FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Young Creators Spotlight: Capturing elusive wildlife moments with Tan Lu San

Calvin — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 08:23:15 +0000

Young Creators Spotlight: Capturing elusive wildlife moments with Tan Lu San

Calvin Fri, 08/02/2024 - 13:53

Article Categories

Tips

Body Category

Alpha 9 III

Lens Category

FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Alpha 9 III | FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS | 320mm | 1/20000s | F6.3 | ISO 250

Lu San's journey into photography began when he was 20 years old, drawing on his media design background from his Polytechnic diploma course. Realising the need for practical experience, he bought his first camera, the Sony Alpha 1, in October 2020. Starting with butterflies and flowers in parks, he quickly discovered a love for photography. The Alpha 1 provided him with the advanced features necessary to capture stunning wildlife shots. As he honed his skills, his focus gradually shifted towards bird photography.

Alpha 9 III | FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS | 600mm | 1/3200s | F6.3 | ISO 6400

I have had an interest in nature and exploration ever since I was young… I always wondered how they capture such incredible shots of wildlife.”

From curiosity to craft

Lu San’s interest in birding was piqued by the diverse bird species he encountered in Singapore, both resident and migratory. Inspired by birds' vibrant colours and unique behaviours, he dedicated himself to mastering the art of bird photography, finding joy and fulfilment in capturing the beauty and intricacies of avian life.

The need for speed

The challenge of capturing these elusive avians required quick reflexes and intense concentration, skills at which Lu San excelled, thanks in part to his gaming hobby. Recognising the need for a camera that could match this speed and precision, he decided to try his hand at shooting with the lightning-fast Alpha 9 III. Taking notice of his immense passion for photography, Sony Singapore granted Lu San the opportunity to shoot with the latest addition to the Alpha 9 line-up.

The Alpha 9 III features the world's first full-frame image sensor with a global shutter system, revolutionising the capture of fast-moving subjects. This technology eliminates image distortion and preserves split-second moments in stunning detail, making it a game changer for bird photography. The camera's advanced capabilities allow Lu San to photograph birds in flight with exceptional clarity and precision.

The Alpha 9 III is without a doubt the best camera right now for capturing peak action.”

The power of one frame

The Alpha 9 III's features, such as 120fps RAW shooting and AI autofocus, have been invaluable for Lu San in nailing critical moments. Additionally, the ultra-fast 1/80,000 second shutter speed helps prevent blown-out highlights when he's shooting creative backlit photos, ensuring every detail is captured perfectly.

Pre-Capture helped me capture the perfect shot…even before I pressed my shutter.”

Never miss a moment with Pre-Capture

One feature that has been a game-changer for Lu San’s photography is the Alpha 9 III’s Pre-Capture function. This function ensures that no key moment is missed, allowing him to capture moments just before the shutter is released. This feature has been invaluable for bird photography, where subjects can be unpredictable and fast-moving. There have been instances where the Pre-Capture function enabled him to capture peak action moments that would have otherwise been missed.

Our commitment to young creators

Lu San's journey from a media design student to a prominent wildlife photographer highlights the importance of passion, dedication, and the right gear.

Sony is committed to supporting young creators like Lu San by providing access to advanced technology and opportunities. We look forward to more creators who are enthusiastic about photography and will continue to support the next generation of talent. Lu San's story is just the beginning, with many more inspiring journeys anticipated in the world of photography.

Status

Pending Approval

Products

Featured

Alpha 9 III

Máy ảnh toàn khung hình với màn trập bao trùm

FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Ống kính thu phóng G Super-tele để chụp toàn khung hình

Article Theme

Bird/Wildlife

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

Article Categories

Reviews

Body Category

Alpha 7C

Lens Category

FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Alpha 7C | FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS | 600mm | F6.3 | 1/640 sec | ISO 160

Alpha 7C | FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS | 600mm | F6.3 | 1/640 sec | ISO 100

Alpha 7C | FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS | 600mm | F6.3 | 1/2500 sec | ISO 800

Taking flight with bird photography

It all started a decade ago. As I was taking a photo of my family, a group of egrets flew past the window. Their beauty and grace captivated me as I snapped photos from my apartment window. Soon, I ventured into nature to capture more birds in flight – and was transfixed.

Video Name

Bird | Main

That's how I become a bird photographer. And the equipment I trust for the best photos is the pairing of my Sony Alpha 7C camera and FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS zoom lens.

The power of zoom

Essentially, there are two ways of shooting bird photos. The first involves filling most of your frame with your subject, and the second places a more balanced emphasis on both the bird and background.

Alpha 7C | FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS | 600mm | F6.3 | 1/400 sec | ISO 1250

Alpha 7C | FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS | 600mm | F6.3 | 1/640 sec | ISO 100

Whether you're shooting the first or second type of photo, a super-telephoto zoom lens isn't a “nice to have”, it's an absolute necessity. Try shooting with a lens that has a short focal length, and you'll never get close enough to take your shot – your subjects will fly away well before you get in range. If other photographers were around, you would have messed up their shots too!

Alpha 7C | FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS | 200mm | F6.3 | 1/640 sec | ISO 125

200mm

Alpha 7C | FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS | 400mm | F6.3 | 1/640 sec | ISO 125

400mm

Alpha 7C | FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS | 600mm | F6.3 | 1/640 sec | ISO 100

600mm

Alpha 7C | FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS | 840mm | F9 | 1/640 sec | ISO 200

840mm(With 1.4x Tele-converter)

Alpha 7C | FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS | 1200mm | F13 | 1/640 sec | ISO 500

1200mm(With 2x Tele-converter)

A super-telephoto lens lets you to shoot at a distance where birds feel safe and comfortable.

Why do I choose the FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS? Because its autofocus, drive performance and resolution are essential for bird photography – and that's where the pairing of the Alpha 7C and camera and FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS zoom lens excel. This combination isn't just powerful, it's also fast – allowing me to capture scenes like a bird descending toward the ground as it hones in on its prey!

Tips for beginner bird photographers

Bird photography is an art, and it's necessary to understand their ecology before getting started – or your early attempts may end in disappointment. It may even be helpful to shoot alongside an experienced bird photographer, so you can get some advice and pick up skills more quickly.

These are the tips I commonly share with people who ask me for advice:

A tripod is optional
Beginners may believe that a tripod is essential for bird photography – not so when you're getting started. Your equipment is already likely to be heavy, and it can be challenging to carry additional items around.

My recommendation is to stay physically fit, so you'll have the flexibility to shoot with a tripod when needed (usually when a bird is in flight, and you need it to avoid vertical camera shake).

But also remember that you'll be spending lots of time shooting handheld as well – so just get started with what you have, and what your currently physical abilities allow you to do comfortably first. You can add the rest later.

Preferred camera settings
These are my recommended camera and lens settings for bird photography:

Shooting mode: Manual
Shutter speed: 1/2000 or higher
Aperture: Maximum
ISO speed: Automatic
Autofocus: AF-C
Focal range: Zone

Video Name

Bird | AF

Tracking your subjects
While the Alpha 7C's real-time tracking function is very effective, you may occasionally miss small birds if you rely on it 100% of the time – so keep your eyes open and mind alert!

Training your focus
When shooting in AF-C, the AF-ON button and the focus hold button are very useful. Because the focus hold button is operated with your left hand, you can operate the camera's other functions with your right hand – which also helps to prevent accidental presses of the shutter button.

Alpha 7C | FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS | 600mm | F6.3 | 1/2500 sec | ISO 320

Alpha 7C | FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS | 600mm | F6.3 | 1/2500 sec | ISO 125

Stabilisation with OSS MODE 3
When you are shooting moving birds, the OSS MODE 3 image stabilisation mode can be very helpful. This setting is ideal for subjects with irregular movements, like birds, wild animals and athletes.

Alpha 7C | FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS | 600mm | F6.3 | 1/3200 sec | ISO 500

Location, location, location
In bird photography, location selection is a priority. Remember that while birds are migratory creatures, they also live regular lives – travelling in search for food and resting at fixed times. Once you understand their habits, you can set up at the ideal shooting location in advance, then frame and capture shots of these beautiful creatures in their natural habitats.

Alpha 7C | FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS | 600mm | F6.3 | 1/800 sec | ISO 100

Some of my favourite shots

Alpha 7C | FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS | 600mm | F6.3 | 1/1000 sec | ISO 160

Bar-tailed godwit
Bar-tailed godwits travel about 12,000 kilometres from Alaska to New Zealand during the fall season, and I had to fortune of meeting one along the east coast.

To capture this magnificent bird in flight – without any camera shakes – I switched to manual shooting mode, set the aperture to the maximum value provided by the FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS zoom lens, and put the shutter speed to 1/2000. The ISO speed was set to "automatic", adjusting itself based on the shutter speed and aperture used.

Alpha 7C | FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS | 600mm | F6.3 | 12500 sec | ISO 125

Alpha 7C | FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS | 600mm | F6.3 | 1/2500 sec | ISO 250

Hawk
Normally, it's not easy to find hawks – much less snap them with your camera – as they're fast and elusive. On this day though, I was very lucky to spot this hawk on a cliff by the sea.

Taking advantage of this unique opportunity, I set my Alpha 7C to manual mode and the aperture to the maximum value of F5.6. The shutter speed was set to 1/2500 (catering to the bird's fast movement) and the ISO speed was 320.

Because the cliff was spread out in the background, I set the focus sensitivity to 3 and shot with the AF-C "Zone" mode. For image stabilisation, I used OSS MODE 3, which allowed me to shoot without camera shake and blurring – even when the hawk was soaring through the sky with astounding speed!

Alpha 7C | FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS | 600mm | F36 | 1/2 sec | ISO 50

Egret
When photographing birds, dynamic scenes are a rarity as birds seldom move when they're resting. Here, I managed to capture a picture of an egret that was staying still after feeding. I really like the unique feel of this photo – with the flowing water imposes a distinctive atmosphere to this shot.

These were the settings I used. The shutter speed was set to 1/2 second (which is slower than my usual settings), the aperture was F32, and the ISO speed was put to 50. I mounted the Alpha 7C on a tripod with a gimbal head and set image stabilisation to OSS MODE 1, which provided excellent shake correction and ensured this shot turn out clear and detailed.

Bird photography develops patience, and an appreciation for nature

When it comes to bird photography, you have to respect nature and how things work in the natural environment – you can't rush things or expect birds to follow your schedule. Because they won't.

Instead, you need to develop a deep appreciation of the ecology of the birds you want to photograph. You must learn their habits and patterns, and have the patience to wait for them to arrive – or take flight.

Alpha 7C | FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS | 600mm | F6.3 | 1/2000 sec | ISO 640

Alpha 7C | FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS | 600mm | F6.3 | 1/640 sec | ISO 160

The amount of time you need to invest, just to take one beautiful photo, may not be measured in hours or even days – my favourite osprey and hawk photos, for example, came after years of dedicating myself to this craft.

FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Young Creators Spotlight: Capturing elusive wildlife moments with Tan Lu San

Young Creators Spotlight: Capturing elusive wildlife moments with Tan Lu San

Article Categories

I have had an interest in nature and exploration ever since I was young… I always wondered how they capture such incredible shots of wildlife.”

From curiosity to craft

The need for speed

The Alpha 9 III is without a doubt the best camera right now for capturing peak action.”

The power of one frame

Pre-Capture helped me capture the perfect shot…even before I pressed my shutter.”

Never miss a moment with Pre-Capture

Our commitment to young creators

Products

Featured

Alpha 9 III

Máy ảnh toàn khung hình với màn trập bao trùm

FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Ống kính thu phóng G Super-tele để chụp toàn khung hình

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

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

Article Categories

Taking flight with bird photography

The power of zoom

Tips for beginner bird photographers

Some of my favourite shots

Bird photography develops patience, and an appreciation for nature

Products

Featured

Alpha 7C

Máy ảnh Full Frame nhỏ gọn

FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Ống kính thu phóng G Super-tele để chụp toàn khung hình

ECM-B1M

Micro shotgun

NP-FZ100 Z-series Rechargeable Battery Pack

Bộ pin sạc dòng Z

SF-M64T

Thẻ nhớ Tough dòng SF-M