adjust BEFORE You Start Shooting | DO THIS FIRST!
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Just unboxed your shiny new Sony A7R V? Before you dive into shooting, there are a few must-adjust settings that'll help you get the most out of this powerhouse camera. Whether you’re into photo or video, these quick tweaks can give you a smoother experience right from the start.
1. Power Temperature Setting → High
To avoid your camera shutting down during extended use, set the Auto Power Off Temp to High. You’ll find this under:
Menu → Setup → Power Setting Option
It’s a small change that keeps your camera running cooler longer.
2. Turn on Steady Shot
Under Menu → Shooting → Image Stabilization, make sure SteadyShot is set to On. It’ll help stabilize your shots, especially if you’re shooting handheld.
3. Enable Grid Lines
Want better composition? Head to:
Menu → Shooting → Shooting Display → Grid Line Display, and set it to Rule of Thirds.
A classic tool to frame your subject more artistically.
4. Set Focus Mode to AF-C
If you're capturing movement or prefer continuous tracking, switch your focus mode to AF-C (Continuous AF):
Menu → AF/MF → Focus Mode
It’s also a great setting to leave on for everyday shooting.
5. Turn on AF-C Area Display
Go to:
Menu → AF/MF → Focus Area → AF-C Area Display → On
This will show you where the camera is actively focusing—super helpful for tracking subjects in motion.
6. Video Settings: APS-C/Super 35 Mode
Switch your top dial to Video Mode, then set:
Menu → Shooting → Image Quality → APS-C/Super 35 Shooting → Auto
The camera will automatically adjust when using APS-C lenses—super handy for hybrid shooters.
7. Lens Compensation Settings
Under Menu → Shooting → Lens Compensation, set everything to Auto—including Breathing Compensation if available. These in-camera corrections improve edge sharpness, distortion, and chromatic aberration, depending on your lens.
8. Wind Noise Reduction: Off
In Menu → Shooting → Audio Recording, set Wind Noise Reduction to Off.
Sony’s automatic noise reduction isn’t the most reliable—you're better off cleaning audio in post.
9. Emphasized Recording Display
Under Menu → Shooting → Shooting Display → Emphasize Rec Display, turn it On.
You’ll now get a bold red box around the screen while recording—a lifesaver to confirm that you’re actually rolling.
10. Enable AF Assist
Last but not least:
Menu → AF/MF → AF Assist → On
This lets you manually tweak focus using the focus ring—even while autofocus is active. Great for precise adjustments mid-shot.
Make these changes once, and you'll save yourself a ton of time later. Whether you're a hybrid shooter or purely into stills or video, dialing in these settings will have your Sony A7R V running like a dream.
