FE 55mm F1.8 ZA

FE 55mm F1.8 ZA | Capture your children's childhood beautifully | Review by David Boy

Harriman — Mon, 15 May 2023 07:13:16 +0000

FE 55mm F1.8 ZA | Capture your children's childhood beautifully | Review by David Boy

Harriman Mon, 05/15/2023 - 12:43

Article Categories

Reviews

Body Category

Alpha 7C

Lens Category

FE 55mm F1.8 ZA

Alpha 7C | FE 55mm F1.8 ZA | 55mm | F2 | 1/2500s | ISO 50

Alpha 7C | FE 55mm F1.8 ZA | 55mm | F2.5 | 1/500s | ISO 125

Alpha 7C | FE 55mm F1.8 ZA | 55mm | F1.8 | 1/400s | ISO 500

Alpha 7C | FE 55mm F1.8 ZA | 55mm | F2.5 | 1/500s | ISO 400

Alpha 7C | FE 55mm F1.8 ZA | 55mm | F3.2 | 1/1600s | ISO 50

Creative inspirations, equipment selection

Children grow up quickly, so it's great to have a camera around to capture every stage of their life - as they grow, play and live their best lives. I trust my Sony Alpha 7C camera, along with my favourite lenses - the Sonnar T* FE 55mm F1.8 ZA prime lens and the FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS zoom lens - to record and remember precious moments from my daughter's life, every day.

Primes lenses and natural snapshots

While a prime lens does require some moving around for the perfect shot, it's great for many situations - such as close-up shots. And I really like how the Sonnar T* FE 55mm F1.8 ZA lens's 55mm focal length offers a similar perspective to that of the human eye - so images look very natural.

Close-up shots with a prime lens

Alpha 7C | FE 55mm | F1.8 ZA 55mm | F4 | 1/1600s | ISO 80

When people think of close-up shots, they often think of zoom lenses - but I believe that prime lenses can be fantastic for close-ups too. With the Sonnar T* FE 55mm F1.8 ZA lens's 55mm focal length, even if I have to take a few steps back to get the ideal distance, the end result is an image that looks and feel really natural - which is a key element in photographing children.

Alpha 7C | FE 55mm | F1.8 ZA 55mm | F2.5 | 1/2500s | ISO 80

Alpha 7C | FE 55mm F1.8 ZA | 55mm | F3.2 | 1/1600s | ISO 50

Also, it's great that the Sonnar T* FE 55mm F1.8 ZA lens is lightweight, which makes it easy to hold in one hand - so getting that "perfect shot" is that much easier.

Make shoots fun with lots of praise

When shooting photos of children, remember that you're not just a bystander who's snapping photos - you're also a part of their world. So, take some time to engage with your child - praising them and being highly interactive.

From time to time, you can call out to your child while they're holding a toy (or object) up high, so they'll look towards the camera - and you'll have the perfect opportunity to snap a memorable shot.

Alpha 7C | FE 55mm F1.8 ZA | 55mm F1.8 | 1/600s | ISO 2500

And shots like these are another reason why I love the Sonnar T* FE 55mm F1.8 ZA lens. It's F1.8 aperture creates a significant depth-of-field effect, which highlights your child's face and expression - giving the photo a more three-dimensional appeal.

Alpha 7C | FE 55mm F1.8 ZA | 55mm | F1.8 | 1/640s | ISO 200

Alpha 7C | FE 55mm F1.8 ZA | 55mm | F2.8 | 1/1600s | ISO 80

This prime lens is also great for indoor and low-light environments, which makes it versatile and easy to use.

Fleeting memories that last a lifetime

Alpha 7C | FE 55mm F1.8 ZA | 55mm | F2.5 | 1/500s | ISO 125

When photographing children, I always emphasise naturalness - that's why I discourage staged photos, as children often look stiff (both in terms of their body language and facial expressions) when they're being asked to pose.

Alpha 7C | FE 55mm F1.8 ZA | 55mm | F1.8 | 1/640s | ISO 200

Alpha 7C | FE 55mm F1.8 ZA | 52mm | F4 | 1/4000s | ISO 320

To fully capture a child's joyful, free-spirited nature, let them have fun playing their favourite games and activities! With the right camera and lenses, you'll be able to capture - and reminisce on - these fleeting moments for a lifetime.

Watch how David captured these shots behind the scenes

Products

Featured

Alpha 7C

Máy ảnh Full Frame nhỏ gọn

HVL-F28RM

Đèn flash gắn ngoài điều khiển vô tuyến không dây GN28

SF-M64T

Thẻ nhớ Tough dòng SF-M

NP-FZ100 Z-series Rechargeable Battery Pack

Bộ pin sạc dòng Z

Article Theme

Portrait

Capturing Nature's Delights: Travel With Hybrid Shooter Jessica Li and Her Alpha 7 IV

sneha — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 11:45:20 +0000

Capturing Nature's Delights: Travel With Hybrid Shooter Jessica Li and Her Alpha 7 IV

sneha Thu, 10/27/2022 - 17:15

Article Categories

Reviews

Body Category

Alpha 7 IV

Lens Category

FE 14mm F1.8 GM

FE 55mm F1.8 ZA

Alpha 7 IV | FE 14mm F1.8 GM | 320 sec | F1.8 | ISO 3200

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.

Alpha 7 IV | FE 14mm F1.8 GM | 20 sec | F2 | ISO 3200

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.

Alpha 7 IV | FE 14mm F1.8 GM | 13 sec | F2.2 | ISO 400

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?

Alpha 7 IV | FE 55mm F1.8 ZA | 1/1000 sec | F8 | ISO 100

"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?

Alpha 7 IV | FE 14mm F1.8 GM | 1/10 sec | F14 | ISO 100

"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?

Alpha 7 IV | FE 14mm F1.8 GM | 6 sec | F14 | ISO 100

"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."

FE 55mm F1.8 ZA

FE 55mm F1.8 ZA | Capture your children's childhood beautifully | Review by David Boy

FE 55mm F1.8 ZA | Capture your children's childhood beautifully | Review by David Boy

Article Categories

Creative inspirations, equipment selection

Primes lenses and natural snapshots

Close-up shots with a prime lens

Make shoots fun with lots of praise

Fleeting memories that last a lifetime

Watch how David captured these shots behind the scenes

Products

Featured

Alpha 7C

Máy ảnh Full Frame nhỏ gọn

HVL-F28RM

Đèn flash gắn ngoài điều khiển vô tuyến không dây GN28

SF-M64T

Thẻ nhớ Tough dòng SF-M

NP-FZ100 Z-series Rechargeable Battery Pack

Bộ pin sạc dòng Z

Capturing Nature's Delights: Travel With Hybrid Shooter Jessica Li and Her Alpha 7 IV

Capturing Nature's Delights: Travel With Hybrid Shooter Jessica Li and Her Alpha 7 IV

Article Categories

Why choose Alpha 7 IV for outdoor photography and videography?

What makes the Alpha 7 IV better than other cameras?

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

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

Products

Featured

Alpha 7 IV

Máy ảnh lai toàn khung hình

FE 14mm F1.8 GM

Ống kính cao cấp siêu rộng G Master để chụp toàn khung hình