Hong Kong-based travel and nature photographer Jessica Li has always used photography to share her love for nature. Her interest in landscape photography has allowed her to showcase the unique and natural beauty of Hong Kong to the world. Throughout her career, Jessica has delved into hybrid shooting to showcase the wonders of the great outdoors in stills and videos. 

"For outdoor shooting with the Alpha 7 IV, it is recommended to use the GM lens with a fixed focus and large aperture to create stunning wonders of Mother Nature. It is a lighter lens combination and is easier to carry around. The high-quality GM lens with a large aperture also helps to capture better images in low-light conditions,” said Jessica. 

“The compact Alpha 7 IV provides high performance while offering flexibility, versatility and is light even with a FE 14mm F1.8 G Master or FE 55mm F1.8 ZA. This is sufficient for most scenes and provides good image quality while being portable," she added. 

Why choose Alpha 7 IV for outdoor photography and videography? 

"The new generation Alpha 7 IV offers 4K 60p, Super 35 Mode, 10bit 4:2:2 recording with S-Log3 and S-Cinetone support, making it easy to capture cinematic videos with smoother and more natural motion. 

The camera also delivers a new operating experience with the new dual dial that allows me to effortlessly switch between still and movie modes. Both modes can be adjusted individually so that I won't have to go back to adjust their settings anytime you switch between modes. It also has a new three-layer vertical menu that allows for a clearer display. 

Last but not least, the Alpha 7 IV's electronic viewfinder and LCD monitor have both been upgraded to provide better colour and dynamic range. The 3-inch 1.03-megapixel side-flip screen on the LCD monitor makes it easier to take selfies and vlogs from multiple angles. If I am always shooting at a straight angle, the side-flip screen will make it easier to get a good view. If I can describe the Alpha 7 IV in one sentence, it is my ideal single camera partner for shooting photos and the world around me." 

What makes the Alpha 7 IV better than other cameras? 

"As I am a landscape photographer, I often use sunrise, sunset, and starry skies as my backdrop. Shooting in a natural environment places high demands on the performance of the equipment. 

The Alpha 7 IV's new 33-megapixel full-frame back-illuminated CMOS offers a dynamic range of up to 15 stops and a new generation BIONZ XR image processing engine that boosts processing performance by 8 times. This allows me to capture a wide range of subjects, including travel, landscape photography, and more. 

Even when shooting in low light, the image quality is better allowing the output of my landscape visuals to be more detailed.  The camera allows me to achieve smoother and more dynamic images in high definition." 

How has the Alpha 7 IV enabled you to navigate challenging terrain? 

"When I am travelling or shooting landscapes, it is inevitable that I will have to travel up and down mountains and seas, hence the portability of the photography equipment is a very important element. 

The Alpha 7 IV is light and handy while also offering high-quality photography and recording functions that meet my needs as a content creator. I mainly carry 1 camera and 2 lenses with a tripod, such as the FE 14mm F1.8 GM or FE 55mm F1.8 ZA. This is sufficient for most scenes and provides good image quality while being portable." 

What is your advice for beginners looking to venture into hybrid shooting? 

"For landscape photographers who are always on the move, having a camera that can take great still photos and high-quality motion without the need to bring another camera or camcorder will make your trip a much more relaxing experience. This way, you can focus on your trip and seize every opportunity to capture great images. I definitely recommend the Alpha 7 IV for outdoor photographers, as it gives you everything you need from a technical perspective to capture the most breath-taking photos and videos of Mother Nature. 

In terms of lenses, I am a huge advocate of the G Master lens for outdoor shooting. Its well-engineered optics, including fixed focus and large aperture, offer incredible resolution even under low light. It is also lighter and easier to carry around."