Setting up Memory Recall on a Sony Alpha Camera

[@Hexspa]

For the a6400, you register in memory slots 1-4 from either movie or photo mode once you've made your settings. From there, you turn the dial to 'MR' and can immediately select which slot you want to load. If you want to load a new recall slot, use the Fn menu button and there should be an option there. Hope that helps.

[@RathOfficial]

Helped a lot, thankyou!

[@alonsogarrote8898]

THANK you, Im using the a6700 and could setup M1,M2,M3 and M4 and access them through Fn menu.

[@PaulGardham-p6w]

Thank you Mark, Your explantion is much better than the Sony user guide!

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Glad it was helpful!

[@engjds]

Great!, was trying to figure this out and missed the memory options on page 3 on the A7riii, logically you should be able to go into the memory 1,2,3 and what ever you set stays, a bit weird why they didn't do it that way, but least it works. So I set 1 as street photography(with e shutter), 2 as macro manual focus lens, mech shutter for flash and 3 as high speed shooting, mech shutter, then use the M1,2,3.. as movie settings.

[@bastianrossler9113]

Thank you very much for the video. Coming to Sony from Canon I have one question that I can't seem to find an answer to. When using the stored settings (with Canon it is called C1, C2, C3) all settings are reset to the stored values on a power cycle of the camera. With Sony a change to a setting will be persistent over a power cycle until the mode dial is rotated back and forth. Is there any way I can get the behaviour of the Canons on my new Sony Alpha 7 IV? Here is an example for a possible clarification: Let's say I store Memory Slot 1 to Aperture Priority, f4, ISO 100, ... Now, while shooting I change the aperture to f8 (without going to the menu and saving the new setting). Then I turn off the camera. After I turn it back on again, with Sony I will see an Aperture of f8. Canon instead will load the settings from memory and dial in f4. While I understand some people for sure like the Sony way of handling this, I am very used to the Canon way and I would like to have that in my Sony Alpha 7 IV. Can anybody help me with that? 🙂 Thank you...

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

For an extended response consider joining my Patreon.com/MarkGaler support channel

[@sumitasija6791]

What if I want to make a minor change in the settings I registered for Memory Recall 1. Can I just update and save it, or do I need to do the setting all over again with the change I want and then save it again?

[@frederickreed4604]

Thanks for this. Can you save a profile to an SD card for later ?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Yes you can!

[@TaoCovillault]

Still no way to set white balance with grey card while in a recall mode ? Very frustrating for video... Thank you for your amazing work Mark ;)

[@gemwebb]

What about accessing M1 M2 and M3 fast?

[@_0O0O0O0_]

2:00 this is what you came for.

[@Valmentaja]

Thank you very much for this advice!

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

You're very welcome!

[@Valmentaja]

@@AlphaCreativeSkills 👍

[@learningcameras]

My main issue is there is no auto update function (unless I'm missing something) and I wish I could exclude shoot settings like aperture/iso/shutter/wb from this. I like to setup my normal video mode for 4k and c1 to slow motion 1080p but every time I change to c1, my wb, aperture, iso... change and I wish they didn't. And then once I do get my shoot settings back to where I want, once I switch to another dial, those settings are now lost again unless I keep updated my Memory saves manually. Really frustrating. I really need this to either exclude some settings like shutter/aperture/iso or to allow me automatically update these.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Yes - it would be nice to be able to exclude certain settings (as you can with Register Custom Shoot Settings on the latest model Alpha cameras). The memory settings were conceived as a starting point so some settings have to be considered carefully, i.e. Auto White Balance and Auto ISO would make sense in the memory whereas as a custom white balance and ISO would not. The S&Q shoot mode setting was intended to offer alternative fps settings without having to dive into the menus each time.

[@theprisoner6666]

Hi Dan. You mentioned you set your slo-mo settings to C1 button, but how do you do this? I set my 4K and slo-mo to the 1 and 2 memory dial settings, but I would prefer it on a button.

[@learningcameras]

Sorry, I meant the C1 position of my dial...not a button. As far as I know you can't change those settings via a button

[@theprisoner6666]

No worries Dan. I guessed you meant this but I just wanted to clarify. Cheers.

[@scottabergermd]

Great videos Mark, thank very much. I just got a Sony A7Rii and it will not remember the setting for back button focus, even if i save it to memory 1 or 2, it just defaults back to whatever setting i have last used for the shutter button, not remembering the setting for removing the AF from the shutter as is necessary for back button focus. Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks.

[@EliInfante]

Thanks for creating this!

[@pop0ful]

No problem, I got it now.. it was actually easy to do, just slide through them and pick which one I wanted. But still thank you.

[@lachlanharmer985]

Very helpful video, when I first got my camera I needed to learn this, then a few months later I completely forgot aha, so you've taught me this lesson twice now, wouldn't be surprised if I have to watch this one again later as well. Great Work!

[@taaktuuq]

I use my C1 for 4k and C2 fo 1080p, but the issue I have is the Custom White Balance Set button is greyed out on both, so I can't use my grey card for quick white balance adjustments. Any way around that? When I try to access the function it just says: This operation or setting not available as follows Shoot Mode/Memory recall. I am serioulsy out of ideas.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

You can't assign White Balance to the memories unfortunately.

[@PierluigiLeggeri]

hi Mark, thanks for this video. just one thing that's not clear to me: how do I change the settings I can re-use with the recall function?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

The shoot mode dial only recalls the settings - if you make a change to these settings enter them again in the Menu.

[@PierluigiLeggeri]

@@AlphaCreativeSkills infact! my question is how I do change/modify the settings?? thanks a lot

[@pracquet]

Thanks again for the video Mark. I'm wondering if you know what the difference is between the Recall and Memory items in the menu list as they seem to show, and do, the same thing?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

The menu is where you record/register the current camera configuration and the settings on the Shoot Mode dial is where you recall them.

[@alonsogarrote8898]

how do you use M1,M2,M3,M4, cant find that info anywhere. Im using an a6700 btw, thank you.

[@alonsogarrote8898]

Ok, it seems you access them through the fn menu.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

M1 to M4 memories are stored on the memory card and not the camera. They are erased if you format the card. I offer comprehensive support for using Memory Recall settings on my Patreon.com/markgaler support channel

[@stefantotev]

Since I got the a7r II, I don't really feel the need to have a Custom/Memory recall 1/2 modes. The customisation of the buttons helps for this a lot. However as you mention, the sports settings are useful to be on their own place. Another thing which I used on my Canon and had setup on the sony is auto-bracketing settings - Aperture priority, ISO100, f8, 2 sec release shutter, 3 frames 1 1/3 stops apart. From there I almost every time change just the aperture and dial some compensation if needed. Now when I think about it more, I could use one of the tabs just for enabling APS-C mode :) It's so frustrating Sony don't give the option to assign it to a button...

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Dial in you memory settling on the Shoot Mode dial, make the change to the setting and then go to Memory in the Menus and save over the exisiting Memory setting. There is no need to start from scratch.

[@MichaelGuy]

Yes ,,,, G usually takes the longer road. His videos are great if you play them at x2 speed to get around the slow talking. They actually move at a pace so its not as much time wasted and you still get some valuable info every 5 mins or so. He really does know a lot about the cameras.

[@VideoStoryCreator]

What is the best way to preserve the memory settings (M1, M2, M3, M4) in your SD card? After I've transferred the files from the SD card to my computer, reformatting the card is the usual practice, but that will erase the memory settings. Is there a method to delete all my photo/video files without affecting the memory files?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

There is no way of formatting the card without erasing the memories- keep the memories on an inexpensive card in your camera bag and eject/replace the card after loading the memory.

[@daviddebar1417]

It would be useful if you could assign TITLES to each set of saved settings. My memory 1 is set up up for "birding outside" memory 2 might be for "portraits", etc. I'll just need to remember what each is for.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

I set up my 1, 2 and 3 using the acronym PAL - Portraits, Action and Landscapes

[@iggybeauchance7406]

What ever are memory M1 thru M4 used for and however do they work ????

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

M1 to M4 are stored on the card. If I added them to these M settings I could hand you my card and you could load my camera settings to your camera (if we were using the same camera). This would be useful for syncing two or three cameras shooting movies at the same event. The memory settings can also be taken from the memory card and stored on your computer for safe keeping. The memory settings are deleted from the card when the card is reformatted.

[@anthonyhall9453]

Thank you Mark Galer for the video and for clarifying this point.

[@paulscottfilms]

Or I could just keep a special card not re formatting it, for M1` M2 etc.

[@carlmazziotti221]

@@AlphaCreativeSkills how do you load the settings from the card? I would like to have more than 2 saved groups of settings and am thinking if I save to the cards I could possibly load for different shooting venues...

[@alexanderkraus8112]

Dear Mark, first off all let me thank you very much for making these extremely helpful videos on how to customize the different Sony camera models! :-) Thanks to your instructions I was able to program the "1" and "2" positions for two different wildlife situations. Setting "1" is now for "normal situations" and setting "2" is exclusively for shooting birds in flight. So far so good. The problem starts when I dicover a bird in the sky which I want to shoot. I aim the camera at the bird and want to switch quickly from mode "1" to mode "2". If I do so, I lose the viewfinder because a display of the alle the settings of mode "2" pops up. This settings display doesn't go away until I press the shutter botton. But even then there is a certain delay until the viewfinder reappears. In the meantime I lost track of the bird. I find this extremely ennoying! Is there any setting were I could disable the settings popping up upon switching the modes? I wasn't able to find anything. So I would be extremely thankful if you could tell me a good workaround for this problem! :-) With best regards from Germany, Alex

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Watch my Recall Custom Hold video to see how I instantly switch from capturing birds perched on branches to birds in flight.

[@alexanderkraus8112]

@@AlphaCreativeSkills Many thanks for your quick reply :-) This feature would indeed solve my problem. But I still own the old A6300 which has a different type of menu. So I'm not sure yet if such settings are available on this older model. Are they? Best regards, Alex

[@charruaporelmundo]

Memory recall also save diferent function for the same button? for ex, en M1 AEL button for back focusing button and M2 AEL button for magnification. The why? is because I use a lot of manual lenses but also Af ones.

[@SoyArtorio]

Is this possible in alpha 5100? I’ve looked for it and I can’t find it 😔

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Sorry - I haven’t used a 5100

[@SoyArtorio]

@@AlphaCreativeSkills I think the 5100 does not support memory recall :( Thanks for your answer!

[@JairajSinghPatil]

Is there any way to save the function menu and other button mappings and switch between different mappings on the fly?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Not as far as I am aware.

[@theprisoner6666]

Hi Mark. Is there anyway to enter the memory recall menu via a custom button? I would like to access 1, 2 and M1 without using the dial. The reason for this is that I usually use a gimbal and it's a pain to twist the dial each time I want to recall the memory settings. I know there's a custom button option to SAVE to the memory settings, but not to RECALL. Thanks.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

You cannot recall a memory from the shoot mode dial via a custom button but on the recent models (A7lll, A7Rlll and A9) you can recall 10 custom shoot settings by holding down a custom button. There is a movie on my channel that outlines this workflow.

[@etoracca]

What about saving the M1-M4 settings on a dedicated SD card (and possibly different M1-M4 settings on other cards) and insert it only to recall them? Is this possible? This is how I used to save settings on my Nikon

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Yes - that is possible.

[@RichardFWilson]

I'm just not getting something.... There must be a fix for this...... If I want to recall a memory either from tab 1 or 2 or, indeed from a memory card allowing up to four - I can only do so whilst in tab 1 or 2 and not in Manual. The option to recall in Manual is whited out and not available in the a73.... But - if I want to set a custom white balance - I can only do so in Manual Mode and not in tabs 1 or 2. Which means, it would appear, that I cannot recall a preset and then apply a CWB. Nor, can I find a way of applying or transferring all the settings on a recall over to manual where I might then apply a CWB.. I can - however, get a long winded workaround by setting a CWB in Manual and then looking at the temperature and where the marker lies on the colour shift axis graph ( if that makes sense ) and then using those settings to manually apply in tabs 1 or 2.... Thus, I avoid taking colour corrective measures prior to shooting and simply rely on a grey card but that does not help me to easily use coloured gels to alter the colour of backgrounds whilst ensuring the subject {s} are kept neutral....

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Many of the responses I could make to this statement depend on the camera model you are using, because the White Balance behaviour has changed recently.

[@KeithHodgkinson]

I use this a lot to go from still settings to video settings but got somewhat confused by people requesting a "my menu/settings";as far as i'm concerned it is the same thing,different name.Good clarification video.Cheers.

[@stefantotev]

My menu means you get your own tab where you put settings which you use regularly. I.e. aps-c mode (which is buried god knows where), peaking, zebra, video resolution, etc. This is just one tab with the settings you want in one place, not browsing for it every time you need it. Canon has implemented this quite well.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

The Fn or Function menu provides this functionality

[@stefantotev]

Alpha Creative Skills you can't assign aps-c mode to Fn menu

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Correct - I would like to see a few more menu options available in the Fn menu. APS-C mode is probably top of my list for the A7RII. Live View Setting Effect is another - but it has now appeared as an option for the A6500 - so it may appear in future firmware upgrades for other models.

[@KeithHodgkinson]

Those are good suggestions/updates ; perhaps a third row/line in the Fn Menu would be enough for anyone.Cheers.

[@TheMrWilson]

Would it be possible to set up a memory recall where 1 is regular shutter button focusing, and the other is back button auto focus?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

taylor wilson - unfortunately custom button settings are not included in the memory recall settings.

[@TheMrWilson]

Thats a bummer. Thanks for the reply, and letting me know though.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

taylor wilson - the Register Custom Shoot Settings (with an AF-On option) on the new Alpha cameras offer an alternative approach to the regular memory settings.

[@pop0ful]

I know how to set it up and access the 1 & 2 from the dial. What I'm have difficulty accessing is the M1-M4 that are saved in my SD Cards, any ideas how?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

dolphite gamemaster - They are saved in the regular fashion but will be deleted when the camera card is formatted. They

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

It is also worth checking what card they are saved to and backing the settings up on your computer.

[@Fuentesdefinanzas]

Thanks!!! But how you can use the settings? I just bought the A7III. Greetings from Colombia!

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Choose a memory recall and then move to the right to select the M1 to M4 setting

[@Fuentesdefinanzas]

Thanks!!! I got it!!!

[@JackOberweis2010]

Thanks for the great videos, Mark! If I have set all these values under Mode 1 to shoot action/sports with a lens capable of f2 such as the 85mm 1.4, but then switch lenses during a shoot to the 70-200 f2.8gm, how does Mode 1 handle this change considering the second lens is not capable of an f2 aperture which was previously stored to the M1 settings? Thanks!

[@theprisoner6666]

Good point. I assume it would just use the lowest possible f-stop. If I use a zoom lens at its widest focal length (say 18mm) and save the memory using f3.5, when I recall the memory with the lens zoomed (say 135mm with a lowest possible aperture of f5.6) it simply uses the lowest possible f-stop. I guess it would be the same with different speed lenses.

[@peter-frank]

Which program did you use to develop this Video with the Sony-Screens?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Peter Frank - I use a Ninja external hdmi recorder to capture movie footage of the menus.

[@paulscottfilms]

Yes good. I founf the Function settings I coded in for Memory 1 and Memory 2 were persistent , and I had to rearrange everything for say manual Mode.

[@Orangeme]

Having the same problem, it's on Program mode for me

[@riobeggs2715]

@@Orangeme how do you fix this I have the Same problem

[@Orangeme]

@@riobeggs2715 ah fuck, I forgot, I've eventually fixed it easily, I'm sure you'll figure it out

[@TheMagicmovement]

Is there a way to save the settings to the camera? If you format the memory card or use a new card, custom settings files are gone. I'm using an a6500. Thanks

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

1 and 2 are saved to the camera the rest are saved to the card. You can save these settings to a computer and load them back onto the card after formatting.

[@TheMagicmovement]

Good to know thanks.

[@JumpandExplore]

Hi there! Quick question.. how to you remove presets from memory recall?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Just enter another group of settings in the Menu

[@JumpandExplore]

Alpha Creative Skills thanks! And I realized that M1 etc gets saved on the memory card.

[@EnricoDiGiamberardino]

Hi Mark! If I format my SD cards, all the custom preset will be lost?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

The 1 and 2 (3 on some cameras) are stored permanently on the camera. M1-M4 are stored on the emory card and are lost when the card is formatted. You can copy these M1-M4 settings to your computer and transfer them back to the memory card after formatting.

[@EnricoDiGiamberardino]

I use a7r III (1,2,3) so I assume they are safe! Thank you very much for replying me so quickly! Wish you the best!

[@adanjproduction]

Thanks!

[@nicholasgz890]

i have my movie recalls on 2/3 and would like to delete all my saved settings in my recall on slot 1 on my a7riii. how do i do it? Thanks

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Just set up you camera with new Settings and the enter them over the top of the existing memory 1 settings.

[@amitkrupal1234]

I think Sony designed there mirrorless to be Photographer's Girlfriend, Man so many settings. Once you buy it you won't switch to any other brand again.

[@carmas54]

why in heavens name does SONY's firmware upgrade erase all your settings? And why don't they provide a way to save your custom buttons when you do a firmware backup? Why doesn't SONY allow you to completely backup for your camera so that when SONY erases you camera completely you can simply restore it when you do a firmware upgrade. Fuji doesn't erase and destroy how you work when you do a firmware upgrade. "Memory recall" of shooting settings is OK, but what would it taken to do it the right way. Sounds like to me, that their two engineering department are not on the same level or even talking to each other. CRAZY

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Most firmware upgrades don’t erase saved settings but the occasional major ones have to. You can save your settings to a memory card and reload them after an upgrade so the workaround exists. With the very latest cameras you can save every setting, including the custom keys, as a Camset file. Problem solved.

[@ChoicesHabitsAttitudeLuck]

I want to reset my camera to factory settings. If I save all my settings in an SD Card. Will I be able to recover it including the My Menu Settings?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

You can save Memories to a card using the M1-M4. Only the A7RlV and A9ll have the option to save all camera settings to a card.

[@ChoicesHabitsAttitudeLuck]

@@AlphaCreativeSkills Aw! I have A73