Nothing is more frustrating than taking a picture of yourself, and it ends up being blurry. If you have already tried capturing a selfie using your Sony a7III but failed, I know the struggle. Fortunately, I browsed through the settings of the camera and discovered the timer mode.
To set a timer on the Sony a7III, you must first change the drive mode. Press the left button of the rear dial. Use the up and down button to navigate through the menu. Then, choose the “Self-Timer” drive mode, prompting the camera to take a picture after the predetermined time.
Below, I will guide you through the steps of using the self-timer on the Sony a7III. But first, I will teach you the definition of this mode.
What Is Self-Timer On Sony a7III?
Self-timer is a drive mode on the Sony a7III mirrorless camera. It can capture an image after you set a time. This mode is only available in two, five, and ten-second self-timer options.
If you choose the two-second timer, the camera will shoot the picture two seconds after you click the shutter button. Meanwhile, if it is a five-second timer, the camera will take the photo by itself after the specified time.
The Self-timer mode has many uses in photography. The most obvious application is during self-portraits and group shots. It gives you enough time to get into the frame and strike a pose before the camera captures the image.
The Self-timer setting can also provide increased stability when shooting on tripods. While a tripod can stabilize footage, pressing the shutter button will still cause minimal shaking. So, use a timer instead to reduce the risk of camera shake, which leads to blurry photos.
What Is The Difference Between Self-Timer and Self-Timer (Cont)?
On the Sony a7III camera, the Self-timer drive mode is available in two variations. The first one is the standard self-timer setting. It can capture an image after the predetermined time between 2 seconds and 10 seconds.
The second type is the Self-timer (Cont), which stands for continuous self-timer. It shoots a certain number of images after seconds have elapsed since you pressed the shutter button. It comes in six menu selections:
- Self-timer (Cont.): 10 Sec. 3 Img.
- Self-timer (Cont.): 10 Sec. 5 Img.
- Self-timer (Cont.): 5 Sec. 3 Img.
- Self-timer (Cont.): 5 Sec. 5 Img.
- Self-timer (Cont.): 2 Sec. 3 Img.
- Self-timer (Cont.): 2 Sec. 5 Img.
For example, the first option prompts the camera to take three photos 10 seconds after you click the shutter button. The continuous self-timer mode can help you photograph yourself with other people.
How To Set Timer On Sony a7III?
By now, you know what and when to use a timer on the Sony a7III. The next thing to learn is how to set the Self-timer drive mode on your Sony camera.
First, press the left button of the rear dial to access the drive modes. The rear dial or control wheel is located on the right side of the LCD screen. Alternatively, you can click the Menu button on the top left side of the screen. Go to camera settings and select Drive Mode.
Once you are on the Drive Mode page, use the dial to scroll up or down. Select the “Self-timer” or “Self-timer (Cont)” option, depending on your needs.
After that, you will see the menu item details. You can choose the number of seconds the camera takes a picture after pressing the shutter button. For the standard Self-timer drive mode, you can select between two seconds, five seconds, and 10 seconds. If you use the continuous mode, you can capture three or five images after the predetermined time.
Finally, adjust the focus and start shooting. Expect to see a self-timer lamp flash and hear a beep sound until the camera takes the picture. You can opt to turn off the audio signals if you want to mute the beep sound during the self-timer countdown.
What Are Other Drive Modes On Sony a7III?
Self-timer is just one of the several drive modes you can use on the Sony a7III camera. Below, I will briefly guide you through the other modes you can choose from.
Single Shooting
Single shooting mode is the default drive mode. As its name suggests, it captures a single image after you press the shutter button. All you need to do is compose the shot, focus on the subject, and take a picture.
Single shooting drive mode is ideal for stationary subjects. These include architecture, landscapes, and interior shots.
Continuous Shooting
This drive mode will continue capturing photos as long as you are holding down the shutter button. Once you let go of the button, the Sony camera stops taking the image.
Continuous shooting mode is adjustable between low, mid, high, and high+. The Sony a7III allows you to shoot up to 10 frames per second (fps).
Continuous shooting can help you capture moving objects. It is suitable for action, sports, and wildlife photography. It can also work on portraits, especially if the subject is a highly energetic kid.
Continuous Bracket
Also known as HDR, continuous bracket captures images in varying degrees of brightness while holding down the shutter button. It requires you to combine the photos (taken at different exposures) in post-processing.
This camera drive mode is often used for high-contrast situations. For example, when shooting a sunset, you can shoot images with different brightness levels to properly expose the scene.
Single Bracket
Single bracket is similar to the continuous bracket mode. However, it only captures one image at a time. It is also useful for different situations. However, I recommend using the continuous bracket mode because it is easier and quicker.
WB Bracket
WB or White Balance bracket shoots images using varying color tones based on the selected color temperature and filter settings. It can help you achieve high-quality pictures when using JPEG. But if you are already shooting RAW, you might not see any use for this drive mode.
DRO Bracket
The last drive mode is DRO, also known as Dynamic Range Optimizer bracket. It captures three images using different degrees of DR optimization.
Similar to the WB bracket, this drive mode does not alter RAW images. Shooting RAW automatically gives you a wider dynamic range, eliminating the need to adjust brightness and recover shadow detail.
Conclusion
If you keep missing shots because you do not have enough time to pose, consider using the timer on Sony a7III. It is a drive mode that lets you capture an image seconds after you press the shutter button. It gives you enough time to compose the shot.
To set the self-timer on the Sony a7III, press the left button on the control dial. Select the “Self-timer” or “Self-timer (Cont)” option. Finally, choose the time frame that prompts the camera to take a picture after clicking the shutter button.
Do you have other concerns about the self-timer mode on the Sony a7III camera? Feel free to drop by our contact page, so we can answer your query.
