Alpha 7C

Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS

Lens Category

Creative inspirations, equipment selection

On our travels, we're at mother nature's mercy - you can check weather forecasts, but you can never really predict conditions when you reach your destination. That's part of the excitement of shooting travel videos! There is one certainty whenever and wherever I travel though - I always pack my FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS Lens and Alpha 7C camera.

The magic of a zoom lens on your travels

Here's a fun fact - many of my favourite travel videos were totally unplanned and shot along the way to my intended destinations. That's the magic of travelling with equipment you love. By design, a zoom lens has a variable focal length, and this gives you amazing versatility.

To tell vivid stories with your videos, having variety in your framing is key. And a zoom lens empowers you to create a wide variety of shots, without having to physically move yourself.

The FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS Lens, in particular, is spectacular for capturing everything I want in my travel videos - the vastness of wide-open landscapes, my subject (i.e. the main character in my video/story), and all the beautiful details that create a more immersive and believable visual experience for viewers.

My favourite shots: Behind the scenes

Scene 1: A time-lapse moonlight in Thailand (00:02)

The opening scene for this video was a time-lapse of the evening sky. Generally, the sky is pretty clear in February (the month I shot this) in Thailand, which was great for a clear shot. Also, the moon cycle was ideal for shooting between 8pm and 6am (i.e. the moonlight wouldn't affect the time-lapse shot).

Alpha 7C | FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS | 16mm | F4 | 1/30s | ISO 1600

To create an emphasis on the skyline, keep the camera low to the ground and tilt the camera up.

The focus of this shot was a tent that I pitched. At first though, the shot looked flat. So, I decided to place a lantern inside to create a more intriguing visual - and I really like how it turned out!

Behind the scenes, the star performer was my FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS Lens. This lens does remarkably well in low light. Although there were strong winds that shook the camera throughout the night, the FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS Lens's built-in Optical SteadyShot (OSS) ensured that the shot was crisp and beautiful.

Scene 2: Artistic reveal of a pine forest (00:12)

This video was shot in a pine forest, during the morning hours. One of the interesting aspects of this shoot were the many pinecones that were scattered along the ground. They added interesting layers of texture and detail and enhanced the storytelling element of the video.

Alpha 7C | FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS | 16mm | F4 | 1/50s | ISO 400

Fill the frame by keeping your camera close to your subject.

I felt that a great way to showcase the environment was a slow reveal of the forest. To accomplish this, I sat on the ground and created a tilt shot that started by focusing on a single pinecone - before slowly tilting my camera upwards to unveil a wide shot of the majestic pine forest.

Using the FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS Lens's 0.28M close-up capabilities, the pinecone looked sharp and in focus, while being surrounded by natural-looking bokeh. The lens features a smooth and precise autofocus, which made the transition from pinecone to forest, very fluid and natural.

Scene 3: A stroll through a forest (00:22)

This is another of my favourite scenes - a character walking through a forest. I love how wide this lens is, as it really showcases the towering pine trees and their cascading shadows they create. This scene was really beautiful in real life, and the wide angle of the FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS Lens captured the scene perfectly - creating an immersive visual experience for viewers.

Alpha 7C | FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS | 16m | F4 | 1/50s | ISO 400

To create a natural and seamless shot, stay at the same distance from (and move at the same pace as) your subject throughout the entire shot.

Scene 4: Dusty roads and a hidden landscape (00:44)

Along one of my drives, I chanced upon a unique landscape that was hidden amidst a mountain. It was a hill that was full of stones that gave the environment an otherworldly impression - absolutely ideal for storytelling in a video. I asked my subject to walk across the hill and followed her journey with my camera.

Alpha 7C | FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS | 16mm | F11 | 1/50s | ISO 125

Utilise the foreground to create a sense of depth and movement.

This shoot took place at the beginning of the country's drought season, so the environment was very dry and dusty. While these conditions can cause concerns for some other equipment, I shot was confidence with my dust-proof FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS Lens, which easily held up to the challenging conditions.

What made this particular scene even easier (and more fun) to shoot, was the lightweight combination of the FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS Lens and Alpha 7C camera - which are really convenient to carry anywhere, and very easy to handle.

Scene 5: Capturing the beauty of Mae Hong Son (00:50)

This is a popular shot as it gives viewers the impression that they're in Jurassic Park! In actuality, I shot this in Pai Lan Split, which is a tourist attraction in Mae Hong Son. Pai Lan Split is a canyon that's full of beautiful ferns, and I decided to showcase the breathtaking view with a panning shot that shows off both the detail of the foliage, as well as the awe-inspiring canyon in the background.

Alpha 7C | FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS | 16mm | F4 | 1/50s | ISO 400

To great-looking panning shots, hold the camera steady and move the camera with your body (not your hands).

Here's where the FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS Lens's autofocus shines! The transition between the two distances - the foliage and canyon - was handled with ease and smoothness (and without the "jumpy" or jarring transitions that can happen with some other lenses).

Scene 6: Tranquil scenes (00:35)

Here's another unplanned shot that's in my personal "top 8". I was driving past a stream and was absolutely captivated by its beauty. The depth, colours and nature textures in the scene - embodied by the rocks, stream and mountains in the background - felt like stories within stories. The environment captivated me.

Alpha 7C | FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS | 28mm | F11 | 1/50s | 400

Use a slightly longer focal length to compress the background in your shot.

I wanted to capture every minute detail in this scene, and with the FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS Lens, I could. Combined with a CPL filter, I was able to shoot this picturesque scene in high-resolution clarity, and with vibrant colours that truly bring viewers into the scene - almost as if they were standing there with me.

Scene 7: A piece of heaven, hidden on earth (00:29)

This was another hidden spot in Mae Hong Son that I had to capture with my camera. The endlessly expansive grassy hill and curved lines of the country road seemed to go on forever - making you ponder on the expansiveness of the mother nature and appreciate the world around us a little more.

Alpha 7C | FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS | 16mm | F8 | 1/50s | ISO 125

By shooting toward the sun, you can create a rim of light that can help to separate your subject and background.

Once again, this shot was taken during the drought season - which meant lots of dust adding an interesting element to the shot, and the need for equipment that I could count on in harsh environments like this.

For this shot, I used a 16mm focal length, which gave the scene added depth and immersion.

Scene 8: The Cascading Mork Fa Waterfall (00:34)

Chiang Mai (Thailand) has many beautiful waterfalls, but the Mork Fa waterfall has to be among the most gorgeous ones. When shooting waterfalls, be prepared for low-light, high-moisture situations and choose your equipment wisely!

Alpha 7C | FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS | 16mm | F8 | ISO 640

When shooting a waterfall, choose a time of day when there is no direct sunlight to avoid blown out highlights.

You already know my favourite zoom lens is the FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS Lens, and for good reason too. Not only does it take amazing photos and videos (as you've seen above), it's also moisture-proof and has built-in Optical SteadyShot (OSS), which makes it perfect for shots in locations like waterfalls and other high-moisture or windy environments.

Finding your unique inspirations

I'm mostly inspired by watching great filmmakers and video creators' work, and really enjoy going "behind the scenes" - understanding their thought processes, lens choices, and how these creators tell stories and invoke emotions through their art.

For me, everyday life can feel mundane at times - but travelling to different locales and being with nature rejuvenates and inspires me!

If you're ever feeling "stuck", maybe a helpful question to ask could be, "What brings fun, fulfilment and meaning to my life?" That's where your inspiration lies.

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Alpha 7C

緊湊型全畫幅相機

Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS

ZEISS 全畫幅廣角變焦鏡頭

ECM-B1M

槍型麥克風

ECM-W2BT

無線麥克風

GP-VPT2BT

無線遙控拍攝握把

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Filmmaking

Nature/Landscapes

FE 24mm F2.8 G | Ideal travel partner | Review by Carlinn Meyer

Harriman — Thu, 18 May 2023 09:23:49 +0000

FE 24mm F2.8 G | Ideal travel partner | Review by Carlinn Meyer

Harriman Thu, 05/18/2023 - 14:53

Article Categories

Reviews

Body Category

Lens Category

FE 24mm F2.8 G

Alpha 7C | FE 24mm F2.8 G | 24mm | F2.8 | 1/2500s | ISO 160

Alpha 7C | FE 24mm F2.8 G | 24mm | F3.5 | 1/1250s | ISO 160

Alpha 7C | FE 24mm F2.8 G | 24mm | F5 | 1/320s | ISO 100

Alpha 7C | FE 24mm F2.8 G | 24mm | F2.8 | 1/500s | ISO 160

The essence of travel photography

People often ask me, “What's the secret to snapping memorable travel photos?”

Personally, I always focus on capturing the essence of the place I'm visiting. However far – or near – you are from home, there are always special moments, colours and landscapes that will surprise you. As a photographer, you'll want to portray that sense of wonder and surprise to your audiences, so they'll feel like they're travelling on the trip with you.

That's why I love travelling with my Sony Alpha 7C compact full-frame camera and FE 24mm F2.8 G prime lens. This compact pairing is light enough to carry anywhere, making it that much easier to capture spontaneous moments.

Why a prime lens is perfect for travels

When I'm travelling, I'm usually on my feet for most of the day. I enjoy exploring cities on foot to really get a feel of my surroundings, and a prime lens like the FE 24mm F2.8 G is so lightweight, I almost forget I'm carrying it.

Being a 24mm lens, it also does everything I need for my overseas shots. It's great for capturing gorgeous, wide landscapes – while also performing brilliantly for close-ups with its clarity, as well as its deliciously smooth bokeh that dissolves into the background.

Precise, quiet focus
You'll see lots of fascinating subjects on your travels, but not all will be willing to strike a pose – especially those of the feathered variety! This is where the FE 24mm F2.8 G excels – when you're taking covert shots of birds, insects and animals.

Alpha 7C | FE 24mm F2.8 G | 24mm | F4 | 1/640s | ISO 125

The lens features an incredibly quiet autofocus that won't scare your subject off, even at close distances. And its sharp and fast focus makes it easy to take great shots of your subjects – even if they're on the move!

Smooth, natural bokeh
When I'm photographing food and people, I love getting up close and personal. With that said, context is important - and having the background touched by smooth and natural bokeh, gives context to the shot, while making your subject stand out.

Alpha 7C | FE 24mm F2.8 G | 24mm | F2.8 | 1/800s | ISO 250

Alpha 7C | FE 24mm F2.8 G | 24mm | F4 | 1/640s | ISO 125

For portraits and selfies, I create this effect by using a wide-open aperture like a F2.8. The FE 24mm F2.8 G prime lens excels with animal portraits too, as seen in this shot with a squirrel. In this shot, I got very close to the subject to capture sharp details on my focus point – without losing the story that the photograph is sharing with audiences.

24mm lens quality
As shown so far, this 24mm prime lens lets me get really close to subjects. But that's not its only trick – it's also amazing for capturing wide shots, without losing any texture or sharpness. On your travels, you'll definitely come across situations where you'll need to get wider shots without a lot of space – and the FE 24mm F2.8 G is perfect for these situations.

Alpha 7C | FE 24mm F2.8 G | 24mm | F6.3 | 1/1250s | ISO 160

You'll really appreciate how the quality of photos taken using this lens, stays consistent in multiple situations and environments – for example, when shooting buildings in bright sunlight.

Alpha 7C | FE 24mm F2.8 G | 24mm | F2.8 | 1/800s | ISO 100

Alpha 7C | FE 24mm F2.8 G | 24mm | F2.8 | 1/250s | ISO 160

Alpha 7C | FE 24mm F2.8 G | 24mm | F6.3 | 1/1250s | ISO 160

One camera. One lens. Perfect for every trip.

I absolutely love the combination of the Sony Alpha 7C and FE 24mm F2.8 G prime lens. Their lightweight builds make them easy to carry on your travels, and their compactness makes it instinctive to take out and shoot with one hand – so vlogging and selfies are that much easier and more natural.

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Alpha 7C

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FE 24mm F2.8 G

G 系列全畫幅廣角定焦鏡頭

SF-M64T

SF-M 系列 Tough 規格記憶卡

BC-QZ1

NP-FZ100 電池充電器（Z 系列）

NP-FZ100 Z-series Rechargeable Battery Pack

Z 系列充電式電池組

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VLOG

FE 14mm F1.8 GM | Shoot daily life shots conveniently | Review by Ray Kay

Harriman — Thu, 18 May 2023 07:56:18 +0000

FE 14mm F1.8 GM | Shoot daily life shots conveniently | Review by Ray Kay

Harriman Thu, 05/18/2023 - 13:26

Article Categories

Reviews

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Lens Category

FE 14mm F1.8 GM

Video Name

Daily | Main

The compelling nature of video

I started my career as a photographer and have always loved portrait shots. On my travels and in everyday life, I would snap photos of the beautiful places and people around me, writing notes in my journal while doing so. I enjoyed capturing stories in the photos I took, but always felt that I wanted to capture… more.

In 2019, I travelled to Iceland and was captivated by the amazing environments and landscapes around me. In that moment, I decided to encapsulate those memories in videos – and that's how I made my first film, "Love Youth", and embarked on my filmmaking journey.

Why I film with a prime lens

I'm inspired by lights and shadows, and am particularly captivated by the low sunlight and long shadows of the "golden hour" – where buildings, people and nature all become extraordinarily beautiful when bathed in this combination of shadow and light.

When out and about, my choice of camera and lens is the Sony Alpha 7C and FE 14mm F1.8 GM prime lens. Why a prime lens? I like how prime lenses have brighter aperture values and better resolutions than their zoom counterparts. This makes the depth of field more diverse – especially in close-up situations, where the shots become a lot more dramatic.

I'm a fan of Sony's G Master prime lenses and own almost all them, along with a few zoom lenses as well.

Today, I'll share some videography tips and use scenes from my film to illustrate the points I'm talking about. I hope you'll find these useful when shooting your videos!

Alpha 7C | FE 14mm F1.8 GM | 1/60 sec | ISO 500

Scene 1: Transitioning from indoors to outdoors

This is an interesting shot for two reasons. Firstly, it takes viewers from a dark indoor area to the bright outdoors. Second, the doorway was especially narrow – which provided a unique opportunity to showcase the two contrasting areas.

As I filmed this scene using a closed aperture, I didn't need to pay particular attention to the focal distance. This meant I was free to adjust the distance and angle to get my "perfect shot". My 14mm FE 14mm F1.8 GM prime lens enabled me to perfectly capture the subject passing through this narrow doorway, with the contrast setting the scene.

I made the scene more dramatic by using a high contrast to really highlight the shadows. Realising that the background was bright, vibrant full of textures and details, I set the aperture to 16 – and really captured as much of the scene's vibrancy as possible.

Alpha 7C | FE 14mm F1.8 GM | 1/60 sec | ISO 500

Scene 2: Motion amidst the vast outdoors

Here's another where light takes centre stage. This time, we were out shooting at 1pm, when the sun was at its highest. This scene takes place in a picturesque grass field with tall grass surrounding my subject.

To get the ideal feel for this shot, I used an infinite focus and set the aperture to 16. Here, I balanced the harmony of all the various elements in the frame, rather than only thinking about the distance of the subject and camera. This way, I could capture all the intricate details in this uniquely gorgeous environment – the grass and subject in the foreground, as well as the trees, mountains and sky in the distance.

Shooting was done at 29.9fps with a shutter speed of 1/60 – creating a beautiful motion blur, while capturing details like the grass swaying and the model's hair moving as the ran through the field. To get the full effect of how the model's motion affected the grass, I shot from low angles.

Alpha 7C | FE 14mm F1.8 GM | 1/60 sec | ISO 6400

Scene 3: Candles in the dark

This scene was filmed in an area that was engulfed in complete darkness, with only candles illuminating the environment.

This particular shot was very close to being a macro shot, with a shooting distance of only around 25cm. During these close-up shots, I set the aperture on my FE 14mm F1.8 GM lens to wide open – which created a soft and beautiful bokeh effect in the background.

In your videos, you can consider using candles or smaller lights (like Christmas tree lights) to maximise the bokeh effect and create some truly stunning shots!

Everyday videos. Not-so-everyday ideas.

Video Name

Daily | Interview

I love recording beautiful scenes, and really like using a shallow depth of field because it heightens the emotional intensity of a scene. And because a lot of what I record involves everyday life, the lightweight combination of the Sony Alpha 7C and the FE 14mm F1.8 GM are fantastic companions on my filmmaking adventures!

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Alpha 7C

緊湊型全畫幅相機

FE 14mm F1.8 GM

G Master 全畫幅超廣角定焦鏡頭

ECM-B1M

槍型麥克風

ECM-W2BT

無線麥克風

GP-VPT2BT

無線遙控拍攝握把

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FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM | Ideal for astrophotography | Review by Jay Evans

Harriman — Thu, 18 May 2023 06:01:38 +0000

FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM | Ideal for astrophotography | Review by Jay Evans

Harriman Thu, 05/18/2023 - 11:31

Article Categories

Reviews

Body Category

Lens Category

FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM

Alpha 7C | FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM | 12mm | F2.8 | 20 sec | ISO 6400

Alpha 7C | FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM | 12mm | F2.8 | 2422 sec | ISO 200

Alpha 7C | FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM | 12mm | F2.8 | 20 sec | ISO 6400

Shooting for the stars: My beginnings in astrophotography

I got my first digital camera in 2008 and was fascinated by its time-lapse feature. My first few time-lapse shots were in the mornings and evenings, but after spending hours in darkness capturing cruise liners docking in Sydney Harbour, I was captivated at how I had also captured the movement of the stars in the dark night sky.

That led me to start photographing star trails, and while I was on a remote overnight hike in the Warrumbungles, realised that my camera could actually capture the Milky Way! I was immediately hooked.

Alpha 7C | FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM | 12mm | F2.8 | 20 sec | ISO 6400

The stunning natural landscapes of Australia are a huge inspiration to my photography, but my passion for astrophotography truly stems from the thrill of finding a location devoid of light pollution – where I can capture natural features in a landscape, with the night sky as a gorgeous backdrop. This continually inspires me to plan, prepare and get out there!

Astro settings

Here's a quick start guide on general settings you can use to take great photos of star trails, the Milky Way and time-lapse shots.

Turn "Long Exposure Noise Reduction" off
White balance: Use a Kelvin setting of 4000
Shoot in RAW Uncompressed to maintain high bit depth for dynamic range and colour
Turn off Steadyshot/OSS (if your lens has it)

Mount the camera securely on the tripod

Astrophotography + zoom = A match made in heaven

The FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM is a sensational lens to have in your astro arsenal. Its constant F2.8 at 12 or 24mm is essential for nightscapes, letting in an extraordinary amount of light for a lens of this focal range.

Alpha 7C | FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM | 12mm | F2.8 | 20 sec | ISO 6400

What's more, its ultra-wide focal length easily captures a huge field of view across both landscapes and night skies. You also get outstanding versatility and flexibility when it comes to composition, being able to zoom up to 24mm to compress a scene and capture details in the landscape – without much need to refocus every time.

The lens also enables you to get creative – shooting scenes like an "exploding" Milky Way (which you can create by twisting your zoom ring while the shutter is open).

Showcasing the flexibility of a 12-24mm zoom lens

With a zoom lens, your possibilities are endless. These are just some of the many varieties of shots that you can capture with this versatile lens.

12-24mm flexibility with a constant F2.8

Alpha 7C | FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM | 12mm | F2.8 | 20 sec | ISO 6400

12mm

Alpha 7C | FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM | 24mm | F2.8 | 20 sec | ISO 6400

24mm

12-24mm zoom (same distance, various zoom levels)

12mm

16mm

18mm

20mm

24mm

The petrified tree of Megalong Valley

One of my favourite astro locations in the Blue Mountains is alongside a road deep inside the Megalong Valley, where a solitary petrified tree sits – beckoning to photographers who have ventured this far.

On this night, the moon was still setting as the Milky Way dropped to the west. This provided powerful lighting across the entire landscape and projected a shadow that cast a menacing image, which I just had to capture with my Alpha 7C and FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM!

Alpha 7C | FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM | 12mm | F2.8 | 20 sec | ISO 6400

This tree was only 3 metres from the fence line where I could set up the tripod and camera, so having the versatility of a 12mm ultra-wide focal length allowed me to shoot the scene easily – even with the tree a distance away.

When taking photos when a 12mm lens, always consider just how wide your shot will be – and check your surroundings for distractions that you may not usually notice, especially in the dark.

Pro advice: Replicating subtle moonlight
Some moonlight can be good for your nightscapes, whether it's moonlight lighting up your scene from behind, or a sliver of the moon peeking out from above or below the Milky Way. You could also use a foreground object to "hide" the moon, while it lights up your scene and creates beautiful, dramatic shadows.

If the landscape is devoid of light (making it difficult to pick out details from shadows), try using low lumen LED lighting (also called low level lighting) to replicate subtle moonlight in your composition. And if you're in a pinch, you could also get creative and use the light from your mobile phone!

Time-lapse: Capturing a landscape, over time
One of the most beautiful aspects of astrophotography is the time-lapse video, which is made up of photographs taken over a period of time. In seconds, a time-lapse video can showcase the gorgeous changes that happen over an entire night – and captivate audiences.

Video Name

Astro | SEL1224GM Timelapse

The possibilities for your time-lapse shots are endless, but these tips can help you get started:

Compose your scene: Before starting your time-lapse sequence, look at the scene, compose it thoughtfully, and consider what is likely to change, what aspect of motion you wish to capture, and whether anything may interfere with your shots (like objects entering the scene)
Take a few test shots: Check your images for focus. Check for distracting elements that might not be obvious to the eye, and check your lighting to ensure that ou are capturing details in the foreground that can be pulled out in editing later.
Set the "Interval Shoot Func.": To maintain the movement of stars and the sky in your astro time-lapse, use the Interval Shoot Function on the camera and set the interval to the same time as your exposure. This ensures that as soon as the shutter closes on one frame, it immediately opens for the next.
Once complete: Export your frames, then import them as a sequence into Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premier, Davinci Resolve, or LRTimelapse. There are plenty of online resources available on how to compile your time-lapse sequences into a final video file.
Extra motion: You can introduce extra motion in your time-lapse by setting up the camera on a tracking mount, motorised rotator or motorised slider.

The "exploding" Milky Way

With its ultra-wide angle, the FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM zoom lens provides you with plenty of opportunities to work with your composition – and in astrophotography, this versatility also expands your creative options, enabling you to take some truly unique shots like this "exploding" Milky Way!

Alpha 7C | FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM | 12<>24mm | F2.8 | 20 sec | ISO 6400

In astrophotography and nightscaping, we often say that 24mm is the smallest usable focal distance when shooting the Milky Way (before you should consider switching to a panoramic shot).

Having a full range of 12mm to 24mm and a constant F2.8 aperture (with minimal need to refocus across the entire range) gives you the opportunity to work with your composition, compress features such as lighthouses, get low and close to objects on the ground, or get high up to shoot a broad scene across the landscape.

Pro advice: Be different
When out shooting, try to capture something unique. After all, lots of photographers have captured an image of the Milky Way or a star trail, and may even have combined it with a well-known feature in the landscape.

For your astro shots to stand out, try finding something unique to capture. Think about approaching the scene from a different viewpoint, focusing on an interesting foreground subject, including some macro and bokeh stars, or simply capture a different element of the night sky.

You can also use creative techniques, like light painting tools, to differentiate your photos from your peers. Look for "unicorns" that can really jazz up your images – for example, meteors, an aurora, zodiacal lights, satellites or iridium flares. Some of these, you can't plan for – others, you most definitely can!

Captivating long exposure shots

Alpha 7C | FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM | 12mm | F2.8 | 2422 sec | ISO 200

Here's an example of a long exposure shot. To set up such shots, make sure your camera doesn't move for the entire duration of the exposure. You can do so by fixing your camera firmly to a tripod, and ensuring the tripod is on solid ground.

Always open the tripod legs as wide as possible to create a more stable footprint. This will help to reduce vibrations from wind, as well as keep the camera stable.

Once again, the FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM's wide angle is amazing for these shots. It offers a field of view that's simply perfect for capturing vast skies and beautifully detailed landscapes – captured with long exposure times.

Pro advice: Location, location, location!
When you're first starting out, it's good to visit locations that are well-visited by other photographers. Those make fantastic shots for your social media!

But don't just stick to these popular spots. Get out there and scout for interesting compositions. You might find new ideas when looking at buildings and structures from different angles, or you could find a wide-open view of a coastal rock formation, or more. Who knows, you may even discover a stunning waterfall that's perfectly placed for you to capture a shot of flowing water, with the Milky Way in the sky above.

There are so many interesting and unique locations out there, just waiting to be discovered! While exploring, do remember to respect the environment and private property – and always ensure you have permission to shoot at your chosen location.

The splendour of astrophotography

The breathtaking experience of gazing at a crystal-clear night sky is something often missed, especially if you live in a heavily light polluted area. But when you set out to capture the galaxy with your camera, everything takes on a whole new meaning.

These are my preferred astrophotography settings on the Alpha 7C, which you can use to get started (before finding your own sweet spot on your camera).

Don't have a remote? No worries, simply use the 2-second. But remember, the timer light on the front of the camera can cast an orange glow in someone else's photograph – so play nice by placing a piece of black electrical tape over it
Try using the Dynamic Range Optimiser (DRO) if your landscape is very dark. Remember, this only applies to JPG files – so your editing and control will be more limited, compared to having a RAW file.

RAW File. Shadows +50, Noise Reduction +25

DRO Level 5 (JPG Only). Shadows +50, Noise Reduction +25

If your landscape is too dark, you can also use a "Picture Profile". PP3 provides a huge gain in dynamic range, but at the cost of colour (gamma). However, this can be fixed (to a certain degree) in your editing workflow.
Focus Peaking can help with finding the optimum focus point of your stars – especially in wide open apertures – by highlighting stars (that you may have otherwise missed) in the focus magnifier.
Set the Finder/Monitor selection to a button. (I normally use the centre button on the dial.) This can help reduce battery consumption when shooting star trails or timelapse shots.

Enable Bright Monitoring to add more dynamic range to your Liveview. This can really help when composing a dark scene.

Use the Memory function of your camera to save your Astro setup. This way, you can switch it on a access it quickly – while also switching back to normal settings in a snap. This ensures you won't miss a wildlife shot or a family moment, while switching your ISO and exposure time back to your regular daytime settings.

Alpha 7C | FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM | 12mm | F2.8 | 20 sec | ISO 6400

As you spend time under a blanket of stars, you learn more about celestial objects found at different times of the year. You study constellations, observe how the earth's movement creates the motion we see in star trails, and so much more.

All this knowledge augments the experience of astrophotography and transforms each experience into a unique and mesmerising affair. It's an addiction that's led me to explore the world from a new point of view, while expanding my photographic repertoire with new and exciting techniques.

And I capture all this, with my trusted Alpha 7C camera, FE 14mm F1.8 GM prime lens and FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM zoom lens.

Products

Featured

Alpha 7C

緊湊型全畫幅相機

FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM

G Master 全畫幅超廣角變焦鏡頭

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FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS | Take beautiful couple photos | Review by Miki Chang

Harriman — Thu, 18 May 2023 03:26:37 +0000

FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS | Take beautiful couple photos | Review by Miki Chang

Harriman Thu, 05/18/2023 - 08:56

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Reviews

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Vario-Tessar T* FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS

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Alpha 7C | FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS | 38mm | F4 | 1/320s | ISO 640

Alpha 7C | FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS | 26mm | F4 | 1/2000s | ISO 250

Couple photography: Perfect for two or three

As a photographer, I've helped many couples photograph lasting memories that they can enjoy for many years to come. However, I would sometimes wonder, “Can a couple take these photos themselves, then use the money they've saved (from hiring a photographer and makeup artist) to travel to more countries instead?”

One day, I decided to answer this question definitively. My boyfriend and I were celebrating our 5th anniversary and going on a holiday – so I brought along my Sony Alpha 7C camera, FE 40mm F2.5 G prime lens, Vario-Tessar T* FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS zoom lens, and a tripod.

I decided to be my own “couple photographer” and see the results! The photos you'll see below, have all been taken either by hand or with a tripod.

General tips for couple photography

Alpha 7C | FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS | 50mm | F10 | 1/4000s | ISO 5000

Coordinate your colours!
The basics of couple photography begins with matching your outfits. Choose a similar colour and style, or go with complementary colours to create visual harmony.

Mornings are best
Generally, the most suitable time for outdoor shoots is in the morning (but not too early) and before dusk in the afternoon, as the light is softer during this period. You'll want to avoid harsh sunlight as the colours in your photos will be affected by light that's too bright.

Get the Sony mobile app
If you own a Sony Alpha camera, you can download Sony's mobile app to your phone. It'll make controlling your shots and timers so much easier, especially when you've set up your camera perfectly on your tripod.

Expand your possibilities with zoom

The Vario-Tessar T* FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS zoom lens adds a level of convenience and flexibility to your shoots, as you can adjust the focal length of our lens while remaining in one spot. Also, when choosing the wide-angle 24MM, you will be able to capture more of the scene.

Alpha 7C | FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS | 24mm | F4 | 1/4000s | ISO 320

Alpha 7C | FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS | 24mm | F6.3 | 1/4000s | ISO 800

Sublime coastlines
For shots like these, choose a time closer to dusk for more beautifully coloured coasts.

Alpha 7C | FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS | 63mm | F4 | 1/250s | ISO 12800

Vivid indoor shots
Although we were indoors (and I could have used my prime lens), I decided to shoot these with my Vario-Tessar T* FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS zoom lens. The slightly longer focal length created more vivid photos, which told more compelling stories.

You can also experiment with creating distance and intimacy in your photos with your poses – or even look away from the camera if you (or your partner) feel shy about looking into the lens.

Alpha 7C | FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS | 24mm | F4 | 1/320s | ISO 12800

Alpha 7C | FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS | 24mm | F4 | 1/2000s | ISO 100

The Sony Alpha 7C and Vario-Tessar T* FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS zoom lens perform well in both bright and dark environments, like these!

Alpha 7C | FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS | 63mm | F4 | 1/4000s | ISO 3200

Alpha 7C | FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS | 47mm | F4 | 1/2500s | ISO 3200

Experimenting with focal lengths
One of the joys of using a zoom lens is easily changing the focal length to get different shots.

Alpha 7C | FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS | 70mm | F4 | 1/4000s | ISO 12800

Mobile convenience at a tap
After downloading the “Imaging Edge Mobile” app to your smartphone, you can connect it to your Sony Alpha 7C camera, which opens up a world of possibilities. Now, you can use your phone to operate the shutter, shooting mode, white balance, and other operations of your camera.

And after taking a shot, you can view the photo from your phone – and even upload it to your phone to share on social media within seconds!

Alpha 7C | FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS | 24mm | F4 | 1/4000s | 2000

The romance of couple photography

I set out on this trip to find an answer to my question, “Can couple photography be done with just two people, a camera and lenses, and a tripod?”

Objectively speaking, if there's a special moment that you really want to capture – a photographer can certainly be helpful, as you can get vivid photographs from more angles. Also, your photographer may capture a magical moment that happens spontaneously.

Ultimately, this is a decision that you'll have to make on your own. But one thing's for sure – by having a great camera and lenses with you, you and your partner will be able to capture a lot more of life's precious moments – so you'll have more amazing memories to reminisce on in the years ahead.

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HVL-F28RM

GN28 無線電控制外接閃光燈

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FE 40mm F2.5 G | Capture beautiful memories| Review by Miki Chang

Harriman — Thu, 18 May 2023 03:08:12 +0000

FE 40mm F2.5 G | Capture beautiful memories| Review by Miki Chang

Harriman Thu, 05/18/2023 - 08:38

Article Categories

Reviews

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FE 40mm F2.5 G

Alpha 7C | FE 40mm F2.5 G | 40mm | F2.8 | 1/4000s | ISO 100

Alpha 7C | FE 40mm F2.5 G | 40mm | F2.5 | 1/2500s | ISO 50

Alpha 7C | FE 40mm F2.5 G | 40mm | F2.8 | 1/4000s | ISO 200

Couple photography: Perfect for two or three

I decided to be my own “couple photographer” and see the results! The photos you'll see below, have all been taken either by hand or with a tripod.

General tips for couple photography

Coordinate your colours!
The basics of couple photography begins with matching your outfits. Choose a similar colour and style, or go with complementary colours to create visual harmony.

Alpha 7C | FE 40mm F2.5 GM | 40mm | F2.5 | 1/250s | ISO 1600

Snapshots from my prime lens

The fixed focus FE 40mm F2.5 G prime lens is simply fantastic for close-up shots. Its large aperture captures images with warmth and softness, and the bokeh in the background is exquisite.

Alpha 7C | FE 40mm F2.5 G | 40 mm F2.8 | 1/4000s | ISO 250

Alpha 7C | FE 40mm F2.5 G | 40mm | F2.8 | 1/4000s | ISO 125

Alpha 7C | FE 40mm F2.5 G | 40mm | F2.8 | 1/4000s | ISO 200

Also, its lightweight lens is easily manoeuvrable, even with one hand. Check out this single-handed shot I took while riding a scooter in Hengchun.

Alpha 7C | FE 40mm F2.5 G | 40mm | F2.5 | 1/2000s | ISO 100

So, what can you do with all the energy saved (by carrying a lightweight prime lens)? Walk further and explore more destinations!

Alpha 7C | FE 40mm F2.5 G | 40mm | F2.8 | 1/1250s | ISO 2500

Alpha 7C | FE 40mm F2.5 G | 40mm | F2.5 | 1/2500s | ISO 12800

Alpha 7C | FE 40mm F2.5 G | 40mm | F4 | 1/500s | ISO 1600

Alpha 7C | FE 40mm F2.5 G | 40mm | F2.5 | 1/1600s | ISO 12800

Alpha 7C | FE 40mm F2.5 G | 40mm | F2.5 | 1/2500s | ISO 50

Continuous action shots are fantastic with a prime lens
I really enjoy shooting continuous action shots with my FE 40mm F2.5 G prime lens. Just set up your tripod, mode and timer, and smile! These are some of my most treasured memories from the trip.

Alpha 7C | FE 40mm F2.5 G | 40mm | F2.8 | 1/4000s | ISO 100

The romance of couple photography

I set out on this trip to find an answer to my question, “Can couple photography be done with just two people, a camera and lenses, and a tripod?”

Products

Featured

Alpha 7C

緊湊型全畫幅相機

FE 40mm F2.5 G

G 系列全畫幅標準定焦鏡頭

HVL-F28RM

GN28 無線電控制外接閃光燈

SF-M64T

SF-M 系列 Tough 規格記憶卡

NP-FZ100 Z-series Rechargeable Battery Pack

Z 系列充電式電池組

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FE 14mm F1.8 GM | Shoot Milky Way and time-lapse shots | Review by Jay Evans

Harriman — Thu, 18 May 2023 03:06:02 +0000

FE 14mm F1.8 GM | Shoot Milky Way and time-lapse shots | Review by Jay Evans

Harriman Thu, 05/18/2023 - 08:36

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FE 14mm F1.8 GM

Alpha 7C | FE 14mm F1.8 GM | 14mm | F1.8 | 15 sec | ISO 6400

Shooting for the stars: My beginnings in astrophotography

Alpha 7C | FE 14mm F1.8 GM | 14mm | F1.8 | 15 sec | ISO 6400

Astro settings

Here's a quick start guide on general settings you can use to take great photos of star trails, the Milky Way and time-lapse shots.

Turn "Long Exposure Noise Reduction" off
White balance: Use a Kelvin setting of 4000
Shoot in RAW Uncompressed to maintain high bit depth for dynamic range and colour
Turn off Steadyshot/OSS (if your lens has it)

Mount the camera securely on the tripod

The prime choice for astrophotography

A prime lens like the FE 14mm F1.8 GM provides a wider aperture, allowing photographers to capture more light.

Alpha 7C | FE 14mm F1.8 GM | 14mm | F1.8 | 15 sec | ISO 6400

While we can push our digital sensor to a high ISO, having a few extra stops of aperture can be the difference between capturing a dark landscape with the night sky in a single shot, or needing to snap multiple images and employ technical post processing techniques to create the image. This gives you more time in the field to consider composition and move around a scene, rather than focusing on stacking.

Alpha 7C | FE 14mm F1.8 GM | 14mm | F1.8 | 15 sec | ISO 6400

The outstanding resolution of the FE 14mm F1.8 GM means it can capture pinpoint stars when exposed (to account for the motion of the stars). Also, this prime lens has incredibly well controlled coma, so stars look really sharp across the entire image.

A moonless night in Australia's International Dark Sky Reserve

I set up my camera on the roadside next to a paddock of wheat, just after last light, and was facing west as the Milky Way set in that direction (at that time of year).

Capturing just after last light allowed me to get some residual colour of sunset on the horizon, with the stars and Milky Way visible above. A small low-lumen video light was waved across the scene for a few seconds while shooting to add some light to the foreground and tree. Venus is also visible in this shot.

Alpha 7C | FE 14mm F1.8 GM | 14mm | F1.8 | 15 sec | ISO 6400

Tips on distancing

The tree was approximately 15 metres away, inside the paddock. When composing astro shots and nightscapes with a wide-angle prime lens, it's important to consider your distance from your foreground subject. This not only ensures that your subject remains sharp in the hyperfocal range at a wide-open aperture, but also means that it'll work well in the composition.

Pro advice: Practise and safety

The biggest tip I can offer to any astrophotographer is to "just get out there" and shoot! You are unlikely to snap your "dream photo" of the night sky without getting some practice. So, even if you don't have a plan – on a clear night, just get outside, point your camera skywards, and see what you can capture!

Do remember that any outdoor photography involves an element of risk. This is accentuated at night, because of the darkness. Please ensure you are prepared, maintain a "safety first" mindset, and be aware of your surroundings at all times.

Time-lapse: Capturing the beauty of the night sky

One of the most beautiful aspects of astrophotography is the time-lapse video, which is made up of photographs taken over a period of time. In seconds, a time-lapse video can showcase the gorgeous changes that happen over an entire night – and captivate audiences.

Video Name

Astro | SEL14F18GM Timelapse

The possibilities for your time-lapse shots are endless, but these tips can help you get started:

Compose your scene: Before starting your time-lapse sequence, look at the scene, compose it thoughtfully, and consider what is likely to change, what aspect of motion you wish to capture, and whether anything may interfere with your shots (like objects entering the scene)
Take a few test shots: Check your images for focus. Check for distracting elements that might not be obvious to the eye, and check your lighting to ensure that ou are capturing details in the foreground that can be pulled out in editing later.
Set the "Interval Shoot Func.": To maintain the movement of stars and the sky in your astro time-lapse, use the Interval Shoot Function on the camera and set the interval to the same time as your exposure. This ensures that as soon as the shutter closes on one frame, it immediately opens for the next.
Once complete: Export your frames, then import them as a sequence into Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premier, Davinci Resolve, or LRTimelapse. There are plenty of online resources available on how to compile your time-lapse sequences into a final video file.
Extra motion: You can introduce extra motion in your time-lapse by setting up the camera on a tracking mount, motorised rotator or motorised slider.

Observing the Milky Way at ACTA

Every month during the new moon, Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) hosts an open night for photographers at the Australian Compact Telescope Array (ACTA) in the Paul Wild Observatory near Narrabri.

Alpha 7C | FE 14mm F1.8 GM | 14mm | F1.8 | 15 sec | ISO 6400

On this night, we were treated to an incredibly clear sky to watch the setting Milky Way behind some radio telescope dishes. This was a dark moonless night, with some green airglow, and residual orange light of sunset lingering on the horizon.

Here, the F1.8 aperture was very helpful in capturing residual light in a dark foreground, while keeping the colours of the night sky incredibly detailed.

Tips on distancing

The telescope dish is much larger than it looks, towering 15 metres into the sky! For safety reasons, we were not allowed within 15 meters of the base. However, standing at this distance provided the perfect opportunity to use the wide angle 14mm to great effect – with the Galactic Core and Milky Way band stretching across the sky.

Pro advice: Shooting in the dark

In astrophotography, you'll need to know how to operate your camera in the dark. So you'll want to learn how to change important settings like white balance, ISO, aperture and exposure – even in very low light situations.

You should instinctively know how to switch your focus to manual, and practise manually focusing on stars. Other important skills to know are how to change your lens and battery in the dark, as well as setting up your tripod and mounting your camera when light is at a premium.

The more your practise – even in daytime – the better you'll become. Eventually, these will be second nature to you.

Your aperture matters: How aperture changes exposure

These are shots of the satellite dish, taken at different aperture settings.

F1.8

F2.0

F2.8

F4.0

F5.6

Mountains and meteors

The Warrumbungles National Park and its ancient volcanic remnants is an idyllic location for astrophotographers. Here, you can capture stars across the volcanic formations of the Crater Bluff and Bluff Mountain.

Alpha 7C | FE 14mm F1.8 GM | 14mm | F1.8 | 15 sec | ISO 6400

This shot was captured during last light. A pink airglow is visible in the sky, with the lights of the regional city of Dubbo in the distance. I focused the camera to capture the southern arm of the Milky Way and the Magellanic Clouds of Mensa and Hydrus, which are clearly visible in the southern sky.

I was also blessed with a few meteors in this shot, something you often don't see until you review your images on a computer screen!

Tips on distancing

When shooting night scenes, always think about all the elements you might be able to capture. Everyone can photograph the Milky Way or a star trail, but there is so much more in our night skies that our cameras can see.

This brings us to one of the biggest benefits of the FE 14mm F1.8 GM prime lens – its amazingly wide angle. What's more, 14mm is one of the best focal distances to capture the night skies, as it provides a beautifully sized view of the Milky Way and other deep space objects, along with the landscape you're shooting.

Pro advice: These apps are your astrophotography buddies

Apps have contributed to the rise in popularity of astrophotography. You can use these to help plan your shoots as you'll be able to locate the Milky Way, the moon and other objects in the night sky – from any given location, and on any given date!

Some apps even use augmented reality, so you can see what a location will look like with the Milky Way composed onto it. These apps are must-haves for any astrophotographer, whether you're an experienced professional or a beginner who's just starting out.

The splendour of astrophotography

These are my preferred astrophotography settings on the Alpha 7C, which you can use to get started (before finding your own sweet spot on your camera).

Don't have a remote? No worries, simply use the 2-second. But remember, the timer light on the front of the camera can cast an orange glow in someone else's photograph – so play nice by placing a piece of black electrical tape over it.
Try using the Dynamic Range Optimiser (DRO) if your landscape is very dark. Remember, this only applies to JPG files – so your editing and control will be more limited, compared to having a RAW file.

RAW File. Shadows +50, Noise Reduction +25

DRO Level 5 (JPG Only). Shadows +50, Noise Reduction +25

If your landscape is too dark, you can also use a "Picture Profile". PP3 provides a huge gain in dynamic range, but at the cost of colour (gamma). However, this can be fixed (to a certain degree) in your editing workflow.
Focus Peaking can help with finding the optimum focus point of your stars – especially in wide open apertures – by highlighting stars (that you may have otherwise missed) in the focus magnifier.
Set the Finder/Monitor selection to a button. (I normally use the centre button on the dial.) This can help reduce battery consumption when shooting star trails or timelapse shots.

Enable Bright Monitoring to add more dynamic range to your Liveview. This can really help when composing a dark scene.

Use the Memory function of your camera to save your Astro setup. This way, you can switch it on a access it quickly – while also switching back to normal settings in a snap. This ensures you won't miss a wildlife shot or a family moment, while switching your ISO and exposure time back to your regular daytime settings.

Alpha 7C | FE 14mm F1.8 GM | 14mm | F1.8 | 15 sec | ISO 6400

And I capture all this, with my trusted Alpha 7C camera, FE 14mm F1.8 GM prime lens and FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM zoom lens.

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Alpha 7C

緊湊型全畫幅相機

FE 14mm F1.8 GM

G Master 全畫幅超廣角定焦鏡頭

ECM-B1M

槍型麥克風

SF-M64T

SF-M 系列 Tough 規格記憶卡

NP-FZ100 Z-series Rechargeable Battery Pack

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FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS | Ideal for family photography | Review by Kerry Cheah

Harriman — Thu, 18 May 2023 02:38:23 +0000

FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS | Ideal for family photography | Review by Kerry Cheah

Harriman Thu, 05/18/2023 - 08:08

Article Categories

Reviews

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Vario-Tessar T* FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS

Lens Category

Alpha 7C | FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS | 24mm | F5.6 | 1/200s | ISO 1600

Alpha 7C | FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS | 35mm | F4.0 | 1/50s | ISO 640

Alpha 7C | FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS | 35mm | F4.0 | 1/250s | ISO 200

Fleeting moments, lifelong memories

My interest in photography – and specifically, family photography – took off when my second son was born. I had dabbled in it before, but it really clicked when I became a “mom with a camera”. I was stuck at home with two children and was looking to entertain myself!

I love that a photograph can satisfy on different fronts – emotionally through the subjects that are photographed and the moments that are documented; artistically through the look and feel that is created by light and perspective; and intellectually through the arrangement of different elements in the photo to convey a message.

For me, inspiration comes from “the moment” – a fleeting expression, a meaningful interaction, a sudden pang of familiarity from a seemingly ordinary action. That moment, seen through my FE 24-70MM F4 ZA OSS zoom lens and captured with my Alpha 7C camera, is layered with light and filtered through composition, all in an instant.

Why a zoom lens is fantastic for family photos

If you have ever struggled to get your children to cooperate for a simple selfie, you'll understand that efficiency is paramount to minimising stress for everyone. A zoom lens gives you the flexibility to take a variety of portraits just by switching up the focal distance, without fussing over lens changes or perfect tripod placement. You can also easily “add” or “subtract” family members in the portrait, while adjusting the focal distance to keep the portrait tight.

Playing with perspectives

(Example 1: Fixed tripod position)

Alpha 7C | FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS | 35mm | F4.0 | 1/250s | ISO 200

Alpha 7C | FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS | 50mm | F4.0 | 1/400s | ISO 400

Alpha 7C | FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS | 70mm | F4.0 | 1/250s | ISO 200

Portraits in the park
This series of images was taken in a park, with the tripod in a fixed position at around 4m away from where we stood to be photographed. As I had the benefit of space, I chose to stand further away and use a minimum focal distance of 35mm to minimise distortion.

Shooting at 35mm, 50mm and 70mm from the same tripod position enabled me to “create” a variety of portrait backgrounds, even though we were standing in the same spot.

Playing with perspectives

(Example 2: Moving your tripod)

Alpha 7C | FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS | 70mm | F4.0 | 1/250s | ISO 800

Alpha 7C | FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS | 24mm | F5.6 | 1/200s | ISO 1600

Alpha 7C | FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS | 35mm | F5.6 | 1/250s | ISO 1600

Home is where the heart is
These images were taken at home, and the tripod was placed at different distances from where we were. From the furthest position of around 3m, and using a 70mm focal distance, I was able to take a tight portrait that isolated our faces against the creamy background – even with an aperture of F4.

What if you don't have the luxury of space? I simulated taking the same shot in a smaller space by moving the tripod closer to us and shooting wide using a 24mm focal distance. This created a less compressed background and provided a more accurate sense of space, but also resulted in a little distortion.

Moving the tripod slightly back to around 2m and using a 35mm focal distance instead, minimised the distortion while still retaining the sense of space.

This lack of distortion, combined with a sense of environment, is why I usually use a 35mm focal distance inside my home. I also recommend shooting at a minimum shutter speed of 1/250s to avoid any motion blur – which could happen if one of the kids suddenly decides to move their head or hands!

Alpha 7C | FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS | 35mm | F4.0 | 1/250s | ISO 200

Alpha 7C | FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS | 35mm | F4.0 | 1/250s | ISO 1000

Alpha 7C | FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS | 50mm | F4.0 | 1/50s | ISO 640

Family fun!
I am a huge proponent of injecting fun and personality into all my shoots, even staged portraits. To achieve this, I let my kids show the way!

Since I know exactly what my boys are like, and how they think, I use small prompts like, “Show your brother how much you love him!” to instantly bring out their playful side. Or you could let your kids get creative, and ask them to direct a shot or two!

Fun with flash

(Using flash for better lighting)

Alpha 7C | FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS | 35mm | F4.0 | 1/250s | ISO 1000

Alpha 7C | FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS | 50mm | F4.0 | 1/50s | ISO 640

Families stick together – in dark times, and in brightness
While natural lighting is fantastic, the timing of family gatherings or prevailing weather conditions may mean that natural light isn't good enough. In this example, it was getting close to dusk and was really dark outdoors.

Using flash - bounced at an angle - enabled me to overcome the orange lights and take a photo without having to use an extremely high ISO, which would have introduced a lot of noise into the file.

Photographing the photographer (using the timer)
The self-timer on the Alpha 7C can be set to take either 3 or 5 continuous shots after a 2, 5 or 10 second delay. I usually:

Position everyone else for the portrait and leave a space for myself
Compose the photo and set the AF point on a family member's face, while using Eye AF to further sharpen focus
Set the self-timer on 5 seconds
Join the portrait (before the timer is up)

In this example, I used a 2 second timer because my kids were super fidgety and would make faces with every passing second!

Staying calm during a pandemic, and finding inspiration in family

While the pandemic has caused varying degrees of uncertainty and disruption to all our lives, I recognise that I've been luckier than many others – as my husband and I have been able to work safely from home most of the time – and my kids have their grandparents living in the same country.

Shooting family portraits has been one way for us to remember the importance of family ties.

I believe that everyone can benefit from taking your own family portraits (rather than only doing it in a studio). You'll be able to commemorate more family events, have the flexibility of choosing your own backgrounds, and during this pandemic, can have peace of mind knowing that your family (especially the elderly) is in a safe environment.

All you need is a camera and zoom lens that can capture your family at their very best, like my favourites, the Alpha 7C and FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS.

Products

Featured

Alpha 7C

緊湊型全畫幅相機

Vario-Tessar T* FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS

ZEISS 全畫幅標準變焦鏡頭

HVL-F28RM

GN28 無線電控制外接閃光燈

SF-M64T

SF-M 系列 Tough 規格記憶卡

NP-FZ100 Z-series Rechargeable Battery Pack

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FE 50mm F1.2 GM | Ideal for newborn photography | Review by Ding Dong

Harriman — Wed, 17 May 2023 08:13:03 +0000

FE 50mm F1.2 GM | Ideal for newborn photography | Review by Ding Dong

Harriman Wed, 05/17/2023 - 13:43

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Reviews

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Lens Category

FE 50mm F1.2 GM

Alpha 7C | FE 50mm F1.2 GM | 50mm | F1.4 | 1/3200s | ISO 640

Alpha 7C | FE 50mm F1.2 GM | 50mm | F1.2 | 1/5000s | ISO 1000

Alpha 7C | FE 50mm F1.2 GM | 50mm | F1.8 | 1/125s | ISO 640

Alpha 7C | FE 50mm F1.2 GM | 50mm | F1.2 | 1/2000s | ISO 1600

Memories that last (beyond) a lifetime

My fondness for photography started from a young age. I still remember the dozens of family photo albums we had in my childhood home. My father took lots of photos of our family as we visited the parks, beaches and playgrounds that were near our home.

And though those photos are now old and faded, they are still an important part of my youth – and a big part of our family's shared memories. Every time anyone opens up one of these family albums, my mum lights up and reminisces on the memories we had growing up.

What's more, these albums have also shown me another side of my dad. Growing up, I always remembered him as a typically strict father who was always concerned about our safety and making sure we followed the rules – but flipping through the pages of our family albums, I see another side of him. I see his expressiveness, openness and the deep love that he's always had for our family.

Now that I'm a father too, I understand why my dad was so enthusiastic about taking photos of his kids - and I share that same compulsion to photograph my daughter, Xiaoshi.

It's all because of love.

And thanks to modern camera and lens technology, instead of taking a few snapshots, I can capture my lovely daughter from all angles – in high-resolution photos and videos.

Alpha 7C | FE 50mm F1.2 GM | 50mm | F1.2 | 1/6400s | ISO 640

My camera of choice is the Sony Alpha 7C, and my favourite lens is the FE 50mm F1.2 GM prime lens, from Sony's outstanding G Master range.

Alpha 7C | FE 50mm F1.2 GM 50mm | F1.2 | 1/6400s | ISO 640

The reasons I choose a prime lens

I've used every model of the Sony Alpha 7 series that's ever been released, but have kept one thing constant – a 50mm prime lens.

Being engaged in a scene

The reason is simple – the fixed focal length of a prime lens means I need to move around the scene more to get the “perfect shot”, which makes me feel more involved with the scene (instead of being just someone who's “shooting from the outside”).

It's a small shift in perspective, but it means a lot when taking photos of your child.

Alpha 7C | FE 50mm F.12 GM | 50mm | F1.2 | 1/1250s | ISO 125

Larger aperture
The biggest difference between a prime lens and a zoom lens (besides the zoom) is the size of the aperture. Generally, the aperture of a prime lens will be larger than F2 – giving your photos a greater sense of clarity, which also translates into more impressive bokeh.

It takes a bit of practice, but the results are worth it!

Lightweight, easy to use
With the Sony Alpha 7C and FE 50mm F1.2 GM prime lens, I've changed the way I take photos (for the better). I can now operate this lightweight combination of camera and lens with one hand, which means I can now use the touchscreen (instead of the viewfinder) for better angles and simply tap the shutter to capture the moment perfectly. It's a simpler way of shooting, and one that's given me better results.

Alpha 7C | FE 50mm F1.2 GM 50mm | F1.4 | 1/8000s | ISO 1600

Capturing every meticulous detail with natural lighting
One recommendation I have when shooting with the FE 50mm F1.2 GM prime lens, is to shoot against the light. This is where you'll really appreciate the strength of this G Master lens. The photos you'll get are clear and meticulously detailed, while also giving you a “relaxed” feel that adds warmth and charm to your photos of babies and toddlers.

Alpha 7C | FE 50mm F1.2 GM 50mm | F1.2 | 1/8000s | ISO 640

Alpha 7C | FE 50mm F1.2 GM | 50mm | F1.2 | 1/6400s | ISO 640

Convenient aperture ring
A feature I really like on the FE 50mm F1.2 GM prime lens is its aperture ring, which is especially convenient when shooting on the Sony Alpha 7C. You can just let the dial on the camera control the shutter.

Alpha 7C | FE 50mm F.12 GM | 50mm | F1.2 | 1/1250s | ISO 125

Quiet, fast and intelligent focus
When taking photos of sleeping babies, silence is incredibly important. That's why I value the FE 50mm F1.2 GM's simple and quiet focus. Plus, when your child is awake, the lens can detect your child's eyes and focus quickly and automatically – making it easy to capture all the special moments of your child's development. I remember having lots of fun with this feature, while documenting Xiaoshi as she learnt to crawl!

The Sony Alpha 7C's flip screen is great for shooting from the waist. This allows you to shoot at low angles without bending over (as you would with a viewfinder). As first-time parents, my wife and I would always be bending over when changing our daughter's diapers, giving her a bath and cleaning things she's scattered onto the floor. So, being able to capture these moments without having to bend over, has been a definite plus!

Alpha 7C | FE 50mm F1.2 GM | 50mm | F1.4 | 1/8000s | ISO 640

A moment to snap. A lifetime to remember.

While I love having digital albums of Xiaoshi's growing years, I also plan on developing these photos for her – so she'll be able to flip through the pages of our memories when she grows up, just like how I've enjoyed looking through my dad's photo albums.

Alpha 7C | FE 50mm F1.2 GM | 50mm | F1.2 | 1/8000s | ISO 1600

Since Xiaoshi was born, I've realised the value of having a compact camera and lens with me – as this combination allows me to snap photos of Xiaoshi at any time.

Alpha 7C | FE 50mm F1.2 GM | 50mm | F1.2 | 1/1000s | ISO 1000

Plus, even if my daughter doesn't remember any of these moments when she grows up, she'll always have a collection of clear, detailed photos of our time together as a newborn – and proof of her parents' love for her.

Products

Featured

Alpha 7C

緊湊型全畫幅相機

FE 50mm F1.2 GM

G Master 全畫幅標準定焦鏡頭

ECM-B1M

槍型麥克風

HVL-F60RM2

GN60 無線電控制外接閃光燈

SF-M64T

SF-M 系列 Tough 規格記憶卡

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FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS | Shoot birds in movement | Review by Cho JungRae

Harriman — Wed, 17 May 2023 08:04:43 +0000

FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS | Shoot birds in movement | Review by Cho JungRae

Harriman Wed, 05/17/2023 - 13:34

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