Sony A7S II - CAMERA SETUP

Attach the lens Line up the White Dot on the Lens and turn clockwise to secure

Open the door for the SD card and

Insert the card in the card slot

Press the Menu button on the top of the

Camera to access the MENUs

This dial will navigate the menus

The menu settings referenced in this Wiki are for Version 3.0 of the Firmware on the Sony A7S II

Firmware changes sometime move the menu items so we may be one off on some of the menu settings.

The setting will be close in number to the referened menu so you may have to look for it.

The dial on the right of the screen will also navigate the menus and pressing the inner button will select the menu item.

Scroll horizontally to the "Toolbox" icon menu and then scroll over to tab #7 and then scroll down to the "Setting Reset" and press the inner button to select the menu.

Choose the setting "Camera Settings Reset"

Press the inner dial to select this.

Choose OK to Reset the Camera Settings. Camera will reboot and reset the menus to default.

Next we need to format the SD cards.
Scroll horizontally to the "Toolbox" icon menu and then scroll over to tab #5 and then scroll down to "Format" and press the inner button to select the menu.

All Data will be deleted and click "Enter" to begin the formatting of the card.

The Formatting will take a few seconds.

Next go to the "Camera" icon Menu Tab and choose page #1 of that menu 

Click on Aspect Ratio

Change the setting to 16:9

Next go to the "Camera" icon Menu Tab and choose page #2 of that menu



File Format choose AVCHD

File Format choose XAVC S 4K if you want to record UHD

XAVCS HD if you want to record HD

Now change the Record Setting by selecting it

Choose 24P 100M

These are the recommended recording settings here

File Format> XAVC S 4K
Record Setting 24p 100M

If you want to record Slog you need to set the camera profile to record Slog.

Set the Camera to the Camera Icon > Menu >#5>Picture Profile

Choose PP7 for Slog2 and PP8 for Slog3

Here we chose Slog 3 PP8

Test the camera recording. When you hit record button on the camera.

Record a test and make sure that all the files you test look like you expect!

Do this before you take the camera out on set!

Last Note - Advanced Slow Motion workflow

You need to put the camera in HD mode not 4K

Next go to the "Camera" icon Menu Tab and choose page #2 of that menu  

Choose File Format

Choose XAVC S HD format

Then on 

"Camera" icon Menu Tab and choose page #2 of that menu  

Choose Record Setting