How do you customise the Sony A7 III?

Sony’s A7-series cameras offer an extensive range of controls, but the menus and customisation options can initially feel overwhelming. Spending a little time setting up the Sony A7 III can make the camera considerably quicker and easier to use.

The most useful options include saving complete shooting configurations to the mode dial, building a personalised My Menu, changing the Function menu and assigning frequently used features to specific buttons and dials. Once configured, many of the settings you need can be accessed without searching through the main menu.

Sony A7 III customisation at a glance

The Sony A7 III can be customised in five main ways:

1. Save complete shooting configurations to positions 1 and 2 on the mode dial.
2. Store four additional configurations as M1, M2, M3 and M4 on a memory card.
3. Add frequently used settings to the My Menu page.
4. Change the 12 options displayed in the Function menu.
5. Assign different features to the camera’s custom buttons and control dials.

The best place to start is with the settings you adjust most frequently. Changing only a few controls at a time also makes it easier to remember what each button does.

Related: Which Sony A7 camera? How to choose the right model

How do you customise the Sony A7 III mode dial?

The Sony A7 III’s mode dial includes two memory recall positions marked 1 and 2. Each position can store a complete group of camera settings, allowing you to switch between different types of photography with a single turn of the dial.

The saved configuration can include the exposure mode, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, white balance, focus mode, focus area, drive mode and many other settings.

For example, you could use position 1 for general street photography, with a mid-range aperture and Auto ISO. Position 2 could then be configured for street portraits, using a wider aperture, lower ISO and a more precise autofocus area.

When you find a portrait subject, turning the dial from 1 to 2 immediately recalls the portrait settings. Once you have taken the photograph, turning it back to 1 restores your general street photography configuration.

Alternatively, position 1 could hold your preferred landscape settings, while position 2 could be configured for sport, wildlife or action photography.

Related: Sony A7 III Review

How to save settings to mode dial position 1

1. Set the camera up for your first shooting situation.
2. Check every relevant setting, including the exposure mode, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, white balance, focus mode, focus area and drive mode.
3. Press the Menu button.
4. Navigate to the third page of the first menu tab, labelled Shoot Mode/Drive1 3/14.
5. Scroll down to MR 1/2 Memory and press the centre button in the middle of the navigation pad.
6. Select 1 at the top of the screen.
7. Press the centre button again.

The word Registered should appear on the screen, confirming that the settings have been saved.

How to save settings to mode dial position 2

Set the camera up for your second shooting situation and repeat the same process. When you reach the memory selection screen, choose 2 instead of 1.

Turning the mode dial to either position will now recall the settings saved to that memory.

It is worth reviewing both configurations after using them in real-world conditions. You may find that a different autofocus area, ISO setting or minimum shutter speed makes one of the presets more useful.

Related: Which settings should you use on the Sony A7 III for photographing music?

How can you add more custom shooting modes?

The Sony A7 III also provides four additional memory positions labelled M1, M2, M3 and M4. These extend the number of complete shooting configurations available, although the information is stored on a memory card rather than in the camera’s internal memory.

Formatting the card will erase the stored configurations. As the A7 III has two card slots, one option is to keep the memory settings on one card while using the other primarily for images and video.

How to save settings to M1, M2, M3 or M4

1. Configure the camera for the type of photography you want to save.
2. Press the Menu button.
3. Navigate to Shoot Mode/Drive1 3/14.
4. Select MR 1/2 Memory.
5. Choose M1, M2, M3 or M4 at the top of the screen.
6. Press the centre button to register the settings.

Repeat the process for any additional configurations you want to create.

You might use these memory positions for situations that are less frequently encountered, such as long-exposure photography, flash photography, silent shooting or a particular video configuration.

How do you recall the M1, M2, M3 and M4 settings?

The M1–M4 configurations are accessed through the camera’s Memory Recall menu rather than directly from separate positions on the physical mode dial.

To recall one of these configurations:

1. Turn the mode dial to 1 or 2.
2. Press the Menu button.
3. Navigate to Shoot Mode/Drive1 3/14.
4. Select MR 1/2 Recall.
5. Choose M1, M2, M3 or M4.
6. Press the centre button to load the selected configuration.

Because accessing these settings requires a short trip into the menu, positions 1 and 2 are better suited to the configurations you use most often. M1–M4 are useful for additional or more specialised shooting situations.

How do you customise the Sony A7 III My Menu?

My Menu provides a personalised page containing the menu options you use most frequently. It is one of the easiest ways to reduce the amount of time spent searching through the A7 III’s extensive menu system.

Useful additions might include Format, Focus Settings, Silent Shooting, Interval Shooting, APS-C/Super 35mm Mode or Memory Recall. The best choices depend on the type of photography or video work you regularly undertake.

How to add an option to My Menu

1. Press the Menu button.
2. Navigate to the tab marked with a star icon.
3. Select Add Item and press the centre button.
4. Scroll through the available settings.
5. Select the menu item you want to add.
6. Choose where you would like it to appear on the My Menu page.
7. Press the centre button to confirm the position.

Repeat the process until the menu contains all the settings you need.

The Sort Item option lets you change the order in which settings appear. Delete Item removes individual entries that are no longer useful.

Keeping My Menu short is generally more effective than filling every available position. The aim is to provide quick access to essential controls, rather than to recreate the camera’s entire menu system.

How do you customise the Sony A7 III Function menu?

The Function menu is the 12-box control panel that appears when you press the Fn button. It provides fast access to key shooting settings without opening the full menu.

All 12 positions can be customised. This allows you to replace features you rarely use with controls that are more relevant to your photography, such as focus area, metering mode, white balance, silent shooting or subject tracking.

How to change the Function menu

1. Press the Menu button.
2. Navigate to the eighth page of the second menu tab, labelled Custom Operation1 8/9.
3. Select Function Menu Set.
4. Choose the position in the Function menu that you want to change.
5. Press the centre button.
6. Scroll through the available settings and select the feature you want to assign.
7. Press the centre button again to confirm the change.
8. Repeat the process for any other positions you want to customise.

A practical approach is to arrange related settings together. For example, focus mode and focus area can sit next to each other, while white balance, creative style and metering mode can form another group.

This makes the Function menu easier to navigate visually and reduces the time required to find a particular setting.

How do you customise the Sony A7 III buttons?

The Sony A7 III allows different roles to be assigned to many of its buttons and controls. Separate button configurations can also be created for stills photography, video recording and image playback.

There are 12 customisable controls, but changing all of them at once can make the camera difficult to learn. It is usually better to reassign one or two buttons, use the camera for a while and then decide whether further changes are necessary.

Useful custom button assignments might include Eye AF, Focus Magnifier, APS-C/Super 35mm Mode, Silent Shooting, Zebra Display or Monitor Brightness.

Related: How to use the Lensbaby Burnside 35 on the Sony A7 III

How to assign a feature to a custom button

1. Press the Menu button.
2. Navigate to Custom Operation1 8/9.
3. Select the custom key option for stills, video or playback, depending on which mode you want to change.
4. Press the centre button.
5. Select the button or control that you want to customise.
6. Press the centre button again.
7. Find the feature you want to assign.
8. Press the centre button to confirm the change.
9. Repeat the process for any additional controls.
10. Press the Menu button when you have finished.

The same physical button can perform different functions depending on whether the camera is set to stills, video or playback. This provides considerable flexibility without requiring every control to have a single permanent role.

How do you change the Sony A7 III front and rear dial functions?

The front and rear control dials adjust settings such as aperture and shutter speed. If you regularly turn the wrong dial, the camera lets you swap their functions.

This can be particularly useful when moving from another camera system whose controls operate in the opposite way.

How to swap the front and rear dials

1. Press the Menu button.
2. Navigate to Custom Operation1 8/9.
3. Scroll down to Dial Setup.
4. Press the centre button.
5. Select your preferred dial arrangement.
6. Press the centre button again to confirm the change.

You can also use the Av/Tv Rotate option to reverse the direction in which the dials adjust aperture and shutter speed.

This does not change which setting is assigned to each dial. Instead, it changes whether turning the dial clockwise increases or decreases the selected value.

What should you customise first on the Sony A7 III?

Begin with the controls that interrupt your shooting most frequently. For many photographers, the most useful starting points are the Function menu, My Menu and one memory position on the mode dial.

A sensible first configuration would be:

• Save your everyday shooting settings to mode dial position 1.
• Save an action, portrait or low-light configuration to position 2.
• Add Format and your most frequently changed options to My Menu.
• Place focus mode, focus area, drive mode and white balance in the Function menu.
• Assign one custom button to the focusing feature you use most often.

Use this setup for several shoots before making further changes. A control layout that appears logical at home may feel less intuitive when you are working quickly, wearing gloves or looking through the viewfinder.

Is it worth customising the Sony A7 III?

Customising the Sony A7 III is worthwhile because it reduces reliance on the camera’s main menu and makes frequently used settings easier to reach. The biggest improvements come from configuring the mode dial, My Menu, Function menu and a small number of custom buttons.

There is no single perfect arrangement. A wildlife photographer will need different controls from a portrait, landscape or video shooter. The most effective setup is one that reflects how you use the camera in real shooting situations.

Sony A7 III customisation FAQs

Can the Sony A7 III save complete groups of settings?

Yes. Positions 1 and 2 on the mode dial can save complete shooting configurations, including exposure, autofocus, drive and white balance settings. Four additional configurations can be saved as M1, M2, M3 and M4 on a memory card.

Are Sony A7 III custom settings saved to the memory card?

Settings registered to mode dial positions 1 and 2 are stored in the camera. The additional M1, M2, M3 and M4 configurations are stored on the memory card and will be erased if that card is formatted.

Can the Sony A7 III have different custom buttons for video?

Yes. The A7 III supports separate custom button assignments for stills photography, video recording and playback. A button can therefore perform one function while shooting photographs and another while recording video.

Can you change the Sony A7 III Function menu?

Yes. All 12 positions in the Function menu can be reassigned. Go to Menu > Custom Operation1 > Function Menu Set, select the position you want to change and assign the required feature.

Can you swap the front and rear dials on the Sony A7 III?

Yes. Open Dial Setup in the Custom Operation menu to swap the aperture and shutter-speed controls. You can also reverse the direction in which the dials increase or decrease their values using Av/Tv Rotate.