Have you ever tried to change a setting on your camera and found yourself digging through endless menus?
And by the time you finally realize it…you've probably already missed the perfect shot.
To help you avoid such frustration, here are some handy settings for commonly used items.
Grid
Grid lines are a handy feature that display vertical and horizontal lines on your screen.
They help you keep your composition balanced and your horizons straight—especially useful when framing your shots.
- Recommended scenes
- ・Shooting while keeping the camera level.
・Portrait photography.
・Snap shots, etc.
STEP.1
 |
| MENU→camera icon→Shooting info disp |
STEP.2
 |
| Select Grid display |
STEP.3
 |
| Choose your favorite grid |
Enlarged display
The Magnify feature allows you to zoom in on a specific area of the frame to see exactly where your most important focal points are.
- Recommended scenes
- ・I want to zoom in and check the focus.
・I want to check their expressions when taking commemorative photos.
STEP.1
 |
| Magnify with the magnifying glass icon AE lock button → Move with the cross keys |
Diopter adjustment
The diopter adjustment allows you to fine-tune the focus of your viewfinder so that you can see everything clearly through it.
Sometimes, your image looks perfectly in focus on the monitor,but appears blurry when you look through the viewfinder.
This symptom is usually not a malfunction. It may be that the diopter adjustment is not correct.
You can fix this easily by sliding the diopter control while looking through the viewfinder,until everything appears sharp and clear.
- Recommended scenes
- ・The monitor is in focus, but the viewfinder is not.
・The viewfinder is blurry.
STEP.1
 |
| Look through the viewfinder and slide the zoom lever. |
silent shooting
Silent shooting: Shoot without making a shutter sound
Sometimes you want to shoot without drawing attention—
that’s where silent shooting comes in handy.
Since the camera shoots without making a shutter sound, you can take pictures without disturbing those around you.
- Recommended scenes
- ・Shooting at the venue
・Photographing a sleeping baby.
STEP.1
 |
| MENU → Camera icon 7 → Silent shutter function |
STEP.2
 |
| Select OFF |
Continuous shooting
Continuous Shooting: Continuous shooting is possible while the shutter button is pressed.
When you're shooting in single shot mode,it can be hard to capture the perfect moment.
By switching to continuous shooting,you can take multiple shots in a row—
then simply choose the best one from the series.
- Recommended scenes
- ・Sports photography.
・Photographing the sports day.
・Wild bird photography.
・Photographing races, etc.
STEP.1
 |
| Press left on the directional pad |
STEP.2
 |
| Select continuous shooting |
self timer
Self-timer: The shutter will be released a certain number of seconds after the shutter button is pressed.
- Recommended scenes
- ・Commemorative photo.
・Shooting with a longer exposure time.
STEP.1
|
| Press left on the directional pad |
STEP.2
 |
| Select self-timer |
manual focus
Manual focus: You can adjust the focus manually.
Autofocus is a powerful and convenient feature,but it doesn’t always get it right—especially in low light or when it focuses on the wrong area.
In those situations, switching to manual focus gives you full control to set the focus exactly where you want it.
- Recommended scenes
- ・Shooting fireworks.
・Night view photography.
・Photographing the starry sky, etc.
STEP.1
 |
| Select MF on the front lever |
STEP.2
 |
| Turn the manual ring |
Automatic Viewfinder Switching
Automatic viewfinder switching: Automatically switches between viewfinder and monitor display.
Many cameras have a proximity sensor near the viewfinder that automatically turns off the LCD screen when you bring your face close to it.
However, in some shooting situations, it may be better to use a monitor, as your hand may accidentally touch the sensor and turn off the screen.
To prevent this, you can disable the auto switching function,so the display stays on your chosen screen (either the monitor or viewfinder)
even if the sensor is touched.
- Recommended scenes
- ・When shooting handheld, your hand may touch the sensor.
・I want to be able to shoot by looking at the monitor or viewfinder without having to switch.
STEP.1
 |
| MENU → Spanner icon No. 3 → Screen/viewfinder display |
STEP.2
 |
| Switch to your preference |
auto review
Auto Review: The image you took is displayed on the screen for a few seconds immediately after you took the picture.
Some people like to check their photos right after taking them.
With auto image review enabled, the photo you just captured appears instantly on the screen,so you can quickly check if the focus is accurate—without needing to press the playback button.
It’s a small convenience that can save time and help you avoid missed shots.
- Recommended scenes
- ・I want to check the images I've taken immediately after shooting.
STEP.1
 |
| MENU → Camera icon 8 → Image review |
STEP.2
 |
| Select Review duration |
STEP.3
 |
| Choose the number of seconds you want |
Screen display switching
Screen display switching: You can change the information displayed on the screen.
Sometimes it’s helpful to have various information displayed on the screen—
like grid lines, exposure settings, and focus points.
But in other situations, all that data can make the screen feel cluttered and hard to see.
Fortunately, most cameras let you easily cycle through different display modes,so you can choose the screen view that fits your shooting style best.
- Recommended scenes
- ・The display is distracting and makes it difficult to see the screen
・I want to check the display properly
STEP.1
 |
| Press info several times |
White balance
Have you ever looked at a photo and thought,“Why do the colors look a bit off?”
That’s where white balance comes in!
By adjusting it to match the lighting conditions,you can capture images with more natural and accurate colors.
Auto white balance is convenient, but in certain situations,it can make your photos look unnatural.That’s why it’s a good idea to switch white balance settings based on the scene.
- Recommended scenes
- ・The color is different
・I want to unify the colors in the same scene.
・I want to change the color to create a more atmospheric photo.
| Setting | Recommended Scenes |
|---|---|
| Auto (AWB) | Works for almost any scene. Great when you're unsure. |
| Daylight | Sunny outdoor scenes, blue skies, beaches, parks, etc. |
| Cloudy | Overcast days, shade outdoors, soft evening light. |
| Incandescent | Warm indoor lighting (orange-hued bulbs), cafés, living rooms. |
| Fluorescent | Indoor scenes with cool white lighting like offices, schools, supermarkets. |
| Custom | Ideal for special lighting conditions (stage lights, LED setups), or product photography. |
STEP.1
 |
| MENU→WB→Kを選択 |
STEP.2
 |
| Adjust the color to your liking |
Summary
これで重要なカメラ設定のリストは完了です。
In this post, we focused on the minimum settings you should know to get started.
By understanding and using these features, you'll open up more creative options and improve your shooting experience.
They’re simple, but powerful—and definitely worth remembering.