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Follow the steps below, according to your 
OS.

1

Turn on your computer, and set the 
supplied CD-ROM to the CD-ROM 
drive.
The “PIXELA ImageMixer” window 
appears.

Double-click  

(Setup 

Menu).

Click “USB Driver.”
The “USB Driver” window appears.

Double-click the icon of the hard disk 
containing the OS to open the window.

Drag and drop the following two files 
from the window opened in step 3 to the 
System Folder icon in the window 
opened in step 4.
• Sony USB Driver
• Sony USB Shim

When the message “Do you want to put 
these items into Extension Folder?” is 
shown, click “OK.”

Restart your computer.

2

For details, see page 46.

3

For details, see page 47.

Drag and drop the drive icon of the 
“Memory Stick” to the “Trash” icon, then 
remove the USB cable or “Memory Stick.”

If you are using Mac OS X, remove the USB 
cable, etc., after you have turned your computer 
off.

4

Double-click the newly recognized icon 
on the desktop.
The contents of the “Memory Stick” 
inserted in your camera appear.

Double-click “DCIM.”

Double-click “100MSDCF.”

Drag and drop the image files to the hard 
disk icon.
The image files are copied to your hard 
disk.

5

Double-click the hard disk icon.

Double-click the desired image file in 
the folder containing the copied files.
The image file opens.

You can use the “PIXELA ImageMixer for 
Sony” software to copy images to your 
computer and view the images on your 
computer. To install the software, insert the 
supplied CD-ROM drive, then click “PIXELA 
ImageMixer” on the opening window and 
follow the instructions on each window. For 
details, see the software's help files.

Mac OS 8.5.1/8.6/9.0

Steps 1 to 5

Mac OS 9.1/9.2/
Mac OS X(v10.0/v10.1)

Steps 2 to 5 

Here we will explain the most commonly 
used menus and the SET UP screen.

a

b

b

B

The letters and symbols of the item 
you select will turn yellow.

c

v

V

The frame of the selected setting will 
turn yellow, and the setting will be 
made.

 (Spot light-metering) is not displayed on 

the menu of the DSC-P31 (page 61).

Press the MENU button.

a

b

v

V

b

B

The frame of the item you select will 
turn yellow.

c

z

On the DSC-P31, the "DIGITAL ZOOM" 
(page 28) and "POWER SAVE" (page 16) 
items are not displayed.

Turn the Mode dial to anything other than 
SET UP.

WB

ISO

0EV

0EV

WB

ISO

MULTI AF

CENTER AF

0.5m

1.0m

3.0m

7.0m

∞

MOVING IMAGE :
DATE/TIME :
DIGITAL ZOOM :
RED EYE REDUCTION :
AF ILLUMINATOR :

  MPEG MOVIE
    OFF
    ON
    OFF
    ON

SELECT

SELECT

  SHUTTER
  ON
  OFF

LCD BRIGHTNESS :
LCD BACKLIGHT :

VIDEO OUT :
USB CONNECT :
POWER SAVE :

Used when you want to change the 
automatic exposure to one of your own 
choice. The value can be set over a range 
from +2.0EV to –2.0EV, in 1/3EV 
increments.

a

.

b

The menu appears.

c

 

b

B

The value of the exposure adjustment 
is displayed.

d

Select the exposure adjustment value 
using 

v

V

.

Make your adjustment while 
confirming the brightness of the 
background of the subject on the LCD 
screen.

Return the exposure adjustment value to 0 
EV.

•

 (Spot light-metering) is not 

displayed on the menu of the DSC-P31 
(page 61).

• When the subject is at the brightest or 

darkest ends of the range, or when you are 
using the flash, the adjustment value set 
may not actually be used.

2048

0EV

4

WB

ISO

0EV

In normal shooting, the camera makes 
automatic exposure adjustments. Check the 
image to be shot, if it looks like the image 
below, you should make manual adjustments. 
If you are shooting a back-lit person or a 
snowy scene, make your adjustments in the + 
plus direction; if you have a dark subject that 
fills the screen, making your adjustments in the 
– direction should give the best results.

t

t

When shooting images using automatic 
features, the white balance is set 
automatically in response to the condition 
of the subject, and the overall color balance 
is adjusted accordingly. When you want to 
fix the conditions under which the image is 
captured, or when shooting under special 
lighting conditions, you can select the 
settings manually.

The white balance is adjusted 
automatically.

Used when shooting outdoors, and for 
shooting at night, under neon lights, for 
fireworks, sunrises and sunsets.

Used when shooting under a cloudy sky.

Used when shooting under fluorescent 
lights.

• Used when shooting, for example, at a 

party, where the lighting conditions 
change often

• Used in a studio, or under video lights
• Used when shooting under sodium or 

mercury lights

a

.

b

The menu appears.

c

b

B

v

V

In Step 3, select “AUTO”.

Under fluorescent lights that flicker, even if you 
choose Fluorescent, you may feel that the 
overall color of the image may show 
differences from the actual color.

When the flash is triggered, the manual setting 
is cancelled, and the shooting of the image is 
done in “AUTO” mode.

The color of the subject that you see will be 
captured according to the lighting 
conditions. Under the bright summer sun, 
everything will appear bluish, under a light 
sources like a light bulb, white objects will 
appear will appear reddish. The human eye 
has an excellent ability to adjust. Even when 
lighting conditions change, the eye can 
adjust and recognize the correct color almost 
instantly. However, digital still cameras are 
greatly influenced by light. Normally, this 
camera adjusts automatically, but if you 
notice that the color of the entire image 
seems to be a bit unnatural when replaying 
an image on the LCD screen, it is 
recommended that you adjust the white 
balance.

When you use Multipoint AF, it calculates 
the distance in three places, in the center of 
the image, and to both the left and right of 
the center, you can shoot with the auto focus 
function without being dependent on the 
composition of the image. It is useful when 
it is difficult to focus on the subject because 
it is not in the center of the frame. 

You can focus automatically using the AF 
range finder in the center of the frame.

a

b

c

9

b

B

v

V

The focus is adjusted automatically using 
the AF range finder. The color of the range 
finder frame changes from white to green. 

When you are shooting movies (MPEG 
MOVIE) and you choose Multipoint AF, the 
distance to the center of the screen is estimated 
as an average, so the AF works even with a 
certain amount of vibration. The Center AF 
automatically focuses only on the center of the 
image, so it is convenient when you want to 
focus only on what you aim at.

When you use Digital zoom or AF illuminator, 
priority AF movement is given to subjects in or 
near the center of the frame. In this case, the AF 
range finder isn’t displayed.

2048

4

2048

4

If it is difficult to focus because the subject 
is not in the center of the frame, you can 
focus in this situation using the AF range 
finder. For example, when you are shooting 
two human subjects, and there is a gap 
between them, the camera may focus on the 
background visible in the gap. In a case like 
this, use AF lock to ensure the subjects are 
in correct focus.

When you are using AF lock, you can capture 
an image with the correct focus even if the 
subject is at the edge of the frame.

a

First, the focus for the subject you are 
aiming at will be adjusted. When the 
AE/AF lock indicator stops flashing 
and stays lit, and there is a beeping 
sound, focus adjustment is completed.

b

When you hear a beeping sound, the 
image will be recorded with the proper 
focus for the human subjects.

You can carry out the AF lock adjustment 
process any number of times, as long as you do 
it before you press the shutter.

2048

F 2 . 1

5 0

4

2048

F 2 . 1

5 0

4

When shooting an image using a previously 
set distance to the subject, or when shooting 
a subject through a net or through window 
glass, it is difficult to get the proper focus 
using the automatic focus function. This is 
when use of the Focus preset is convenient.

a

.

b

The menu appears.

c

9

b

B

v

V

You can select from the following 
distance settings.
0.5m, 1.0m, 3.0m, 7.0m, 

∞ (unlimited 

distance)

Press the MENU button again, select “9”, 
then select “MULTI AF” or “CENTER 
AF”.

 (Spot light-metering) is not displayed on 

the menu of the DSC-P31 (page 61).

The focus distance settings include a small 
margin of error. Use them as guidelines only.

If you point the lens up or down, the error 
increases (DSC-P71 only).

You can add special effects to bring out the 
contrast in your images.

2048

9

4

WB

ISO

MULTI AF

CENTER AF

0.5m

1.0m

1.0m

3.0m

7.0m

∞

Like an illustration 
with clearly delineated 
bright and dark 
portions

In black and white

Colored to look like an 
old photograph

Made to look like a 
negative image

a

.

b

The menu appears.

c

b

B

v

V

In Step 3, select “OFF”

When there is reflected light, or the 
background of the subject provides a very 
high contrast, you can adjust the focus to 
that most appropriate for your subject. You 
can aim at a particular point, and meter the 
light to adjust the focus for that point.

When the place you want to focus on and the 
place you are using Spot light-metering on are 
the same, it recommended that you use Center 
AF (page 58). 

a

.

b

The menu appears.

c

b

B

v

V

The Spot light-metering aiming point 
is displayed.

d

2048

4